Last week, Gov. Maura Healey signed House Bill No. 5100 into law. Known formally as an “Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership,” the legislation authorizes the Commonwealth to raise funds through the issuance of bonds and maps out the priorities for spending the funds raised.

Much of the bill’s language deals with statewide funding plans, like setting aside almost $1 billion to fund projects identified as “life science companies, hospitals, and research institutions.” But it is also customary for lawmakers to add amendments to fund projects in their home districts. In that context— and with the caveat that securing a line item does not guarantee that those funds will ultimately be spent— Dorchester did very well in this latest economic bond bill.

The “big ticket” item was an amendment written and secured by Rep. Daniel Hunt authorizing “that not less than $20 million shall be expended for a grant to the Martin Richard Foundation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Inc. to support the construction and renovation of the fieldhouse in the Harbor Point neighborhood in the Dorchester section of the city of Boston, a facility utilized for advancing the social, intellectual or physical needs of children and youth.”

That’s $20 million that can be used to help build or renovate the Fieldhouse+, the state-of-the-art facility that will be operated by the BGCD. The total construction cost is about $75 million, according to the latest estimate.

Two weeks ago, the BGCD’s Bob Scannell and Bill Richard, co-founder of the foundation named for his late son, announced that a groundbreaking will take place in the spring. In brief remarks at Saturday’s Grand Drawing fundraising event for the BGCD at the Fairmount Copley Hotel, Scannell gave Rep. Hunt— who was in attendance— a big shout-out.

It was well deserved.

Hunt has always been an enthusiastic champion for non-profits and community projects throughout his career on Beacon Hill. But securing $20 million for a single project is a major achievement and a testament to how well Hunt is regarded by his peers in leadership. It also reflects very well on the Fieldhouse+ project. There’s clearly recognition from the governor’s office on down that this is a very special project.

It’s a major boost and one that is richly deserved.

This Thanksgiving, please be sure to offer a special word of thanks to Rep. Hunt for his advocacy and behind-the-scenes skills to secure this financial support.

-Bill Forry

Other bond bill highlights

The following are other amendments of local note in the bill:

$5 million to Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Inc. for its new facility;
$2.5 million to the city of Boston “for the design and construction of the BCYF Dorchester Community Center”;
$300,000 for the Irish Pastoral Centre “for resources and staffing to provide educational and workforce training to low-income and marginalized residents”;
$250,000 for Gallivan Boulevard median for greening through tree cover”;
$500,000 to VietAID “for improvements of facilities and for support of its community programming”;
$500,000 to the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester “for infrastructure and facility improvements”;
$500,000 for “Boston Little Saigon, Inc. to establish and maintain ‘1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Memorial’ in Fields Corner”;
$1 million to “Fields Corner Main Streets to develop and maintain a transit-oriented, vibrant and diverse business district”;
$1 million for the Cape Verdean Association of Boston Inc. for “the acquisition of their building”;
$1 million shall to the Leahy-Holloran Community Center for fixes and maintenance of “the pool, locker room and restroom facilities.”