波士頓市長吳弭今晚發表市情諮文 (7點直播)

 

MAYOR WU DELIVERS HER 2024 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, OUTLINING HER VISION OF BOSTON AS A HOME FOR EVERY GENERATION Mayor Wu announces City investments and partnerships with leading institutions to connect every resident to housing and opportunity

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today delivered her 2024 State of the City Address, sharing a vision for Boston where every resident feels at home. She highlighted new initiatives to house families, expand homeownership, and plan for a green and growing City. She outlined partnerships with employers, higher education, and cultural institutions that will transform public schools and BPS athletics, invest in Franklin Park, and expand opportunities for students and families from pre-K to college, including summer jobs and unprecedented access to spaces for learning and curiosity. This is Mayor Wu’s second State of the City Address. “Time and again, we have proven the future is ours to shape. And day by day, we’re following through on Boston’s promise to be a green and growing City for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As a mom—and a BPS parent—I know that to truly be the best City for every family, we have to give our young people the world: in the classroom, in community, in every corner of our City.” Building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Boston Mayor Wu announced that the City will eliminate barriers to building ADUs this year by changing zoning to make these small homes as-of-right citywide. The ADU program allows owner occupants to create smaller, independent units inside their homes or in their yards. This initiative aims to expand lower-cost housing options, empower residents to build wealth, and foster diverse, multi-generational living spaces. The City will lower ADU costs by publishing pre-approved designs and dedicate financial resources to assist eligible residents in funding construction. Training and incentives will be offered to ensure that local builders reflecting the diversity and talent of our communities will have access to opportunities in this new industry. “On behalf of pro-housing advocates across the city we applaud Mayor Wu and her administration for working to expand zoning to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be built as-of-right in neighborhoods across Boston,” said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts. “Our city has an extreme shortage of affordable homes, and this action will help ensure the City has all the tools at its disposal necessary to tackle this crisis. ADUs are a gentle way to add more homes to our neighborhoods, while ensuring that families stay together by providing housing for grandparents, recent graduates, or loved ones with disabilities. ADU’s provide the flexibility that homeowners need, while providing much-needed rental homes for more of our neighbors.” Revitalizing and decarbonizing Boston’s public housing Mayor Wu announced plans to identify locations for nearly 3,000 new, modern, energy-efficient public housing units that will be built over the next decade, the first new net public housing units built in Boston in more than 40 years. Once built, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide more than $100 million a year to finance and maintain these homes under the Faircloth Amendment. Boston built 4,000 new units of public housing in the 1940s; 5,000 units throughout the 1950s; 1,200 in the 1960s; 2,200 in the 1970s; but has not built any net new public housing units in the last four decades, only renovations. These new units will feature amenities and supportive services, provide pathways for residents to economic mobility, and ensure that seniors, veterans, families, and people with disabilities have a place in Boston they are proud to call home. The federal government will fund the ongoing maintenance of up to 2,891 units once built. “We strongly support the goal of increasing the number of public housing units in Boston,” said Salima Vo, Vietnamese Outreach Coordinator of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW). “There is not enough public housing to meet the demand we see every day in our work with low-income families and seniors, who otherwise are at risk of getting rapidly priced out of the neighborhood while waiting years for a public housing unit. The tenants we work with are facing unsustainable rent increases and poor conditions, and they urgently need more stable and affordable housing options to stay in their community. Taking advantage of available federal public housing dollars to keep more Bostonians stably housed, as the Mayor proposes, is the right solution for the primarily Vietnamese-speaking immigrant and refugee population we work with in Fields Corner, and it is a critical step for Boston as a whole.” Mayor Wu also announced a partnership with National Grid that will launch Boston’s first-ever networked geothermal system, delivering clean, green energy for heating and cooling to 346 families living in the Boston Housing Authority’s Franklin Field community. This partnership represents a significant step toward making Boston’s public housing fossil fuel free, building on a $50 million capital investment from Mayor Wu and the recent $6.3 million grant from the state to update and decarbonize the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain. During last year’s State of the City address, Mayor Wu announced plans to end the use of fossil fuel in the City’s public housing and in July 2023 signed an Executive Order to make all new City of Boston construction and major renovations fossil fuel free. The first municipal construction projects underway following this Executive Order are community centers in Grove Hall and the North End and branch libraries in Fields Corner and Egleston Square.  