Community Project Funding Requests for Massachusetts' First Congressional District
Congressman Richard E. Neal has submitted funding requests for important community projects in Massachusetts' First Congressional District to the House Appropriations Committee.
Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for fiscal year 2025 – although only a handful may actually be funded. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available HERE.
In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congressman Neal has certified that he, his spouse, and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he has requested.
Projects Requested:
North Wing Expansion for Community Wellness & Education
Berkshire South Regional Community Center
15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
$1,000,000
The expansion to the northern wing of the Berkshire South Regional Community Center is Phase One of a two-part project aimed at enhancing wellness, fostering social connections, and bolstering early childhood services. After 22 years of operation, the increased demand on the facility underscores the essential role the of center in the community. The construction will increase the building size by 15% (6,000 square feet), and includes expansion of the current fitness center, adding two additional open space rooms, and upgrading the HVA system. This expansion to the facility not only addresses the need for increased capacity but also enhances accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it will provide space for community programs and administrative offices, further enriching the services offered.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Charlemont Fire Truck Procurement
Town of Charlemont
157 Main Street, Charlemont, MA 01339
$798,480
Currently, the town of Charlemont only has one pumper which was originally purchased in 1996. As the sole pumper, this vehicle alone services the 1,185 residents of Charlemont, as well as four other communities, totaling 4,320 residents served. Additionally, Charlemont serves as the second alarm for two other communities, servicing an additional 3,552 residents. The acquisition of a new vehicle that meets current National Fire Protection Association standards will replace the sole current pumper and enhance the overall effectiveness of the Fire Department. The new vehicle will have features such as an engine equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), a “deck gun” to be in conjunction with the CAFS for exposure protection, and a 35-foot extension ladder and 16-foot roof ladder. The increased communication capabilities of the proposed vehicle will not only benefit the town of Charlemont but also contribute to a more coordinated and efficient multi-jurisdictional response, enhancing the overall resilience of the local community.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Updates and Renovations to Town Facilities
Town of Middlefield
188 Skyline Trail, Middlefield, MA 01243
$2,000,000
Middlefield, Massachusetts is historically significant on the national level, as it is the hometown of Elijah Churchill, the very first recipient of the Purple Heart, awarded by General George Washington. The town of Middlefield has a total population of 426 residents. Middlefield is primarily rural containing one small/medium-sized business and several small home-based businesses. The Town tax rate for 2024 is one of the highest in the state of Massachusetts, currently at $19.84 per thousand. The Middlefield Town Hall, Senior Center, Highway Department Garage and Fire Station are all in need of updates and renovations, highlighting the pressing need for community investment and support to maintain and enhance local infrastructure. The loss of any of these buildings would be catastrophic to the Town.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Berkshire Innovation Center Security Operations Center
Berkshire Innovation Center
45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201
$735,000
The Security Operations Center (SOC) at Berkshire Innovation Center will constitute the next phase of the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC)’s Manufacturing Academy. The Manufacturing Academy is an industry-led educational hub that seeks to close the knowledge gaps of local supply chain capabilities and the needs of larger manufacturers through ongoing education, training, and technology assistance. As one piece of a larger educational module, the SOC will serve as a centralized hub for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats within manufacturing facilities, with a focus on enhancing resilience and safeguarding critical assets. The SOC will provide essential monitoring of systems, networks, and applications for supplier chain manufacturers serving the defense industrial base while allowing for workforce development to strengthen cybersecurity in other local industries and municipalities.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116
$2,000,000
The Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control (PTC) Project will install a Positive Train Control system along the 49.5 mile corridor between Springfield and Northfield, MA. The Amtrak Vermonter and Valley Flyer currently operate along the corridor without PTC under an FRA issued main line track exclusion addendum. The installation of PTC along the corridor will enhance safety along the corridor while also enabling the expansion of passenger and freight services along the line.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Forest Park Horticulture and Learning Center
City of Springfield
36 Court Street, Springfield MA 01103
$4,400,000
The Forest Park Horticulture and Learning Center will restore and repurpose the historic original Zoo buildings in Forest Park, which were built in 1914 and hold significant cultural and historical value for the citizens of Springfield and the Pioneer Valley. The City of Springfield is committed to collaborating with educational institutions, community organizations, and private sector partners to embark on a project that will maximize the impact of the Center. This approach will help to create lasting positive change in the local community. This project offers an opportunity to restore the historic buildings so that they can once again be utilized by residents and will provide a vibrant hub for learning, community engagement, and economic advancement.
Signed disclosure HERE.
