麻州長 Healey 將撥款資助門戶城市享有高品質學前教育

Governor Healey Announces Universal, High-Quality Pre-K Access for Gateway Cities 

 

“Gateway to Pre-K" agenda will also increase child care financial assistance to thousands of families and sustain historic C3 funding for providers 

 

Governor signs Executive Order directing whole-of-government approach to child care and pledging partnership with business community on solutions 

 

MALDEN – Governor Maura Healey today laid out her administration’s agenda to make early education and child care more affordable and accessible for all families across Massachusetts. The Governor will highlight these programs in her State of the Commonwealth address tomorrow and propose the funding in her Fiscal Year 2025 budget next week. 

 

The “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda includes four key components: 

 

· Delivering universal, high-quality preschool access for four-year-olds in all Gateway Cities by the end of 2026. Every family of a 4-year-old in these 26 communities will have the opportunity – at a low or no cost -- to enroll their child in a high-quality preschool program that prepares them for kindergarten. 

· Increasing Child Fare Financial Assistance (CCFA) eligibility from 50 percent of the state median income (SMI) to 85 percent SMI to help an additional 4,000 low-and moderate-income families afford care.  

· Continuing Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants in FY25, providing stable funding for programs to improve quality, pay facility costs, and hire more staff, thereby creating more classrooms where families can enroll their children in affordable child care.  

· Signing an executive order to recognize the essential role child care plays in driving the state’s economy and competitiveness forward and directing the Healey-Driscoll administration to take a whole-of-government approach to ensuring affordable, high-quality child care. 

 

“Our ‘Gateway to Pre-K' agenda will fundamentally transform the early education system in Massachusetts. We’re lowering costs for families to enroll their children in child care and Pre-K and ensuring our hardworking providers have the support they need to deliver high-quality care,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Far too many parents are being held back from returning to the workforce because of the daunting cost of child care, and providers are facing the difficult decision between continuing in the profession they love or leaving for a higher-paid career. Our budget proposal will help to relieve those pressures by expanding high-quality Pre-K access, delivering more financial assistance to thousands more families, and sustaining our historic investments in C3 grants to providers.” 

 

“As Governor Healey and I travel around the state, we hear about the high cost of child care and the impact that is having on families and business. We have made many positive strides in year one, and we are taking even bigger and bolder action in the next few years so that regardless of zip code or economic background, our youngest learners can access the high-quality education they need to succeed in school and beyond, while also supporting our local economy and communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

 

“Governor Healey gets it: child care is the key to unlocking Massachusetts’ economic potential,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. "Federal pandemic relief funding proved that with public investment and a commitment to working families, we can expand access to care, cut costs for parents, and enable businesses to thrive. I am grateful to Governor Healey for taking on this urgent challenge and for being my partner in the fight for affordable, accessible care. As Massachusetts takes this step forward, I will continue pushing in Washington for the resources and solutions we need to ensure our early education and care system truly works for working families.” 

 
 

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) currently administers the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), which establishes a district–wide preschool program across classes in public and community-based early education and care programs. As a result, every 4-year-old receives equitable access to high quality preschool, while ensuring families have multiple provider options to choose from. This levels the playing field for kindergarten readiness across the district, establishing coordinated curriculum and similar goals regardless of where a child is enrolled. CPPI funding also provides scholarships to participating families to enroll at no or low cost and enables full day/full year services through the mix of public and community classrooms. Further, CPPI promotes equitable access to special education to ensure full inclusion of children with disabilities through the least restrictive settings.  

 

CPPI is currently in 12 Gateway Cities (Brockton, Fall River, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Salem, Springfield and Westfield). Through investments in the FY25 budget, the administration is proposing to expand CPPI into the 14 remaining Gateway Cities over the next two years. 

 

Governor Healey announced her Gateway to Pre-K agenda in Malden, an example of a Gateway City that has benefited from CPPI, providing access to high quality preschool through multiple partners: Malden Public Schools, Malden Early Education and Learning Program, Cheverus Catholic School, Little Love Bugs Daycare, My Best Friends Child Care, and Malden YMCA. Through CPPI, Malden has standardized the use of a high-quality preschool curriculum that integrates evidence-based practices in early literacy, as well as coordinates and intentionally aligns policies, assessments, and professional development. Although the CPPI program is relatively new, Malden leaders have already noticed the significant impact. 