Preserving existing affordable housing across Boston’s neighborhoods To protect Boston families from getting displaced when their apartment buildings are sold to private investors, Mayor Wu announced the launch of a fund to acquire apartment buildings and protect renters by making the units permanently affordable through a community trust. This initiative builds on the City’s success working with community partners to keep 114 families across 36 buildings in their homes in East Boston through the Blue Line Portfolio acquisition in October 2023. The new fund will be used to protect 400 more families in Mattapan, Brighton, and Dorchester this year.  “There is no more pressing need right now than to address the displacement we are seeing not just in East Boston, but across the City,” said Al Caldarelli, Executive Director of the East Boston CDC. “The Wu administration took a chance and invested in a new model last year with East Boston CDC. Together, we were able to reclaim 114 units of family housing. By creating this fund, the Wu administration is scaling up this innovative model and pioneering new approaches to fighting displacement.” “This acquisition fund is a significant opportunity to make communities healthier,” said Megan Sandel, Co-Director of the GROW clinic at Boston Medical Center. “Taking housing units off the speculative market to be permanently affordable will create more stable and healthier families for children to thrive.” Making it easier for families to enroll in early education & growing the early education workforce This spring, Boston will launch a one-stop-shop platform to help parents and caregivers find early education and childcare seats citywide and enroll in the City’s free Universal Pre-K, including family child care, community-based programs, and pre-kindergarten in the Boston Public Schools. This announcement builds on the successful and significant expansion of Universal Pre-K to 390 more families last year, which are high-quality, free seats for 3- and 4-year-olds across Boston. This year, the City also funded tuition and certifications for 430 new early educators who committed to staying and teaching in Boston through grants to Bunker Hill Community College, Urban College of Boston, UMass Boston, and Neighborhood Villages.   “Through this opportunity with the City of Boston and Urban College, I have been able to grow personally and professionally, since my experience has been enriching and has expanded my vision of early education,” said early educator Elisanet Vásquez. “Taking the early education courses has been one of the best decisions I have made, as the classes gave me a solid understanding of the theory and practice of early education, which in turn, has improved my confidence and skills in working with children and families and has motivated me to continue my studies. I am very grateful to Mayor Wu for this opportunity and for everything she is doing to support the Boston early childhood community.” Bolstering partnerships with higher education institutions for BPS students To ensure that BPS high school students have access to early college and career pathways with the City’s world-class higher education and health care institutions, Mayor Wu announced the following partnerships: Bunker Hill Community Community College (BHCC) will broaden its partnership with Charlestown High School by offering every student the opportunity to take college courses either through dual enrollment or early college pathways in business, technology, and health. In September, BHCC and Charlestown High School will launch the City’s second Year 13 program, which provides a full year of free college courses to Charlestown graduates. Mayor Wu announced the City’s first Year 13 partnership, between UMass Boston and Fenway High School, in last year’s State of the City address.  Roxbury Community College will partner with Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINCA), the Margarita Muñiz Academy, and English High School to launch the first early college incubator designed specifically for multilingual students. Creating systems for multilingual students to successfully access college coursework is a key component of the Boston Public Schools’ expansion of early college and career pathways. Mass General Brigham will deepen its partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers to ensure Boston’s healthcare professions reflect the community. More details about this partnership to expand BPS’ health career pathways and work-based learning will be announced later in January. Mayor Wu also announced that Boston Public Schools has signed an agreement with UMass Boston and Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco to transform the BCLA-McCormack High School into the district’s first University-Assisted Community Hub School. This agreement will give BCLA-McCormack students unprecedented access to UMass coursework and opportunities, partner talented educators from both institutions, help develop UMass graduate students into future teachers and counselors, and create a seamless pathway into UMass Boston for BCLA-McCormack graduates. This partnership accompanies BCLA-McCormack planned renovations to create a state-of-the-art high school campus embedded in the Columbia Point community.  “Engaging our students and advising them about their college and career opportunities will set them up for success now and in the future,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Mayor Wu’s leadership has enabled BPS to dramatically expand Early College and career pathways across our high schools. This work is crucial for the success of Boston’s young people and we are proud to have a Mayor who prioritizes education and giving our high school students the skills, knowledge, and experience through Early College and Career pathways that will serve them throughout their lives.” "I thank Mayor Wu, Superintendent Skipper and BCLA/McCormack Head of School Ondrea Johnston for their partnership in what will be the first university-assisted community school in Massachusetts,” said UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco. “As Boston's premiere public research university, we are committed to providing BPS students with an equitable pathway to and through UMass Boston. We look forward to working alongside the Mayor and Superintendent with BCLA/McCormack leadership, teachers, students, parents and the community to ensure this is a successful collaboration." Nation-leading federal investment in electric school buses With a record $20 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Boston will add 50 electric school buses this year, more than doubling the current fleet of electric buses. The funding will cover costs to purchase the new buses and install expanded charging infrastructure to service them. There are 20 electric buses currently in the BPS fleet and an additional 19 buses have been ordered and will be on the roads later this school year. This unprecedented federal investment will bring healthier commutes for students and bus drivers, cleaner air in City neighborhoods, and a significant step forward in BPS’ transition to a greener and climate-ready City. Since launching the first electric buses in 2022, BPS and the City have demonstrated that students, drivers, mechanics, and administrators are ready to make a rapid shift to an all-electric school bus fleet. “Today, Investing in America means investing in 135 new clean electric school buses that will bring kids to school all across Massachusetts and Connecticut. By prioritizing electric buses, we’re not just reducing emissions, we’re tackling environmental injustices, ensuring every child, regardless of zip code, breathes clean air and has a healthier future. From Boston to Worcester, and Hartford to the Cape, the air will be cleaner, and kids will not be breathing in fumes that will give them asthma attacks or increase the chance of future health problems,” said EPA Regional Administrator David Cash. “In addition, thanks to these historic investments, the technology innovation that go into low-emission school buses are launching us into America’s clean energy future.”  Creating access to youth job opportunities for all BPS students Last year, the City provided 10,000 summer youth jobs, far surpassing a goal of 7,000 jobs. During her State of the City address, Mayor Wu announced a “summer job guarantee” for any BPS student who wants one this summer. In addition to expanded private sector employment with the Boston Private Industry Council and many businesses, the City is also expanding  “learn-and-earn” jobs, which pay BPS students to take summer college courses. Local colleges and universities provided over 300 “learn-and-earn” jobs in summer of 2023, including  Northeastern University, Boston University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Roxbury Community College, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and UMass Boston. “My internship experience has influenced me through becoming more social and gaining a voice,” said Janaira Diaz, a senior at New Mission High School who worked at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital Department of Patient Access and Hospitality. “This experience has given me insight on how a hospital functions, and has positively impacted my interest in becoming an ultrasound tech going into college.”  Free admission to Boston’s cultural institutions for BPS families Mayor Michelle Wu announced an unprecedented partnership between the City and leading cultural institutions to make Boston Public Schools students feel at home in the places that show them the world. The program builds on existing access programs at each institution, while, for the first time, creating a common free access experience coordinated by the City. In an experimental pilot, starting in February 2024, on the first and second Sundays of each month, every BPS student and up to three family members will get free admission to the Boston Children’s Museum, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium. Families will show a BPS school ID or an electronic pass to gain admission. The City and institutions will work together to publicize the program and track attendance, and develop plans to extend this pilot.  "We are thrilled to partner with the city and our colleagues to bring free cultural experiences to BPS students and their families,” said Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science. “One of our highest priorities as an institution is creating a learning space that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all. The beauty of scientific discovery should not be a privilege, but rather a birthright for every child in the city. We cannot wait to welcome even more BPS families through our doors and to help spark their lifelong love of science.” “The New England Aquarium is proud to partner on the cultural access pilot and have the opportunity to welcome and inspire even more young people to form a deeper connection to the ocean and the many ways it impacts our lives,” said Vikki N. Spruill, president and CEO of the New England Aquarium. “We applaud Mayor Wu and her team for creating a program that prioritizes increased accessibility and inclusivity for students and families throughout Boston.” "Boston Children's Museum is pleased to participate in the cultural access pilot program for Boston Public School children and their families to enjoy one of the region’s most important early childhood educational and cultural institutions," said Carole Charnow, President & CEO, Boston Children's Museum. "The Museum is an invaluable resource that provides delightfully interactive creative opportunities for playful exploration. Special thanks to Mayor Wu for launching this program and reinforcing Boston Children’s Museum’s commitment to the community to keep access affordable for all." “At Franklin Park Zoo, classroom learning is truly brought to life