East Springfield Branch Library Renovation and Expansion
City of Springfield
36 Court Street, Springfield MA 01103
$1,300,000
Renovation and expansion of the East Springfield Library Branch will significantly expand and modernize an important public library facility that serves more than 6,000 residents in the neighborhood and more than 150,000 throughout Springfield. Improvements will include expansion of children, young adult and adult reading and programming rooms, adding quiet study rooms, upgrading all building systems, and modernizing technology throughout. Once complete, the new branch library will contain approximately 6,000 square feet of usable space, up from 2,500 square feet today. As a result, the East Springfield Branch Library will serve residents and visitors more efficiently, effectively and safely for decades to come.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Easthampton Mill District Rehabilitation Project
City of Easthampton
50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027
$1,000,000
Rehabilitation of the mills on Ferry Street will address crucial infrastructure needs while advancing affordable housing initiatives in the City of Easthampton. The planned construction of 90 units of affordable housing on reclaimed industrial land will provide much-needed housing options and contribute to the revitalization of the local community. The funding would be used for streetscape improvements, improving infrastructure and connectivity in the almost completed multi-use development. The revitalization of previously underutilized industrial areas into vibrant residential spaces will help the local economy by stimulating local businesses and attracting new residents.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Willow Street Bridge
Town of Lee
32 Main Street, Lenox MA 01238
$5,500,000
The existing Willow Street Bridge over the Housatonic River is a single-span steel pony truss that was constructed in 1951. Earlier this year, MassDOT inspected the bridge and found the structure in serious overall condition that was overlooked in the previous inspection leading to an immediate closure of the bridge with no warning. Currently, the structure is closed to vehicular traffic, with a narrow path remaining open for pedestrian use. Truck traffic to and from Onyx is utilizing a detour through residential neighborhoods that is expensive, inconvenient, and unsuitable as a long-term solution. A temporary structure is needed to allow access for the next 3-5 years, and this funding would be used for the installation of prefabricated trusses would allow the bridge to be reopened quicky and efficiently.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Brandon Road (Mill Race) Bridge
Town of Dudley
71 West Main Street, Dudley, MA
$2,500,000
The bridge that spans the French River on the Dudley and Webster town line has been inaccessible since June 2021 because an adjoining dry bridge on the Dudley side, known as the Mill Race Bridge, was deemed unsafe and closed by MassDOT. The closure of the bridge has limited access between the towns of Dudley and Webster to one crossing over the French River, resulting in traffic congestion, longer response times for emergency vehicles, and impacting local businesses. This funding would facilitate the construction of a temporary modular bridge, expediting the access between the two towns, considering it may take five or more years until the main bridge reopens.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Renovation of Vacant Farr Alpaca Mill Buildings
City of Holyoke
20 Korean Veterans Plaza, Suite 406, Holyoke ME 01040
$2,500,000
The renovation of the Farr Alpaca Mill Buildings will create 163 new affordable homes and will ensure that the historic mill serves as a cornerstone of housing security in the heart of Holyoke for decades to come. This as this renovation will not only create new housing for low-income residents but it will also generate hundreds of jobs and restore a blighted historical landmark, enhancing the City of Holyoke’s vitality.
Signed disclosure HERE.
West Brookfield Water Department Facility
West Brookfield Water Department
2 East Main Street, West Brookfield, MA 01585
$5,000,000
The West Brookfield Water Department (WBWD) is a key source of drinking water for West Brookfield.
As a result of a February 2, 2022 Sanitary Survey, MassDEP issued the WBWD a Notice of Noncompliance stating that the levels of manganese and iron are increasing, and corrective action must be taken. West Brookfield Water Department proposes to construct a new water treatment facility at the Leland Road Wellfield site, adding filtration vessels for iron and manganese removal.
Signed disclosure HERE.
River Terrace Sewer Separation Design and Permitting
City of Holyoke
536 Dwight Street, Holyoke MA 01040
$800,000
The River Terrace Sewer Separation Project is a major renovation of the City of Holyoke’s Combined Sewer Overflow system and will eventually include the implementation of a new sewer and rehabilitated gravity sewer system and storm drains, as well as a separation of the city’s stormwater and sewage systems. Funding will be used to obtain consultant services to complete the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) Permitting Process for the City's CSO Long-Term Control Plan, as well as to complete the design portion of the project, of which 30% has already been completed.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Chicopee Sewer Separation
City of Chicopee
17 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013
$3,000,000
The Downtown Sewer Separation Project is a part of the City of Chicopee’s long term control plan to address the environmental and public health impacts caused by combined sewer overflows from the City’s remaining combined sewer system into the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers. The funds will be used to perform engineering design and permitting services that had previously been curtailed. These services include existing conditions mapping, coordination with private utilities, environmental permitting applications, geotechnical soil investigations, combined property inventory, infrastructure Separation design.
Signed disclosure HERE.
Blandford Water Treatment & Distribution System Upgrades
Town of Blandford
1 Russell Stage Road, Blandford, MA 01008
$3,000,000
The Blandford Water Treatment & Distribution System Upgrades project includes comprehensive upgrades to the Water Treatment Facility and distribution system to achieve permit compliance, provide safe, reliable drinking water, and provide fire protection for the serviced portions of Town. The primary goal of this project is to achieve permit compliance and provide safe drinking water for the citizens of Blandford and visitors relying on Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) Service Plaza on I-90 located in Blandford, MA.
Signed disclosure HERE.
