IN YOUR CORNER: Turbo-charging economic development with ARPA funding

The Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed a $3.82 billion bill that directs federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to assist the commonwealth’s ongoing recovery by investing in the economy and in communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using this framework, the bill delivers targeted, transformational support to critical sectors such as health care, mental and behavioral health, housing security, the environment, and workforce development. I secured $3 million dollars in targeted community projects and initiatives that will provide immediate relief to the Plymouth and Barnstable District. These priorities reflect the urgent need of the sectors hit hardest by COVID and the importance of investing in key areas for future growth and resiliency.   

There is a direct correlation between the lack of childcare options and the current labor shortage. In my district, 15% of family childcare and 4% of centers have permanently closed. I proposed two amendments to support current childcare facilities and provide assistance with re-opening. By supporting childcare, we are investing in the labor market, small businesses, and the next generation. One of my ARPA funding priorities has been to ensure that the grant money that goes to providers is tax-free so that every dollar goes towards creating the best possible learning spaces for our children. Although the amendment was not successfully passed in this first half of ARPA allocations, I am continuing to work with my colleagues to move this law forward. I also filed for and secured $75,000 for the Child Care Network of the Cape and Islands to support entrepreneurs looking to start a family childcare business and to help them navigate the licensure process.   

The Senate’s ARPA spending plan invests $1.7 billion to foster an equitable economic recovery by supporting workers, businesses, and the communities hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill dedicates $500 million towards premium pay bonuses for essential workers, up to $2,000 per worker, providing much-needed relief to the workforce who served on the front lines during the pandemic. For small businesses, the bill provides nearly $200 million in tax relief for business owners who otherwise would be required to pay personal income taxes on state or federal relief money. Also during the debate, the Senate adopted an amendment to extend current sales tax rules that would otherwise have expired, giving small businesses consistency during a period of time dominated by inconsistency. Addressing this time-sensitive issue was meant to ease compliance and provide many businesses peace of mind, given that the current rules were set to expire on the rapidly approaching date of December 31, 2021. 

As part of this larger economic agenda, I also filed amendments to support local initiatives in our towns that would aid in economic recovery and building community infrastructure. I secured $275,000 for the towns of Pembroke and Plymouth, including funding to allow the Plymouth Regional Economic Development Foundation to support small businesses in the Plymouth area and funding for Pembroke to improve walkability and infrastructure, changes that will revitalize their downtown. 

Living in and representing a district with a strong blue economy allows me the opportunity to advocate for clean water and a more resilient Commonwealth where everyone can enjoy a healthy environment. To that end, I helped to secure $450 million in the bill to combat climate change through mitigation initiatives, strengthen environmental infrastructure, fix aging water systems, and modernize our ports to support the state’s emerging offshore wind industry. I also filed for and secured $375,000 for the towns of Falmouth and Kingston to repair vulnerable water main in Falmouth and to institute a comprehensive wastewater management plan in Kingston.   

Unfortunately, our districts’ proximity to the coast can also be a vulnerability. As we all remember, the latest nor’easter that swept through our towns created a multi-day loss of electricity. For coastal communities, this is a risk we face year after year. I filed an amendment that would create a matching fund in order to bury utilities and mitigate power outages and damage caused by storms. Although unsuccessful this time, the issue of storm mitigation continues to be a priority, and I will continue to look for opportunities to implement these measures in the future. During this storm, the town of Bourne had a malfunctioning generator that created an immediate crisis that would have required moving the emergency shelter to the Fire Station. I secured $140,000 in ARPA funding to replace that generator and to replace the Main Street Fire Station boiler in Bourne.  

The Senate’s ARPA spending plan also helps families, vulnerable populations, and historically underserved communities by investing more than $1 billion to support the state’s healthcare system and confront the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate’s bill invests $400 million in mental and behavioral health support, including an investment expected to help recruit and retain nearly 2,000 mental health professionals across the continuum of care. The Senate’s plan also revolutionizes the state’s local and regional public health infrastructure and makes a historic investment of more than $250 million to ensure the Commonwealth can protect the public health of residents, workers, and businesses for years to come. To complement this landmark investment, the Senate adopted an amendment that encourages greater collaboration between regional public health systems on workforce standards and policies, while sustaining the Public Health Excellence program that is already in place. 

Through my district work I have met committed public servants and first responders that have been placed under tremendous stress throughout the pandemic. I secured $20,000 for the Sandwich Fire Department to offer a peer support service and fund a local BEAT COVID initiative; that funding will allow the Sandwich Fire Department and Chamber of Commerce to develop a partnership to conduct free, rapid testing at businesses where an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or shows symptoms.   

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for the many young people and working families of our district, the ARPA spending bill allocates $600 million for investments in affordable, accessible housing, as well as supportive housing. Housing continues to be a challenge in the Plymouth and Barnstable district. I secured $2 million in funding to be used by Housing Assistance Corporation to build fifty-six units of affordable housing in our district. By expanding affordable housing supply, young families can afford to stay and work in our communities. With housing development comes an investment in infrastructure that will also benefit entire communities by creating and maintaining jobs. I was happy to have also secured $115,000 for infrastructure improvements in the public schools of Sandwich. 

I want every dollar to build a better commonwealth for the over 160,000 people living in my district, and I want to hear what you think about my priorities. You can reach out to my office at susan.moran@masenate.gov or (617) 722-1330. You can also follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/StateSenatorSusanMoran and on Twitter at @SenSusanMoran.  

As always, I’ll be in your corner. 

Sen. Susan Moran represents the Plymouth-Barnstable District.