Brockton Enterprise
By Mina Corpuz
BROCKTON — The City of Champions is expected to receive $35.6 million from a federal spending bill that aims to provide relief from COVID-19 and help the country recover from its effects.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat whose district includes Brockton, and Mayor Robert Sullivan made the announcement Monday and Lynch gave an overview of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
“Recovery is on the beacon and we can see it right now,” Sullivan said. “Now is the time to rebuild The City of Champions, the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the country as a whole.”
Brockton has had over 12,000 cases of COVID-19 and 410 residents have died from the virus, he said. A moment of silence was held for those residents, as well as former city resident and middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, who died over the weekend at the age of 66.
Lynch highlighted areas that the bill will fund, including day care to help parents return to work, support and reopening measures for school and help for small businesses and specifically restaurants impacted during the pandemic.
“The whole idea behind the $1.9 trillion is to really help America heal, and help America get back to work and help Brockton get back to work and to business,” he said.
To respond to COVID-19, the spending plan includes $20 billion to expand vaccine distribution across the country and $7.6 billion for vaccinations and testing at federally qualified health centers like Brockton Neighborhood Health Center.
Lynch said money will also go to communities like Brockton that have been heavily affected by COVID-19. He said that burden has been especially great for communities of color.
The American Rescue Plan also includes support for individuals and families, such as $1,400 in direct payments to eligible adults and dependents, $300 per week for unemployment benefits until Sept. 6 and up to a $3,600 payment per child through an increased child tax credit.
Lynch credited Congressional delegation member Rep. Richard Neal, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, as an architect of the spending plan.
The funding is expected to come to Brockton within 60 days, Lynch said, and it is intended to let communities determine how to spend the money.
Sullivan said the city will decide how to distribute the funds and that the areas Lynch outlined are a good start.
He said Lynch has been a good partner for Brockton to have during the pandemic. Sullivan recalled that the congressman was the first person to give him a call last year and ask what the city needed to respond the virus.
This is a windfall,” Sullivan said about the federal funding. “As the congressman said, this is a catalyst for healing — emotional, financial and physical healing.”
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