In total, Clark secured more than $20 million in federal funding for the Fifth Congressional District

FRAMINGHAM, MA –  Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) announced that she secured more than $5 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 federal budget for four environmental and health equity projects in the MetroWest. 

These projects will improve health outcomes, expand access to care, train the next generation of health care providers, create sustainable outdoor public spaces, and increase climate resiliency.

“More than $5 million is headed to the MetroWest to strengthen our climate resiliency, improve our water quality, and ensure families can access quality, affordable health care,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “This is a win for our community and our planet. I’m proud to have worked with our local leaders and community partners to bring these critical investments home to the Fifth District.”

In total, Clark secured more than $20 million for local community projects in the Fifth District.

The projects include: 

Advocates Community Health Access Expansion Project — Framingham, MA: $500,000

This funding will be used to renovate a 20,000 square foot building and create a Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) where patients will receive coordinated and integrated mental health care and substance use disorder treatment. This center will provide critical outpatient services, mobile crisis intervention, and community crisis stabilization for thousands of low income children and adults.

“We believe that everyone deserves timely, high-quality care for mental health and substance use challenges,” said Advocates President Diane Gould, LICSW. “We are grateful to Representative Clark for securing this funding, which is a critical investment in the wellbeing of our community. Our Community Behavioral Health Center will allow people to access the services they need, when and where they need them.”

Chris Walsh Memorial Trail Project — Framingham, MA: $3,000,000

This funding will help construct the first phase of the Chris Walsh Memorial Trail. Before his passing in 2018, State Representative Chris Walsh worked for years to reunite the City of Framingham with Farm Pond. As an architect and historian who knew the historical significance of Farm Pond in the abolitionist and suffragist movements, he recognized the power of this natural resource to improve quality of life for Framingham’s diverse residents. 

This project will use the Sudbury Aqueduct to connect Farm Pond and the Dudley Road recreational area – consisting of more than 100 acres of open space – to Downtown Framingham and its underserved population. It will also preserve the historic pump house seated on the Aqueduct. The trail’s easternmost point will be at the edge of a MBTA commuter rail lot, making this trail accessible to other state residents via public transportation.

Clark previously secured $220,000 for the planning and development of this new trail in the Fiscal Year 2022 federal budget. 

“We are very appreciative of Congresswoman Clark’s support for important projects in Framingham, including the Chris Walsh Memorial Trail,” said Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “The Chris Walsh trail will help connect Framingham’s downtown area with the Farm Pond/Dudley Road recreational area. The $3 million provided by Congresswoman Clark for this project will enable us to construct a substantial portion of the trail and enhance access to the many amenities in the vicinity of Farm Pond.”

Lake Waushakum Clean Water Project — Framingham, MA: $1,700,000

This project will improve water quality at Lake Waushakum and improve its resilience against extreme weather events by retrofitting the eleven existing stormwater outfall pipes and headwalls at Waushakum Beach with green infrastructure and treatment facilities. The retrofit will also include recreational amenities and be ADA compliant, helping address environmental injustice in Framingham.

“The $1.7 million provided for Lake Waushakum will enable the City to upgrade the old drainage systems that currently transports stormwater directly into the Lake with new, state-of-the-art environmentally friendly systems that will greatly reduce pollution at the beach,” said Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Clark for her interest and efforts in supporting important quality-of-life projects in Framingham that will benefit a substantial number of our residents.”

Massachusetts Bay Community College’s Center of Health Science, Early Childhood Education, and Human Services Project — Framingham, MA and Wellesley, MA: $400,000

This funding will help MassBay Community College acquire laboratory equipment for its new Center of Health Science, Early Childhood Education, and Human Services. This new, state of the art laboratory equipment will allow students to use the same gear they’ll find on the job in most modern facilities – critical to properly training medical, early childhood, and human service professionals. This investment will also have a profound impact on students’ lives, providing rich opportunities to begin or advance their careers and achieve financial stability for their families.

The Center is currently under construction in the City of Framingham and will begin training students this summer. 

“We are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Clark for spearheading the effort to secure these needed funds to support the MassBay Center for Health Sciences, Early Childhood, and Human Services, in Framingham,” said David Podell, President, MassBay Community College. “With this funding, we will be purchasing state-of-the-art laboratory equipment to ensure our students are prepared to become health professionals having learned with the very tools they will encounter in the medical centers in which they will work.  With this new building and its state-of-the-art equipment, MassBay is well positioned to provide the skills, training, and community services that not only will benefit thousands of students and their families but will also fortify the regional economy with a well-prepared workforce in critical economic development drivers in health care, human services, and early childhood fields. This is a critical investment that will sustain the College and the region for decades to come.”

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