中華表演藝術基金會 Minsoo Sohn 鋼琴獨奏會 3/8 登場

韓國鋼琴名家 Minsoo Sohn。

          (Boston Orange) 中華表演藝術基金會的第35屆音樂季第三場音樂會，訂3月8日(週五)晚上八點，請韓國鋼琴名家 Minsoo Sohn在紐英崙音樂學院喬登廳 (Jordan Hall) 鋼琴獨奏，演出李斯特的安慰曲 (Consolations S. 172) 和超凡練習曲 (Transcendental Etudes S. 139) 等曲目。

Minsoo Sohn 是一名備受評論家與觀眾讚賞的音樂家。《紐約時報》形容他是 “ 一位真正的藝術家，以詩意詮釋經過深思熟慮的理念”。 《波士頓環球報》讚揚他 “以令人激動、個人化，充滿音響的方式演奏，富有彈性，天生就是為鋼琴而生”。

            紐約音樂會評論 (New York Concert Review)在他於紐約卡內基音樂廳演奏後，說他『…展現了鋼琴大師風範….總能輕鬆克服，駕馭所有能夠想像，以及難以想像的難度挑戰…風格親合，技巧純熟有自信，勾畫出優美旋律，完整無缺的全面呈現音樂韻律』。

Minsoo Sohn 三歲開始學習鋼琴。大學在波士頓新英格蘭音樂學院師從鋼琴大師羅素謝爾曼 (Russell Sherman) 和 Wha Kyung Byun，並於2004年取得新英格蘭音樂學院的最高藝術家文憑 (Artistic Diploma)。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵表示，這場音樂會也是紀念甫於幾個月前辭世的Russell Sherman先生。

            2006年時，Minsoo Sohn贏得加拿大Honens 國際鋼琴大賽第一名，以及克利夫蘭大賽 (Cleveland) 銀牌，Hilton Head 一等獎，Busoni，魯賓斯坦，伊麗莎白女王和 Santander  等國際鋼琴大賽等地特等獎。

            這些年來，他經常在北美、歐洲和以色列等地的各種重要場所和節日慶典中表演。曾和多位知名指揮大師和樂團合作。2008 他還出了首張唱片，多倫多星報（Toronto Star）描述 “他優雅的，從容的騰躍過驚險的技術挑戰…”。

            Minsoo Sohn 以詮釋巴赫《哥德堡變奏曲》而聞名。《紐約時報》稱讚他的錄音作品是「一個美麗而清晰的詮釋」，並列為2011年最佳古典音樂錄音之一。

在2020年，貝多芬誕辰250週年之際，Minsoo Sohn 在首爾藝術中心舉行了一系列獨奏會，演奏貝多芬巨著的《迪亞貝利變奏曲》和小品集 (Diabelli Variations and Bagatelles)。還錄製了32首貝多芬奏鳴曲。

2020年秋季，他發行了廣受期待的九張專輯組合《完整貝多芬鋼琴奏鳴曲集 (Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas) 》。

在2023年返回母校新英格蘭音樂學院任教之前，Minsoo Sohn 曾在密歇根州立大學和韓國藝術大學任職。他的一位學生 Yunchan Lim 任奫燦 在2022年贏得了范克魯本 (Van Cliburn) 國際鋼琴比賽冠軍，成為該比賽有史以來最年輕的獲獎者 (18歲)。Yunchan Lim 正繼續跟隨 Minsoo Sohn 在新英格蘭音樂學院學習。

            Minsoo Sohn的這場鋼琴獨奏會，票價為 $20 (7- 13歲)、$40、$60。中華表演藝術基金會提供學生免費票(14歲以上)，及非學生贈送卷，有意欣賞音樂會者需事前預訂。當天也請6歲以下兒童勿入現場。

查詳情可上中華表演藝術基金會官網http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/season/20240308/index.html

。線上售票3月8日下午2時將關閉。現場門票售價為10美元，僅限現金支付。

波士頓市計畫在華埠公園旁安裝4個電動汽車充電樁

波士頓交通局的Emma  Tavolieri向華埠居民簡報，
將在華埠安裝4個電動汽車充電樁。

      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓市交通局 (BTD) 3月6日派員出席波士頓華埠居民會 (CRA) 月例會，報告波士頓市府將在波士頓華埠公園旁，安裝4個電動汽車充電樁。

