What MA Spending Bill Means For Reading

READING, MA — A series of projects and programs with ties to Reading will receive $175,000 thanks to an economic development spending bill state lawmakers sent to Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month.

Baker signed the majority of the legislation into law on Thursday of last week, approving money for Reading as part of a roughly $3.76 billion package combining unspent federal pandemic stimulus money and state surplus funds.

The agreement hashed out by legislators included larger funding for projects ranging from MBTA safety and service upgrades to energy assistance and affordable housing.

It also noted a long list of more specific earmarks for individual municipalities and organizations.

Reading’s earmarks are as follows:

• $25,000 for improving accessibility and expanding Reading’s community garden
• $25,000 for the expansion of the Reading Food Pantry and for costs associated with helping the food pantry better address food insecurity issues
• $100,000 to implement Reading’s Rapid Recovery Plan for downtown Reading
• $25,000 for the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce to support its work on behalf of the local business community

The Reading Community Garden opened this year in the Mattera Conservation Area near the Reading/North Reading line. The garden gives residents an option to rent plots to grow flowers or produce for personal use or donation to the Reading Food Pantry.

The Food Pantry is based at 6 Salem St. in Reading.

Reading developed its Rapid Recovery Plan in 2021, meanwhile, aiming to identify ways to help boost the local economy in the aftermath of COVID-19 and its economic impacts.

This economic development bill emerged on Nov. 3 after months spent stuck in talks between legislators.

The bill has drawn mixed reactions from Baker and other state leaders, who have expressed disappointment that envisioned tax cuts and stimulus checks for some taxpayers didn’t make it into the final legislation.

"While I am disappointed that the bill does not include permanent tax relief that is affordable and was supported by our administration and the Legislature, I am pleased that the Commonwealth’s strong financial position allows us to make these critical investments on behalf of our communities," Baker said in a statement after his signing last week.

Speaking before the signing, Reading state legislators noted money set to come into Reading through the then pending economic development bill.

“The economic development bill will provide an infusion of federal and state funding to assist the Town of Reading and communities across Massachusetts in recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and building a stronger economy,” State Rep. Brad Jones said. “Working together, the Reading legislative delegation was able to successfully advocate on the town’s behalf to ensure that the final bill reflects some of Reading’s top local priorities.”