大波士頓獨棟住宅中位價突破百萬元大關

             (Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓的獨棟住宅中位價格6月時創歷史新高，打破100萬美元大關。

大波士頓地區房地產經紀人協會（Greater Boston Association of Realtors）週四（7月17日）表示，今年6月，大波士頓地區房價就已經達到7位數。在今年銷售高峰期最近這幾個月，售價已逐漸達到那個價位。

大波士頓地區房地產經紀人協會會長暨Reading鎮總理（Premier）房地產集團東主Mark Triglione說，如果有人還想要大波士頓是全美最多人想要住地區之一的證據，6月份的獨棟住宅中位價格就是最好的佐證。

這個本地房地產商協會把大波士頓地區定義為遠至495號公路，包括數以打計市鎮，但並不全在麻州東部5個郡縣（Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth 和 Suffolk）之內的地方。

另一方面，全美房地產經紀人協會 (NAR) 則從地理角度更廣泛地看待都會區，涵蓋全美五個縣。該協會估計，截至今年第一季度，都市區獨棟住宅的中位數為 73.4 萬美元。

這段時期尚未出現典型的季節性價格上漲，但這足以使其在各大都會區中排名第七，落後於矽谷、洛杉磯和西雅圖，但領先紐約、邁阿密和華盛頓特區。

政府官員試圖透過新的全州分區政策（例如《麻州灣交通管理局社區法》）和提供多餘的州財產來刺激新房屋增長。在波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 的領導下，過去幾年經濟適用房的供應有所增加，而劍橋市則在今年早些時候投票決定終止獨棟住宅分區政策，以增加新房供應。

根據沃倫集團 (Warren Group) 的數據，截至 5 月份，麻州獨棟住宅的均價為 666,125 美元。

Healey Creates Statewide Task Force to Prevent Hunger

 As Trump Cuts Food Assistance, Governor Healey Creates Statewide Task Force to Prevent Hunger  

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating an Anti-Hunger Task Force that will work to prevent Massachusetts families from going hungry as President Trump cuts food assistance for children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. The task force is a public-private partnership that will bring together leaders from state and local government, food banks, non-profits and business leaders, as well as those who are directly impacted by federal cuts, such as SNAP recipients, farmers and small business owners. They will advise the Governor and produce recommendations for how Massachusetts can mitigate against President Trump’s cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs and adopt long-term solutions to hunger. 

“President Trump’s cuts are going to force millions of people – children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities – into hunger. They’re also going to hurt local farmers and retailers who rely on these programs to support their business and create jobs. In Massachusetts, we won’t accept that,” said Governor Healey. “That’s why I’m bringing together the incredible leaders who work every day to provide food to families in need as well as those who will be directly impacted by these cuts to advise on how we can prevent hunger in our communities.” 

“We know that Team Massachusetts is full of leaders across the public and private sectors who are committed to ending hunger and who have valuable insights for how we can work together to mitigate the negative impacts of President Trump’s cuts to food assistance,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Their partnership will be invaluable as we navigate these challenges and do everything we can to support our residents, and we thank them for stepping up to join this task force.”   

Earlier this month, President Trump signed a law that cuts SNAP benefits, imposes new and burdensome eligibility requirements, and fundamentally alters its cost-sharing partnership with the states. As a result, thousands of Massachusetts residents who rely on SNAP to keep food on the table may lose this assistance. These cuts will also hurt farmers and small businesses by taking away business from them. President Trump has also previously cancelled $12 million in federal funding to provide local, healthy food to child care programs and schools, $3.4 million from a program that provided food to food banks, and another $6 million to a program that purchased food from local farmers to provide healthy local food to families in need. 

The task force will work in coordination with existing food security initiatives in Massachusetts, including Make Hunger History, a statewide, cross-sector initiative of 300+ organizations led by Project Bread to create a coordinated, community-informed roadmap to end hunger in Massachusetts. 

