Healey testifies on UMass funding bill
BOSTON (WWLP) – Governor Healey testified on behalf of her higher education bill on Tuesday, seeking to invest up to $2.5 billion in the UMass system, state universities, and community colleges.
The governor's bill, dubbed the BRIGHT Act, is meant to address deferred maintenance projects, modernize and decarbonize buildings, and construct major projects. Governor Healey said the funding will also provide a boost to the economy.
Life sciences sector growth slows in Mass.
'They're also economic engines, job creators, workforce pipelines for our state,' Healey said. 'They train nurses, engineers, technicians that drive our industries forward.'
While the Bay State is a leader in education, top lawmakers say our facilities do not reflect that. Massachusetts' education secretary says many of the state's top higher education buildings have not been updated for the better part of half a century.
'Spaces that students, staff, and faculty spend time in can either facilitate or inhibit learning,' said Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. 'Our students deserve to learn in safe, green, high-quality environments.'
The bill also includes some policies that would strengthen the college building authority's ability to borrow money and contribute additional resources to supplement state funding. As with many governor-led projects, Team Healey says they want to get this work underway as soon as possible, but they do not have a timeline for funding implementation.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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