Healey Administration Releases Funding for Local Priorities in FY 26 Budget, Providing $75,000 in Earmarks to Lowell Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michelle Bouchard, Office of State Representative Tara T. Hong
Healey Administration Releases Funding for Local Priorities in FY 26 Budget, Providing $75,000 in Earmarks to Lowell Organizations
LOWELL, MA – On Monday, October 20th, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance informed legislators that all funding for local priorities in the FY 26 budget would be released.
Included in the FY 26 budget are $75,000 in earmarks filed by 18th Middlesex District State Representative Tara T. Hong. Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA), Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA), and the Latinx Community Center for Empowerment (LCCE) will each be receiving $25,000 in earmark funding for their organizations. “I am grateful to the Healey Administration’s decision to release much-needed local funding,” Hong said. “This funding comes at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty on the federal level, and these earmarks will provide the organizations in our community the support they need to continue their critical work.”
CMAA’s $25,000 earmark is for their After School Cultural Program and Rising Stars Sports & Leadership Summer Day Camp that serves over 100 students annually. “We are deeply grateful to State Representative Tara Hong for his leadership and unwavering support for our community,” said Sothea Chiemruom, Executive Director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA). “This $25,000 earmark will directly strengthen CMAA’s afterschool program, helping us expand academic support, cultural enrichment, and mentorship opportunities for our Cambodian American youth in Lowell. Representative Hong’s investment ensures that our young people have the tools, confidence, and connection to their heritage they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.”
CBA will receive a $25,000 earmark for their YES! Year-round Out-of-School-Time program, which serves Acre youths ages 5-14. Coalition for a Better Acre Executive Director, Dan Rivera, commented “As CBA works towards building safe spaces for Acre youth, Representative Hong’s hard work and commitment to bring these dollars to the district is going to have a great impact on the lives of these kids. We at CBA are grateful and honored. It could not have come at a better time!”
LCCE’s $25,000 earmark will go toward their workforce development program, which includes ESOL classes, resume building, interview training and job placement services. “We are deeply grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their support and commitment to creating equitable access to education and opportunity,” said Diego Leonardo, Executive Director of the Latinx Community Center for Empowerment (LCCE). “This $25,000 investment will lower barriers to education in Lowell and help our community members develop the language, professional, and workforce skills they need to achieve upward mobility and long-term success.”
"The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Coalition for a Better Acre, and the Latinx Community Center for Empowerment do incredible work for the Lowell community, giving children a safe place to learn and play and preparing residents to succeed in the workplace," said Governor Maura Healey. "I'm proud to have worked with Representative Hong and the Legislature to deliver this funding to these worthy community organizations."
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