波士頓華埠居民會會長黃國威(前左)和居民們在華人前進會的
會議室參加月曆會，經由網路聽取簡報。 

波士頓市為達到2050年零排放這理想，訂定了市內每戶人家都可在徒步10分鐘的距離內，找到一個電動汽車充電樁，或電動汽車分享站的目標，目前正著手在市內市府擁有的停車場內安裝充電樁。

根據波士頓市府採納電動汽車的路線圖報告，2018年時，波士頓市登記的新車中，約有

2.8%為電動車，比全麻州的2.5%略高。在2019年辦理登記的車中，波士頓市有2000輛電動汽車，波士頓市及鄰近市鎮則有共4800輛電動汽車。估計到2050年時，波士頓市內消費者採用電動汽車的比率會提高到54%至71%之間。

Emma說明充電樁的規格。

波士頓市府為鼓勵市民購買，使用電動汽車，以減少碳排放，目前正著手在市府擁有的33個停車場及市有土地上安裝電動汽車充電樁，其中約12處已裝妥，可供使用。

在波士頓華埠這兒，為減少對居民的影響，波士頓市交通局選在華埠公園旁表面道 (Surface Road)和益士石街 (Essex)交接處的4個計時收費的路邊停車位，安裝電動汽車充電樁。一旦安裝後，這4個停車位將保留給電動汽車充電專用，一般車輛不得停洎。電動汽車充電，也限時4小時。

這些充電樁屬於第二級，每小時可充電19.2瓦。充電樁座約10英吋寬，7英尺高。充電樁所在車位，一天24小時開放，只供人充電用，限時4小時。

波士頓市府草擬的充電樁管理辦法。

出席居民中有人認為，華埠一帶停車位稀缺，這麼一來，又少4個停車位，對華埠居民來說，未必是好事。

波士頓交通局的氣候，基礎設施及勞力政策助理Emma Tavolieri 籲請有意見的居民，發電郵給她 (emma.tavolieri@boston.gov)，或是發電郵給該部門新移動主任Matt Warfield (matthew.warfield@boston.gov)。

網上及實體，將近50人出席會議。

波士頓市公共工程局(BPW)執行法規的Dennis和Chris “Tigher” Stockbridge應邀出席，說明非法丟垃圾等問題。他們兩人都說，該部門竭力與居民、企業合作，請居民們發現有人非法丟棄垃圾時，趕快撥打311電話，留下紀錄，該部門會盡快派人到場和居民們一起釐清，垃圾的歸屬。他們也指出，波士頓市目前的垃圾相關法令，都是早年制訂的，已不合時宜，但若要修法，必須請示議員們研議，不是該部門可以決定的。

波士頓市議員助理盧善柔指出，波士頓華人浸信會曾向她反映多次，教會旁經常出現不屬於教會的垃圾，結果卻是教會收到罰單。華埠土地信託會主任駱理德表示，該會位於楓葉地 (Maple Place)和屋街交界處的名下物業也面對同樣問題，他們得為別人的垃圾面對罰單。

Dennis和Chris直言，垃圾罰單視情況從250元到1000元不等，金額並不小，該部門也希望可以和社區民眾及商家攜手解決問題。

Dennis在波士頓公共工程局執行法規組服務。

波士頓市長亞裔聯絡員黃楚嵐表示，該部門最近和一批華埠業主談過此事，希望能為華埠社區繼續和公共工程等相關部門研議，包括製作禁止亂丟垃圾等中英文告示牌，位居民提供較小的垃圾桶等解決辦法。

Chris "Tigher" Stockbridge表示他在華埠一帶服務多年，
很清楚居民們面對的挑戰，但有些法令細節，還得課市議員修法改善。

華埠土地信託會主任駱理德說明該會名下物業也面對他人非法丟棄垃圾，
該會收到罰單等情況。

波士頓市長亞裔聯絡員黃楚嵐盼與公共工程局人員繼續開會討論解決問題辦法。

華人前進會共同主席湯建華網上與會。

波士頓洪門致公堂五獅齊舞迎龍年 籌備全美致公堂100週年慶

波士頓洪門致公堂首長、嘉賓與醒獅團合影。（波士頓洪門致公堂提供）

年輕人講究氣勢，洪清醒獅隊為迎新春吶喊。
(波士頓僑教中心提供)

