Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined with State Representatives Danielle Gregoire (D-4^th Middlesex) and Carmine Gentile (D-13^th Middlesex), as well as Marlborough City Councilor At-Large Samantha Perlman, to highlight relief funding from the American Rescue Plan flowing to the City of Marlborough, organizations that provide critical support to those in need, and working families.

“In a time of incredible hardship, the American Rescue Plan has served as a lifeline for working families, small businesses, and community organizations,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “From food assistance to the child tax credit to small business relief, this relief package has provided funding that not only supports communities like Marlborough in their recovery efforts, but will also help them thrive. I’m pleased to see the way these critical investments have buoyed local community staples like Marlborough Community Cupboard and Zarape, and I look forward to continuing my support alongside my colleagues at the state and local levels to bolster our community.”

Congresswoman Trahan voted in March to pass the American Rescue Plan, sending $11,835,814 in long overdue local government relief to the City of Marlborough to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. In Marlborough and across Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional district, the investments of the American Rescue Plan have been critical in supporting working families, keeping small businesses afloat, and bolstering community organizations in the important work they do.

“It was fantastic to see all of the completed work at the Marlborough Community Cupboard this morning. The staff and volunteers provide an invaluable service to Marlborough residents in an unprecedented crisis,” said State Representative Danielle Gregoire. “I truly appreciate Congresswoman Trahan’s work to highlight investments made using American Recovery Plan funds. This money, when infused directly into our communities, helps families who have been hardest hit by the financial aspects of the pandemic. Additionally, being on the ground and having the ability to connect with the clients, we had the opportunity to share information about the Child Tax Credit, which will be another boost to families who need it most.”

“As Massachusetts moves forward, the American Rescue Plan, combined with increased state revenue receipts will help working families throughout the Commonwealth thrive, produce jobs, deepen and broaden our safety nets,” said Representative Carmine Gentile. “I’m thankful for Congresswoman Trahan’s success in obtaining needed relief for Marlborough and communities throughout the district.”

“It is our partnership with our state and federal officials that made our ability to combat this pandemic possible,” said Councilor Samantha Perlman. “Our families, local businesses and community organizations were on the front lines and benefited greatly from the increased federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. It was a treat to have Congresswoman Trahan visit us here in Marlborough today and see firsthand the crucial impact of this funding on our community. We are grateful for her continued support of a thriving Marlborough.” 

During their first stop, the lawmakers distributed food at Marlborough Community Cupboard, a local food pantry that has worked hard to keep Marlborough families fed throughout the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan provided the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with $3.6 billion to purchase and distribute food through nonprofits. To that end, the USDA announced last month that it would invest $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to support food banks, including $500 million to purchase nutritious, domestically produced food for state food bank networks through The Emergency Food Assistance Program and $400 million toward purchases aimed at strengthening local and regional food systems.

“All of us at United Way are grateful for the Congresswoman’s leadership and support in helping us feed hungry families in our region,” said Paul Mina, United Way of Tri-County President and CEO. “We are also happy to participate in her efforts to make the expanded Child Tax Credit a reality.”

Beyond support for food banks like Marlborough Community Cupboard, the American Rescue Plan made key investments in SNAP, WIC, Pandemic EBT, and other nutrition assistance programs, including an extension of the maximum SNAP benefit increase to 15 percent through the end of September. While at Marlborough Community Cupboard, Trahan also highlighted the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit, which will begin sending monthly payments of up to $300 per child to families starting tomorrow, July 15th. The expanded credit will benefit more than 129,000 children across the Third District, with an average benefit of $2,600 per eligible household.

The lawmakers also visited Zarape Restaurant, a local, family-owned small business where they met with owner Rosa Varela and her children, Ana and Luis. After nearly 10 years of serving the Marlborough community, the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll, but the restaurant was able to keep their doors open and their workers employed as a result of receiving $121,600 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding secured by the CARES Act last year. 

“We are so happy to have had Congresswoman Lori Trahan come visit us. The pandemic has been very challenging for our restaurant but we’re grateful for the support and help we’ve received from our community and local and federal government,” said Ana Varela of Zarape Restaurant. “We all loved meeting our Congresswoman, getting the chance to speak to her, and learning more from her about the future federal small business grants and resources she hopes will soon be available and will benefit more business like ours.”

The American Rescue Plan built on the creation of PPP by establishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and $5 million per physical location. Zarape applied for funding through the RRF, but the fund ran out of money before they could get approved due to an overwhelming number of applicants. Trahan has been a strong supporter of replenishing the fund —  much like she was when the Paycheck Protection Program ran out of funding last year — and is working to ensure that businesses like Zarape continue to benefit from these critical investments in their recovery.

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