Signing of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Latest Signal That Massachusetts Must Be Ready to Move Position Commonwealth to Win Competitive Grants
November 16, 2021
Presented by Rick Dimino, President & CEO
The signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a meaningful and impactful milestone for our country. Now, there will be a fierce nationwide competition for the discretional funding available through new infrastructure grant programs and Massachusetts must be ready to compete. The Commonwealth can either be ready to move with infrastructure projects that capitalize on this moment or squander a potential windfall of billions in federal dollars that offer a once in a generation chance to address our biggest infrastructure challenges as well as to make progress on meeting decarbonization goals and climate resiliency measures.
Three months ago, A Better City released a report on this bipartisan infrastructure bill with recommendations on how this area can maximize the impact from this legislation. There are clear lessons from our experience with the 2009 federal stimulus and we must not squander this chance in the months ahead to address our biggest infrastructure challenges. We are encouraged that MassDOT Secretary Jamey Tesler and municipal leaders like Mayor-Elect Michele Wu understand the urgency and need to make bold investments. We are eager to learn more from state and municipal officials about their vision for the types of projects that can be unlocked with these federal funds.
It is imperative that the metropolitan Boston region does everything it can to help win grants that improve our transit system, accelerate decarbonization efforts, and grow our economy in a way that is more equitable, accessible, and inclusive for all.
