Providing Our Communities with Economic Relief ~ IN OUR CORNER with STATE SENATOR DIANA DIZOGLIO

12/22

Hello Valley Patriot Readers,

Now more than ever, our working families and small businesses need every possible resource to make it through these challenging economic times.

That is why I am so grateful we recently passed comprehensive economic development legislation that provides our communities with sorely needed tax relief and invests in important projects, in the Merrimack Valley and across Massachusetts, to help bolster the local economy and overall quality of living.

The legislation, which was passed with unanimous, bipartisan support, aims to ease the financial burden facing individuals and families, putting money back into taxpayers’ pockets. It ensures a record $3 billion in tax relief payments, the most ever in state history, and includes investments to support our health care system, help residents with rising utility costs and promote economic growth through job training, downtown revitalization, and grant opportunities for our small businesses.

In the Merrimack Valley specifically, the legislation includes funding to support a first-ever Methuen Youth and Community Center, with resources toward facilities, staffing and programming. While we still have a way to go, this crucial investment will bring us one step closer to making the dream of this center a reality.

Once up and running, we will have the opportunity to provide our youth with mentorship opportunities and social and emotional learning to inspire them to pursue their talents and reach their goals.

The bill includes additional investments across our communities, including but not limited to resources toward greenspace for community events and increased parking capacity at Greycourt Park in the City of Methuen; funds for downtown improvements in the City of Amesbury; resources around economic recovery in the City of Haverhill, including support for the Merrimack Street development project; and funding to support a feasibility study around the building of a new MBTA commuter rail station in the Town of North Andover.

While there remains much work to be done, I am grateful we took action and passed this legislation, which will help to ease the economic hardships faced by our communities.

If you have any questions on this or any other issue, please feel free to contact me anytime via email at Diana.Dizoglio@masenate.gov or phone at 978-984-7747

Yours in service,

Diana ◊