The Greater Boston Food Bank recently released their Cost of Hunger in Massachusetts 2025 report, which found that 1 in 3 Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity in 2024. Rates of hunger in Massachusetts have steadily risen over the past five years, growing from 19 percent in 2019 to 37 percent in 2024. Programs like SNAP and school meals, which President Trump has targeted for cuts, have been proven to be effective in reducing food insecurity. 

Anti-Hunger Task Force members include: 

• Co-Chair: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah, or his designee 
• Co-Chair: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, or her designee 
• Co-Chair: Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, or his designee 
• Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz, or his designee 
• Aging and Independence Secretary Robin Lipson, of her designee 
• Secretary of Economic Development Ashley Stolba, or her designee 
• Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones, or her designee 

• Secretary of Technology Services and Security Jason Synder, or his designee 
• Secretary of Transportation Monica Tibbits-Nutt, or her designee   
• The Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources Ashley Randle, or her designee 
• The Commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw, or her designee 
• Commissioner of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, or his designee 
• Commissioner of the Department of Higher Education Noe Ortega, or his designee 
• Commissioner of the Department of Public Health Robbie Goldstein, or his designee 
• Commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance Jeff McCue, or his designee 
• Executive Director of the Office for Refugees and Immigrants Cristina Aguilera, or her designee 
• Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg, or her designee 
• 2 members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House 
• 2 members of the Senate designated by the Senate President 
• 1 designee from Project Bread 
• 1 designee from Greater Boston Food Bank 
• 1 designee from Worcester County Food Bank 
• 1 designee from Food Bank of Western Massachusetts 
• 1 designee from Merrimack Valley Food Bank 
• 1 designee from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute 
• 1 designee from Massachusetts Food System Collaborative 
• 1 designee from Massachusetts Association for Community Action 
• 1 designee from Massachusetts Municipal Association 

• 1 designee from the United Way 

And such additional members as the Governor may appoint from geographic areas across the state who represent interested constituencies, including but not limited to, SNAP recipients, farmers, fishers, food producers and growers, food manufacturers and retailers, statewide hunger relief organizations, legal services, faith communities, tribal organizations, veterans, philanthropy, municipal organizations, councils on aging, and business leaders.

1,100 More Mass Residents Gained Employment in June, Unemployment Unchanged

 1,100 More Mass Residents Gained Employment in June, Unemployment Unchanged

More than 131,000 Massachusetts residents have gained employment since 2023

 

BOSTON – Today, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for June, with preliminary data indicating 1,100 more Massachusetts residents gained employment, which includes individuals in private and non-profit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 1,900. Additionally, while more individuals entered the Massachusetts labor force in June, the labor force participate rate and unemployment rate remained unchanged. Preliminary data is based on survey data provided by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

 

Payroll jobs did experience growth in some BLS categories including 1) Education and Health Services, 2) Construction, and 3) Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. In addition to payroll data, BLS also reports preliminary data that indicates 1,100 more Massachusetts residents were employed in June for a total 3,767,900; employed residents, this data includes individuals who are self-employed (e.g. contractors, physicians, and drivers) and are not captured in payroll job data.

 

“As more Massachusetts residents enter the labor force, it is vital that we continue to make investments in job training, reduce barriers to employment, and connect untapped talent to local career opportunities,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “We are encouraged that data shows job postings remain stable—and growing for some industries—and our administration is dedicated to helping employers build their workforce right here in Massachusetts.” 

 

This month, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced key investments in the state’s workforce, including a $10 Million Investment in Workforce Training for English Learners and $2.7 million in RISE workforce grants to fund ESOL services, career readiness wraparound supports, and job training and placement services to eligible participants.

 

Some other workforce highlights over the month include:

• The Executive Office of Education released new data in early July showing a 40 percent increase in students attending community college through MassReconnect, a major strategic education, workforce and economic investment.
• CNBC named Massachusetts the Most Improved State for Business.

 

Among recent company visits, Secretary Jones met with members of the Cape & Islands MassHire Workforce Board to tour SenCorpWhite, a leading advanced manufacturing company and provider of unique end-to-end automated solutions for the packaging and management of our client’s products.