               （Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導）波士頓洪門致公堂3月4日在數百兄弟，僑團領袖齊聚，仁義禮智信旗幟飄揚中，喜迎甲辰青龍年來到，積極籌備四埠同慶美國洪門致公堂成立100週年。

              這場波士頓洪門龍年春宴，由陳國航、翁偉健擔任司儀，洪青醒獅團五獅齊舞，輝映洪門標榜仁義禮智信的傳承。在洪門兄弟同拱洪字，主席及嘉賓簡單隆重致詞後，出席眾人享用佳餚，欣賞新節奏樂隊現場唱奏，興奮抽獎。

波士頓洪門致公堂要員，左起鄧偉健、黎亦置、余麗媖，
右起，阮偉昌、周柏堅，陳國航，鄺炎彬，梅少華，胡振勝，雷國輝，伍伯和。
(周菊子攝)

              由於波士頓洪門致公堂年輕一輩兄弟中，有不少人同時是美國共濟會（Freemason）成員，近年兩會往來更加密切，3月4日晚，波士頓洪門不但依照傳統，捐款給聖地兄弟會兒童醫院（Shriners Hospitals for Children），更有不下4、5桌嘉賓來自共濟會，成為今年一大特色。

              波士頓洪門也依照慣例，在春宴中捐款給中華廣教學校和波士頓亞裔青年會（YES ) 等社區服務組織。

洪門兄弟像嘉賓敬酒。(周菊子攝)

              3名洪門元老，包括波士頓本地的伍伯和，來自紐約的伍飛輝，李偉強和2名總理，紐約的李志聯和波士頓本地的余麗媖等人，歡迎駐波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，以及紐約金蘭公所主席黃敬文、李炎軒，紐約洪門主席譚錦超等嘉賓到會。

              本身也是洪門人的麻州眾議員黃子安，這晚既是嘉賓，更是兄弟，頒給洪門一份表揚狀。

洪門總理李志聯(前右)，余麗媖(後左四)等人坐在主桌。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓總外交專員陳光劍，外交專員鄺國添，遠從香港趕回來的顧問余共才，這天也都到會，和洪門兄弟，以及大波士頓各僑團代表同歡。

洪門元老李偉強(左五)、總理李志聯 (右四)和波士頓洪門主席胡振勝(右二)
，黎亦置(左四)等年輕一輩交流意見。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓洪門致公堂是大波士頓資歷最悠久的社團之一，抱持著”俠義鋤奸”精神，一向以服務社區為宗旨，近年在世代傳承中，越來越多在美國本地出生，甚至不會說中文的洪門兄弟出掌會務。波士頓洪門致公堂的本屆主席，黎亦置是年紀還小時，就隨父母從海外其他國家移民來美，胡振勝 (Ted Woo) 則是在波士頓出生的第三、第四代華人。他父親胡國新曾任紐英崙中華公所主席，也是不會說中文的移民後代。

              胡振勝為促進不同世代之間的融合，拉近與華埠社區關係，他在今年這青龍年春宴致詞時，特地事前演練多遍，以中文發言，讓一眾洪門兄弟驚詫稱讚。

洪門第一位女總理余麗媖(右)碰杯敬酒，謝謝共濟會兄弟到場支持。
(周菊子攝)

              15歲就加入洪門，如今是年紀最輕洪門元老的李偉強指出，服務社區是洪門的一貫宗旨，近年來每逢世界各地發生天災人禍，洪門兄弟都積極馳援，只是他們不願張揚，並未廣告週知。他說，洪門也在努力改革、更新，推舉波士頓余麗媖成為美國洪門第一位女性總理，也是洪門在與時俱進路上邁出的一大步。當晚他和另一名元老伍飛輝還在和波士頓洪門年輕一輩兄弟交流時，諄諄告誡洪門兄弟，行事要先反求諸己，期待波士頓、紐約、費城、芝加哥四埠同慶美國洪門致公堂的成立100週年，期許洪門兄弟認識到，前前後後算起來有300多年的洪門悠久歷史，以及服務社稷家國的宏大理想。 (更新版)

