Cabral Secures Funding for New Bedford, Gateway Cities

BOSTON — Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral (D-New Bedford) secured significant funding for New Bedford and other Gateway Cities in the FY19 state budget (H 4400) passed by the House of Representatives this evening.

NEW BEDFORD
Rep. Cabral secured $450,000 for UMass Dartmouth’s SMAST for fisheries research for the fifth consecutive year.

Rep. Cabral also fought for $143,948,778 in state funding for the New Bedford Public Schools, an increase of almost $20 million over FY16’s allocation, and $23,785,245 in unrestricted general government aid for the City’s budget.

Rep. Cabral won the following amendments that will benefit local programs and organizations, passed by the House of Representatives:

--$100,000 for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, education, and counseling programs at the Women’s Center in New Bedford.
--$100,000 for production at Zeiterion, Inc.
--$80,000 for youth programs at the Dennison Memorial Community Center.
--$75,000 for outreach and educational programming at AHA! Arts, History, & Architecture of New Bedford.
--$50,000 for opioid abuse treatment at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center.
--$50,000 for the Frederick Douglass House of New Bedford.
--$50,000 for water quality monitoring at the Buzzards Bay Coalition.
--$25,000 for the youth apprenticeship program at the New Bedford Festival Theatre.

“The work these New Bedford organizations do is far-reaching and commendable. From keeping our youth engaged to providing vital substance abuse treatment, the services these City institutions I’ve partnered with provide are truly invaluable to our community,” said Rep. Cabral.

GATEWAY CITIES
Leading as Chairman, the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus was also successful in advocating for specific line item allocations and passing a number of amendments which yielded increases in funding for transportation, education, and workforce development initiatives listed below:

--$82,000,000 for our Regional Transit Authorities, an increase of $2 million as a result of the Caucus’ advocacy on behalf of an amendment.

--$2,000,000 for Dual Enrollment grants, which enables high school students to earn college credit, a significant increase over the FY18 allocation.

--$750,000 for the Community College Workforce Training Incentive program.

--$250,000 for the English Language Learners Gateway Cities Program.

STATE-WIDE PROGRAMS
Several state-wide programs saw increases that will specifically benefit New Bedford families. Rep. Cabral helped secure an additional $200,000 for the Parent-Child Home Program, which operates in New Bedford. Through this program, children and their families receive individualized educational support to improve literacy. Rep. Cabral also advocated for the Citizenship for New Americans Program (CNAP), which received $400,000, to assist low-income, permanent legal residents of Massachusetts in the process of becoming U.S Citizens.

The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration.

--Rep. Cabral's Office