 

“SencorpWhite is actively recruiting for multiple roles across our organization—including software engineering, information technology, customer service, field service, engineering and sales,” said SenCorpWhite Director of Human Resources Noelle Forde. “As a Massachusetts-based manufacturer located on Cape Cod, we continue to invest in local talent to support our innovation and growth.”

 

• EOLWD also released its second Apprentice Jobs Report to highlight job creation generated by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s registered apprenticeship program, combining technical training and on-the-job training for employment in construction and expanded industries. For the first half of this year, the largest number of apprentice jobs were created in general construction and electrical apprenticeships, followed by refrigeration/HVAC, plumbing, and health care. Since April, the administration registered 595 new apprentices; the start of the administration, Massachusetts has added 9,394 new registered apprenticeship jobs. For more detailed information and to learn more about EOLWD’s registered apprenticeship program, visit mass.gov/apprenticeship.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MONTHLY JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT REPORT

 

The Massachusetts labor force grew by an estimated 3,100 individuals in the past month, bringing the estimated labor force to 3,959,500. The state’s labor force participation rate remained at 66.9 percent. The state’s preliminary unemployment rate in June remained at 4.8 percent. Additional takeaways include:

 

• Estimated Employed Residents increased in June by 1,100, which include self-employed individuals. 131,413 more Massachusetts residents have gained employment since January 2023, a change of 3.6 percent compared to 2 nationally.

 

• Estimated payroll jobs decreased in June by 1,900. The largest gains were in Education and Health Services (+1,500 jobs), Construction (+1,000 jobs), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400). This follows a revised increase of 3,700 payroll jobs in May.

 

• The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained at 66.9% and is 4.6 percentage points higher than the national average. Since January 2023, the Massachusetts labor force has increased by 190,322, a 5 percent change which places Massachusetts in the top 3 among states.

 

"The labor market shows continued signs of resilience in the face of heightened uncertainty,” said EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research Chief Economist Mark Rembert. “Initial unemployment insurance claims were down in June compared to the previous year, and job posting activity remains steady. While the data suggests a slowdown in the pace of hiring due to economic uncertainty, employers continue to seek new talent, and a growing number Massachusetts residents are seeking employment opportunities.”

 

For a detailed overview of the BLS data, please visit mass.gov/economicresearch and June BLS Unemployment and Jobs Estimates. 

 

Labor Market Quick Links

 

Massachusetts Labor Market Data

Find labor market information for Massachusetts, including employment and wage data, unemployment and labor force participation rates, projections, industry and occupational statistics and other workforce statistical information by different labor market areas.

 

Labor Market Information 101

Learn about the different types of labor market information (LMI) resources offered by the Department of Economic Research.

 

2025 Massachusetts Workforce Data Report & Dashboard

Access workforce demographic data collected from Massachusetts employers, including race/ethnicity, gender, job title, and industry. View key insights or read the full report, plus explore an interactive dashboard and download aggregate data.

 

Employer and Jobseeker Resources

 

MassTalent

Massachusetts employers and residents can visit MassTalent and create a free MassHire JobQuest account, for employers to search for talent and for jobseekers to access job openings and explore opportunities like Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Clean Energy, Technology, and Health and Human Services. 

 

Employers looking to promote job openings, recruit for talent, or explore available job training programs to attract, retain, or develop their workforce can benefit from the menu of employer resources available through MassHire. Visit mass.gov/Workforce.

 

MassHire career centers and online services are available for jobseekers in between jobs, seeking a new opportunity, or aiming for career growth. MassHire’s comprehensive services include personalized career guidance, informative workshops, specialized training programs, valuable job referrals, expert resume assistance, and access to a wide array of job listings. Visit mass.gov/CareerCenters. Visit here.

Governor Healey Announces Immediate Measures to Enhance Safety in Assisted Living Residences

 Governor Healey Announces Immediate Measures to Enhance Safety in Assisted Living Residences  

BOSTON -- In response to the tragic fire at Gabriel House in Fall River on Monday, Governor Maura Healey today announced immediate steps to enhance the safety of residents living in Assisted Living Residences (ALRs).  

