Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) was joined by State Representatives Carmine Gentile and Simon Cataldo to highlight federal funding she secured to support key Concord 250 projects ahead of next year’s celebrations.

“With just six months until Concord hosts visitors from around the world for our semiquincentennial celebrations, it was great to see the progress being made on key projects at the Wright Tavern and all across Minute Man National Historical Park,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I’m proud to have secured significant federal funding to help prepare for Concord 250, and I look forward to working with community leaders, national park officials, event organizers, and volunteers to make this celebration a resounding success.”

“The federal funding secured by Congresswoman Trahan is absolutely critical to our success in hosting Concord250. This investment will allow us to enhance our historic sites, improve visitor experiences, and truly showcase the significance of Concord's role in American history,” said Concord Town Manager Kerry Lafleur. “We're deeply grateful for her leadership and the continued support of our legislative delegation.”

“Thank you to Congresswoman Trahan for her crucial support to ensure that Concord's 250th anniversary will be a celebration worthy of the town’s rich history and national significance,” said State Representative Carmine Gentile. “I look forward to working with the rest of Concord’s state delegation to ensure the town receives additional resources and support from the Commonwealth in order to make the Semiquincentennial an incredible success.”

“I am grateful for the support of Congresswoman Trahan and Congress in directing substantial federal funds to supplement state grants in support of Concord’s historic places. The Wright Tavern and Minute Man National Historical Park will be center stage during next year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the shot heard ‘round the world,” said State Representative Simon Cataldo. “These funds will preserve the rich heritage of these sites, ensuring that their significance is preserved for future generations to learn and draw inspiration.”

The lawmakers visited the Wright Tavern where she was joined by members of the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust as well as state and local officials to see the impact of the $521,265 federal grant she helped secure through the National Park Service’s Semiquincentennial Grant Program. Built in 1747, the Wright Tavern is home to some of America’s most significant historical moments, including the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1774 and the gathering place of the Minutemen who organized the resistance against the British in the Battles of Concord and Lexington in 1775. The federal investment will support the Trust’s multiphase plan to preserve the Wright Tavern and re-establish it as a historic education center and community meeting place ahead of Concord 250.

“We are honored and excited to receive this grant from the National Park Service. Rep. Trahan’s support brings the dream of the Tavern to life as a historic gathering place to exchange ideas,” said Wright Tavern Legacy Trust Chair Tom Wilson. “Federal funding for the Wright Tavern is a rallying cry for our future — fortifying our heritage as we prepare to assemble for learning, dialogue and celebration within these historic walls. Just as our forebears gathered here, we honor their legacy and inspire new generations. Together, we’re building a stronghold of education and community as we approach America 250.”

After leaving the Wright Tavern, the lawmakers joined Minute Man National Historical Park Superintendent Simone Monteleone and local officials to tour the work being done on the trails surrounding the Old North Bridge, the site of the Shot Heard ‘Round the World. The park is deploying $27,400,000 in federal funding through the Great American Outdoors Act to complete several restoration and preservation projects to prepare for an increase in visitors during Concord 250. This year, Minute Man also received another $1,440,000 in federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act to support temporary staffing needs and invasive vegetation management ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations.

In 2020, Trahan supported passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation to close the $22 billion deferred maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands across the country, including the $27.4 million allocated to Minute Man National Historical Park. Trahan also voted in 2022 to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which, in addition to reducing prescription drug prices and decreasing energy costs for families, allocated funding for ecosystem restoration and resilience projects on federal lands like national parks.

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