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Lenox Awarded $950K Grant for Downtown Improvements04:04PM / Thursday, July 09, 2009
LENOX, Mass. — Lenox has been awarded a $950,000 public works grant to help improve the town's gateways and West Street to the main gate at Tanglewood.
The funding is part of $8.6 million in infrastructure grants awarded to projects in eight communities as part of Gov. Deval Patrick's Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state's economic future. The money from the Executive Office of Transportation's Public Works Economic Development grant will be used for the Lenox Village Downtown Revitalization Project.
"This is great news!" said state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox. "During these tough economic times, the town of Lenox is making a big investment in its economic future and this PWED will allow the town to complete this project."
The project will rehabilitate the downtown's infrastructure and revitalize the seven-block area of Lenox Village. Project elements will include new sidewalks, new pocket parks, new gateways to downtown entrances and new lighting.
The PWED project will support the nearby roadway reconstruction project along West Street (Route 183), the roadway that links the village to Tanglewood. Improvements to West Street will include new sidewalks, new bicycle lanes and upgraded drainage. These two projects together are expected to create a much-improved gateway for Lenox and for Tanglewood, a critical component of the town and regional economy.
Town Manager Gregory Federspiel said the funding will be a boost to the revitalization project.
"The funds provided through the grant will play a significant role in allowing us to complete our Village Improvement Plan, which is critical to the revitalization of our historic village," he said. "Merchants and citizens are excited about they have seen in Phase 1 which is now partially complete. With this assistance from the Executive Office of Transportation, the town will be able to move ahead with Phase II and create a new vitality to our downtown area. The town of Lenox appreciates the support Governor Patrick and Transportation Secretary Aloisi are able to extend to us."
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, called it a major step forward in creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown. "The new bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and green spaces will certainly increase foot traffic and economic activity to the area."
The Executive Office of Transportation provides PWED funding awards to municipalities for transportation infrastructure improvements that will spur economic development, job creation, smart growth and better pedestrian access.
"The PWED grant program provides our communities with infrastructure funding that spurs private investment and economic growth throughout our commonwealth,” said Patrick. "This project in Lenox and others like it across the state demonstrate our commitment to regional equity, and promise to deliver long term economic benefits to cities and towns."
Since 2000, EOT has awarded $99.6 million in PWED contracts for 98 projects in 66 municipalities. This funding has leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment and helped create thousands of local jobs, both permanent jobs and temporary construction jobs, according to state officials.
Created by the Legislature in the 1980s, the PWED program plays an important role in the state's overall infrastructure investment strategy, and is meant to assist municipalities by supporting local projects that stimulate economic development. PWED is part of the Commonwealth Capital program for fiscal 2009, and is coordinated with other discretionary state spending programs that affect development patterns in Massachusetts. This coordination allows the state to leverage investments, economic development, housing growth and environmental sustainability.
Infrastructure investments are key components of Patrick's Recovery Plan, which combines a range of state and federal funding sources to provide immediate and long-term economic relief.
For more information about the Massachusetts Recovery Plan, visit www.mass.gov/recovery. |
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