Governor Charlie Baker released the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Plan on Monday, June 14. The plan calls for $2.655 billion in investments across a range of areas, including housing, transportation, climate resiliency, health and human services, and education.
Within the plan the governor highlighted $87 million in spending across five major renovation projects within the state higher education system, the start of implementing the Economic Development Bond Bill, the Transportation Bond Bill and the state’s share of cost for redevelopment of Soldiers Home in Holyoke.
$25 Million Bond Investment for QCC Innovation Center
One investment in higher education is $150,000 and a total state bond investment of $25 million at Quinsigamond Community College [QCC] in Worcester to create an innovation center for advanced manufacturing and robotics.
The College will renovate and expand its existing athletic center to create the new facility, called the I3Q Center. The building will house intercollegiate sports teams and a full health and wellness center.
The completed center will also provide training in several high growth technology areas:
- Robotics/Advanced Manufacturing
- Advanced manufacturing
- Artificial intelligence
- Drone training
- Robotics
- Mobile app development
- e-Gaming testing lab
- Website design & usability
- Hospitality
- Foodservice
UMass Medical School Building Renovations
The Governor’s Capital Plan also includes $6.1 million in bond investments and $485,000 for partial renovation of the Medical School Building.
The renovation intends to create collaborative spaces for integrated teaching and learning for medical students.
Education projects in the plan include investments in the College of Education and Health Sciences Burnell Hall at Bridgewater State University, science labs renovation at Mass Maritime Academy and a Life Sciences Pathways Center at North Shore Community College.
Funding Across Nine Major Areas
Governor Baker’s office released a summary of programs funded within the plan that highlights spending in nine major areas across Massachusetts.
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
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance [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
Image Courtesy of Quinsigamond Community College
