A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO MASSACHUSETTS
Economic Development
Dartmouth – UMASS-Dartmouth’s National Textile Center Research Support – Senator Kennedy has been a strong advocate for the cutting-edge textile research performed at UMASS-Dartmouth through its role as one of eight regional National Textile Centers.
Stow—Radant Technology—Senator Kennedy helped to secure $1 million for FY07 the Micro-Electric Micro Systems (MEMS) Demonstration radar system. This year’s funding will allow for the testing and evaluation necessary to put this technology to use in the arsenal of intelligence gathering systems used in Global War on Terrorism. MEMS systems are substantially smaller and lighter than existing systems. Radant Technologies produces radar systems for the military, and makes the vast majority of radar domes (radomes) on Navy ships. Radant Technologies, Inc. has 30 employees currently working on the project, with another 20 jobs expected during the production phase.
Westborough—American Superconductor—Senator Kennedy obtained $3 million for the High Temperature Superconductor motor. Current Navy ships use a mechanical drive system, which takes up a lot of space and is very heavy. Electric drive systems are quieter, and can provide additional power to run other applications on the ship. American Superconductor is producing a motor that would provide the same power output as the current motor in use on the DD(X), but would be smaller, efficient, and quieter than existing technology.
Waltham—Foster Miller—Senator Kennedy worked to obtain $1 million in FY07 funding for Liberating Technologies, a Foster Miller company, who produces the Advanced Lower Limb prosthesis for battlefield amputees. Liberating Technologies has done advanced work on upper-limb prosthesis technology that can detect and nerve impulses to direct the prosthesis. They will adapt this technology for use in lower limbs. Our nation’s veterans are returning home should be guranteed the most advanced medical technology available to make their transition back to society as easy as possible. The Advanced Lower Limb Prosthesis for Battlefield Amputees will helps towards those ends.
I-495 Corridor – I-495 Technology Corridor Initiative – Senator Kennedy supported the I-495 Technology Corridor Initiative created by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Massachusetts High Technology Collaborative by securing $450,000 in federal funding. The I-495 Technology Corridor Initiative was created to examine the host of environmental, quality-of-life, and business competitiveness issues raised by the continuing growth throughout the region and to develop recommendations to ensure that the region remains a great place to live and work in the new century.
Westborough – Center for Technology Commercialization’s Homeland Security Public Safety Technology Center – Senator Kennedy supported the development of the Public Safety Technology Center by securing more than $2.5 million in federal homeland security grants. This funding will create a regional homeland security center of excellence to provide training to law enforcement personnel from across New England and develop new public safety technologies.
Chelmsford—Triton Biosystems—Senator Kennedy helped to secure $1 million for the research and development of Targeted Nano-Therapeutics for Advanced Breast and Prostate Cancer. This selective therapy would have low-side effects for patients that suffer from metastatic breast and prostate cancer. Along with the completion of safety, toxicology and efficacy testing for FDA submission, the funding will be used for human clinical trials.
Lawrence – Malden Mills – Senator Kennedy has long been a supporter of Malden Mills, which employs over a thousand people in one of the more economically depressed areas in the region. This year, Senator Kennedy helped secure more than $20 million to produce cold-weather clothing and develop advanced fiber technologies for the military. Much of this work will be performed at Malden Mills.
Lowell – UMASS Lowell – Senator Kennedy helped secure $2 million for development of nano-scale multifunctional sensors. These sensors will help the military detect chemical and biological threats, to protect our soldiers in the field. UMASS Lowell is a center for nano-manufacturing, which will help keep Massachusetts at the forefront of this field.
Gloucester – Washington Street Corridor Improvements – Senator Kennedy secured $3 million to make improvements to Gloucester’s Washington Street Corridor. The funding will be used to improve rotary access to Washington Street and to undertake pedestrian, sidewalk, and roadway improvements to reduce congestion and enhance commerce in downtown Gloucester and reduce congestion..
Lawrence – Lawrence Gateway Redevelopment – Senator Kennedy secured more than $7 million in federal funding to support the Lawrence Gateway project, a comprehensive partnership of the City of Lawrence, GenCorp Corporation, Lawrence General Hospital, and community groups designed to clean industrial brownfields, build public transportation facilities, attract businesses downtown, and open up Lawrence to private sector investment.
Lowell – Lowell Gallagher Intermodal Center and LRTA Buses – Senator Kennedy helped complete Lowell’s Gallagher Intermodal Center as the region’s central bus hub -- expanding public transportation opportunities throughout the city -- and helped the Lowell Regional Transit Authority acquire new buses and trolleys by securing more than $5 million in federal transportation funding.
Merrimack River Dredging – Senator Kennedy secured funding to enable the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan on how best to remove the debris and sedimentation that is limiting the ability of commercial and recreational boaters to safely navigate the Merrimack River.
Pioneer Valley Life Science Institute – Senator Kennedy helped establish the Pioneer Valley Life Science Institute, a partnership between UMASS-Amherst and the Bay State Medical Center designed to establish a strong and vibrant biotechnology industry in Western Massachusetts. Currently, over 50 research jobs have been created and hundreds more are expected to result from this historic partnership, which has secured more than $6 million in competitively awarded research grants to date and has tens of millions of dollars in additional proposals under review.
Pittsfield – Scelsi Intermodal Center – Senator Kennedy worked with Rep. John Olver to secure more than $8 million for the construction of the $11 million Scelsi Intermodal Center in Pittsfield. In 2004, Senator Kennedy attended the grand opening of the Scelsi Center, which will serve as a regional transportation hub and promote the expansion of cultural tourism in Berkshire County.
Phoenix House Drug Treatment Programs – Senator Kennedy secured more than $200,000 to support Phoenix House’s drug treatment programs. Since 1969, Phoenix House of Springfield has helped men and women lead drug-free lives. Phoenix Academy, opened in 2001, is the only residential treatment facility for adolescents in Western Massachusetts.
Northampton – Redevelopment of the Northampton State Hospital Site – The Northampton State Hospital site is being developed with new residential, office, and retail facilities, and Senator Kennedy secured $200,000 to assist with the planning and engineering of these improvements.
Amherst – Safe Seafood Project – Senator Kennedy supported the UMASS-Amherst Safe Seafood Programs work with the US Department of Agriculture by securing more than $2.1 million of federal funding of this important work. Seafood is one of Massachusetts’ chief exports and developing new methods of ensuring its safety is an important goal to protecting this key sector of our economy.
Holyoke – Holyoke Canalwalk Revitalization Project – Senator Kennedy secured $5.6 million to help with the construction of the Holyoke Canalwalk Revitalization Project, a two-mile pedestrian promenade along the Connecticut River and Holyoke’s historical canals intended to draw people to the waterfront and act as a catalyst for private sector investment. The Holyoke Canalwalk will connect to the Connecticut River Walk in Chicopee and the Norwottock Rail Trail in Northampton.
Holyoke – Police Science Laboratory Development – Senator Kennedy helped Holyoke Community College obtain $500,000 for the development of a police science teaching laboratory to support the development of a new forensic science curriculum featuring DNA fingerprinting and other biotechnology applications. This funding will help HCC acquire the research equipment needed to enhance its criminal justice and science course offerings.
Springfield – Revitalization of the State Street Corridor –Senator Kennedy helped secure $9.8 million for road, sidewalk, and pedestrian improvements along the State Street Corridor in Springfield between Main Street and St. Michael’s Cemetery.
