For Immediate Release: July 20, 2004

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERRIDES VETOES FOR CAPE PROJECTS/ PROGRAMS: $100,000 FOR PROPOSED CAPE COD MARITIME MUSEUM IN HYANNIS; $75,000 FOR THE PROPOSED YARMOUTH CULTURAL CENTER OF CAPE COD; $100,000 FOR CAPE COD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL; $75,000 FOR CAPE COD TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL TECH TRAINING

The House of Representatives today overrode Governor Romney's vetoes of four earmarks into the House budget to promote economic development in the 2nd Barnstable District, which includes Barnstable and Yarmouth.

The earmarks were inserted in the budget by Rep. Demetrius Atsalis. The earmarks do not increase the bottom line of the budget, but merely directs state agencies to direct specific funding from their appropriated budgets to specific programs.

"I am very happy to report funding for two long-talked about projects - the Cape Maritime Museum on Hyannis Harbor and the Yarmouth Cultural Center in Yarmouth," Rep. Atsalis said. "The Maritime Museum is a crucial component in town's Walkway to The Sea, which seeks to unite the Main Street and Hyannis Harbor areas in an economic development district."

The Yarmouth Cultural Center, located near the banks of Bass River, will provide a wealth of educational and cultural opportunities for the citizens of Yarmouth and all of Cape Cod.

"The Cultural Center is another very worthy project that deserves funding to complete its mission," Rep. Atsalis said. "It has the potential to be an absolutely gem for the town and students in the DY Regional School District."

MARITIME MUSEUM - This one-time $100,000 matching grant project is proposed for the Anchor Outboard site on Hyannis Harbor. The building will be demolished and a new building constructed to accommodate small ships and other exhibits. The Museum will offer a rotating series of maritime exhibit experiences, programming offered to schools and residents, a museum store/gift shop, a visitor's center and a café.

The Museum will be a catalyst for energizing the Hyannis downtown and waterfront, and will serve as both a destination and a launching point for the Walkway to the Sea.

The total cost of the project is $7 million, with $500,000 already raised toward the effort.

YARMOUTH CULTURAL CENTER - This one-time $75,000 matching grant project is will be used to renovate a former bank building near Bass River in South Yarmouth for use as a cultural/educational center. Other uses include: classrooms, meeting rooms and 165-seat venue for theater, dance, lectures, etc. The Center will work closely with the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District to help supply some of the cultural offerings no longer offered to students because of budget cuts.

The total cost of the project is $2 million, with $500,000 already raised toward the effort.

CAPE COD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL - This $100,000 restored earmark is used by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce for economic development grants. The CCEDC keeps area businesses current about the latest trends and technological advances to use technology to their benefit, such as e- Commerce, computerized cash registers, accounting software, etc.

Other activities include: offering free business consulting services for existing businesses who wish to grow and expand and for prospective business owners, including financing options, refining business plans, etc.; continuing its coordinated work with the Business Information Center at Cape Cod Community College and SBA's SCORE to help existing businesses and prospective business owners.

CAPE COD TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL - This $75,000 restored earmark will be used by the CCTC to educate and train the Cape's workforce and create jobs to keep the Cape's 300 high-tech businesses growing and to allow those workers a chance to earn a decent living on Cape Cod instead of relying on low-paying service jobs for their income.

Specifically, the CCTC will sponsor several initiatives such as: Information Technology certification and training; Junior Technology Council, which networks tech savvy high school seniors throughout the Cape; venture capital financing; and high-speed telecommunications.

The CCTC's initiative is in consonance with the Barnstable County's Cape Cod Commission. The Commission has set forth priorities in its Regional Policy Plan to develop the region's clean-light industry, preserve the Cape's fragile environment, and diversify the Cape Cod's economy, which currently relies too heavily on tourism.