The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office kicks off a series of meetings Wednesday in Haverhill to advise local officials on tapping into possible federal grants for Massachusetts infrastructure, climate and economic development projects.
Gov. Maura T. Healey previously set aside interest on the state’s rainy-day fund to help communities meet required grant matches under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act. Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office Director Quentin Palfrey plans to give a presentation to Merrimack Valley officials and then meet in small groups.
“We plan to provide information about what federal grants and financing opportunities are available to communities and how our office can help Massachusetts applicants be successful in securing awards,” said Palfrey. “We want to hear directly from communities about local priority infrastructure projects so the administration can support these key investments,” he added.
The meeting takes place Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott St. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas is expected to open the summit.
Other state and regional officials expected are Jody Jones, program executive at the Mass Broadband Institute; Kristen Rebelo, community grants administrator at Mass. Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Deputy Climate Chief Jonathan Schrag.
Last September, Healey signed legislation that unlocks up to $750 million for Massachusetts to pursue federal funding opportunities.