麻州政府撥款95萬元資助人力發展項目

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $1 Million in Collaborative Workspace Program Grants Through Community One Stop for Growth   Program to Support 16 Projects Across Massachusetts

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Fitchburg to celebrate awards through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth, including $950,000 in grants from the Collaborative Workspace Program.    In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.  “One of the things that makes Massachusetts special is our talent for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants through the Collaborative Workspace Program will help turn that energy into outcomes by providing creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners with the partnerships and resources they need to thrive.”  “Communities across the state benefit from the catalytic power of collaborative workspaces,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “From incubators to makerspaces to shared kitchens, these facilities are hubs of economic opportunity that accelerate the creation of new businesses, jobs, and products.”  “Collaboration keeps Massachusetts competitive and fuels our innovation economy,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “The Collaborative Workspace Program provides resources to accelerate business growth, job creation, and entrepreneurial activity in communities across the state, and we’re excited to celebrate these awards.”  “Amazing ideas come to life when individuals can work together with their peers under one roof, explore new fields, and gain access to shared equipment, technology, and other resources,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “We look forward to the economic opportunities created by these 16 collaborative workspaces and the positive impact they have on cities and towns.”  Administered by MassDevelopment, the Collaborative Workspace Program provides funding to support the development of collaborative workspaces and accelerate the pace of new business formation, job creation, and entrepreneurial activity. Since the program was created in 2014 through FY23, it has supported more than 210 awards for a total investment of more than $11 million.   "The city of Fitchburg's collaboration with MassDevelopment has been incredibly successful and has resulted in impactful, tangible results for the city," said Senator John J. Cronin (D - Fitchburg). "Today's award is just another example of how this partnership continues to revitalize downtown, create opportunities for residents and business owners, and make the city a more inviting place to live, work, and build a future."  "I’m ecstatic to hear that the Fitchburg Public Market will be able to enter the final stages of construction, thanks to the Collaborative Workspace Program Grant from MassDevelopment,” said Representative Michael Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg). “The Fitchburg Public Market will be a hub in North Central for culinary diversity, serving as an opportunity for residents and tourists alike to get a taste of the many cultures that make up the city. I look forward to continuing to support the Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation as they continue their work on this project."  Collaborative Workspace Program Awards:  HSS Artist Collective Inc., Boston – $35,000  HSS Artist Collective Inc. will use this grant to further support the replacement and restoration of eight roof decks at its collaborative space for artists, Humphrey Street Studios. The collaborative space has 50 tenants practicing various mediums, including photography, sculpture, and woodworking.  Innovation Studio, Inc., Boston – $50,000  Innovation Studio, Inc. will use this grant to support expenses associated with renovating and refitting its Innovation Center and Entrepreneurial Incubator into a state-of-the-art creative, tech-forward meeting, conference, and corporate event facility. The incubator will serve as a launchpad for small business growth in the meeting and conference industry.  Maverick Landing Community Services, Boston – $51,000  Maverick Landing Community Services will use this grant to create a versatile, entrepreneurial collaborative workspace in a space in East Boston that is underutilized during the daytime. By repurposing this space, the improvements will provide a venue during daytime hours for inclusive community development that empowers individuals to work, learn, and create together.  Foundry Consortium, Cambridge – $95,000  Foundry Consortium will use this grant to enhance its building’s collaborative workspaces by implementing soundproofing, improving on-site technology, and streamlining reservations. This project addresses the expressed needs of the artists and organizations that access the site to further facilitate increased usage, lower barriers to entry, improve booking processes, and enable users to monetize their work.  Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, Easthampton – $50,000  The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce will use this grant to build out a collaborative workspace at a building it owns in downtown Easthampton. In FY22, MassDevelopment awarded the organization a $5,000 seed grant to study market and design feasibility for the project.  Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation, Inc., Fitchburg – $90,500  Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation, Inc. will use this grant to enable the final stages of construction for the Fitchburg Public Market, a local food retail store and shared commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs in north-central Massachusetts.  Wellspring Cooperative Corporation, Holyoke – $45,000  Wellspring Cooperative Corporation will use this grant for improvements to support new programming at its existing shared kitchen in Holyoke. Improvements will include installing an energy-efficient mini-split heating and cooling system; undertaking flooring upgrades; renovating an unfinished room into additional space; and adding a walk-in cooler.  Lynn Music Foundation, Lynn – $81,000  Lynn Music Foundation, in collaboration with Lynn Museum, will use this grant to improve and activate the first- and second-floor spaces of the Lynn Arts building to provide a center for development and collaboration opportunities for local artists in music, media, and visual arts.   Jacqueline Business Services, Inc., Methuen – $50,000  Jacqueline Business Services, Inc. will use this grant to continue the build-out of a collaborative workspace in Methuen for small business owners who want to start or grow a business. Funds will be used to fit out the space so it can provide on-site educational and coaching programs, as well as financing consulting; assistance with local, state, and federal regulations; human resources support; and operational guidance.  The Hive Nantucket, Nantucket – $100,000  The Hive Nantucket will use this grant to advance the conversion of an existing building into a shared food production and innovation facility, helping local food businesses achieve commercial viability, regional competitiveness, and national visibility. Funds will be specifically used to buy technology and equipment needed to launch operations and provide programming once renovations are complete.  Community Economic Development Center, New Bedford – $100,000  Community Economic Development Center will use this grant to support the build-out of the former Capitol Theater in New Bedford’s North End neighborhood. Funds will be specifically used to fit out the shared-use kitchen, adjacent to a market incubator and training space, that can be leased on an hourly basis to start-up food-based businesses.  The Sphere Northampton, Northampton – $100,000  The Sphere Northampton will use this grant to build out a vacant and gutted storefront to increase space and visibility of The Sphere Innovation Lab. The lab will be a woman- and nonbinary-oriented entrepreneur coworking space based on inclusivity, collaboration, and uplifting entrepreneurs.  Berkshire Innovation Center, Pittsfield – $50,000  Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) will use this grant to fit out BIC Works @MOCA, a “node” at Mass MoCA in North Adams in partnership with BIC members, academic institutions, and economic development partners. The partnership will leverage the energy of the MoCA community, giving the BIC a physical presence and ease-of-access to serve students and organizations in northern Berkshire County.  Women Encouraging Empowerment, Revere – $20,000  Women Encouraging Empowerment will use this grant to upgrade technology and make essential renovations to its facility in Revere’s Shirley Avenue neighborhood. The facility is a space for community gathering, resource sharing, and programming.  Southbridge Tech Incubator, Southbridge – $20,000  Southbridge Tech Incubator will use this grant to continue replacing an inefficient and failing HVAC system.  KJ Management, LLC, Taunton – $12,500  KJ Management, LLC will use this grant to study the market and feasibility of opening and operating a coworking space in Taunton.