Lawmakers Finally Agree: New Revs Stadium on the Way

It's been a long journey, but Massachusetts lawmakers have finally reached a compromise on a major economic bill. This bill, called the "Mass Leads Act, " will funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into life sciences and climate technology. It's also great news for soccer fans, as it paves the way for a new stadium for the New England Revolution in Everett. This isn't the first time project supporters have tried to get approval, but this time, it looks like things are moving forward. The Kraft Group, which owns the Revs, has been searching for a new stadium site for years. Now, they're focused on a shuttered power plant in Everett, right across from the Encore Boston Harbor casino. But there are still some hurdles to overcome.Boston officials are concerned about traffic in Charlestown, so the latest language includes a provision for community benefits agreements. If an agreement can't be reached with Boston, an independent arbitrator will step in. Even with the Legislature's approval, the stadium proposal still needs to go through state and local permitting and mandated negotiations with Boston officials. The bill also includes funding for the life sciences sector and climate-tech businesses, as well as $100 million for the artificial intelligence sector. Lawmakers say this bill will help grow sectors where Massachusetts is already a leader. The goal is to make the state attractive for businesses to start and stay here.