麻州眾議員黃子安 (中) 頒發表揚狀，波士頓洪門致公堂主席
黎亦置(右)、胡振勝(左)代表領取。(波士頓僑教中心提供)_

洪門總理李志聯致詞。(波士頓僑教中心提供)_

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏致詞。(波士頓僑教中心提供)_

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝稱許洪門歷史悠久。(波士頓僑教中心提供)_

紐英崙伍胥山公所的主席伍振中 (右起)夫婦，元老伍煥華夫婦
，元老伍伯和，總理伍輝民夫婦，顧問李伍碧香，主席伍偉業歡迎同為伍氏宗親的
洪門致公堂總堂元老伍飛輝來到波士頓，意外獲得200元香油。

(伍氏宗親會提供)

麻州政府撥款150萬元資助13個社區學院培訓人力

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.5 million in Grants for New Community College Workforce Training Programs  The grants fund free non-degree training programs in areas such as education, health care, addiction recovery, cyber security, and manufacturing.

Boston, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced they are awarding $1.5 million in grants for new community college workforce training programs for adults looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. The grants, which are part of the Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) program, are being issued to 13 community colleges across Massachusetts to prepare residents for careers in fields such as education, health care, addiction recovery, cyber security, and manufacturing. The grants are estimated to provide free career training to more than 400 adult learners at community colleges across Massachusetts, with all programs targeting residents who are unemployed or underemployed.   “The success of MassReconnect has demonstrated that Massachusetts residents are eager to further their careers, and these training programs are another way to meet that need,” said Governor Maura Healey. “TRAIN grants allow community colleges to be responsive to regional workforce needs and quickly prepare residents to fill critical roles in our cities and towns.”   “These grants will not only offer new career opportunities to those seeking them, but they will bring lasting benefits to our communities by increasing the number of trained professionals in our schools, hospitals and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Massachusetts residents win across the board when employers in key industries can look into their communities and find the talent they need to carry out their missions.”  “Massachusetts’ community colleges are tuned into the workforce needs in their region and these grants allow colleges to meet those needs while bringing opportunities to residents looking to launch new careers with newly acquired and improved skills,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “TRAIN grants allow community colleges to build on their existing programs and offer new opportunities targeted toward residents looking for entry or re-entry into the workforce.”   “The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to invest in building our workforce, including partnering with our community colleges among other partners to prepare untapped talent right in Massachusetts to gain the skills expressed by employers across industries,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren E. Jones, who chairs the Workforce Skills Cabinet. “Thank you to our community colleges for opening their doors to increase training capacity and access for Massachusetts residents to pursue meaningful careers in health care, technology, manufacturing, and more—spanning regions throughout the state.”  “Workforce training is part of the essential role that Massachusetts community colleges play in our economy, and these grants help ensure that the colleges can be responsive to local workforce needs, while creating opportunities for residents,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “These free training programs allow accessible ways for adult learners to develop skills in areas that are in great demand, benefitting these learners and their families.”   “Our community colleges are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this investment in our workforce training programs,” said Jim Vander Hooven, president of Mount Wachusett Community College and chair of the Community College Council of Presidents. “TRAIN grants are a proven avenue for scaling up workforce training programs and we are pleased to see continued investments.”  TRAIN launched in 2016 serving four community colleges, and it has grown to offer grant opportunities to all 15 community colleges in Massachusetts.     A list of training programs that will be created with TRAIN grants is included below. Those interested in enrolling should contact the community college at which their program of interest is offered.  Berkshire Community College will support workforce training programs for participants seeking a Phlebotomy Technician Certificate (PTC).  BCC will enroll a total of 24 students in two cohorts (12 per class). The program will target unemployed and underemployed individuals in Berkshire County. BCC will a focus on reaching veterans and populations disproportionally impacted by COVID-19’s impact on the labor force – specifically women of color. BCC will also be awarded a planning grant that will result in the creation of new advanced training programs for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) mechanics and technicians, and potentially certification programs related to Electrical occupations.       Bristol Community College will recruit and enroll a cohort of 24 students in the Bristol Cyber Security Certificate program. The goal is to recruit and enroll a cohort of 24 students in the Bristol Cybersecurity Certificate program, an intensive 22-credit program designed to provide the skills required to gain entry-level employment. Students who are unemployed, underemployed, underrepresented, disabled, and veterans are the targeted populations.     