in impactful ways that inspire caring and action on behalf of wildlife and strengthen STEM learning through exploration and fun,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO. “We are excited to participate in Boston’s cultural access pilot to expand opportunities for Boston schoolchildren and their families.” “We’re proud to partner with the City on this initiative, and thank the Mayor for her leadership,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts. “It’s an important demonstration of our shared belief that access to the arts is integral in building strong communities. We look forward to welcoming BPS students and their families to the MFA through this program—a bold invitation and a declaration that cultural institutions are places where all belong.” “The access initiative announced by Mayor Wu is a bold statement that arts and culture are vital for everyone and an important first step to equitably unlocking the full potential of museums for our young people and their families,” said Jill Medvedow, Director of the ICA. “Every day at the ICA, we see how free admission for youth and teens opens the doors to a wide spectrum of activities that are critical for engagement, transformation and change, and we are excited to partner with the City and our colleagues to expand these efforts across Boston.” Revitalizing Franklin Park to its fullest potential as a shared space for neighbors, student athletes, and professional soccer players Mayor Wu announced that the City will act on the recommendations from the Franklin Park Action Plan to begin the process of restoring Franklin Park to its fullest potential. Boston will hire a dedicated, full-time Franklin Park administrator and six new full-time maintenance and natural resources staff, bringing dedicated park staffing to the highest level in over 50 years. Currently, the park has three dedicated maintenance staff. The City will also begin the process for community input and design to reimagine and invest in a home for the Elma Lewis Playhouse. “The Franklin Park Coalition is thrilled to celebrate Mayor Wu’s significant new investments in Franklin Park,” said Rickie Thompson, President of the Franklin Park Coalition. “The Coalition has been advocating for renovations and additional staffing for a significant time. We’re very grateful that Mayor Wu is responsive to these requests and will work to update this critical resource that has been neglected for too long.”  As part of the reinvestment in Franklin Park, last year, Mayor Wu announced a partnership with Boston Unity Soccer Group to renovate the historic White Stadium into the first sports venue in the country that will co-house a pro sports team and a public schools athletic program. When this renovation is complete, Boston’s school communities will have a world-class athletics hub with a professionally-manager grass field, a new eight-lane track, brand new locker rooms, and conditioning spaces. Mayor Wu tonight shared that the City will also create a new booster fund for BPS athletics to cover expenses for uniforms, extra equipment, and dedicated transportation.  “We applaud Mayor Wu’s vision and are thrilled to partner with the City of Boston in its efforts to revitalize White Stadium,” said Jennifer Epstein, Controlling Partner of Boston Unity Soccer Partners. “The transformation of the stadium into a world-class sports facility presents an incredible opportunity for BPS student-athletes, the communities around the park, and our soccer club. We are building our team for Boston and the diverse communities represented here, and we thank the City for its leadership. Working together with the City and members of the community, we look forward to delivering a reimagined White Stadium that enhances our city and contributes positively to the vibrancy and activation of beloved Franklin Park.” In her address, Mayor Wu also highlighted: Collaborating on a public health-led approach at Mass & Cass that has removed encampments and helped hundreds of people find housing and begin a path to recovery; Partnering on a community-driven safety plan that has achieved the lowest levels of gun violence on record; Negotiating a new police contract that sets a national precedent for community policing, including discipline reform, detail reform, and investing in officer education; Launching a $10 million life sciences workforce initiative with industry to connect residents with careers in the life sciences, and diversify and strengthen the sector at a moment of groundbreaking achievement by Boston-based companies; More than doubling the amount awarded to businesses owned by people of color and Boston-based companies through City contracts, including through the City’s nation-leading sheltered markets program to address racial disparities in contracting. Mayor Wu also announced a $9 million investment to build local businesses’ capacity to compete for more and bigger contracts; Restructuring the BPDA to elevate planning and design; modernizing development review, and launching the first comprehensive rezoning in decades, Squares & Streets, which kicks off next month. In July, BPDA staff will transition to the City—restoring planning as a core function of City government. Drafting a zero net carbon zoning proposal to help make Boston the greenest city in the nation; Adding e-bikes to Bluebikes and, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, launching the lowest-cost annual bikeshare pass in America; Tackling traffic by using machine learning to measure trends, model traffic flow, detect when and where congestion is worst, and help optimize signal timing to unclog key corridors. More details on the above announcements will be available in the coming weeks and months. To learn more about additional City accomplishments in the past year click here.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Advances Tuition Equity with Release of State Financial Aid Form