 

"CPPI has made a meaningful difference in our district - developing partnerships between school districts and local early education programs provides an equal playing field so that every preschooler in our community is on the same plan and has access to the same resources and materials. I am excited to see this program expand into more programs and communities, and I want to thank Governor Healey and the Administration for making this important announcement in our community,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. 

 

“We all in Malden Public Schools love this program because we see it is going to have a big trajectory, big picture for students from prekindergarten to grade 12 to be ready for what every they want to do in life. It also allows our teachers and the community-based teachers to share in best practices and professional development, furthering their impact and sense of community,” said Malden Public Schools Superintendent Ligia Noriega-Murphy. 

 

Massachusetts’ child care financial assistance programs help families pay for early education and care programs by covering all or a percentage of the cost of care based on their income. Current initial eligibility is at or below 50 percent SMI, meaning families earning less than $49,467 annually for a family of two and $61,106 for a family of three. Federal rules allow states to go up to 85 percent SMI. By increasing eligibility to 85 percent SMI, more low-and moderate-income families, including staff working in education and care programs, get help paying for care. That means families earning less than annually $84,094 for a family of two and $103,880 for a family of three will now be eligible for help paying for care. 

 

C3 has been a game changer for child care programs and families, helping to not only keep over 7,000 programs open, but also supporting over 42,000 educators. C3 enables programs to better recruit and retain their staff, increase compensation, and invest in high-quality initiatives so that costs aren’t passed onto parents. The C3 program was initially supported primarily by federal dollars, but as those funds were set to expire, Governor Healey last year proposed continuing the funding with 100 percent state dollars for the first time. This proposal was supported by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Healey. The investment helped to stabilize the early education system and contributed to 7 percent increase in the number of child care programs, adding more than 10,600 child care slots across the state. Continuing C3 will enable programs to remain open and continue supporting system-wide growth through investments in workforce, quality, and affordability. 

 

“Within my first week in this administration, Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll let me know that they were looking for a solution for the challenges facing our child care system. Our bold new early education agenda goes further than providing a solution, it spells out our plan for fundamental transformation,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “We know that child care and preschool are critical for the success of our early learners, and provide an essential backbone to our economy by supporting working parents. Our ‘Gateway to Pre-K' approach is more of an educational prerogative—it’s an economic imperative.”  

 

“Early education is foundational to closing the opportunity gap in Massachusetts - bringing economic equity and mobility to families as well as educational opportunities to their children. Access to affordable child care is also an engine of the state’s economy, enabling families of all income levels to participate in our workforce,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “I am grateful to Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll for these bold actions and look forward to working in partnership with the Legislature and our diverse network of early education programs, educators, families, and business leaders to move these efforts forward to build an affordable, equitable, and high-quality early education system for all Massachusetts families.”  

 

Governor Healey also signed an Executive Order directing her administration to take a whole of government approach to child care, which impacts all aspects of life in Massachusetts. It will bring together teams from housing, child care, education, economic development, workforce development, health care and human services to work in partnership with the business community to develop new, and innovative strategies to expand access, build new facilities and reduce costs for families. State agencies will pay particular attention to the need for workforce training and apprenticeships, and will review employer tax credits or other incentives for offering or assisting with employee child care.  

 

“Child care solutions are a critical enabler for economic growth in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “The Gateway to Pre-K initiative will empower members of our workforce and businesses across the state and make Massachusetts more competitive, affordable, and equitable.” 

 

“Accessible, affordable, and quality child care is a critical infrastructure for Massachusetts workers and families,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “As an economic imperative, I look forward to working collaboratively with government, business, and community partners to build a strong pipeline of early childhood educators, and strengthen child care as a valuable support for attracting and retaining workers representing businesses and industries statewide.” 

 

This multi-pronged new child care initiative builds on the significant progress that was made during the Healey-Driscoll administration’s first year in office, including the hallmark budget proposal to invest an historic $475 million in state dollars to continue C3 grants when federal funds were sunsetting and reforming the state’s child care financial assistance programs to make them simpler, easier, and to lower costs for families. These new transformative initiatives also build on the administration’s significant provider rate increases and changes approved just last week. 

 

Read today’s executive order. 

