BOSTON – On Thursday, Nov. 3, the House and Senate voted to approve a major appropriations bill that includes $750,000 for new athletic fields at Old Rochester Regional High School. The funding for the fields is part of a larger economic development bill that would provide nearly $3.8 billion in funding for economic development programs across the Commonwealth.

Legislators had been attempting to reach an agreement on a compromise bill after differing versions of the legislation were passed by the House and Senate in July.

The bill, titled An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth, dedicates $500 million in federal Covid relief funds and the fiscal year 2022 state surplus towards a number of priority programs, including $1.4 billion for the health and human services sector, $540 million for programming in support of clean energy, $410 million to support affordable housing, and $112 million for transit.

“I believe we’re fortunate here in Massachusetts to be able to provide this level of state support to areas of our economy that have come under stress in recent years, and it’s an added benefit that we were in a position to fund local projects at the end of the legislative session, as well,” said Rep. Straus.

The bill now moves to Governor Baker for consideration.