New Bedford State Pier to Receive Funds for Refrigeration System

Some much-needed renovations will soon be underway at New Bedford State Pier after the state announced $3.5 million in funding toward the installation of a refrigeration system. 

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito made the announcement on State Pier alongside New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and other state and local elected officials Thursday afternoon.

Polito chairs the state's Seaport Economic Council and has shifted its focus to supporting local communities along the coast.

"We re-purposed this council to take the assets like this along our coastline and use them to their fullest extent possible for economic development," Polito said.

Previously, the State Pier could only store perishable cargo in the cold winter months. Mitchell said the state's investment will allow the Pier to operate as a year-round facility.

"What refrigeration does is it opens up this place year-round," Mitchell said. "More vessels can come in and more people can be put to work."

Mitchell said the city will quickly show returns on the investment in economic and job growth.

The funds for the project stem from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation which manages the pier and will be included in the Gov. Charlie Baker's FY17 budget.