Whip Clark celebrates $11M for Mass. Fifth District community projects

Funding improves local air and water quality, bolsters climate resiliency, strengthens food security and more; Malden and Revere receiving funds

Advocate staff report

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Massachusetts Fifth District) celebrated the House’s passage of a funding package that includes $11 million for 13 local community projects in the Fifth District. The projects were selected in collaboration with state and local leaders. “These 13 projects will touch so many lives in our community,” said Congresswoman Clark. “This federal funding will help clean our air and water, enable the construction of new community gathering spaces, and advance our work of building climate readiness and resiliency. I want to thank my partners in local and state government for helping me identify these critical priorities. This is how our elected leaders should operate: partnering together to deliver for families back home.”

This legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden later this week. A detailed summary of the bills is available at https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/FY24%20Summary%20of%20Appropriations%20Provisions.pdf

Congresswoman Clark’s 13 community funding projects include 3 local ones:

Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC), City of Malden: $1,000,000. The funding will be used to acquire and renovate an existing building to create a single and permanent home for an Asian American Community Center. The purchase of a location will increase access, improve capacity and strengthen the programming that GMAAC is currently providing.

“The Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC) and the larger AAPI community are beyond thrilled and deeply grateful for Whip Clark’s foundational support towards the establishment of an Asian American Cultural and Community Center in Malden!” said GMAACC Cofounder Mai Du. “This federal funding is one giant step towards making the vision of a permanent home for AAPIs of all ages to have a communal space to gather, socialize, learn, volunteer, connect, and thrive as vibrant members of our collective community. In the midst of heightened anti-Asian hate and violence in the last few years and throughout the pandemic, seen locally and nationally, Whip Clark’s steadfast support and care in the many years has made us feel truly seen, heard, and respected. Her leadership and actions affirm our human dignity as important members of her district. We cannot thank her enough for her continual commitment to see the project through!”

Malden River Works Project, City of Malden: $1,560,000. The funding will be used by the City of Malden to fund the construction of the Malden River Works Project. This project will ensure the operational capabilities of Malden’s Department of Public Works and provide the community with a new park on a historically inaccessible waterway.

“This news couldn’t have come at a better time. Between myself and my team, the project’s Steering Committee, and our passionate residents, we are so eager to see the Malden River Works project move forward,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “This project will upgrade Malden’s Department of Public Works yard to include a climate-resilient park along the Malden River. With the announcement of this funding award, we can finally go out to bid and start the first phase of construction on the project. Thank you so much to the hard work and determination of Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren for getting us to this point!”

Riverside and Gibson Park Project, City of Revere: $500,000. The funding will be used by the City of Revere for construction costs for shoreline stabilization and the Gibson Park portion of the project – aimed at reducing risk and redeveloping the Gibson Park and Mills Avenue Neighborhood. The project benefits the climate resilience of the community.

“The City of Revere is grateful for the ongoing support of the Gibson Park Project. Bringing resiliency and recreational benefits to the community will offer great opportunity for our residents and builds off a yearslong planning process,” said City of Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe. “A project of this magnitude requires many partnerships to successfully bring it to fruition. We are especially appreciative of the strong strategic advocacy from Congresswoman Clark to recognize and support flood risk reduction measures for this neighborhood, which has been experiencing increasingly significant flooding events over the past ten years.”