Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined with Middlesex Community College (MCC) President Phil Sisson and senior leadership for a roundtable discussion on how the $13,699,521 in American Rescue Plan relief funding awarded to MCC is being put to use. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III Award for Students was $6.9 million and $6.7 million for the institution. 

“For a year and a half, students at Middlesex Community College have overcome tremendous adversity caused by this pandemic to continue their education. The relief from the American Rescue Plan is key to ensuring those efforts won’t be derailed by housing insecurity, hunger, or another preventable obstacle,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I’m grateful to President Sisson and Middlesex leadership for their tireless efforts to get this financial assistance distributed and for always prioritizing their students’ health and success.”

“Our main goal at Middlesex is to make education equitable and accessible for all of our students, and as we support them on their paths to success, we need the resources and services to be able to do so,” President Sisson said. “Although this past year has presented unprecedented challenges, our students have been able to continue their education thanks to Congresswoman Trahan’s efforts to advocate on behalf of the community college, our student population, and their ever-changing needs. We are so grateful for the work she has done and continues to do to support our students in staying financially and physically healthy, and meeting their goals.”

In March, Trahan supported passage of the American Rescue Plan, which included a total of $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges, and universities nationwide, including nearly $82 million for institutions of higher education in the Third District. Middlesex Community College received more than $13.6 million of that funding.

During the discussion, Trahan was briefed by Middlesex Community College leaders on how the funding, at least half of which is required to be disbursed to students in the form of cash grants for housing, food, or other necessary expenses, is being used to address financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. MCC has focused much of its efforts with the most recent round of federal relief on financial assistance for students, including debt forgiveness of $4.3 million from HEERF (MCC) Institutional Funds, but has also worked to distribute technology and address food insecurity for students in need. The HEERF III Student Funding of $6.9 million is being disbursed on a semester basis to students and will continue through the Fall of 2022.

“By alleviating the burden of institutional student debt, we are investing in our students’ futures and are better able to provide them with a strong foundation for success as they proceed in their lives,” said Frank Nocella, MCC’s Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer. “The work that Congresswoman Trahan does for our community makes this possible. As an open access institution, our population of students have diverse needs. We are proud to be able to meet them, especially during this time.”

Understanding the diverse student population it serves and the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, Middlesex Community College also briefed Trahan on their efforts to support students’ health and wellbeing. The College was a recipient of $20,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding through the City of Lowell to address food insecurity in the MCC community. From June 2020 to May 2021, the funding was used to serve approximately 200 students, including by providing healthy frozen meals and personal care items such as body soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.

“Without access to basic needs, such as food and housing, our students cannot focus their attention on education,” said Pamela Flaherty, MCC’s Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students. “At Middlesex, we have two functioning food pantries that rely on donations from partners and individuals throughout the community. During the pandemic, we were able to put food and gift cards directly into the hands of our students who needed it most. Meeting these essential needs is what makes a community college – and Middlesex in particular – a fixture in the communities we serve.”

A final topic of discussion was Middlesex Community College’s Law Center, which has a working partnership with local housing and support organizations like Community Teamwork, Inc. to assist in housing mediation cases. To support those efforts locally, the Law Center received $35,000 through the City of Lowell’s CARES Act relief funding to help prevent homelessness by keeping tenants stably housed and landlords from mortgage and tax delinquencies and foreclosures. The MCC Law Center is one of 12 Community Mediation Centers assisting with the operation of a statewide Housing Mediation Program sponsored by the Department of Housing and Community Development. It is also providing housing mediation services under the Eviction Diversion Program through the Attorney General’s Office.

“The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized and increased the plights some of our students face in securing stable housing, which directly affects their ability to complete their education,” said Colleen Cox, MCC’s Chief Administrative Officer. “MCC’s Law Center not only helped the college identify these students, but were critical in assisting them in maintaining their housing situations. With stable housing, students are more likely to have their most basic physical and emotional needs met, leading to a higher opportunity for academic and long-term success.”  

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