麻州推數位平等 聘Ashley Bloom 為首任科技無障礙長

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Hiring of Ashley Bloom as State’s First Chief IT Accessibility Officer  

BOSTON – This week, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security(EOTSS) announced the hiring of Ashley Bloom, Massachusetts’ first-ever Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer(CIAO). She is just the fourth statewide CIAO in the country。 In this role, she will chair the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board and will be responsible for ensuring that all of the state’s digital applications are fully functional and accessible for all Massachusetts residents. Bloom brings over 20 years of advancing digital equity in the private and public sectors. She joins the administration from Fidelity Investments where she built a successful accessibility program. 

 

The office of the Chief IT Accessibility Officer was created by Executive Order 614, signed by Governor Healey  last year on the 33^rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Executive Order 614 established the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to advance the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal of providing a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible digital experience for everyone, including those who are blind, have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, and other disabilities.   

“It was important for our administration to create the Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer and the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to ensure that all of state government is accessible for all of our residents, including those with disabilities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Ashley Bloom will be a fantastic addition to the EOTSS team and will build on the work they are already doing to make improvement to our digital services and bring state government directly to people where they are.” 

 

“We’re proud of the work that EOTSS is doing to make meaningful improvements to accessibility of government services, and we know that the addition Ashley Bloom will make those efforts even stronger,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “State government needs to work for everyone, including those with disabilities or difficulty reading or speaking English.” 

 

 “Technology and the digital user experience will be integral to the future of the services and information state government provides,” said EOTSS Secretary and Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder. “With that in mind, we must ensure that we use the workforce, processes and technology at our disposal to expand and facilitate government IT service access for all residents. Ashley brings leadership and experience, both professional and lived, to her work and I look forward to working with her on our shared goals.” 

 

On January 24, Bloom will convene the second meeting of the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board, and her first meeting as Chair. The Board will soon release a request for applications for the Board’s public seats. 

 

“As the first Chief IT Accessibility Officer for Massachusetts, I am honored to serve as a representative and an advocate for the disability community and to help create inclusive access to digital environments,” said Ashley Bloom.  “This role is especially meaningful for me since working toward accessibility for everyone has been a driving passion of mine as a person with a disability.” 

 

As the state’s lead technology and cybersecurity secretariat, EOTSS is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the Administration’s information technology activities and ensuring that all executive department agencies adhere to its published standards, policies, and procedures. This enterprise approach provides a single, comprehensive framework and ensures that the state is in alignment on all technology needs, including data privacy, cybersecurity risk management, and now digital accessibility and equity through the creation of the Digital Accessibility and Equity Program. 

 

In advancing the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal to provide an equitable and inclusive digital experience for all residents, EOTSS is engaged in a multi-year digital roadmap project that puts residents at the center of our digital future. EOTSS is committed to providing simple and secure digital experiences that can adapt to people's diverse and changing needs. 

At MLK Breakfast, Governor Healey Announces New Efforts to Expand State Contracts to Diverse Businesses

 At MLK Breakfast, Governor Healey Announces New Efforts to Expand State Contracts to Diverse Businesses  

 Governor Healey will also swear in the state’s first Diverse and Small Business Advisory Board for the Supplier Diversity Office 

 

BOSTON – At today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Governor Maura Healey, in partnership with the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), announced additional efforts to increase state contracts with diverse and small businesses by assessing and reopening contracts that can provide such opportunities. This effort also includes swearing in the state’s first Diverse and Small Business Advisory Board for the Supplier Diversity Office. 

"Our administration applies an equity lens to everything we do – and that includes the process to award state contracts. We’re proud to be taking this step to reopen contracts that can provide more opportunities for diverse and small businesses to compete,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re also increasing efforts to reach out directly to diverse entrepreneurs and connect them with the resources they need to succeed, as well as swearing in a group of leaders to offer advice to help guide our efforts to identify and remove barriers for diverse and small businesses.” 

 “These initiatives are focused on making sure that our diverse and small businesses have equal chances to compete for state contracts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Local businesses are the backbone of our state and, as an administration, we’re committed to supporting them in whatever ways we can. This includes opening the door for opportunities with the state and expanding our network of businesses.” 

The state’s purchasing agency, the Operational Services Division (OSD), and the Supplier Diversity Office have partnered to assess and reopen statewide contracts that can provide more opportunities for diverse and small businesses. Together, they have identified opportunities for businesses in information technology, energy and climate action, and in contracts for a range of industries. These newly identified contracts will reopen for new vendors later this year, and regular reviews will be conducted in the future in order to find more opportunities to include new diverse businesses. 
 