Bunker Hill Community College proposes a comprehensive and flexible array of training that includes workforce readiness, occupational and on-the-job training for in-demand jobs in Allied Health and Information Technology. Activities are designed to identify and engage long-term un/underemployed workers, COVID-unemployed, and new entrants to the workforce, link them with needed support services, and quickly train and prepare them for meaningful employment. Participants will choose from a range of options for occupational skills training and certification including EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, CNA, EMT and Red Hat Operations Technician.   Cape Cod Community College will offer an Addiction Recovery Coach (ARC) Pre-certification and Wellness Training program for one cohort of 12 participants, and for a Peer Support Worker curriculum development project. The ARC program will target our existing waitlist of unemployed, underemployed, and new entrant populations seeking workforce readiness training, and industry-specific skills with credentials to support job placement in the addiction recovery field. CCCC is also requesting funds to develop, recruit, and implement a new Peer Support Worker program.      Greenfield Community College will adapt and scale their successful Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) curriculum to serve English language learners (ELL). This proposal outlines a CNA training for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students, scaffolded to serve the specific pedagogical and wraparound support needs of adult ESOL job seekers in Franklin and Hampshire counties, with the goal of enrolling 15 underemployed or unemployed students, and for whom English is not their native language. GCC will also plan for the development of an industry-aligned noncredit Machine Maintenance training program that will prepare participants to be hired in an entry-level position at a regional manufacturing employer.   Holyoke Community College will provide an 80-hour Job Readiness/Career Exploration program, additionally incorporating a 60-hour Teacher Assistant skills curriculum (140 hours total), with a paid internship opportunity through DTA Works (with Springfield Public Schools) and employment at Springfield Public Schools, Holyoke Public Schools, or other public school systems, as a pathway toward a career in education.   Massasoit Community College proposes a non-credit Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic training program. Participants will be un- and under-employed adults from underrepresented socio-economic backgrounds within the greater Brockton community. Eighteen qualified students will be enrolled.  Students will engage in classroom learning with a built-in practical component three times per week at Massasoit’s Middleborough Center Paramedic/EMT laboratory.   Middlesex Community College plans to launch an Advanced Manufacturing Training Program consisting of academic coursework, career readiness and hands-on manufacturing technology skills development. The program will consist of academic coursework and hands-on manufacturing technology skill development for a total of 160 hours, over approximately 6 weeks per cohort. Academic and workplace readiness courses (total of 70 hours) will include mathematics, manufacturing best practices, career readiness and OSHA/Safety standards.   Mt. Wachusett Community College will provide Certified Nursing Assistant and Google Information Technology training to 30 unique CNA students who will complete 30 hours of clinical experiences and prepare for the CNA licensure exam. A cohort of 10 unique students will enroll in the Google IT program, earn the Google IT certificate and prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam.   Northern Essex Community College will train approximately 100 unemployed and/or underemployed adult learners with limited English language skills, many of whom will be recent immigrants. The college will offer two cohorts of Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training (maximum 20 students per cohort) and three cohorts of Pharmacy Technician training (maximum 20 students per cohort). In addition, there will be an ESOL companion class for any CNA student in need of ESOL support.   North Shore Community College proposes a Cybersecurity Non-credit to Credit Pathway Program designed to meet the needs of adult learners, specifically under/unemployed residents and those who belong to often underrepresented populations, in addition to responding to employer demand for skilled workers in priority sectors. The program will enroll 22 students, to participate in two cohorts over the course of 20 weeks, beginning with non-credit instruction and culminating with matriculation into college credit bearing courses related to the subject-matter.  The focus of the non-credit training is CompTIA Fundamentals and CompTIA A+, which are recognized as the preferred qualifying credentials for technical support and IT operational roles.   Quinsigamond Community College will launch an IT Help Desk Specialist Training program designed to prepare 24 individuals using two cohorts of 12 each for entry into in-demand IT jobs. The primary objective of this grant is to quickly skill up individuals to enter the workforce and provide an entry point to a career in IT that provides family-sustaining wages and benefits.   Roxbury Community College will launch a paraprofessional training program with a pipeline to local schools, a path to RCC's Early Childhood Education program, and a career in education as a teacher. RCC will work with its curriculum committee to link this program to its degree pathway through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches New Partnership with Resettlement Agencies to Help Families Find Housing, Jobs

