波士頓經文處慶雙十 宣佈將成立台美商業俱樂部

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處10月8日晚在波士頓費爾蒙卡普利廣場酒店(The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel)舉行雙十酒會，慶祝中華民國103年。紐英崙地區民代，政要、僑學各界，共七百餘人歡聚一堂。

新到任的處長賴銘琪在會上宣佈，為加強臺灣與紐英崙地區經貿關係，該處正規劃成立「臺美商業俱樂部 (U.S-Taiwan Business Club) 」波士頓分部，預計年底成立，希望能為臺灣與紐英崙地區，尤其是麻州企業界的合作，投資，提供平台。

            在聯邦政府任職，從華府趕回波士頓的林雄生博士，當晚擔任司儀。他以英文，廣東話，國語，三語主持酒會，經文處新處長賴銘琪與各州政要一一致詞，祝酒，切蛋糕，場面十分歡欣。

            賴銘琪曾於2004年至2010年派駐波士頓，當晚出席的各州政要，有好些人一見他就熱情擁抱，表達支持。其中的麻州眾議會多數黨領袖馬瑞諾（Ronald Mariano）更在致詞時指出，賴銘琪是帶他認識台灣的第一人；羅德島州參議員柯蘿莉（Elizabeth A. Crowley) 表示，只要她在為一天，必將應用她的影響力，維護台灣的民主自由。

            賴銘琪自己致詞時強調，國父孫中山在103年前領導革命，創建了亞洲第一個民主共和國。如今中華民國在臺灣有如燈塔，持續照亮世界各地期盼民主的希望。香港最近發生的爭取民主事件，也證明了生活在自由與民主的環境為普世渴望。

賴銘琪還簡述了台灣近況，包括經濟發展去年持續穩健，外匯存底高居世界第六，近五年平均經濟成長率約3.5%，在亞洲四小龍中排名第2。根據國際貨幣基金統計，臺灣人均GDP 高達約39000美元，世界排名19。

今年四月，行政院環保署發起國際環境夥伴計畫，藉以展現臺灣承諾保護全球環境。

他也報告美國聯邦眾議院今年通過第3470號決議，重申了美國對臺灣關係法的承諾，支持臺灣民主制度與亞太和平。中美友誼源遠流長，美國是中華民國外交上最重要的夥伴。

他指出，根據美國商務部資料，臺灣是美國第12大貿易夥伴，雙方去年貿易額高達640億美元，為美國創造了超過30萬個就業機會。美國為臺灣最大貿易投資國，投資金額超過220億美元，希望彼此邦誼永固。

            八日晚出席雙十酒會的政要，民代，除前述兩人，還包括麻州眾議員陳德基，聯邦眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世（Joseph Kennedy, III）的選區辦公室代表Stephanie Noguera，波士頓市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)等人。紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦、中華總會會長陳毓禮代表本地僑社致詞。

            當晚出席酒會者，還都欣賞到會場內大螢幕播放的「活路外交 經貿起飛」、「Time for Taiwan」、「實在台灣」、「儒家文化在台灣」及「時尚臺灣」等影片，會場入口大堂展示的捏麵人傳統工藝、布袋戲偶、「臺灣畫境」照片、聯邦與地方政要賀詞，對台灣友好的決議文，以及臺灣留學生們演奏，演唱的國、台、粵語及外國經典樂曲。

圖片說明：

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦（右前三，四）與各地政要，民代一起祝酒。（菊子攝）

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪（右六），雲雯蓁（右四）與麻州眾議會多數黨領袖馬瑞諾（Ronald Mariano）（右五），波士頓市議員吳弭（左起），羅德島州參議員柯蘿莉（Elizabeth A. Crowley)，麻州眾議員陳德基等人一起切蛋糕。（菊子攝）

            左起，經文處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦，歡迎波士頓市的市長幕僚長高丹尼（Daniel Arrigg Koh），中華總會會長陳毓禮，波士頓市議員吳弭。（菊子攝）

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦（中）與羅德島州的葉超（左起），畢靈頓（Bob Billington），羅德島州參議員柯蘿莉（Elizabeth A. Crowley)，吳子平等人都是多年舊識。（菊子攝）

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦（左九，八）與經文處同仁合影。（菊子攝）

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦，教育組組長黃薳玉和台灣留學生們合影。（菊子攝）

            紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦（右起），麻州眾議員陳德基與麻州眾議會多數黨領袖馬瑞諾（Ronald Mariano）等人，致詞前坐在一桌。（菊子攝）

            波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪宣佈要成立「臺美商業俱樂部」。（菊子攝）

波士頓市長要在2030年前建造53000戶新住宅

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh )昨（九）日下午和波市鄰里發展局局長狄倫（Sheila Dillon)在綠路一號工地前聯袂宣佈，波士頓市要在2030年之前，建造53,000戶新住宅單位，容納約91,000名新波士頓人。其中百分之五十預計為可負擔住宅，另有16,000個宿舍床位。

馬丁華殊公佈的住宅計劃，訂名為“一個不斷改變城市內的居住：波士頓2030（Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030）”，描繪出波士頓市要在各鄰里社區建造大約53,000個住宅單位，供不同收入水平者居住，以期2030年時，新增加的大約91,000名波士頓人，都能安居樂業。

            馬丁華殊表示，任何做貢獻，讓波士頓市變得更好的人，不論他們的收入水平，族裔，或實際能力，如果想住在波士頓，都應該有機會。波士頓市府因此推出這一大膽計劃，要把市民帶向美好未來。

            馬丁華殊說，他邀請所有人，無論是長期居民或新來者，是建築師，或社區活躍分子，能夠加入他們這政府行列，把這大膽計劃付諸行動。

            該計劃是麻州地區計劃委員會（Massachusetts Area Planning Council）用複雜的人口地理數據，為波士頓市做出來的發展計劃。波市府以年齡，收入來分析數據，訂出因應波士頓市未來成長，市長穩定，需要什麼樣的住宅種類，