“What happened in Fall River is a horrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and to the first responders who saved so many others,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This is a moment to make sure that every Assisted Living Residence is prepared to respond to emergencies and to protect the safety of their residents.” 

Beginning Monday, July 21, the Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE), the state agency tasked with ensuring ALRs are in compliance with state regulations, will launch a statewide Fire and Life Safety Initiative to ensure all 273 ALRs in Massachusetts are prepared to protect residents during emergencies. These proactive measures build on existing work and reflect the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and partnership with providers, municipalities and families. 

As part of the initiative, all ALRs must issue a letter to residents and families within five business days outlining fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures and key points of contact for questions or concerns. Additionally, ALRs are instructed to ensure evacuation instructions and exit routes are posted inside each resident’s unit and in common areas. 

Furthermore, AGE will distribute a fire safety assessment survey that all ALRs must complete and return within 30 calendar days, reaffirming compliance with fire safety requirements such as sprinkler systems, fire drills, evacuation protocols and maintenance of fire-rated doors and walls. Providers will also report the age and key systems within their buildings to help prioritize oversight. 

Finally, ALRs must also submit their current, site-specific Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Plan to AGE within 30 calendar days, concurrent with the Fire Safety Self-Assessment Survey. 

“We are engaging every assisted living provider in this process. By requiring clear communication with residents and detailed reporting to the state, we are making sure resident safety is front and center – today and every day,” said Aging & Independence Secretary Robin Lipson. “Our entire team is committed to strengthening emergency readiness and improving standards across the assisted living sector in Massachusetts.” 

“These immediate actions underscore our administration’s commitment to protecting our vulnerable populations. We are working closely with providers, local officials and families to put safety first and provide the peace of mind that residents deserve,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah. “This coordinated response is about ensuring every building has the resources, knowledge and support they need to keep residents safe in the event of an emergency.” 

ALRs in Massachusetts are subject to existing safety requirements under 651 CMR 12, including certification and recertification, compliance with building and fire codes, written emergency preparedness plans, staff training, and coordination with municipal emergency services. 

AGE is also in the process of finalizing proposed amendments to strengthen regulatory requirements for ALRs. These proposed updates predate the Gabriel House fire but will be reevaluated in that context to ensure they meet current safety expectations. 

AGE will issue detailed instructions to all Assisted Living Residences on Friday, July 18, outlining these new requirements and timelines. 

麻州將失去3.27億元交通經費 麻州長Healey誓言設法因應

             (Boston Orange摘譯) 麻州州長辦公室今（18）日發出聲明，稱麻州交通廳 (Mass DOT)已確認，川普政府將終止支持Allston 90號州際公路多式聯運計畫 (Allston/I-90 project)，不再支付聯邦政府允諾撥款中還未發出的3.27億元。麻州政府將保留已拿到手的800萬元。

            麻州交通廳是在2023年時爭取到聯邦政府同意，支持麻州在7年內完成Allston 90號州際公路計畫。2024年3月時，拜登（Biden）政府批准撥發3.35億元，然而川普總統在今年（2025）1月4日簽署了「大而美」法案，終止了「社區通行和公平計畫（Neighborhood Access and Equity Program）」，麻州當年根據這計畫獲得的撥款，因此也受影響。

            麻州州長奚莉(Maura Healey)表示，麻州是為支持社區和經濟才贏得這筆聯邦撥款，川普總統必須恢復這筆撥款。她質疑美國總統怎麼會反對一個能夠改善居民和遊客交通狀況、創造數千個建築崗位、支持當地企業並為新住房創造空間的項目。

            奚莉州長表示，麻州人民理應得到聯邦政府更好的照顧。然而，儘管這是錯誤且令人沮喪的決定，但大家知道這一天終將到來。麻州政府將繼續竭盡所能，與優秀的項目合作夥伴攜手，讓Allston多式聯運項目成為現實。”

 President Trump Cancels $327 Million In Transportation Funding for Massachusetts 

MassDOT undergoing strategic review of Allston Multimodal Project to determine path forward 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey issued the following statement after the Massachusetts Department of Transportation received confirmation that the Trump Administration is terminating $327 million that Massachusetts won in 2023 for the Allston Multimodal Project. Massachusetts will retain $8 million from the grant. This comes after President Trump signed a law that ended the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, the funding program under which Massachusetts received this award. 

