Senate President Spilka and Senator Fernandes Highlight Tourism and Mental Health in Plymouth and Barnstable
FY26 budget investments showcased on Plymouth Waterfront and at Pocasset Mental Health Center
(PLYMOUTH, MA—7/25/2025) This week, Senate President Karen Spilka joined Senator Dylan Fernandes for a tour of key sites across the Plymouth and Barnstable District, spotlighting Fiscal Year 2026 budget investments in the region’s tourism economy and the preservation of care at the Pocasset Mental Health Center.
The visit included a tour of the historic Plymouth waterfront, followed by a visit and roundtable discussion at the Pocasset Mental Health Center to discuss the state of the facility and the importance of continued investment in mental health care on Cape Cod. The day also included a press conference with state officials and a representative from See Plymouth.
“Our state succeeds when we give each region the tools to build a strong local economy and support their most vulnerable,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “In Plymouth and Barnstable, a strong economy means investing in tourism, and supporting residents means delivering mental health care at Pocasset. I’m grateful to Senator Fernandes for his advocacy for both of these priorities, and I am proud that the Senate delivered them in the final budget.”
“The Plymouth and Cape region is the most beautiful place in the commonwealth home to remarkable people and businesses that make our state thrive,” said Senator Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “Tourism drives thousands of jobs and small businesses in our region, while the Pocasset Mental Health Center provides life saving support to our most vulnerable neighbors. I am deeply grateful to the Senate President for her support in securing tourism and mental health funding and joining me in our region to discuss the priorities of our district.”
Plymouth Waterfront Tour
The Senators toured sites across the Plymouth waterfront, including several supported by direct appropriations in the FY26 budget. The tour was followed by a press conference. Investments included:
$25,000 for the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce (tourism promotion)
$25,000 for the Plymouth Downtown Waterfront District
$30,000 for See Plymouth to support radio promotions
$15,000 for renovations at the Sandwich Glass Museum
$25,000 for the Sagamore Visitor Center
$50,000 for the restoration of Historic Spooner’s Alley
According to the most recent economic impact report, tourists in Plymouth County spent $975 million in 2023, directly employing 7,600 people and generating over $78 million in local and state tax revenue. Statewide, visitors spent $23.6 billion—supporting 154,330 jobs and producing $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenue, or approximately $835 per Massachusetts household.
Pocasset Mental Health Center Visit
Later in the afternoon, the Senators toured Pocasset Mental Health Center, a facility that offers long-term behavioral health care on Cape Cod. The facility supports individuals with intensive mental health needs, many of whom would otherwise cycle through short-term hospital care.
The FY26 budget includes $4.8 million to fully fund the operation of the Pocasset Mental Health Center, language that originated in the Senate’s budget.
During the visit, Senate President Spilka and Senator Fernandes met with officials from the Department of Mental Health and facility administrators to discuss the importance of sustaining high-quality, community-based mental health care. The tour also included a look at the residential care facilities that house clients receiving treatment.
Senate President Spilka is a career-long advocate for increased access to quality mental health care. A social worker by training, she championed the expansive Mental Health ABC Act: Addressing Barriers to Care bill that was signed into law in 2022. This law ensures that every Massachusetts resident receives an annual mental health wellness exam, addresses logistical and bureaucratic barriers to mental health care access, and supports the behavioral health care workforce.
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