New Bedford Would See $87 Million Under Baker Proposal

NEW BEDFORD — More than $87 million in federal ARPA funding would be allocated to the city of New Bedford by the state under a new spending plan proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

If Baker's second ARPA proposal gets through the state legislature, the bulk of the funds would go towards offshore wind-related improvements at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal between Wright and Blackmer streets.

It's part of a proposed $3.5 billion spending bill the governor released late last month, after his first ARPA spending bill was rejected by the legislature last year.

The new proposal outlines funding set aside for specific projects in each of Massachusetts' 351 communities, using nearly $2.3 billion in federal ARPA money along with $1.2 billion in state capital spending.

Renovations at the terminal would see $50 million in funding, while redevelopment of the terminal's bulkhead would garner $13 million and $11 million more would go towards other offshore wind infrastructure and industry support programs at the terminal.

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A marine commerce terminal expansion project would also receive $5 million from Baker's proposed bill.

In all, $79 million of the city's proposed $87.4 million in ARPA funding — more than 90% — would go directly to the Marine Commerce Terminal for offshore wind-related development.

This does not include $18.7 million in statewide funds that would be set aside for improving port facilities for offshore wind in Massachusetts overall.

Other New Bedford projects funded through the plan include $5 million to replace lead water and sewer lines and $1.7 million to remediate old insulation and other materials at the Hetland Ice Arena.

More than $1.4 million would be set aside in a downtown recovery grant, while $250,000 would go towards a project to improve West Rodney French Boulevard.

Under the same proposed plan, the city of Fall River would receive just over $9.4 million in funding, while Taunton would get just over $6 million.

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