Funding has been secured for the proposed SMAST building in New Bedford.

Senator Mark Montigny's office announced on Thursday that Governor Charlie Baker has approved his bond language for roughly $30 million in funding to construct a new 76,000 square foot research facility to enhance the mission and research of the School for Marine Science and Technology.

The funding will come from a funding from a state Higher Education Bond Bill.

Once completed Montigny says the new building will replace the former Naval Reserve Center and become part of the existing campus along South Rodney French Boulevard.

The facility will provide research space for scientists and graduate students who will focus on fisheries, coastal preservation, ocean modeling and climate issues.

Montigny also says the new research building will also be a boon to the region's fishing industry.

“At a time when archaic federal regulations and unfair mandates based upon inaccurate data have devastated and hamstrung hardworking fishermen and their families, SMAST has been a critical partner with the fishing industry to provide more accurate fish stock assessments,” said Senator Montigny. “The groundbreaking of this new state-of-the-art facility marks an important milestone in the long delayed process to expand the school and further develop the important research being done to help support fishermen and our local economy.”

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