Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue participated in a briefing with University of Massachusetts System President Marty Meehan, University of Massachusetts Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, and other UML officials on how the university will put relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to work.

“The American Rescue Plan funding for institutions of higher education was designed to bolster efforts to keep students safe and on track in their education. Today’s briefing showed just how integral that relief has been in those efforts at UMass Lowell and across the UMass system. I’m grateful to President Meehan and Chancellor Moloney for their commitment to ensuring that this federal investment is going to those who need help the most – the students. I look forward to continuing our work together to deliver for UML students, our community, and our Commonwealth,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

“The American Rescue Plan provides funding to communities and institutions that will be critical to their ability not only to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, but to emerge stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to serve the residents who depend on their success. For the City of Lowell, ARPA offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to make significant investments that will improve the quality of life for all residents. UMass Lowell is an indispensable asset to the Lowell community, and we are pleased the University will receive relief through the American Rescue Plan so that it can continue to provide an attainable pathway for individuals of all backgrounds to receive a top-quality education,” said Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue.

“Congresswoman Trahan has been a great friend of the University of Massachusetts during a most challenging time,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “The federal support that she has fought for has allowed the university to continue our mission despite a global pandemic that caused historic economic and health challenges for our campuses, our students, and many of our staff and faculty.”

“We greatly appreciate and thank Congresswoman Trahan for her work to deliver to UMass Lowell the critically needed funds to support our students’ success. As we emerge from the pandemic, this federal support has helped UMass Lowell come back even stronger, allowing us to continue to enhance our programs as we continue to serve our students and our community,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney.

UMass Lowell was recently awarded $27,551,474 in higher education relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to address severe financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue serving their students safely. UMass Lowell officials said the funds will help strengthen the university’s programs for first-generation students, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and environmental sustainability initiatives.

The American Rescue Plan allocated a total of $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide. Colleges and students in Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District received a total of $81,819,954 of that emergency funding. At least half of the funding will be distributed in the form of emergency cash assistance grants to students who are facing hunger, homelessness, and other hardships.

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