Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
LOWELL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Federal, state, and local leaders gathered at Lowell High School on Wednesday to celebrate two federal grants that will help make the schools cooler and roads greener.
The first grant is a $15 million aid to fix air conditioning and heating in classrooms.
“We’re now living September in October, and it’s going to keep getting warmer and warmer,” Senator Ed Markey said.
80 percent of schools in Lowell do not have proper cooling, have sporadic heating, and a slew of other problems, which the funds aims to fix.
The school districted competed, and won, against 23 other districts in the country to secure this federal grant.
“That tells you everything you need to know about how competitive it is.” Congresswomen Lori Trahan (D-MA 3rd District) told WBZ NewsRadio.
Congresswoman Trahan grew up attending Lowell public schools. “I could have told you there was a need back in 1991 when I was in a classroom here,” she continued. “But it’s great to see the money finally come through.”
The second grant the city received is a $6.8 million investment to add seven new hybrid electric busses as both Markey and Trahan are pushing for more public work repairs in the town.
“This revolution is powered, not by the churn of the Merrimack river, but now by a rush of federal dollars,” Senator Markey said.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
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