Baker-Polito Administration Announces
$2.655 Billion FY22 Capital Plan
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today
announced its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Capital Plan, a $2.655 billion plan that
makes substantial investments in critical priorities including housing,
transportation, climate resiliency, health and human services, and education to
promote economic growth and opportunity. The plan maintains flexibility by supporting
existing short, medium, and long-term investments, and funding new initiatives
that encourage growth and strengthen the Commonwealth’s communities amid the
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Charlie
Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined Administration and Finance
Secretary Michael J. Heffernan and Secretary of Education James Peyser today at
Bridgewater State University to release the FY22 Capital Plan and highlight a
major renovation project at the university, which is funded under the capital
plan.
The Administration
is investing $87 million in five major renovation projects across the
Commonwealth’s higher education system. The capital investments at these
colleges and universities are focused on strengthening programming that
connects students with high-demand fields like STEM and health care, which will
remain crucial to the Commonwealth’s economic recovery.
The plan also
begins implementing the Economic Development Bond Bill and Transportation Bond
Bill that Governor Baker signed last year. Through these investments, the plan
aims to promote economic growth and strengthen the Commonwealth’s
transportation system as more residents return to work. It also funds the
Commonwealth’s share of costs for the redevelopment of the Soldiers’ Home in
Holyoke, which the Administration is seeking to augment by applying for federal
funds. It provides significant capital investments in all regions of
Massachusetts while maintaining the Administration’s commitment to addressing
and preparing for climate change and considering the environmental impact and
resiliency of its investments.
“As Massachusetts
emerges from the pandemic, our FY22 Capital Plan aims to strengthen and
modernize infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth in ways that promote
opportunity,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These meaningful investments
will encourage economic growth and strengthen existing initiatives around
housing, climate resiliency, health and human services, and food security –
critical priorities that have proven even more important as a result of the
COVID-19 crisis.”
“We are continuing
to invest in local cities and towns in order to support the ongoing recovery
from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By
providing capital funding for education, public safety, information technology,
and other infrastructure projects, we can help reinvigorate the economy and
ensure Massachusetts has a bright and prosperous future.”
The funding
detailed in this FY22 plan will complement the more than $100 billion awarded
to Massachusetts residents, businesses, and governments throughout the public
health emergency to address both the response and the recovery from the
pandemic. The vast majority of this funding has flowed directly to businesses,
individuals, non-profits, and unemployment insurance in Massachusetts.
In total, the
Commonwealth exercises some level of discretion over approximately $15.6
billion of this federal funding, notably the $2.5 billion in Coronavirus Relief
Fund dollars received through the CARES Act. These Coronavirus Relief Fund
dollars have supported numerous key priorities consistent with federal
guidelines, as for example, $750 million of this funding has been transferred
to other governments and $780 million has been allocated for economic
assistance.
Also included in
the $15.6 billion total is the $5.3 billion in direct federal aid the
Commonwealth has received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to
support a range of initiatives, including infrastructure investments that will
leverage municipal funding to maximize impact. ARPA is also providing a total
of $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities throughout Massachusetts, as
well as substantial funding for key priorities including a total of $2.6
billion for housing and economic development initiatives, $1.1 billion for
transit, $315 million in child care stabilization funding, and $200 million in
Child Care and Development Block Grant funding.
“The Baker-Polito
Administration’s fiscally responsible FY22 Capital Plan devotes significant
resources toward key areas while also protecting state finances and leveraging
other funding sources to achieve the greatest impact with spending,” said
Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “We look
forward to collaborating with key stakeholders as we carry out these capital
projects and strengthen infrastructure throughout Massachusetts.”
The $2.655 billion
capital plan is fiscally responsible, demonstrates careful long-term planning,
and is informed by numerous factors including the Debt Affordability Committee.
