LYNN — On Dec. 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive government funding package, within which congressman Seth Moulton secured $16,863,400 for fourteen communities across the Sixth District.
The city of Lynn received $1,000,000 for the Lynn Senior Center, which will be put toward significant upgrades and renovations that will allow the center to provide services, activities and opportunities to seniors for social interactions that are age and culturally appropriate, addressing a need that has been exacerbated over the past two years of pandemic-induced isolation.
Another $1,000,000 will go to the Lynn Community Health Center Pharmacy, to ensure access to low-cost and affordable prescription medications for residents of Lynn and surrounding communities, especially patients who are uninsured, underinsured and low income.
Additionally, $800,000 will go to the Central Avenue Roadway Safety Improvements Project for the city of Lynn to reconstruct Central Avenue, to extend the roadway and safety improvements recently completed in downtown Lynn. The street section will be designed to Complete Streets standards, and will include an enhanced pedestrian environment and traffic calming elements to improve safety and access to all roadway users.
The Haven Project’s Catalyst Housing Program will receive $1,000,000 to establish Catalyst Housing, a new supportive housing program for extremely low-income young adults who lack access to secure housing. The project will include 24 small studio apartments and offer permanent supportive housing to eligible individuals.
Peabody will also receive $1,000,000 to construct the Peabody Riverwalk in a two-block area centered around the North River Canal. The project will create pedestrian green space, help with flooding, and enhance public access and vitality in an economically distressed area and environmental justice population, all while providing a new pedestrian corridor for alternative transportation.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield will receive $900,000 for its Wakefield and Saugus expansion, to convert a portion of the Wakefield Club into a career center where local teenagers can access job readiness programs, a science lab and an expanded maker space. The project will also open a teen center in Saugus, where children can learn career-ready skills, receive wraparound mental health services and access programs focused on character and leadership development. This teen center will also include a science lab and maker space.
“Every day across the Sixth District — and across Massachusetts — our dedicated communities work on ways to improve life for everybody. The funding included in this year’s omnibus will further those efforts, supporting everything from better healthcare and senior services to economic mobility and environmental resilience,” said Congressman Moulton.
“Although the vote was down to the wire, what matters is that this critical funding has been secured and that over $16 million will be put to good use on the North Shore next year,” he added.
Earlier this year, Congressman Moulton secured $10 million in funding for ten projects in the Sixth District as part of the fiscal year 2022 government funding package.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 includes 12 bills that will provide $1.7 trillion in discretionary funding, including $800 billion in non-defense funding — the highest level for non-defense funding ever — plus $858 billion in defense funding. The package also includes emergency supplemental funding to respond to the devastation that recent natural disasters and extreme weather events have left behind as well as emergency resources to support the Ukrainian people and protect global democracy.