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches New Partnership with Resettlement Agencies to Help Families Find Housing, Jobs 

BOSTON - Today the Healey-Driscoll administration is launching a new partnership with eight resettlement agencies to expand efforts to connect families living in Emergency Assistance shelters with stable housing and jobs.  

The funding for this new initiative was included in the supplemental budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Maura Healey in December 2023. Resettlement agencies will use this funding to support exit efforts from emergency assistance shelter by providing rehousing, employment search, and connecting families to other social services like ESOL and basic needs. The funding will allow the resettlement agencies to place migrant families into permanent housing statewide, helping them to exit shelter or the waitlist for shelter.  

“Resettlement agencies have long played a critical role in helping families in Massachusetts get connected with housing, jobs and other critical resources,” said Governor Healey. “We’re grateful to the Legislature for providing this funding to expand their efforts so that we can meet the needs of families in our Emergency Assistance shelter system. Our communities and our economy will be stronger because of this partnership.” 

“Resettlement agencies bring years of experience to the table of integrating families into towns and neighborhoods across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “They understand what it takes to get a family settled and supported so they can feel at home here, and I look forward to seeing them work with the newest residents of our state.” 

“I appreciate the work these resettlement agencies continue to do for new families in Massachusetts,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “As these families look to begin the next chapter of their lives here, we will continue to welcome them and integrate them into our communities through the work of partners like the resettlement agencies, community organizations, non-profits and countless others who have shown such generosity toward our new neighbors.” 

“New arrivals have fled violence and instability in their home countries, seeking safety and security in Massachusetts,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “The partnership announced today between the state and resettlement agencies will support the unique needs of new arrivals, setting them up for long term success.” 

“The Office for Refugee and Immigrants is proud to expand our decades long partnership with Massachusetts resettlement agencies to rehouse newly arrived immigrants” said Office for Refugees and Immigrants Executive Director Cristina Aguilera Sandoval. “We have witnessed the impact of their culturally strategic and dedicated approach to refugee resettlement all across our state. Their staff is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of immigrants who recently chose Massachusetts as their new home and are eager to work and be a part of our communities. We look forward to working in collaboration with them in this new program and building strong pathways to housing stability.” 

Resettlement agencies receiving contracts are Ascentria Community Services, Inc., Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc., Jewish Family Service of Metrowest Massachusetts, Inc., Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, Inc., Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success, Inc., Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, Inc., The Catholic Charities Agency of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, MA, Inc., and The International Institute of New England, Inc. 

“The resettlement agencies are looking forward to partnering with the Healey-Driscoll administration to help exit immigrant families from shelters,” said Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of the International Institute of New England. “We have decades of experience resettling refugees in the Commonwealth and look forward to applying that experience to these new arrivals. We applaud the Governor for reaching out to partners like resettlement agencies to develop creative solutions to the challenges faced by the emergency shelter system. The families we have met through the legal services and case management support we have provided are eager to find apartments and become part of communities in our state.” 

Resettlement Agencies also have contracts with the Office for Refugees and Immigrants to provide legal services for obtaining work authorization and case management for families who are new arrivals to the US who are in emergency assistance shelter.

麻州Healey州長率經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平宣導10年10億元"麻州領先"計畫

Governor Healey Highlights Life Sciences Investments from Mass Leads Act in Worcester and Hopkinton 

HOPKINTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey launched her Mass Leads Road Show, during which she will travel to communities across the state to highlight the ways in which her Mass Leads Act will grow the Massachusetts economy, support businesses and attract talent to the state. 