Healey-Driscoll Administration Advances Tuition Equity with Release of State Financial Aid Form   

The Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) allows undocumented students to apply for state need-based financial aid for the first time 

Apply at mass.edu/MASFA 

BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration took a significant step forward in expanding access to higher education for all Massachusetts residents by launching the new Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). The Department of Higher Education released the form on their website today, which will allow currently-enrolled undocumented college students in Massachusetts to apply for state need-based financial aid for the first time. Students can access the application at mass.edu/MASFA. 
 

The MASFA is an alternative form that provides students who cannot complete the Free Application for State Financial Aid (FAFSA) due to their immigration status a way to apply for state need-based financial aid. The application launch follows the August 2023 passage of Massachusetts’ Tuition Equity Law, which allows students who have completed at least three years of high school in Massachusetts and received a high school diploma or its equivalent in the Commonwealth to access in-state tuition and be eligible for financial aid, regardless of immigration status.  

 

Eligible students began receiving the in-state tuition rate in Fall 2023. The MASFA released today is for additional need-based financial aid opportunities. It is based on the FAFSA for the 2023-2024 academic year and should be completed by students who are beginning college in Spring 2024 or were enrolled in the Fall 2023 semester and may qualify for financial aid. To receive financial aid for the 2023-2024 school year, students are encouraged to apply by May 1, and no later than June 30, 2024. 

 

Students who apply for need-based state financial aid under the new “High School Comleter” pathway created by the Tuition Equity Law must meet the existing eligibility criteria for each financial aid program for which they are seeking access. 

 

“Quality higher education should be accessible to all Massachusetts high school graduates,” said Governor Healey. “Students who have long been part of our communities in Massachusetts should be eligible for the historic financial aid programs we have launched this year, and they should have every opportunity to grow their careers and be part of building our state’s workforce. We’re grateful for the Legislature for their partnership in passing this historic policy, and we’re proud to be launching this application so that students can start accessing financial aid.” 

 

“This has been a banner year for educational access in Massachusetts, following the passage of MassReconnect, MASSGrant Plus Expansion, and Tuition Equity,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “The MASFA will open doors to need based financial aid for students looking to attend any public or private Massachusetts college or university.” 

 

“Tuition equity is about giving students who have long called Massachusetts home equal access to higher education,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “With the MASFA form providing access to millions of dollars in need-based financial aid, we will be able to give the greatest number of students access to the life changing opportunities that our institutions of higher education offer here in the Commonwealth.” 

 

“The Department of Higher Education is committed to increasing socioeconomic mobility for all residents of Massachusetts, particularly those who have historically been underserved and underrepresented in higher education,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “The MASFA is a key tool for advancing equitable access to the Commonwealth’s many great colleges and universities.”  

 

“Ensuring that all Massachusetts residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to the Commonwealth’s higher education system is critical not just for those students, but for the betterment of Massachusetts,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank my colleagues in the House and our partners in the Senate for making this initiative possible, as well as the Healey-Driscoll Administration for working to implement it and for their support.” 

 

“Tuition equity is about giving every high schooler in Massachusetts who wants to go to college the same ability to do so, regardless of who they are or where they are from," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I'm thrilled to see the Executive Office of Education take this important step in implementing what the Legislature included in the budget, and break down a major barrier for young people whose families have settled in our state.” 

 

 

"The Healey-Driscoll Administration's launch of the MASFA is groundbreaking, helping to provide state need-based financial aid for undocumented immigrants who aspire to higher education,” said Representative David Rogers (D-Cambridge), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. “This initiative will continue the Commonwealth’s commitment to increased access to the life-changing opportunities within our higher education system.” 

 

“Every student should have the same access to higher education in Massachusetts,” said Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn). “The launch of this tool is another significant step forward, ensuring that our commitment to equal access is transformed into actionable opportunities. By breaking down barriers and extending financial aid to these students, we are not only shaping individual futures but also contributing to the collective prosperity of Massachusetts." 

