Interior & Environment

Proposed Recipient: Cities of Fall River and New Bedford and Town of Acushnet, Massachusetts
 
Amount Requested: $4,900,000

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds:
Bristol County CSO Sewer Improvements, Fall River, New Bedford, and Acushnet MA. Fall River and New Bedford are continuing their ongoing work to complete significant wastewater management upgrades (both costing in excess of $100 million) under court requirements. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because these communities face substantial economic challenges, some resulting from federal policies unrelated to water pollution.

Proposed Recipient: City of Marlborough, Massachusetts

Amount Requested: $500,000

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds:
Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades. The City of Marlborough is seeking funding to upgrade the City’s Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility in compliance with the pending National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit state water quality certification. In Marlborough, the city’s consultant has evaluated buildout of the city’s west side and determined that over the 20-year planning period, the city will require an additional 500,000 gallons of capacity per day at the Westerly plant. Inasmuch as the town of Northborough also contributes flow to Marlborough’s Westerly plant, capacity at the plant must accommodate that community’s future growth, which is estimated to generate another 1,000,000 gallons. Combined, the 2 communities will require an additional 1.5 MGD of additional capacity at the Westerly plant. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this funding is crucial toward Marlborough’s ability to comply with the pending NPDES certification.

Proposed Recipient: John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895

Amount Requested: $750,000

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds:
Implementation of National Heritage Corridor Management Plan. This request focuses on several ongoing projects as well as a few new initiatives that need funding in FY11 and which the Commission considers to be important, both because of their consistency with the management plan and to support partnerships and partners who are critical to the long term sustainability of Corridor programs. These projects include the promotion of heritage tourism activity in Blackstone Valley; completion of the Corridor’s identity signage program; and a Blackstone Valley Heritage Farmer’s Market program. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Corridor programs and projects benefit local residents, organizations and institutions, have been proven to have a positive economic impact as well as improve quality of life, create awareness nationally and internationally about the history of the Blackstone River Valley, and provide unique visitor experiences at a diverse range of historic, natural and recreational sites.

Proposed Recipient: Preservation Massachusetts
Old City Hall, 45 School Street, Boston, MA 02108

Amount Requested: $250,000

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds:
Preservation Massachusetts, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, created a Circuit Rider Program to help Massachusetts communities save and use their historic places that matter. The Circuit Rider program is designed to direct technical assistance and support for historic preservation efforts in communities across the Commonwealth and to provide hands-on preservation expertise and resources to underserved portions of the state. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this program empowers local communities to protect and utilize their historic resources for economic development purposes.