On July 22nd, Brigitte Schacher of Sustainnovation Consulting attended an event sponsored by the Environmental Business Council of New England. Jeffrey A. Simon, Director of Infrastructure Investment of the Commonwealth of MA discussed the national $787 billion dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and particularly, how the state of Massachusetts is allocating and distributing its share of the stimulus money in grants and programs. The main purpose of the ARRA is to quickly create jobs. The 120-day window for “shovel ready” projects has put many into the “use it or lose it” mindset. As of the 22nd, approximately 25% of the funding allocated to the State of Massachusetts had been awarded.
Other central themes covered included:
• The Assembly Square Project in Somerville includes a new orange line MBTA station, a new park, a new bike path and a new IKEA store. Altogether, the project should create a total of 19,000 new jobs.
• A revitalization effort for the Mystic River Parkway in Somerville will receive $15 million. Additionally, 320 million will be spent on the transit system; of which $180 million is going to the MBTA. Electric ferryboats for the cities of Lynn, Woods Hole and Hyannis are in the planning phases.
Energy and Environmental
• The Dept. Of Energy and Environmental Affairs in MA is working on a new solar stimulus program for Logan Airport as well as for state housing and colleges to be announced in the coming weeks. Money will also be allocated to clean water and waste water treatment plants and $85 million will be used for Superfund clean-up sites. Money has been allocated for eradicating the Asian Longhorn Beetle. A $25 million check which was delivered by Steven Chu, was awarded to the City of Charlestown’s new Wind Technology Testing Center which will have deep water access necessary to receive wind blades that exceed 50 meters by boat. It will be the only national facility of its kind. Construction will start in September and the completion is scheduled for 2010.
• The Department of Environmental Protection and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be targeting Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy through the Green Communities Act concentrating on: Weatherization, building energy transformation and zero net energy, energy efficient state facilities, conservation block grants, and up to 90 hybrid/electric vehicles for municipalities.
• The Clean Energy Center, which was created last August to promote investment in clean energy was introduced $12 million has been made available to transform the Springfield Technical Community College into a hub with three training centers for the Energy Efficient Skills Initiative.
Stimulus programs will continue to be rolled out this summer with the Broadband initiative to be announced in Fall 09. More info can be found on http://www.mass.gov/recovery. All available stimulus contracts are listed at www.Comm-Pass.com, and job openings on Job Quest and State Career Centers.