“As a first-generation, Cabo-Verdean American whose parents immigrated to Boston with nothing but hope in their hearts and a pair of working hands, I too come from a mixed status family, and access to state financial aid for all eligible students in the Commonwealth, regardless of immigration status, will be a lever of opportunity that shapes a generation,” said Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston). “This opportunity will enable thousands of talented, hard-working individuals to build a life of meaning and purpose here in the Commonwealth, embracing the very best of who we are as a state.” 

 

“On behalf of the state’s 15 community colleges, we are excited to celebrate the launch of the MASFA,” said Jim Vander Hooven, president of Mount Wachusett Community College and chair of the Community College Council of Presidents. “The new tuition equity law is already making a significant positive impact on our students, and we’re thrilled that the MASFA will streamline access to state aid for eligible undocumented students.” 

“On behalf of the Commonwealth’s State Universities, I am thrilled that the Governor continues to increase access to a college education for all people that reside in Massachusetts,” said Salem State University President and Chair of the Council of Presidents for the Massachusetts State Universities John D. Keenan. “The Governor’s leadership continues to make college more affordable than ever before to Massachusetts students. The MASFA provides students who are not eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid access to state financial aid. This, along with in-state tuition for Massachusetts high school graduates, is another important financial aid tool to help them reach their goal of earning a college degree." 

“The creation of a state financial aid application is another smart, common sense step by the Healey-Driscoll administration to break down existing financial barriers to higher education,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “The MASFA will make college more affordable for numerous Massachusetts students, empowering them to support their families and contribute to the state’s economy.” 

“The MASFA is a crucial tool for advancing tuition equity in Massachusetts,” said Rob McCarron, President and CEO of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts. “Our private colleges and universities in Massachusetts are committed to serving all students who wish to attend college, as well as ensure that all students who are eligible can access need-based state financial aid, which for many students is essential to their goal of achieving a higher education.” 

 

"MIRA Coalition extends heartfelt appreciation to the Department of Higher Education for their inclusive and collaborative efforts in implementing monumental tuition equity reform,” said Jonathan Paz, Policy Advocate for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. “Tuition equity offers substantial benefits to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as to our state's economy, which desperately needs more workers. We thank the Healey-Driscoll administration and the legislature for making this policy a reality and look forward to watching students from across the Commonwealth achieve their dreams." 

Filling out the MASFA does not commit any student to enrolling in a college or university, but it is the essential first step to applying for the financial assistance for which they may qualify to make college a reality.  

 

To be eligible, Massachusetts residents must meet the following criteria:  

• Was admitted to a public or private institution of higher education within the Massachusetts system of public higher education. 

• Have attended at least three academic years at a high school in Massachusetts. 

• Have graduated from high school in Massachusetts or have received the equivalent of a high school diploma (for example, a GED) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

• Have applied for military selective service, if eligible. 

• If the individual is not a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States, that person must provide a completed the DHE Affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a citizen or legal permanent resident within 120 days after the individual becomes eligible to do so. 

An updated MASFA for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available in late winter/early spring and will be based on the 2024-2025 FAFSA, which is due to be released by the federal government on December 31, 2023.  

The MASFA ensures that all students who qualify can access the significant investments made into higher education by the Healey-Driscoll administration this year, including MassReconnect, which made community college free for Commonwealth residents ages 25 and older regardless of income, and MASSGrant Plus Expansion, which covers the cost of tuition and fees for low-income students and reduces out-of-pocket costs for middle income students.  

Governor Healey Files $1.23 Billion Plan to Modernize IT Systems, Drive Innovation, Increase Efficiency and Support Communities

 Governor Healey Files $1.23 Billion Plan to Modernize IT Systems, Drive Innovation, Increase Efficiency and Support Communities  

Five-year bond authorization will support enhanced constituent experience in state government and strengthen cybersecurity for statewide IT systems 

 

BOSTON – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration unveiled the FutureTech Act, a $1.23 billion plan to modernize IT systems across secretariats through Fiscal Years 2025-2029. The bill represents significant IT capital investments to integrate the constituent experience across agencies, deliver on cybersecurity projects across the executive branch, and fund future investments in Artificial Intelligence technology, while also providing funding and technical support to secretariats, agencies, and public higher education institutions, and municipalities. 