“Massachusetts won this funding to support our communities and our economy – and the Trump Administration needs to restore it. Why would any President of the United States oppose a project that will improve transportation for residents and visitors alike, create thousands of construction jobs, support local businesses and create space for new housing? We all benefit from that,” said Governor Healey. “The people of Massachusetts deserve better from their federal government. However, we have known that this day was likely to come, as wrong-headed and frustrating as the decision is. We remain committed to doing everything we can, working with our incredible project partners, to make Allston Multimodal a reality.” 

“Our team at MassDOT has done incredible work along with our partners to move this essential project along despite uncertainty at the federal level,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Under the leadership of Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and Megaprojects Director Luisa Paiewonsky, we are committed to getting this project back on track and delivering for the people of Massachusetts.” 

“The loss of the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant does not change our commitment to the communities that are counting on this investment,” said Transportation Secretary & CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “We will move forward with a strategic review of the project, both analyzing the project costs and consulting with an outside engineering firm to assess the project. We believe in the Allston Multimodal Project and will stay engaged and in communication with the Task Force, project partners and elected officials as we chart our path forward.” 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains committed to the Allston Multimodal Project, which will expand travel options for the Allston neighborhood, improve highway, commuter and passenger rail service to residents of Metrowest, Central and Western Massachusetts, and unlock Beacon Park Yard for future redevelopment. MassDOT is launching a strategic review to evaluate how to deliver the project’s transportation goals efficiently and within the constraints of available resources. MassDOT will use the results of these efforts to propose a revised path forward for the project, in close collaboration with the City of Boston, elected officials, institutional partners Harvard and Boston University, and members of the Allston Multimodal Project Task Force.  

 

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $5 Million to Support Mental Health Among Young Children

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $5 Million to Support

Mental Health Among Young Children

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that they are awarding $5 million in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants to organizations that support the social-emotional development and behavioral health of children in early education and care programs across Massachusetts. This funding will go to six organizations that serve early education programs by training providers and improving program processes to promote the developmental, social-emotional, and behavioral well-being of infants and young children in their care. These grants support the healthy development of the youngest students and aim to reduce the suspension and expulsion rate in early education and care settings and promote school success and community health.

 

“We have a mental health crisis that has only been made worse by the pandemic, particularly for our youngest kids,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will provide early education and care programs with the tools and resources needed to help educators identify those who are struggling and support families in accessing care.” 

 

“Early education and care programs play a vital role in supporting the foundation for infant and child mental health that will serve our students throughout their lives. We are pleased to provide this funding so that our early educators can access the resources they need to help young children learn about and manage their feelings, supporting healthy social and emotional development in their classroom and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

 

These grantees serve and support early education and care programs in many ways, including improving policies, procedures and practices to be trauma-informed and center the social-emotional and behavioral well-being of children; developing strategies for staff self-care; strengthening skills to identify children with or at-risk for behavioral, developmental, or mental health difficulties and supporting the implementation of positive behavior interventions and supports using evidence-based practices. These mental health grantees will also help early education and care programs build stronger relationships with families to support children both in the classroom and their homes, including with individualized behavior support plans for children and referrals to other community-based services. 

 

“As I travel around the state, I often hear about the mental and behavioral health challenges happening in our early education and care programs. These grants, in addition to the STREET trainings EEC and the OCA rolled out earlier this year, will support early childhood educators become more trauma-informed and responsive, enabling them to better support the healthy development of all children,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler.

