Creating jobs and strengthening state-owned assets
The state owns, operates, or manages nearly 61 million square feet of real estate and facilities across Massachusetts. Through the Capital Investment Plan (CIP), the Healey-Driscoll administration has prioritized maintaining these valuable assets, which include higher education campuses, Veterans Homes, courthouses, and public health facilities. Investments in, and upgrades to, state facilities have generated opportunities for contractors and supported thousands of good-paying construction jobs across Massachusetts.
On the Map: Investing in Campus Infrastructure
Massachusetts' public higher education system includes fifteen community colleges, nine state universities, and five University of Massachusetts (UMass) campuses serving approximately 215,000 students. The Healey-Driscoll administration has prioritized investing in these campuses' infrastructure so students have the modern, well-maintained facilities they deserve. Example projects include:
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA): Upgrades to critical campus infrastructure such as steam, electrical and water systems.
- Holyoke Community College: Roof replacement for the campus gymnasium.
- Quinsigamond Community College: Accessibility improvements in the Suprenant Building, allowing better access to QCC’s auditorium and other meeting spaces.
- Bridgewater State University: Rebuilt and modernized elevator in Hart Hall, a key academic building on the East Campus.
- UMass Lowell: Replacement of the primary steam infrastructure, upgrades to the exhaust system, and upgrades to electrical infrastructure to increase efficiency for research labs at the Olney Science Center.
Making it easier for residents to access government services
The Healey-Driscoll administration has used capital dollars to deliver accessible, user-friendly, and secure digital experiences for residents.
In March 2023, the administration launched MyMassGov, which allows residents to digitally access multiple state services with a single set of login credentials, and manage their profile information in one place.
As of June 2026, MyMassGov supports dozens of sites and applications, (including the Registry of Motor Vehicles or RMV, and Unemployment Insurance) and is available in six languages.
Caring for Massachusetts veterans
Massachusetts’s Veterans’ homes offer high-quality housing and holistic care for our veterans, including medical care, rehabilitation, and social activities. Under the Healey-Driscoll administration, transformative improvements at both the Chelsea and Holyoke Veterans Homes have ensured that those who have served our country receive the comprehensive care and support they deserve.
The Veterans Home at Chelsea's Quigley Building was replaced by a new, state of the art, long-term care facility in Spring 2023, with all residents moved in by early 2024. The new Home provides 154 long-term care beds for veterans, all with private rooms and bathrooms as part of 14-bed "homes" that have a community living room, dining room, and kitchen.
The building fosters a nurturing and dignified living environment by prioritizing individual privacy and autonomy while cultivating a sense of community through shared living spaces, and achieves 100% fossil-fuel-free status through 145 geothermal wells and a rooftop solar array.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has continued to invest in the broader campus as well: demolition of the now-vacant Quigley Building is underway to improve accessibility and campus flow, and will create 118 new parking spaces, including 8 EV charging stations, along with a new green space at Malone Park for residents, visitors, and neighbors.
At the Veterans Home in Holyoke, the new 350,000 square foot facility is coming to life. Existing capacity will expand by 116 beds to serve up to 234 veterans with modern long-term care and amenities, including 212 private rooms with private baths and showers and 11 double rooms for veterans who prefer a roommate.
When the new facility opens in Fall 2026, residents will gain access to multiple gardens, an inpatient dental suite, and rehab facilities. An additional $4 million in ARPA funding is supporting one-time capital purchases to prepare for opening, including medication distribution systems and environmental services equipment. This new beacon on the hill sets a new standard for how Massachusetts cares for those who served.
Protecting state assets
State buildings and facilities support residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Modern, well-maintained public facilities ensure access to essential services, improve operational efficiency, and reflect good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Impact Spotlight: Framingham Regional Justice Center
In May 2026, the Healey-Driscoll administration broke ground on a new Regional Justice Center (RJC) in Framingham, a state-of-the-art courthouse that will consolidate several existing courthouses. The RJC is located at the site of the former Danforth Museum in downtown Framingham, and the facility will reuse architectural elements from the Danforth in commemoration of the site’s historic significance in the city.
Additionally, the new RJC, which is slated to be completed in 2029, will be fully accessible, energy efficient and sustainable. Once complete, this will be the first courthouse in Massachusetts to utilize geothermal energy.
Impact Spotlight: Modernizing the State Public Health Lab in Jamaica Plain
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services owns and operates 479 buildings with a total of 6,750,000 square feet. Among these facilities is the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Jamaica Plain Campus/State Public Health Laboratory, which is a 24/7/365 facility delivering core public health services including biological, chemical, and environmental testing. It is the only facility in the state that performs tests for rabies, arboviruses, botulism, pandemic strains of influenza, and chemical and biological agents of terrorism.
Later this year, the Administration will complete renovations that align the Lab with best practice standards for modern laboratory and office space planning, including state-of-the-art infrastructure and security, flexible layout, and spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration. Given the importance of the work conducted in the facility, the renovation project has been intricately phased to maintain 24/7 operations throughout construction.
| Last updated: | June 26, 2026 |
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