 

“Our administration is committed to making state government more accessible to the residents, businesses and visitors of Massachusetts – and a key way to do that is to ensure that our IT services are updated and easy to use,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to unveil the FutureTech Act, which will invest in our technology future by improving user experience, strengthening our cybersecurity, and paving the way for us to utilize up and coming technologies like AI. We thank our partners in the Legislature for their careful consideration of our proposal.” 

 

“The FutureTech Act is the latest example of the innovative ways in which Secretary Snyder and the EOTSS team are working to make our IT services more efficient and accessible,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “From establishing the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to creating the position of Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer to establishing the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, we recognize the critical role that technology plays in the delivery of government services and in the lives of the people of Massachusetts.”  

 

The current EOTSS bond authorization will be completely exhausted in FY25. To keep large, transformative IT projects on schedule, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) Office of Capital Planning, in coordination with the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F), assessed the executive branch IT capital project needs for the period of FY25-29. The authorization being requested would fund the continuation of key business applications up to $350 million, enterprise cybersecurity investments of $150 million over the next five years, as well as new capital investments of $275 million.  

 

The wide-ranging nature of the initiatives planned for funding across state government is a testament to IT’s evolution in recent decades. Information Technology has gone from being a back-office function, used to carry out policy already enacted, to being a fundamental driver of all business and policy functions that we carry out in Massachusetts. As such, this authorization invests not just in IT capital projects, but in Massachusetts’ future ability to expand what is possible through public policy and good government.  

 

“Our state’s IT systems serve as a key driver for every secretariat, agency and business function that we carry out on behalf of the public,” said EOTSS Secretary and Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder. “This authorization simultaneously keeps our IT assets current and allows us to plan for our long-term cyber resilience strategy, while continuing to innovate in our business and constituent-facing applications.”  

 

“Information technology is foundational to everything we do in state government, and essential to making sure all our agencies operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. This legislation will ensure moving into the future, as technology rapidly changes around us, that state and local government can protect itself and utilize the latest technology to deliver for businesses and residents,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz.   

 

“We are thrilled to see a $12 million investment to support the Child Care Financial Assistance Modernization (CCFA) project in the bill filed today by Governor Healey,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children. “This capital project is critical to continue the momentum at the Department of Early Education and Care to better serve children and families. Infrastructure matters. By updating the outdated technology systems, we expect that EEC will be able to serve families more effectively and equitably and pay providers in a more timely fashion for financial stability.” 

 

“The North Shore IT Collaborative has received more than $1 million in Compact funds over the past half decade, which in turn has unlocked several million more in local funds,” said Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha. “These investments laid the groundwork for the regional IT operating model being led by Danvers today, and we’re confident the FutureTech Act will lay the groundwork for similar collaboratives elsewhere in the Commonwealth.” 

  

This bill includes $1.23 billion in bond authorization to support current and future technology needs over the next five years, in addition to $400 million in authorization to spend anticipated federal funding for major Health and Human Services business application projects. 

  

Highlights of the authorization are included below. Additional details on the bill can be found in the FutureTech Act policy brief. 
 

• $120 million for the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) within the Office of the Comptroller to replace two core administrative systems used across the Executive Branch to manage financial, payroll, and human resource functions.  

 

• $110 million to support the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, which seeks to standardize the user experience across state agencies with a single identity, and single sign-on that proactively points users to relevant information and services. To date, the Identity Access Management (IAM) single sign-on has amassed over 1 million residents. Building out this platform to add more applications and launching new lines of constituent communication through live chat, text functionality, and chatbot services will promote increased adoption and interoperability of the platform. In short, as the Digital Roadmap scales, it will become more impactful to users. 

 

• $52 million to support the continued rollout of the Employment Modernization Transformation (EMT), a project which, when complete, will provide both employers and those seeking unemployment assistance with a new portal designed to be mobile-friendly and accessible, making it easier to apply for unemployment assistance and streamline the claims process. 

 

• $30 million to modernize medical health records hosted by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to eliminate workflow duplication and facilitate more efficient, secure health record management  

 

• $30 million for the Municipal Fiber Grant Program, a competitive grant program that supports the closing of critical gaps that exist in municipal networks. Focused on connecting municipality-owned facilities, the program assists municipalities in achieving many critical goals associated with municipal fiber networks. 