As existing contracts reopen, the SDO will reach out directly to diverse entrepreneurs to measure their interest and readiness in bidding on state contracts and to connect them with the available training and technical assistance resources they need, as well as connecting them with the relevant state agencies purchasing goods and services. 

 

Governor Healey also will swear in the first Supplier Diversity Office Diverse and Small Business Advisory Board. The Board is made up of 15 diverse business leaders from across the state and will guide the SDO in its mission and work to identify and remove barriers for diverse and small businesses. The Chair of this Board will be Nicole Obi, President, and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). 

 

“I’m thrilled to join the Supplier Diversity Office Small Business Advisory Board,” said Chair Nicole Obi. “It’s our goal to support the administration in their efforts to increase the diversity of the businesses contracted by the state and to advise the administration in the best ways to reach these businesses. Opening the door for opportunity is key to making Massachusetts a more equitable state for all.”  

 

Additional initiatives from the state focused on making more opportunities available to diverse and small businesses include: 

 

• The SDO is proposing updating the definition of “eligible person” in their certification regulations to include US citizens, permanent residents, and persons residing under the color of law. 

• The SDO is looking to expand the available pool of opportunities for diverse and small businesses to include supplier diversity language in grant opportunities that are posted by state agencies as well opening up additional opportunities for diverse businesses in state-funded municipal construction projects. 

 

This announcement follows the launch of a new partnership that will help veteran-owned businesses bid on contracts across the state, an expansion of the state spending benchmarks to LGBTQ+ and disability-owned businesses, and the launch of a new interactive online map that will help state agencies, cities, towns, prime bidders and contractors identify certified diverse business partners.  

These efforts are part of Governor Healey’s commitment that her administration is going to apply an equity lens to everything they do. Other initiatives include: 

• Updated the state’s clemency guidelines to become the first Governor is history to commit to using clemency to address historic and discriminatory wrongs in the criminal justice system. 

• Became the first Governor in recent history to recommend pardons in her first year in office. This year alone, 13 individuals have been pardoned at Governor Healey’s request. 

• Launched an administration-wide equity assessment. 

• Created the position of Director of Rural Affairs to serve as a dedicated advocate and ombudsman for rural communities, responsible for cultivating rural economic development to ensure that state government is attuned to the unique needs of rural communities. 

• Launched the Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART) within the Massachusetts State Police, which is dedicated to enhancing federal, state and local partnerships and liaising with community leaders to strengthen statewide response to hate crimes and hate-based incidents. 

• Proposed changing the name of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility to better represent the agency’s role in helping those with disabilities gain autonomy and independence. 

• Signed an Executive Order to increase language access across state government by requiring executive department agencies to develop Language Access Plans. 

• Established Governor’s Councils on Black Empowerment and Latino Empowerment. 

• Created the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to strengthen and advance digital accessibility and equity within state government and created the position of Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer. 

 

The SDO’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, service-disabled veterans, those with a disability, and LGBT individuals, as well as small Massachusetts businesses. The SDO certifies these businesses and manages several programs that help them enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts. For more information about the SDO and its programs, visit mass.gov/sdo.   

麻州長希利就最近的極端天氣和洪水發表聲明

州長希利就最近的極端天氣和洪水發表聲明

 

(Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州在暴風雪後，面對大雨及淹水嚴重等情況，麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 特地發表聲明。

              奚莉州長說，”副州長Driscoll和我一直在密切關注麻州各地這幾天面對的天氣及淹水情況。麻州的緊急管理局 (MEMA)正在和市鎮領導聯絡，查察有無任何需求，並協調提供恢復所需的支援。我們了解這天遭對我們的是鎮所造成損和和壓力的程度，我們的整個政府都在這兒，為市鎮提供與公安、水電設施，交通等的需求。

              從災難中復原的資源及指南，可以在這兒找到。關於洪水的安全措施可在這兒找到。犀利州長上個月簽署了補充預算，其中包括1500萬元撥給市鎮的疏洪經費。

可以在此處找到有關從災難中恢復的資源和指南。洪水安全提示可以在這裡找到。州長希利上個月還簽署了一項補充預算，其中包括為市政當局提供1500萬美元的抗洪救災資金。

 

Governor Healey Issues Statement on Recent Extreme Weather, Flooding 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today issued the following statement as regions across the state have experienced severe flooding as a result of heavy rain after a significant snowstorm: 

 

“Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I have been closely following the severe weather and flooding that communities across Massachusetts have been experiencing in recent days. Our team at MEMA is in contact with municipal leaders to identify any ongoing needs and coordinate support as communities recover. We understand the level of damage and stress this is causing to our cities and towns, and our entire administration is here to assist with needs related to public safety, utilities, transportation and more.” 