She visited life sciences companies in Worcester and Hopkinton to focus on her proposed $1 billion, 10-year reauthorization of the Life Sciences Initiative, which will position Massachusetts to lengthen its lead as the global leader in this cutting-edge industry. 

“The Mass Leads Act will strengthen Massachusetts’ global leadership and expand opportunity in our state now and for a generation to come. One key way we’ll do this is by reauthorizing the Life Sciences Initiative for another decade,” said Governor Healey. “ 

“Mass Biomedical Initiatives and RoslinCT are excellent examples of what happens when we invest in the world-class talent and innovation happening right here in Massachusetts. We want to build on their success and welcome more companies to move, start and grow here in our state.” 

“Our visits to MBI and RoslinCT proved the transformative power of the Mass Life Sciences Initiative, particularly through the support that the Mass Life Sciences Center is able to provide to companies,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are proud to propose another infusion of resources to enable to MLSC to continue to do this important work and support our current, incredible companies while also attracting new businesses and talent to our state.” 

“Our state is the global epicenter for the life sciences industry. With the Mass Leads Act, we are committed to strengthening our leadership by reauthorizing our Life Sciences Initiative,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “This initiative supports an ecosystem that enables MBI and RoslinCT to advance their R&D efforts, bolster their workforce, and generate meaningful economic output. Our economic development bill will foster an environment that continuously fuels innovation, attracting new talent and businesses to Massachusetts.”  

“The life sciences sector serves as a powerful, regional catalyst for economic and workforce development,” said MLSC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Economic Development and Partnerships Jeanne LeClair. “We are incredibly proud of the continued growth being experienced in Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest. Both regions still have a great deal of untapped potential to further advance as life sciences clusters. Moreover, these regions serve as a model for other parts of our Commonwealth as we look to accelerate our efforts to grow out the benefits of the Life Sciences Initiative.” 

The Governor’s first stop was at MA Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) in Worcester. MBI is the longest-running life sciences incubator in the state, helping emerging life sciences companies advance from concept to clinical trials. It is estimated that since 2000, MBI has assisted over 188 companies that have created over 1,800 jobs and had over $1.9 billion in economic impact. 

MBI has been supported by the MA Life Sciences Center (MLSC), which enabled the company to triple the capacity of the incubator’s facility, expand its workforce programming, and advance its cluster building activities. MBI’s most recent expansion of its new Pilot Biomanufacturing Centr was supported through $3.5 million in MLSC funding, adding 10 new biomanufacturing labs to support startup companies in process development and early-stage manufacturing. 

The MLSC has supported several other Worcester institutions in recent years. UMass Chan Medical School received $2.8 million in 2021 from the MLSC for the purchase of an advanced Glacios cryo-electron microscope from Thermo Fisher Scientific. This investment has enabled UMass Chan’s capabilities to meet growing demand and continue to transform biomedical research in Massachusetts. The UMass Cryo-EM Core has supported data collection for dozens of companies and an even greater number of academic labs. Structural biology is the foundation of a significant portion of biomedical research, opening windows into biology and structure-based drug design. The Cryo-EM Core at UMass Chan was established in 2015, in part with $5 million in funding from the MLSC. 

Additionally, CERES (Cell Engineering Research Equipment Suite) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a fee-for-use core lab designed to provide WPI researchers and regional industry and academic partners access to state-of-the-art instruments for quantitative analysis of engineered cells. It is located within the WPI Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center. CERES was made possible by $877,314 in capital funding from the MLSC in 2020. MLSC funds supported the purchase of key equipment to create a modular core facility focused on high throughput cell analytics, providing startups access to resources needed to bring cell-based products to market. The equipment capabilities were designed through partnership between WPI and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) given that a major indicator of success for CERES is the growth and maturation of the biotech discovery ecosystem in central Massachusetts. 

Beyond supporting research and innovation, the MLSC has also provided more than $13 million in workforce development and STEM-focused capital investments to Worcester colleges and schools.  

“Before other major cities voted to approve zoning for Research and Development, Worcester knew the potential of the life sciences,” said Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “Having Worcester be supported by our state leadership allows us to further the opportunities that come from our life sciences, and I look forward to our continued collaboration together.” 