 

• $25 million for the Community Compact IT Grant Program, a competitive grant program aimed at driving innovation at the local level available to any municipality that is part of Community Compact Cabinet Initiative. The program supports the implementation of technology projects that harness the power of IT to drive innovation, make government more efficient, save taxpayer money, and make it easier for residents to interact and transact with their local government.   
   

• $25 million to support future AI projects that align with the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s priorities. Right now, Massachusetts has a chance to harness the knowledge and skills of our robust higher education and innovation-driven economy to widen our lead in the responsible development and use of AI technology in government. This bill looks forward, supporting future AI capital projects for state business and constituent experience improvement. 

 

• $15 million to support the Integrated Digital Data Services (IDDS) project within the Executive Office of Education (EOE). This project moves EOE data that it currently holds in many different places onto cloud servers, and creates a secure, standardized platform that provides more timely and useful educational information to educators, administrators, and the public. 

 

• $12 million to support the Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) Modernization project, which will update the business processes within CCFA to align with an updated user experience and replace or update the core technology systems managing the waitlist, application and eligibility determination, and payments. Updating the overall user experience will reduce barriers to families seeking assistance from the Commonwealth, ease administrative burdens on child care providers, and create greater operational efficiencies for the Department of Early Education and Care 

 

• $13 million to support the Enhanced Student Financial Aid Access project, which will simplify the financial aid discovery and application process, enhance accessibility, and facilitate higher college-going rates for Massachusetts residents, ensuring the Commonwealth fulfills the vision for having one of the most equitable and effective higher education systems in the nation. Specific benefits include a modern, user-friendly, accessible, and mobile-optimized DHE website; a Student Financial Aid Portal; system integration with my.mass.gov and IE&E; and the consolidation and streamlining of the student financial aid system. 

 

• $10 million to support the Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment (IE&E) program within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program eliminates duplicative documentation while streamlining the application and onboarding processes for benefits administered by HHS while making residents aware of overlapping eligibility for services.  

 

• $3 million to support the Criminal Justice360 cross-tracking system and dashboard, empowering members of the public to view aggregated records from the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) and the state’s 14 County Sheriff’s Offices.  

 

Ensuring equitable access to state digital services for everyone remains a priority of the Healey-Driscoll administration. Through EOTSS’ leadership on both the digital roadmap and digital accessibility, all IT projects will be held to the standard of providing personal, simple, and secure user experiences that meet the needs of Massachusetts residents as they interact with their state government. This authorization supports projects that improve and integrate state government’s digital interface, with all residents in mind, with the twin priorities of improving access and efficiency

３機構合辦音樂會 1月20日晚為健康勇士龍舟隊籌款

 　　　   (Boston Orange) 勒星頓弦樂學校 (Lexington String Academy)和大波士頓亞美青年交響樂團 (Greater Boston Asian American Youth Symphony Orchestra) ，以及CYA 秀 (The CYA Show)合作，將於1月20日(週六)晚7點，在勒星頓歷史協會 (Lexington Historical Society)，舉辦音樂會，為乳癌倖存者龍舟隊籌款。

            　當晚所有收入將捐給麻州的第一個癌症倖存者龍舟隊，健康勇士隊 (Wellness Warriors)。

            　這場音樂會將由Yuan Zhuang彈鋼琴，Yiliang Jiang拉小提琴，演奏德布西 (Debussy)的小提琴及鋼琴奏鳴曲，Ravel 的小提琴奏鳴曲二號，Prokofiev 的五律 (Five Melodies)， Vivaldi “四季”中的”冬季”，Greig的Holbert組曲。

            　查詢相關資料可上網，健康勇士隊，https://wellnesswarriorsboston.org/，CYA 秀(https://www.instagram.com/thecyashow/)。小提琴表演者Yiliang Jiang， https://www.yiliangjiang.net/bio。

                   音樂會門票每張18到20元。查詢可上網 https://wellnesswarriorsboston.org/，https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eclectic-elegance-a-night-of-chamber-music-by-baroque-and-modern-masters-tickets-783154194277?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwAR1-mfI0NDGhgTbeSsUOhMg8kp-9732ThjR1ADjn1wyZ5p5j8E26kzREoL8。