            該分析估計，到2030年時，波士頓市的人口會增加到超過七十萬人，1950年以來的最高點。需要建造53000戶住宅中，有44000戶必須是為年齡在25至65歲之間，還在工作的人建造。另有5000戶應為耆英建造，另外的4000戶則事建來穩定市場，讓房屋價格及租金能得到控制。

            為確保需要住房的大部分能都有房可助，波市府提議市內建造的房屋，應有50%都是可負擔住宅，到2030年時，希望建成6500戶新的低收入住宅。

            麻州地區計劃委員會表示，儘管波士頓擁有的可負擔住宅比率，在全美各地中已算最高的，但估計還會增加將近一萬戶低收入住宅。

            大部份的新建住宅，會是以年收入在五萬元至十二萬五千元之間為對象者的中等收入住宅，約占兩萬戶。

            波市府計劃到2030年時，新建1500戶耆英住宅，同時將鼓勵坊間發展商另建造3500戶以耆英為對象的住宅。

            馬丁華殊提出的計劃，也呼籲增建16000  個新的宿舍床位。波市府表示，那樣做可以空出約5000個中等收入住宅。

            該計劃估計可創造價值210億元的新土地發展。

            波市府打算每年籌款二千萬元來推動這一發展計劃。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市鄰里發展局局長狄倫（右起）和波士頓市長馬丁華殊聯袂宣佈2030波士頓住宅政策計劃。（菊子攝）

            宣佈會現場掛出年薪八萬者，住得起波士頓哪些地區的圖案。（菊子攝）

Neighborhood Jobs Trust distributes over $1 million in grants to community organizations

Neighborhood Jobs Trust distributes over $1 million in grants to community organizations

Funding will support employment and workforce training opportunities for Boston residents

BOSTON – The City of Boston’s Office of Jobs and Community Services (JCS), an affiliate of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, recently awarded just over $1 million to 19 community-based employment and workforce development programs. The individual grants, ranging from approximately $25,000 to $90,000, are administered through the Neighborhood Jobs Trust, which is supported by linkage contributions from large-scale real estate development projects as a way of providing direct benefits to Boston residents in the form of jobs, job training, and related services.

The YMCA of Greater Boston, ABCD, Jewish Vocational Service, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and many other community organizations will utilize the funding to support a variety of employment and training programs. Several of the programs provide training in the hospitality and food services industries, while others focus on construction trade apprenticeships, professional opportunities in the field of medicine, and careers in banking and finance. Certain programs offer tailored services to particular groups of jobseekers, such as veterans, women, and English language learners.

“We must provide residents with the resources they need to excel in Boston’s diverse workforce,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Feeling empowered and prepared at work goes a long way, and our Office of Jobs and Community Services is here to ensure that these workforce development programs are well-equipped to help support our communities.”

All told, more than 200 Boston residents will receive job training under these grants.

“We’re proud to support a broad spectrum of organizations that are working to create positive opportunities for Boston residents,” said Trinh Nguyen, Director of JCS. “Many of the award recipients have received our funding before and have excellent track records of securing quality jobs for the people that graduate from their programs. For others, this year is the first time they are receiving funds through the jobs trust, and we’ll work closely with them to ensure the same level of success.”  

Each of the awarded programs offers a unique training opportunity. BEST Corp. Hospitality Training Center, which is affiliated with Local 26 of the Hotel Workers Union, for example, will train Boston residents for union positions as room attendants and kitchen workers. The YMCA’s “Training Inc.” program will use a simulated office environment to prepare individuals for administrative positions in banking, insurance, and other industries. Operation ABLE will help older workers, many of whom have been unemployed since the recession, train for medical office positions.

The grants were distributed through a request for proposals (RFP) process that was initiated in June, and proposals were due at the end of July. A review committee comprised of readers from JCS and outside experts evaluated the funding applications, which asked organizations to demonstrate their ability to place program graduates into jobs or into further training that could lead to jobs.

Below is a full list of the awarded programs and their funding awards:

Community Organization	Name of Program	FY 2015 Funding Allotment
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)	Early Education NextSTEPS	$50,000
Asian American Civic Association (AACA)	Careers in Banking & Finance	$50,000
BEST Corp. Hospitality Training Center	Hospitality Training for Good Jobs	$90,755
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)	Chinatown/South End Collaborative	$50,000
Building and Construction Trades Council of the Boston Metro Area	Building Pathways Pre-Apprenticeship Program	$75,000
Community Servings	Teaching Kitchen Food Service Job Training	$75,000
Friends of Boston's Homeless	Serving Ourselves Career Center	$50,000
International Institute of Boston (IIB)	Service Industry Training Program	$50,000
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS)	Caring for our seniors: A CNA Training Program Specializing in Long-Term Care	$50,000
Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries	Human Services Employment Ladder Program	$50,000
New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans	Job Training Services	$50,000
Operation A.B.L.E.	Medical Office Skills Training Program	$50,000
Project Hope	Workforce Development & Employer Partnerships	$50,000
Project Place	Pre-Enterprise Skill Building and Enhancement	$50,000
St. Mary's Center for Women and Children	Women @ Work Plus	$75,000
STRIVE: Boston Employment Service	Boston STRIVE	$50,000
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM)	Volunteer to Work and Employment Resource Center	$25,000
WORK Incorporated	Facilities Maintenance to Management	$25,000
YMCA: Training Inc.	Pathways to Employment for ELL	$50,000
YouthBuild Boston	Pre-Apprentice Program	$ 50,000
TOTAL		$     1,065,755