 

Resources and guidance on recovering from a disaster can be found here. Flood safety tips can be found here. Governor Healey last month also signed a supplemental budget that includes $15 million in flood relief funding for municipalities. 

昆士市長Tom Koch連任就職 將為昆市建可容千人表演藝術中心

昆士市長Tom Koch就職致詞。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子昆士市綜合報導) 昆士市市長柯奇 (Thomas Koch) 1月8日一早，在James R. McIntyre政府中心，宣誓就位，繼續擔任昆士市建市以來的第33位市長，並將在他第7度連任的這一市長任內，於2025年迎接昆士市建市400週年大慶。

昆士市長Tom Koch在女兒Abigal陪同中，宣示續任第33位
昆士市市長。(周菊子攝)

                                                    柯奇市長指出，昆士市已經為即將於2025年來到的建市400週年大慶，做了許多準備，包括要在Squaw Rock為麻州部落建一個新家，在全市各地種古樹，破土動工的蓋一個新的表演藝術中心。

                                現年61歲的柯奇市長，子承父業，一輩子都在為人民、社區服務。他自己在昆士市出生、長大，進昆士市擔任公僕，已歷時36年，曾任老人局主任，前市長James A. Sheets的執行秘書，以及公園、森林及墓地局主任。2007年當選，2008年上任市長一職迄今，包括2008到2015年間的一任2年，以及後來的一任4年。

                         跨入在位第17

神比小孩基金會創辦人伍振中(左)出席昆士市長Tom Koch就職禮。

年，柯奇市長已經是昆士市有史以來，在位時間最長的市長。一旦他做滿這個任期，他將媲美波士頓前市長萬寧路 (Tom Menino) ，成為麻州市鎮屈指可數，也或許是唯二的在位20年市長。

                    1月8日這天，柯奇市長在麻州副州長Kim Driscoll出席的隆重，女兒Abigal陪伴的溫馨中，由曾任昆士市第四區市議員，現為法官的Brian Palmucci主禮，就著他母親Simone送給他的聖經，宣誓就任。

神比小孩基金會創辦人伍振中(左)恭喜梁秀婷選選連任昆士市不分區市議員。
(周菊子攝)

                     柯奇市長在就職演說中闡述，未來的這4年，他還有許多事要做，以及繼續做，包括昆士市中心的新發展計畫，建新學校，以及全市的寬頻網路。這些建設有DJ Mackinnon 及大西洋發展公司在城中心建專業零售區，RoxRock發展，貝斯以色列狄更斯醫療中心( Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)經營的大型醫療辦公室，以及蓋更多房屋等等。

昆士市不分區市議員梁秀婷(右三)的父親梁禮湛(右一)，朋友
李關慶萍(右二)都來出席他的連任就職禮。 (周菊子攝)

                     柯奇指出，昆士市正在蓋的一個新學校，DeCristofaro今年會開張，將成為在地方上教育自閉症兒童的模範，昆士市還在設計，募資，要蓋一所Squantum小學，在昆士市西部蓋一所新的小學。

昆士市議會不分區市議員Noel T. DiBona (左)把議長的議事槌
交給新任市議會議長Ian C. Cain (右)。 (周菊子攝)

                         柯奇市長還提及其他發展項目，包括新的公安總部，松丘墓地 (Pine Hill Cemetery)的擴展，華勒斯頓山墓地(Mount Wollaston Cemetery)的翻修，建造數十里長的新路，地下水，天然氣及下水道管線等。由市議員Ian C. Cain提案，護持，在全昆士市建最新的光纖網路工程，也將繼續，Faxon公園，Squaw Rock，退伍軍人體育場等項目也將繼續推動。

                         昆士市將繼續改善亞當斯總統中心 (Adams Presidential Center)，以宣揚昆士市曾出過2位美國總統的豐富歷史，還將推出新的致敬項目，向海事傳統，近年為國效力的年輕退伍軍人表達敬意。

昆士市長就職禮，人們擠滿了禮堂。(周菊子攝)