 

“The awardees of the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants are doing critical work to strengthen the foundation of well-being for our youngest learners,” said EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “By equipping early education programs with expert guidance and responsive support, these partners are helping educators manage challenging behaviors, support families, and create nurturing environments where every child can thrive. We are proud to invest in their leadership and the transformative impact they bring to communities across the Commonwealth.”

 

Addressing the youth mental health crisis is a priority for the administration. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) in February launched Strategies for Trauma Responsive Early Educator Training (STREET), which provides virtual and in-person trainings intentionally designed for the early education and care workforce to strengthen early childhood educators' skills in social-emotional learning as an essential part of a child’s development. The administration is also working to develop an early education through higher education mental health framework for students. 

 

Learn about social emotional learning, behavioral and mental health supports, and early special education services resources available for early education and care programs on EEC’s website: mass.gov/early-childhood-resources.

 

“This grant funding is an important investment in our young learners," said State Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Supporting the social-emotional development and behavioral health of our children from the start will set them on a path of long-term success."

 

“These grants will support our youngest students and their families as well as the dedicated providers and educators caring for them,” said State Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “With this funding from the Legislature, more early education organizations will be able to improve their training and programming to promote the development and mental health of their students.”

 

The 2025 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grant Awardees:

 

• Behavioral Health Network, Inc.: $938,956

Cities and towns served: Adams, Agawam, Alford, Amherst, Ashfield, Athol, Becket, Belchertown, Bernardston, Blandford, Buckland, Charlemont, Cheshire, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Clarksburg, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Dalton, Deerfield, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Egremont, Erving, Florida, Gill, Goshen, Granby, Granville, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Hadley, Hampden, Hancock, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Hinsdale, Holyoke, Huntington, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Leverett, Leyden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Middlefield, Monroe, Monson, Montague, Monterey, Montgomery, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, New Salem, North Adams, Northampton, Northfield, Orange, Otis, Palmer, Pelham, Peru, Petersham, Phillipston, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Richmond, Rowe, Royalston, Russell, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick, Springfield, Stockbridge, Sunderland, Tolland, Tyringham, Ware, Warwick, Washington, Wendell, West Springfield, West Stockbridge, Westfield, Westhampton, Whately, Wilbraham, Williamsburg, Williamstown, Windsor, and Worthington

 

• Community Health Link, Inc.: $733,492

Cites and towns served: Ashburnham, Ashby, Auburn, Ayer, Barre, Bellingham, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Franklin, Gardner, Grafton, Groton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Pepperell, Princeton, Rutland, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Townsend, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon, and Worcester

 

• Empower, Inc.: $554,244

Cites and towns served: Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Belmont, Boxboro, Canton, Dover, Foxborough, Framingham, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Concord, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Millis, Littleton, Natick, Newton, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Plainville, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Watertown, Wayland, Westborough, Westwood, and Wrentham

 

• Justice Resource Institute, Inc.: $901,840

Cites and towns served: Abington, Acushnet, Aquinnah, Attleboro, Avon, Barnstable, Berkley, Bourne, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Chatham, Chilmark, Dartmouth, Dennis, Dighton, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Eastham, Easton, Edgartown, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Freetown, Gosnold, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Harwich, Holbrook, Kingston, Lakeville, Mansfield, Marion, Marshfield, Mashpee, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Nantucket, New Bedford, North Attleborough, Norton, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Provincetown, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Rockland, Sandwich, Seekonk, Somerset, Stoughton, Swansea, Taunton, Tisbury, Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, West Bridgewater, West Tisbury, Westport, Whitman, and Yarmouth

 

• Massachusetts Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children: $1,154,471

Cites and towns served: Amesbury, Andover, Bedford, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Boxford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Essex, Everett, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Marblehead, Medford, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Stoneham, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Wenham, West Newbury, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn

 

• Walker, Inc.: $716,997

Cites and towns served: Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Cohasset, Dedham, Hull, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Somerville, Weston, Weymouth, Winthrop, and Wellesley

 

Senate Acts to Reform Child Custody Law to Conform with National Standards

Senate Acts to Reform Child Custody Law to Conform with National Standards

New law supports safety and well-being of children, brings national uniformity to child custody cases

 

(BOSTON—7/17/2025) Today the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to modernize laws that protect children and families going through child custody proceedings.