FY22
Capital Plan Highlights:
Transportation
- The
combined MassDOT and MBTA capital plan is funded from a variety of state and
non-state sources, and totals approximately $4.0 billion in spending for
FY22
- $200
million for the Chapter 90 Program for local road and bridge repairs
- $10
million for the Administration’s Municipal Small Bridge Program
- $10
million for the Complete Streets Program
- $4
million for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program which was started in the
midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to help municipalities and businesses adapt
their operations
- Funding
for programs authorized through the Transportation Bond Bill including the
Local Bottleneck Reduction Program, the Municipal Pavement Program, and
the Transit Infrastructure Partnership Program
DCAMM
- Funding for
five new major higher education capital projects totaling $1.3 million in
spending in FY22 and $87 million in total bond funds awarded including:
- $300,000 for
a renovation project to create a centralized home for the College of
Education and Health Sciences Burnell Hall at Bridgewater State
University (total state bond investment of $25 million)
- $300,000 for
new and renovated Science Labs at Mass Maritime Academy (total state bond
investment of $16.7 million)
- $100,000 for
a partial renovation of labs at the Danvers campus of North Shore
Community College to create a Life Science Pathways Center (total state
bond investment of $14.1 million)
- $485,000 for
a partial renovation of the Medical School Building at UMass Medical to
create collaborative spaces for integrated teaching and learning (total
state bond investment of $6.1 million)
- $150,000 for
a renovation at Quinsigamond Community College to create an innovation
center for advanced manufacturing and robotics (total state bond
investment of $25 million)
- Planning
efforts for a project to construct a new Regional Justice Center in Quincy
- Funding
for the Commonwealth’s share of costs for the redevelopment of the
Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, a major project to construct a state-of-the-art
facility for veterans
Economic
Development
- New and
expanded authorizations in the Economic Development Bond Bill which will
provide access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs, revitalize
underutilized properties, improve tourism facilities and destinations,
support advanced manufacturing, and encourage regional and
industry-specific innovation clusters
- $94 million
for MassWorks to provide municipalities and other public entities with
funding for infrastructure projects that promote economic development
- $35 million
for the Life Sciences Capital Program to foster job growth and innovation
in the life sciences industry
- $10 million in
Seaport Economic Council Grants
Housing
- Support for
new programs authorized through the Economic Development Bond Bill
intended to promote neighborhood stabilization, transit-oriented housing,
and climate resilient affordable housing
- $146 million
for the production and preservation of affordable housing including $5
million for housing choice grants.
- $110 million
to support our state-aided public housing portfolio.
Energy and
Environmental Affairs
- $45 million
for the Food Security Infrastructure Program, which includes $30 million
for grants awarded in the last year, and $15 million for a future grant
round
- $21 million
for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (“MVP”) Program to aid
municipalities with climate change vulnerability assessments and planning,
and adaptation projects
- $12.5 million
for inland dams and seawalls
- $3.5 million
for Greening the Gateway Cities which has already planted nearly 30,000
trees and has a goal of planting at least 20,000 more trees over
the next four years.
Public Safety
- $5 million for
the new Protective Fire Equipment Grant Program which provides direct
assistance to municipalities to ensure access to safe and reliable
firefighter equipment
- $4 million for
the new Municipal Body-Worn Camera Grant Program
- Support for
the Body Armor Replacement Program which provides a state match for the
reimbursement of bulletproof vests by municipalities
Technology
- $64.9 million
for business applications development
- $42.1 million
for IT technical infrastructure modernization
- $15.5 million
for cybersecurity
Local Cities and
Towns
- $3 million in
Community Compact IT Grants which support cities and towns in their
efforts to modernize their technological infrastructure
- $3 million for
the new Municipal Fiber Grant Program that is focused on strengthening
supports for municipal IT security
- $2 million for
Municipal ADA Grants which fund planning, design, and capital improvements
specifically dedicated to improving access and removing architectural
barriers for people with disabilities
Education
- $15 million
for Workforce Skills Capital Grants to improve students’ skills and
knowledge and better meet the needs of employers in the Commonwealth
- $4 million for
Early Education and Out-of-School Time Grants to improve the indoor and
outdoor space at early education and out-of-school time programs in which
more than 50% of the children served are eligible for financial assistance
To view the full
FY22 Capital Plan, please click here.
