Press Release  Governor Healey Delivers $5 Million to Nashoba Valley Communities for Emergency Medical Services

Boston — Today, Governor Maura Healey announced that her administration is distributing $5 million in grant funding to 13 municipalities in the Nashoba Valley region to support emergency medical services (EMS). This funding was earmarked specifically for Nashoba Valley communities to support them in the aftermath of Steward Health Care’s closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center.  

The funding is part of the $10 million in 2025 supplemental budget funding proposed by Governor Healey and approved by the State Legislature to support EMS statewide.  

“We know that Nashoba Valley communities have been feeling the strain since Steward walked away from Nashoba Valley Medical Center,” said Governor Healey. “I was proud to work with the Legislature to secure this funding for Emergency Medical Services nationwide, including millions for Nashoba Valley communities. We know there is still more work to be done, and we are committed to continuing to support emergency medical service providers and protect access to health care for everyone.” 

“When Steward executives closed Nashoba Valley Medical Center, we made a commitment to patients, health care workers, and first responders that they would not be left behind or forgotten. This investment from the Healey-Driscoll Administration proves that more than a year later, we remain fully committed to keeping that promise,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “By continuing to support first responders across the Nashoba Valley, we are ensuring communities have the emergency care they need while construction of UMass Memorial’s new, state of the art satellite emergency facility moves forward in Groton.”  

“I’m incredibly proud of the funding that was included in the supplemental budget for emergency medical services in Nashoba Valley, as many of the folks who live in those communities were left without access to health care when Steward executives chose greed over serving patients,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Governor Healey for working with the Legislature to make this funding a reality, as well as my colleagues in the House and our partners in the Senate for recognizing the importance of this critical support.” 

“These grants are an important step toward filling the emergency services crater left by Steward Health Care,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Ralph de la Torre walked away from this community, but we are stepping in. Through this supplemental budget, the Senate worked with the Administration and the House to deliver real dollars to help emergency services recover and ensure this region has access to the health care it needs. I’m proud the Legislature came together to make this funding possible, and I thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration for getting these resources out to communities quickly.” 

The 13 Nashoba Valley region EMS providers receiving an initial base allocation of $100,000 are: Ashby Fire/EMS, Ayer Fire Department, Boxborough Fire Department, Devens Fire Department, Groton Fire Department, Harvard Ambulance Service, Leominster Fire Department, Littleton Fire Department, Lunenburg Fire Department, Pepperell Fire Department, Townsend Fire-EMS Department, Shirley Fire Department, and Westford Fire Department.  

The remaining $3.7 million will be allocated proportionally, determined by changes in EMS call volume and increases in EMS transport time to the nearest emergency department. The Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management used EMS data and engaged with area fire chiefs to better understand the region’s priorities and administer the funding. 

“The closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center disrupted access to care and created serious strain on the health care system across the Nashoba Valley,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “We are listening closely to the concerns of area residents and emergency service providers, and we are using their firsthand experiences to drive decisive action and sustained support for this community.”  

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has been focused on supporting the Nashoba Valley community and all communities impacted by Steward and Ralph de la Torre’s greed and mismanagement. The administration has engaged extensively with fire departments and EMS partners in the area to learn about their needs. Governor Healey also convened a working group to collect community feedback, and the group submitted a report last spring. 

Earlier this year, Governor Healey and the Legislature also made $5.7 million available to support emergency responder staffing in certain communities. The administration also made available $2 million for the eight most heavily impacted area ambulance services for EMS infrastructure improvements as they faced increased strain on their systems and equipment. This funding was used for purchasing ambulances, new EMS and communications equipment, and repairs of existing equipment in Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend.  

Grants distributed from the $5 million in funds will be used to reimburse Nashoba Valley municipalities for extraordinary EMS costs through June 30, 2027. DPH used data submitted by each of the fire department-based ambulance services in these communities to examine changes in call volume and call times in the year after the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center and arrived at funding allocations based on these impacts.   

“I am proud of the collaborative efforts of the Nashoba Valley Legislative delegation to earmark this funding for public safety and EMS in our Cities and Towns," said Senator John J. Cronin (D - Fitchburg). "I’m also grateful for the Healey-Driscoll administration’s commitment to work with our local Fire Chiefs to deliver the resources our region needs until a Satellite Emergency Facility is opened in Groton by UMass Memorial Health. Today is a really big win for the Nashoba Valley region and North Central Massachusetts.” 

“Securing funding to support our emergency services and responders is vital in the wake of the tragic closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer," said Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). "I continue to advocate for addressing the healthcare gaps that were laid bare as a result of Steward Healthcare's closure of the hospital, and I appreciate the Healey-Driscoll administration's Department of Public Health releasing this funding. I am deeply grateful to Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues for ensuring that this $5 million in funding was dedicated to address emergency services in the Nashoba Valley region in a supplemental budget. This support will provide a necessary means of enhancing our emergency services care while working to create long term solutions to restore healthcare services in the community. As the State Senator for several Nashoba Valley communities, I urge my constituents to remain vigilant in participating in meetings, working groups, and advocacy groups, to continue to make progress on healthcare needs in the region." 

“When Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed its doors in August 2024, this region was plunged into an immediate health care crisis,” said Representative Margaret Scarsdale (D-Pepperell). “This grant award is the result of ongoing and robust collaboration, and I am proud to have championed these efforts as co-Chair of the Governor’s hospital sub-committee. Today’s news is a relief for our EMS providers, who have met every challenge with unflagging commitment and often with great sacrifice, and we are all grateful for Governor Healey’s leadership here.” 

“This funding is essential to our EMS providers and first responders, who have been under immense pressure since the closure of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center last year,” said Representative Dan Sena (D-Acton). “I’m thankful for the work of my colleagues in the legislature for making these funds available, and for DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein and the Healey-Driscoll administration.” 

“Our community EMS providers in Littleton, Westford and across the Nashoba Valley have had to absorb the extra support and resources needed after the closure of the NVMC,” said Representative James Arciero (D-Westford). “Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for working with the legislature and taking steps to address the needs of our critical first responders. 

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