Mayor Brian A. DePena, Lt Gov Polito, Secretary Kennealy, and Legislators Announced their Support for the FORWARD Bill
Lawrence to Receive an Initial $3,150,420 Million for Projects Within the City
LAWRENCE, MA (June 29, 2022) –Mayor Brian A. DePena hosted a press conference in front of the Island Parkside project along with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development (HED), Mike Kennealy, and state and federal legislators to show support for the FORWARD bill. The legislative act was filed by Governor Charlie Baker back in April of 2022. This ambitious proposal seeks to invest $3.5 billion for economic development in all 351 communities in Massachusetts – $2.3 billion in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $1.256 billion in capital bond authorizations. The event brought together members of the City Council of Lawrence, who also showed their support to the bill.
Proposed initial investments for the city of Lawrence
| Program/Project Name | Account | Funding |
| Downtown Recovery Grants | – | $1,200,420 |
| Resilient Lands Initiative | Build designed improvements to restore or create walking routes to parks | $1,200,000 |
| Tombarello Junkyard Assessment and Remediation | Brownfields Redevelopment Projects | $750,000 |
| TOTAL FUNDING | $3,150,420 |
Responses