Boston & New England CRE News In Your Inbox.
Sign up for Connect emails to stay informed with CRE stories that are 150 words or less.
Healey Proposes $2.5B Capital Improvements Program at State-Owned Universities
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday proposed a bill that would finance capital improvements at the UMass system, state universities and community colleges over a 10-year period. Known as An Act to Build Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher Education Transformation (the BRIGHT Act), the bond bill would leverage $125 million in Fair Share revenues from fiscal year 2026 to support an estimated $2.5 billion in new borrowing for higher education infrastructure.
The investments will help modernize campuses, including new labs, classrooms and improved health health facilities, according to Healey’s office. The bill will also create approximately 15,000 construction-related jobs.
Healey made the announcement at Bridgewater State University after touring its Cyber Range, where students learn cybersecurity skills. She cited the Cyber Range as an example of the technology and facilities the bill would support.
“Our public university and college campuses have suffered from historic underinvestment since they were built in the 1970s,” said Healey. “We refuse to kick the can down the road any longer when it comes to educating our kids and training our workers of tomorrow.”
- ◦Development
- ◦Financing
