Natick Labs to get $2.3 million in stimulus for repairs

NATICK — .The Department of Defense awarded the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick $2.3 million in economic stimulus funds for construction and repair projects on the base.

The Soldier Systems Center, also known as Natick Labs, designs what soldiers wear, eat and carry in the field. The funds come at a critical time, said state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, who is chairman of the House Federal Stimulus Oversight Committee.

“These funds are coming to the state at a time when supplementary money is not available for these facilities,” Linsky said. “The additional resources will allow the employees at Natick Soldier Systems to continue their critical research in developing innovative technology for our service men and women.”

The base provides jobs for MetroWest residents and develops equipment, clothing and food for those serving in the military, said state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, who is Senate chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

“Natick Soldier Systems is critically important to both the men and women who serve in our nation’s military and to the Massachusetts economy,” Spilka said. “Advancements to our high-tech national defense are developed right here in the MetroWest, and it is important that we keep these jobs and this research here, in the heart of the innovation economy.

"I am extremely pleased that these federal stimulus funds will bridge potential budget gaps for the center and allow them to continue their excellent work.”

The projects at Natick Labs funded with the stimulus dollars are:

- Repair sewers - $45,000
- Replace heating systems - $100,000
- Replace windows - $100,000
- Repair roadway - $1,900,000
- Exterior repairs to U.S. Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility - $175,000


All the projects have been awarded contracts and are currently in the planning or design stages. The start dates for the work range from October 2009 to May 2010, and an influx of local construction jobs as a result of the projects is anticipated.