SUDBURY, MA – Yesterday, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Carmine Gentile, Sudbury Town Manager Andy Sheehan, Sudbury Facilities Manager Sandra Duran, and Sudbury Fire Chief John Whalen for a tour of Sudbury Fire Station 2 and the Fairbank Community Center. These newly constructed projects were made possible by American Rescue Plan funding and underscore its continued transformative impact in communities across Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District.
“When Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan, we had a critical goal: help our country recover and rebuild from the pandemic. Sudbury took these federal dollars and did just that – improving public health, safety infrastructure, and more,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I’m grateful for the partnership of our local leaders and will continue working to bring resources home from Washington so we build a stronger, safer Massachusetts for every resident.”
“The infusion of Federal funding is one of the key reasons that the addition to Sudbury Fire Station 2 has come to reality. With the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding by the Town and the constant support of Congresswoman Clark I am pleased to say that the project has come to completion,” said Chief John Whalen. “This is not the only example of support from the Federal level, the Sudbury Fire Department has been awarded many grants from FEMA to support fire operations, including our most recent Assistance to Firefighters Grant that allowed for the purchasing of an all-band two-way radio for each member of the Department. Without the support of all our congressional partners, we would not have the ability to provide the highest level of service to the residents of Sudbury.”
"We were delighted to host Congresswoman Clark at Fire Station 2 and the Fairbank Community Center this Monday. Along with Sudbury's extension of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, these are shining examples of what careful planning, dedicated work, and Federal support can accomplish together,” said Town Manager Andy Sheehan. “Sudbury applied more than half of its ARPA funds, more than $3 million in total, to these projects, allowing them to move forward despite the headwinds that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. While the brand-new buildings aren't yet open to the public, the visit from Congresswoman Clark was a great way to mark the progress that has been made and the many benefits these state-of-the-art facilities will soon bring to Sudbury."
This May, it was announced that the Town of Sudbury will receive approximately $5.9 million over two years from the American Rescue Plan to support public health and invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure for underserved communities. This includes a $1.7 million allocation to the Sudbury Fire Department for the construction of Fire Station 2 and a $4 million allocation to the Fairbank Community Center for construction, waterline replacement, and AV design.
Photos of yesterday’s tour can be found HERE.
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