Representing the First Middlesex District: Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, and Tyngsborough
State Senator Ed Kennedy was happy to be invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Tyngsboro Middle School on Norris Road. The school construction project has a construction budget of almost $90 million dollars and construction of the new Middle School is scheduled to be completed in 2025. All site improvements will be completed by 2026.
State Senator Ed Kennedy was happy to have UMass-Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen as a guest on his television show Beacon Hill Buzz. During the 29-minute interview Chancellor Chen spoke about several initiatives that are underway at the university. Some of the topics included co-op and paid internship opportunities for students, research taking place at 110 Canal Street in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District, and the future of Lelacheur Park.
State Senator Ed Kennedy was at the Southeast Asian Water Festival in Lowell on Saturday, August 19. The Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation, protection and sharing of cultural heritages of the Southeast Asian Americans in the Greater Lowell area of Massachusetts.
In 1997, the first Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival took place to celebrate the culture of Lowell’s many Khmer citizens. In 2002, representatives of Lowell’s Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian communities incorporated the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Inc as a non-profit corporation. The festival takes place every year along the Merrimack River in Lowell on the third Saturday in August and is attended by thousands of people from around the country and the world who come to Lowell to celebrate water as it is celebrated in Southeast Asia. They come for the blessings, food, crafts, performances and the races.
State Senator Ed Kennedy was very happy to join Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll at the Transportation Bond Bill signing ceremony in Lowell on Friday, August 4.
The $375 million dollar transportation bond bill consists of $200 million for the Commonwealth’s Chapter 90 Program, $150 million for various transportation projects and $25 million in formula-based transportation funding for communities with a population of less than 10,000 residents. Included among the various transportation projects is $25 million for municipal small bridges, $25 million for the complete streets program and $25 million in grants to allow municipalities and regional transit authorities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them.
Senator Kennedy, who is the senate chair for the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, was joined by State Senator Patrick O’Connor who served on the Transportation Bond Bill Conference Committee, State Representative Brian Murray who is the House vice-chair for the Joint Committee on Transportation, State Representative Rady Mom who sits on the Joint Committee on Transportation, State Representative Vanna Howard, State Representative Rodney Elliott, MassDOT Secretary Gina Fiandaca, MassDOT State Highway Administrator Jonathon Gulliver, and several municipal officials.
State Senator Ed Kennedy was invited to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony to open Emma’s House, a residential program for women. Emma’s House will join Megan’s House in Lowell and Erin’s House in Dracut as the third residential program for women operated by Megan House Foundation. Named after an early graduate of the program, Emma’s House will accommodate nine women as they continue their recovery as they transition back to society.
(Lowell – 8/3/2023) On Monday, the Massachusetts State Legislature approved the final version of its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget, bridging the differences between the House and Senate passed earlier this session. The final FY24 budget includes ten amendments introduced by Senator Ed Kennedy during the Senate budget debate.
The ten approved local initiatives filed by Senator Ed Kennedy include:
· $500,000 – Social Enterprise Mattress Recycling Program (A statewide line item through the Department of Environmental Protection)
· $375,000 – Catie’s Closet – For Renovations & Improvements at the New Dracut Warehouse
· $250,000 – Town of Dunstable – For Repairs to the Joint Grass Brook Culvert
· $ 75,000 – Town of Dracut – To Purchase Equipment for the Department of Public Works
· $ 50,000 – Town of Tyngsborough – Electric Public Safety Vehicle Infrastructure
· $ 35,000 – Town of Pepperell – Affordable Housing Study
· $ 50,000 – UMass-Lowell/Middlesex Community College – Regional Biotech Training Facility
· $ 50,000 – Girls on the Run – Lowell Middle Schools
· $ 20,000 – Dwelling House of Hope
· $ 20,000 – Merrimack Repertory Theatre
In addition to the ten local initiatives listed above, Senator Kennedy also filed a corrective amendment allowing the Town of Pepperell to locate their proposed food hub at any location in Pepperell.
Kennedy praised Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for “their leadership during the budget process.”
The final budget has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives and has been placed before the Governor for her consideration.