Senator Steve Baddour has issued a press release on the completion of the state budget. I appreciate the work put in by the Senator, as well as Representative Campbell and L’Italien. In his release Baddour highlighted some of the important local projects that earned support in this budget cycle.

Senator Baddour helps to secure additional funding for communities in budget

July 2, 2007, Boston – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced that significant funding was included for local projects and organizations in the state budget state budget approved today by the legislature. Investments focus on public safety, public health, economic development and education.

Among other projects, the budget includes the following provisions in local spending:

· $50,000 for the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Haverhill Means Business program
· $30,000 for the Korean War Memorial in Haverhill
· $25,000 for the Stevens-Bennett Home in Haverhill
· $75,000 for the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc., a community-based non-profit organization focused on public safety and education
· $125,000 for the Merrimack Valley Hospice Home Care, an organization that provides services to terminally ill patients
· $23,069,877 for the Methuen Armory
· $180,000 for the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center for the maintenance and operation of their programs
· $50,000 for the Methuen Branch of the Merrimack Valley YMCA to provide support for their programs
· $50,000 for the Northeast Family YWCA in Haverhill for their child care, youth development and housing and shelter assistance programs
· $300,000 for the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, a major force in improving the region’s economy
· Creation of a Joint Beach Nourishment Task Force to implement and develop the short term response plan and long term management plan to deal with the effects of coastal erosion on Salisbury Beach

“The funding that has been secured in this year’s budget will help all of these organizations maintain the exemplary level of service that the people of this district have come to know and expect from them,” said Senator Baddour. “I am happy to be a part of securing that funding, and look forward to continuing to work to insure that our district receives the resources we need to be successful.”

Representative Linda Campbell (D-Methuen) commented that “the extra $25,000.00 funding over previous budgets for the Arlington Neighborhood in Methuen is very much needed at this time as a Federal Weed and Seed grant is expiring. The extra funding is necessary for us to continue the great progress that has been made revitalizing and reducing crime in this neighborhood and the surrounding area.”