 

The legislation, S.2550, would ensure Massachusetts courts follow the same procedures as the other 49 states in the country, bring laws up to date with international best practices, and simplify the process for families going through multi-state custody cases.

 

More specifically, this legislation creates clear rules for multi-state custody cases and prioritizes the home state of the child when determining custody jurisdiction, thereby preventing forum shopping by a parent seeking a more-favorable outcome in another state. It also updates the law to streamline case registration and enforce out-of-state determinations, enhances protections for children and families who are going through custody proceedings in Massachusetts, and boosts flexibility for families through the creation of hearing notice requirements and by allowing remote participation in proceedings.

 

“Today’s legislation aims to simplify a process that is already difficult for children and families,” saidSenate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Bringing Massachusetts in line with other states will provide families clarity and, we hope, decrease the stress of what is already a stressful situation. I’m grateful to Majority Leader Creem for her continued advocacy for this legislation, and to Chair Rodrigues and Chair Edwards for their support.”

 

“I’m proud that the Senate has once again taken decisive action to advance S.2550, which would finally bring Massachusetts in line with the rest of the country by passing the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “This legislation reflects years of collaboration and calls from advocates to adopt this code and better protect the rights of parents during this already difficult time. I’m grateful to my colleagues for supporting a measure that brings clarity and fairness to our custody laws and helps ensure that families navigating these disputes are not further burdened.”

 

“This bill streamlines the child custody process and puts the Commonwealth in line with other states that already have adopted uniform laws regarding child custody. These cases are stressful enough for children and families, so anything we can do to make the process involving out-of-state custody cases smoother is beneficial for all parties,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation also prioritizes the home state of the child, enhances protections for these children, and allows remote participation, a crucial component in multi-state proceeding where distance is a factor. This bill is the result of persistent advocacy by Majority Leader Creem and Chair Edwards, and all children and families involved will feel the impact of this legislation.”

 

“Today’s unanimous vote sends a strong message: Massachusetts is committed to protecting children and families with clear and consistent custody laws,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “By aligning our procedures with every other state and international best practices, this legislation will reduce confusion, enhance protections, and bring much-needed clarity. These updates are about making the process more efficient, and ultimately more focused on the best interests of the child. I want to thank Senator Creem for her continued leadership on this legislation and Senate President Spilka and Chair Rodrigues for their support.”

 

The standard for child custody jurisdiction was established under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), drafted in 1997 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. If passed, Massachusetts would join all other states in adopting the uniform laws.

 

The legislation was reported out of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on June 12, 2025, and from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on July 10, 2025. Votes of both committees are available online, along with a full summary of the legislation and a recording of the Senate’s livestreamed debate and vote on the bill.  

 

Having passed the Senate, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

MAYOR WU, CITY, STATE OFFICIALS CELEBRATE FIRST 100+ UNITS CONVERTED FROM OFFICES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN BOSTON

 MAYOR WU, CITY, STATE OFFICIALS CELEBRATE FIRST 100+ UNITS CONVERTED FROM OFFICES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Thursday, July 17, 2025 - Mayor Wu, along with City and State officials, today celebrated the first 141 homes that are currently under construction and being converted from former vacant office buildings, as part of the City of Boston’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, 26 of which will be income-restricted. These buildings include 263 Summer Street, 129 Portland Street, 615 Albany Street, and 281 Franklin Street. The building at 281 Franklin Street, which will create 15 homes, will have tenants move in at the end of the summer.

“Boston is building the foundation for a stronger, more vibrant downtown through our dedication to housing, public safety, and economic growth. As cities across the country look to revitalize and reenergize their downtown neighborhoods, in Boston downtown foot traffic is up and commercial vacancies have been nearly cut in half with a focus on safety, business recruitment, and activation,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The Office to Residential Conversion program is critical to this momentum. Today marks a major milestone for housing creation, with 780 units in the pipeline for the Office to Residential Conversion program and a groundbreaking for 141 of those new homes. Working with the state, the business community, and neighborhood partners, we’re bucking national and local trends and transforming underutilized office space into homes for over a thousand new residents.”

