Mass. To Get $8.7 Billion In Stimulus Aid

Patrick administration officials are estimating Massachusetts will receive about $8.7 billion in federal stimulus aid — and they're vowing to track every dollar.

Previously the administration had only said that the state would receive between $6 and $9 billion.

The amount could climb higher because some of the federal dollars will distributed through competitive grant programs and administration officials say Massachusetts is better poised than other states to win those grant dollars.

Officials testifying at a public hearing at the Statehouse Thursday also said the administration is planning to file a bill in the next few days to make changes in state law to allow Massachusetts to take full advantage of the federal stimulus money.