Shrewsbury May Get $250K In New MA Economic Development Bill

SHREWSBURY, MA — The state Senate last week passed its $2.86 billion economic development bill, promising millions for local projects in cities and towns across the state — although the final version of the proposal still has a long way to go.

The Senate's bill is the chamber's own take on economic development proposals from the state House and Gov. Maura Healey. The Senate bill has been sent back to the House for reconciliation ahead of a July 31 deadline for the end of this session — a deadline lawmakers have blown by many times before.

The economic development bill authorizes the state to borrow billions for larger initiatives aimed at stimulating the climate technology and life sciences sectors. But there's plenty in the proposal for local initiatives, too.

Here's what Shrewsbury would get, according to the law passed last week:

• $75,000 for an economic development strategy to promote business development along Route 20
• $25,000 for the façade grant program for improvements to commercial buildings of small businesses
• $150,000 for multimodal transportation enhancements and the construction of urban park enhancements in Shrewsbury’s town center business district

The Senate bill is also packed with several other notable policy initiatives, including allowing Massachusetts bars and restaurants to have "happy hour," a vote against putting the Worcester-based Cannabis Control Commission into receivership and including 18-year-olds in the juvenile justice system.