Press Releases

LOWELL, MA. - Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) applauded the awarding of $150,000 in federal grant funding from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Project to the Northern Middlesex Regional Council of Governments. 

“With local governments being forced to carry the brunt of the load that COVID-19 has brought to our communities, this funding will be incredibly helpful in getting Lowell and surrounding communities the assistance they deserve,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “It’s critical that our region gets back on its feet and provide greater economic infrastructure for future generations too. While CARES Act funds continue to work their way to Greater Lowell, it’s clear that more relief is needed.”

“The economic injury created by COVID-19 has been devastating for our region and the nation.  Small businesses, such as restaurants and retail establishments, have been particularly hit hard. The CARES Act grant provided by EDA will allow us to develop an Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan that addresses impacts to health care, loss of employment and income suffered by our residents, and concerns around housing and food security,” said Beverly Woods, Executive Director of the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments. “The ability of the region to prepare for and survive future economic shocks and disruptions, natural disasters, and public health emergencies will be enhanced through technical assistance and capacity building support for communities and economic development stakeholders across the Greater Lowell region.”

The goal of COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Project grants is to support redevelopment and revitalization in respective regions in order to address the economic development needs of communities negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The funding will be used to respond to the economic destruction caused by COVID-19 within the Greater Lowell Region. The long term goal is to help mitigate disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as prepare the region for future natural and economic disasters while advancing economic resiliency throughout the region.

Background:

Trahan supported the passage of the CARES Act in late March to deliver $2.2 trillion in relief to working families, emergency personnel, small businesses, and state and local governments. That critical legislation included $1.5 billion for economic adjustment assistance through the EDA to help revitalize local communities who have suffered losses because of the pandemic. EDA assistance can be used to help rebuild impacted industries such as tourism or manufacturing supply chains, capitalize local funds to provide low-interest loans to businesses of all sizes, and support other locally-identified priorities for economic recovery.

The Northern Middlesex Regional Council of Governments is a public agency governed by a policy board comprised of local elected officials from the City of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the eight surrounding towns of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford.

###