FRAMINGHAM, MA – Yesterday, Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) toured three Community Projects in Framingham that together are set to receive over $1.8 million for climate resilience, health care expansion, and education projects. Clark visited Framingham State University, the Kennedy Community Health Center, and the site of the Chris Walsh Aqueduct Trail Connectivity Project, three of the ten community projects she secured federal funding for in the Fiscal Year 2022 Congressional Budget. Clark’s FY22 Appropriations Community Project Funding (CPF) Requests total over $11 million.

“To build an America where everyone has a fair shot at success, we have to listen to leaders on the ground in our communities about the real and urgent needs of families. When we started exploring new opportunities for community project funding in Framingham, it was clear that we needed to focus our attention and dollars toward environmental justice, health care, and education, and I’m proud that that is what we were able to accomplish,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “It was an honor to visit Framingham State University, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, and the Chris Walsh Aqueduct Trail Connectivity Project to celebrate the over $1.8 million I secured in this year’s funding package for Framingham. I’m grateful to the leadership of our partners on the ground, and I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.”

At her first stop at Framingham State University (FSU), Clark was joined by FSU President Dr. Javier Cevallos, MassBay President Dr. David Podell, Waltham Public Schools Superintendent Brian Reagan, Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, and MetroWest Scholars Early Start Program Director Roxana Marrero to celebrate the expansion of the MetroWest Scholars Early Start Early College Project. Clark secured $600,000 in the FY2022 budget to be used by FSU and Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) to scale their MetroWest Scholars Early Start Early College Project to reach underserved youth and families in the community of Waltham. The program will be delivered in partnership with Waltham Middle and High School, the MetroWest College Planning Collaborative (CPC), and dual enrollment courses from both FSU and MassBay. This project will build a robust Early College program in Waltham to create pathways to college completion and economic stability for the City’s ELL, first-generation, newcomer, and underserved populations.

Next, she joined partners at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, which will be receiving $1 million for their interpreter services program to address the language needs of the underserved communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the Edward M. ​​Kennedy Community Health Center provides quality, accessible and affordable health care to anyone in need. As the area’s only provider of refugee health assessments, the Center has become the medical home for individuals who speak over 92 different languages, making the interpreter services program vital to their ability to communicate with their patients and provide high-quality care.

Clark concluded her tour by joining Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and state officials at the site of the Chris Walsh Aqueduct Trail Connectivity Project. Clark discussed the $220,000 in federal funding she secured to complete the design development and permitting process for the future greenspace. Once constructed, this project will provide thousands of residents in the Downtown Framingham area with direct access to this recreational corridor and the opportunity to enjoy open space. 

Photos from yesterday’s events can be found HERE.

More information about Clark’s Community Projects can be found HERE.

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