“Acknowledging the challenges in the construction industry today, it is extremely exciting that we can celebrate the conversion of multiple office buildings into new homes in our Downtown,” said Chief of Planning Kairos Shen. “This program is one part of our multi-pronged approach to expand housing options Downtown to respond to post-pandemic economic shifts and create a vibrant, 18-hour, mixed-use neighborhood.”

The building at 263 Summer Street will create 77 homes in the historic district of Fort Point. As part of the conversion, the building will preserve the historic Boston Wharf Co. sign. At 60,000 SF, this is the first Article 80 Large Project to go through the Office-to-Residential Conversion Program and is located in close proximity to South Station, easily connecting it to the rest of the region. 

“I want to thank Mayor Michelle Wu for her unwavering commitment to addressing Boston’s office vacancy and housing shortages — not as separate problems, but as one extraordinary opportunity,” said Owner of Burns Realty & Investments, Adam Burns. “Your leadership has turned what could have been a crisis into a catalyst for reinvention, and we are proud to stand with you in that effort with this project at 263 Summer Street to redevelop this historic office building into 77 new homes.”

The project at 129 Portland Street in the Bulfinch Triangle will create 25 homes. This is the first conversion project in the Bulfinch Triangle, made possible by recent zoning changes that made residential an allowed use in the neighborhood, which will help to facilitate more office-to-residential conversion projects. 

The project at 615 Albany Street in the South End will create 24 homes. It is the first conversion project adding an additional floor on top to increase the number of housing units, while remaining consistent with the surrounding buildings in the historic South End neighborhood, and preserving what was originally the old Naval Blood Research Laboratory building.

“We feel extremely lucky to be able to participate in Mayor Wu's Office to Residential Conversion program,” said Owner of Construo Development Greg McCarthy. “We are excited to bring dozens of new homes to both the Bulfinch triangle neighborhood and the South End, while also hopefully bolstering the activity in these neighborhoods. We are currently working with staff on two more conversion projects that will hopefully have the same or even stronger impacts on the community. I believe this program provides solutions to multiple issues that are critical both now, and for the future of Boston.”

“Revitalizing the downtown area by converting office space to residential units will be a tremendous boost to the area and will help create more housing units throughout the city,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank Mayor Wu and her administration for the vision and foresight into making these conversations a reality. I look forward to more events like this as we work together to create more much needed housing units across the city.”

  

The program, which formally launched in October of 2023, has so far received 16 applications to create a total of 780 units of housing, 142 income-restricted, across 21 buildings and convert 620,000 SF of office space to residential space. Of those applications, 595 units have been approved by the BPDA Board. More than 100 units are also expected to begin construction this fall.

“We are thrilled to see the progress the Wu Administration has made on the Office-to-Residential conversion program in Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods,” said President of the Downtown Boston Alliance Michael J. Nichols. “The proximity our workforce lives to their Downtown jobs is the single strongest correlating factor in catalyzing higher rates of office visitation, while adding residences near Downtown offers improved local foot traffic to support Downtown restaurants and retailers. This program is making a meaningful difference in providing workers and families with new opportunities to live in the heart of our city and continues to have our full support.” 

The Office to Residential Conversion Program provides a 75% tax abatement for 29 years as an incentive to developers to convert vacant office spaces into residential units.This spring, the City expanded the program to include student and workforce housing. The goal of this program is to support owners and developers of older commercial office building spaces in converting them to residential units, while also increasing the housing stock in Downtown Boston. The program is also designed to respond to post-pandemic economic shifts that will prioritize expanding housing options Downtown, creating an 18-hour, mixed-use neighborhood. 

The application will remain open through the end of the year, with approvals given on a rolling basis. Applicants to the program would commit to pull a full building permit and start construction by Dec 31, 2026 to get these much needed units built as fast as possible.