State Releases $14B Capital Investment Plan

04:05PM / Saturday, June 24, 2023Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration released its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) to Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) Capital Investment Plan (CIP), which invests more than $14 billion over five years.

The more than $14 billion in investments in the FY24-FY28 CIP complement and build on the funding proposed in the administration's inaugural operating budget, with a particular emphasis on advancing climate, economic development and housing goals – including the creation of a new $97 million HousingWorks program.??

"Our FY24-FY28 capital plan includes major investments that are designed to make Massachusetts more affordable, competitive, and equitable for everyone," said Governor Healey. "It starts with addressing the high cost of housing by investing historic levels of funding into housing development, preservation and rehabilitation and creating HousingWorks, a new program dedicated to expanding affordable housing. It also moves us forward on our climate and transportation goals, underscoring the important role that electrification plays in protecting our environment and improving public transportation service. We're also expanding support for tried-and-true economic development programs and dedicating crucial resources to updating infrastructure across the state."?

Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has been focused on establishing the structures and resources needed to tackle the state's housing crisis, including establishing the new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). The capital plan continues these efforts through investment in housing, with over $1.5 billion committed to housing initiatives, including programming to support the construction of hundreds of new, affordable housing opportunities each year.??

As part of this investment, the CIP dedicates $97 million in FY24 to launch a new HousingWorks program – a pioneering initiative from EOHLC that leverages existing programs and an injection of new funding to create a more flexible funding tool for increasing housing production. The creation of HousingWorks also unlocks an additional $19M in capacity for the popular MassWorks program.??

The capital plan also reflects the administration's commitment to meeting the state's climate goals, with decarbonization and climate-conscious investments woven throughout the plan. Through FY28, the plan invests over $1.4 billion in the state's transportation systems to reduce emissions through electrification, create more sustainable modes of transportation, and build resilient infrastructure prepared to withstand the impacts of a changing climate. Over five years, the plan also includes over $1.6 billion to fund more than 40 state building decarbonization projects.??

The administration's first capital plan also provides resources to drive economic development, preserve and modernize state infrastructure, invest in cities and towns, and make government more effective for its residents.??

"This capital plan is bold in its investments while still being fiscally responsible," said Secretary for Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. "We are proud to be able to both carefully manage the state's financial obligations and make critical investments that meet the moment and set the Commonwealth up for success. The FY24-FY28 CIP is a responsible and sustainable spending plan that invests thoughtfully in the state's people, its economy, and its future."?

Notable investments in the FY24-FY28 CIP include:?

Investing Historic Levels in Housing Production and Preservation?

The FY24-FY28 Capital Investment Plan represents a historic investment in housing, with over $1.5 billion committed to help finance the construction of hundreds of new, affordable housing opportunities each year. Specifically, the plan includes:?
A new $97 million per year HousingWorks program – a pioneering initiative from the new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities that builds on the successful MassWorks model and leverages an injection of new funding plus the consolidation of several smaller housing programs to create a flexible tool for housing development, preservation, and rehabilitation; will enable 200-300 new units of affordable housing each year.?
In addition to HousingWorks, the FY24-FY28 CIP invests $90 million per year toward housing acquisition, rehabilitation, and development.??
The plan also includes $120 million per year to preserve the Commonwealth's existing public housing stock, which consists of more than 43,000 units.?

Fully Committing to Our Climate Goals?

Record climate investments are woven throughout the entire capital plan, including:?
Over $1.4 billion through FY28 to reduce emissions through transportation electrification, creation of sustainable transportation alternatives, and construction of resilient infrastructure to withstand the impacts of a changing climate.?
Consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 594, the plan invests over $120 million toward a zero-carbon future by supporting the conversion of central plants and moving away from on-site fossil fuels in state buildings.??
Over five years, the plan funds more than 40 projects at state buildings with a focus on decarbonization, with total project values over $1.6 billion.?
Municipal climate-focused grants will receive over $125 million in funding in the FY24-FY28 CIP. In FY24 alone, EEA will provide nearly $24 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning and grant programs.?
The CIP also continues the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to investing in environmental justice, including $736,000 to unlock $4.1 million in federal funds for ambient air monitoring, as well as the strong support for community-based resiliency programs and funds for parks, trails, and open spaces.

Driving Economic Development?

Through FY28, the Executive Office of Economic Development will invest $1.2 billion in capital funding throughout the Commonwealth, including:?
$163 million to strengthen communities across the state, including grant opportunities available through the Community One Stop for Growth application portal.?
Nearly $80 million will be invested in innovation, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing to maintain the Commonwealth's position as a leader in these key industries. This includes funding for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Institute, and MassVentures START program.?
An additional $19 million in capacity for MassWorks, made possible by the shift of housing-focused grants to the new HousingWorks program.?

Preserving and Modernizing Our Assets?

$262 million towards replacing the Cape Cod bridges, ultimately ramping up to a $700 million total long-term commitment.?
Investing $106 million over the next five years to fund the construction of a new, modern Hall of Justice in Springfield to replace the current aging facility.??
Funds the construction of new veterans' homes in Chelsea and Holyoke.?

Partnering With Cities and Towns?

Over $270 million is invested annually in local transportation programs, including $200 million for Chapter 90.?
$134 million in library construction grants to support the renovation and expansion of municipal libraries across the Commonwealth.?
$50 million in Cultural Facilities Fund grants will be awarded through FY28.?
$74 million in local support for investments in technology through capital programs through FY28.?

Building Efficient and Effective Service Delivery?

$840 million in funding for modern, climate-resilient higher education campuses across the state.?
Funding to replace the old Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain with a newly renovated facility on the site of the former Boston Medical Center Hospital in Boston's South End.?
$421 million in IT upgrades in FY24 alone, including projects to:?
Upgrade electronic health records management at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.?
Make interoperability upgrades at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.?
Develop an integrated and modernized data repository at the Executive Office of Education.?
$10 million will launch the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security Digital Roadmap, improving access to all Commonwealth digital services.?

The Governor's Capital Investment Plan message and details on specific CIP investments can be found here.?

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
02:17PM / Wednesday, August 05, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Princess.

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her."

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said.

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her."

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

View Full Story