“Central Massachusetts led the nation as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Today, we are focused on leading the nation again as the world’s next global biomanufacturing hub”.  said MBI President and CEO Jon Weaver. "We are grateful for the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s vision and leadership represented in the Mass Leads bill, which includes the reauthorization of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The MLSC’s support is essential to our ability to compete on a global stage and create jobs for our region." 

The Governor also visited RoslinCT (formerly Lykan Bioscience) in Hopkinton, which develops and manufactures cell-based therapies. They’ve received nearly $1 million from MLSC for tax incentives around job creation. They also previously received $390,000 in funding through MLSC’s Massachusetts Transition and Growth Program (MassTAG), which is a recruitment tool designed to attract out-of-state, international, and newly formed companies that want to become part of the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem. The company was able to create 26 jobs with this funding. RoslinCT has also utilized MSLC’s internship challenge program.  

When RoslinCT first engaged with MSLC in 2019, they had only six full time employees. Today, they have 115 full time employees. 

The MetroWest life sciences cluster is another example of the continued regionalization of the life sciences in Massachusetts. The MLSC has invested nearly $71 million in the region through various funding program and initiatives. This includes capital investments in colleges and universities located in the MetroWest, such as Framingham State University, and the region’s vocational technical schools. RoslinCT is one of nearly 30 MetroWest companies which have benefited from the MLSC’s Tax Incentive program. Nearly $30 million in tax incentive funding has helped create 1,685 jobs for MetroWest-based life sciences companies. 

“RoslinCT, a global cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, applauds the proposal by the Healey administration to re-authorize the Life Sciences Initiative,” said President & CEO RoslinCT Patrick Lucy. “The proposed investment of $1 billion over 10 years will enable the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to continue our global leadership in life sciences to develop cutting edge technologies and therapies offering hope to individuals around the world impacted by disease. The cell therapy sector is advancing efforts against the most complex and rare diseases and in some cases these therapies are potentially curative after a single dose.” 

“We are honored to have Governor Healey and her team in Hopkinton to celebrate the reauthorization of the Life Science Initiative. The state-wide initiative can be an investment in our community's thriving biotech hub on South Street and its anchor companies, such as RoslinCT. The success of this industry in Hopkinton is made possible by the strength of our relationship with the state and the private industry, substantiated by partners at MassBio and the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce,” said Hopkinton Town Manager Norman Khumalo. This partnership has led to Hopkinton’s most recent designation as a Platinum Community, marking Hopkinton's readiness and competitiveness for innovative biotechnology firms. We look forward to the future of Hopkinton’s Biotech Hub and the impact the Healey-Driscoll Administration will have on the economic vitality of our town."” 

Last year, Massachusetts was chosen by the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the National Institutes of Health, to host its Investor Catalyst Hub, demonstrating the effectiveness of the state’s investments in the life sciences.  

The Governor’s proposed long-term commitment will position Massachusetts to win more investment in the life sciences industry, develop more life-saving cures, and create more jobs. It will build on the success of prior authorizations while making adjustments to account for present-day challenges and opportunities. The initiative has three core parts:  

Capital: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will embrace a model that encourages multi-institution, cross-sector collaboration among key industries, such as biotechnology, manufacturing, medical technology, higher education, and healthcare. Through this realignment, the state will be better able to pursue health equity ventures, research and development, and capital eligible initiatives to support the ecosystem.  

Tax Incentives: The Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program has proven successful in incentivizing the creation of jobs in the industry. This bill proposes to increase the statutory cap for life sciences tax incentives to create more capacity in the future and extends the program to 2033 to demonstrate the state’s commitment for the next decade. This will further enhance a valuable business development tool to attract and retain companies in Massachusetts.    

Operating: This new strategy also projects annual appropriations for workforce development programming and other strategic initiatives, including support for early-stage companies. Notably, this component of the strategy incorporates an expansion of Pathmaker, a key component of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s MassTalent Initiative, to scale career training programs for in-demand job opportunities within the industry.   

In addition to competitiveness and innovation, equity will be elevated as a priority for the Healey-Driscoll Administration under the new initiative, including creating better workforce pathways into careers in the industry and improving health outcomes for residents in Massachusetts.   

More information can be found in the Life Sciences issue brief.