                        柯奇強調，他昆士市的財政穩定，感到驕傲。儘管昆士市稅賦在麻州之中，既非最高，也非最低，但在2又2分之一條例限制下，維持4000萬元中，為昆士居民堤共了最好的服務。他相信在麻州351個市鎮中，只有屈指可數的幾個市鎮能夠這麼說。

                              在昆士市長的就職禮中，新一屆的昆士市議員也宣誓就任，並推選出第三區市議員Ian C. Cain為市議會議長。昆士市唯一的華裔市議員，不分區市議員梁秀婷也再度連任。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll (中)出席昆士市市長Tom Koch的就職禮。
(周菊子攝)

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Northeastern University for Winning $6 Million in Federal Funding to Support Future of Mobile Networks

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Northeastern University for Winning $6 Million in Federal Funding to Support Future of Mobile Networks 

Investments Supported by MassTech Will Boost Wireless Technology Innovation and Economic Competitiveness  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll administration is celebrating Northeastern University for winning three federal grants totaling $6 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to support their Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT). The federal investments supported by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which provided $1.52 million in capital grant funding from the Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Awards program managed by the Innovation Institute at MassTech. 

Altogether, these NTIA grants – funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 – will help unlock innovation in testing and strengthening of the wireless supply chain across the nation, helping reduce costs, increase competition, and lower security risks for future mobile networking. 

“Massachusetts has a proud history of paving the next frontier of telecommunications and is continuing this tradition through the initiative of our colleges and universities, who are staying on the cutting edge of mobile tech,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We want to congratulate Northeastern on their innovative approach to ensuring our communications are more secure, cost-effective, and will create the jobs of tomorrow, and we thank the Biden-Harris administration for making this funding available.” 

“We’re a state filled with the best universities in the country,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “This support from the Biden-Harris administration allows us to further empower our academic institutions and students. By equipping them with the necessary tools, we aim to motivate them to reach exceptional heights in technological innovation.”  

“For more than 50 years, U.S. universities have worked in partnership with government to advance the frontiers of science and maintain our global competitiveness,” said Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern University. “This federal investment in Northeastern’s wireless communications research – supplemented by the Healey-Driscoll administration’s vital support – will enable our scientists to develop break-through technologies that benefit our region, the nation and the world.” 

The three NTIA grants to Northeastern include: 

• August 8, 2023: A $2 million award for the TENORAN project, with partner Dell Technologies, NVIDIA, an automated end-to-end energy-efficiency profiling of Open RAN systems through high-fidelity standardized testing scenarios. 

• November 28, 2023: A $2 million award for DigiRAN project, with partner Dell Technologies, focused on the interoperability, security and performance testing of an open RAN (radio access network architecture) system. 

• January 10, 2024: A $2 million award for AutoRAN project with partner Nvidia, which will research the automation of “end-to-end continuous testing for open and disaggregated cellular systems.” 

  

“Northeastern’s commitment to build a more intelligent mobile networking infrastructure here in Massachusetts has the potential to increase competition and grow our economy,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We’re grateful for the support of the Biden Administration and the NTIA for enabling Northeastern University to pioneer technological advancements, break barriers, build a hub for economic development, and provide workforce opportunities for their student population.” 

“Through these investments, Northeastern will help advance the wireless networks that power our innovation economy, making them more agile, responsive, and secure,” said Pat Larkin, Director of the Innovation Institute at MassTech. “For our startups in the advanced wireless space, this new technology will expand their access to cutting-edge technology and the world-class researchers at NU.” 

“We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Raimondo and the NTIA for their decision, and congratulations to Northeastern on this exciting award,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “We will continue leveraging Massachusetts’s strengths in technology and innovation as we compete for federal funds that strengthen our supply chains, while creating good-paying jobs and investing in our communities.” 

The investments will help Northeastern expand on the WIoT Institute infrastructure to acquire equipment which, combined with their Open 6G Testing & Integration Center, will create a unique facility to test interoperability and AI research around the deployment of 6G wireless, while also building a hub for economic development around Open RAN/6G wireless ecosystem in Massachusetts and a tech incubator for locally based startups. In addition, the public investments will strengthen workforce development efforts around Open RAN and 6G in the state. 

The new tools will complement Northeastern’s existing telecommunications research hubs, such as the wireless network emulator, called Colosseum, and the FCC Innovation Zone, which allows qualified federal “licensees to test new advanced technologies and prototype networks.”