波士頓市長吳弭為Grove Hall的新社區中心破土

MAYOR MICHELLE WU CELEBRATES THE GROUNDBREAKING OF A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN GROVE HALL

BOSTON - Thursday, October 16, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu yesterday joined the Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), the Human Services Cabinet, the Public Facilities Department, local and state elected officials, and Dorchester residents to officially break ground on a new community center in Grove Hall. The project is funded through the City’s five-year Capital Plan, which provides substantial improvements to City assets, with a current budget of $65 million.  This is the first new full service community center to be built in Boston and the first in Grove Hall. Currently a City-owned vacant lot, the selection of this location was announced by Mayor Wu in 2022 and all aspects of the design of the center were finalized following a robust community engagement process with local residents, who expressed the need for a dedicated, flexible facility.  “After decades of community advocacy, Grove Hall will finally have a brand-new, full service space designed by and for our youth and families of every generation,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am extremely grateful for the leadership and advocacy of our community members who have worked to shape this new home for the Grove Hall community for generations to come.” The center will be 41,000 square feet and will feature a lobby, pool, locker rooms, a gym, cardio and weight room, fitness studio, senior center, community room, conference room, teaching kitchen, art room, teen center, multipurpose classroom, tech lab, makerspace and workshop. The pool will be zero entry for people with mobility issues and the building and features will be accessible. The public plaza at the Geneva Avenue entrance to the center will feature benches and cafe tables for residents to sit and relax, as well as open space for community events and performances. The center will also feature a wide variety of environmental features such as all electric systems, PV-ready roof, waste heat recycling, stormwater infiltration system, and use of native plantings and trees for shade. Low or no volatile organic compound (VOC) materials will be used throughout and there will be enhanced indoor air quality strategies.  "The Grove Hall Community Center represents a long-awaited promise to a neighborhood full of vision, strength, and pride,” said State Senator Liz Miranda. “For years, residents have dreamed of a space that celebrates their brilliance, creativity, and collective power. This groundbreaking honors that dream and reflects what’s possible when we center community voice and collaboration." “The Grove Hall Community Center will be an incredible addition to our neighborhood,” said State Representative Chris Worrell. “Whether it’s our seniors getting their steps in at the track, or our youth getting swimming lessons in the pool, this will be a place for our neighbors to come together, celebrate community, and enjoy rich programming. It is a true testament to what happens when we all work together — transforming a vacant lot into a transformative community asset.” "This groundbreaking puts us one step closer to making the standalone Grove Hall Community Center a reality for our residents," said City Councilor Brian Worrell (District 4). "This community deserves a place that will be the heartbeat of the neighborhood, and in conjunction with the Grove Hall Library across the street, our constituents will know where they can go when they want to see a friendly face. Capital investments like these matter and it's great to see them happening across my district." Currently, all of BCYF’s community centers in Dorchester are located in school buildings which limits BCYF’s access to areas of the facility during school hours and affects programming hours. With stand-alone facilities, BCYF is able to offer more programming to residents and also use sites as heating/cooling centers and temporary emergency centers. During the community process, participants expressed a strong desire for flexible BCYF spaces that can be utilized by residents of all ages at more times. Community members’ desired programming included services BCYF currently offers at its centers, such as continuing education offerings and farmers markets. Responses also showed significant interest in playscapes and spaces for social gathering. “This is a historic day for BCYF. The dream is now a reality as we break ground on a brand-new, full-service community center -the first building ever constructed specifically as a BCYF center,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families. “BCYF centers are the heart of their neighborhoods, serving residents of all ages, yet investments haven’t always reflected their impact. Today’s groundbreaking marks not only a new chapter for BCYF, but also underscores Mayor Wu’s steadfast commitment to investing in our communities and the people we serve. We are profoundly grateful for her leadership and vision.” “The BCYF Grove Hall Community Center will bring all the great programming BCYF has to offer under one roof, in the heart of a neighborhood that will benefit from having increased access to spaces for recreation and community-building,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “I look forward to seeing everyone in Grove Hall, from our older adults, to our youngest residents, enjoying this incredible neighborhood asset.” “As someone with Grove Hall roots, this project is deeply personal to me. Grove Hall and the surrounding neighborhoods have expressed and demonstrated the need for a permanent, full-service community center for a very long time. The  absence of such a space has been felt across generations, said Dion Irish, Chief of Operations. Today’s groundbreaking is monumental, as we begin building a center designed for everyone, with opportunities, resources, and spaces that reflect the strength and spirit of this neighborhood.” Since October 2021, BCYF and the City’s Public Facilities Department have hosted many community meetings and released a survey to get input from Dorchester residents on where they wanted to see a new community center built and the types of programs it should offer. Grove Hall received the most votes in a programming and location survey that was available throughout the siting process This process examined over 40 privately- and publicly-owned locations in Dorchester. This community engagement process first established the desired uses and activities for the new center, reviewed the size the center would need to be to host these activities, and then identified locations based on those criteria. A multi-year center design process followed. The Grove Hall Community Center project builds on years of advocacy from community members and recent investments by the City to provide state-of-the-art facilities across neighborhoods. For years, the selected lot has served residents and families in Dorchester through a series of activations and programming. From 2003 until 2009, the City created and maintained the “Bubble,” a temporary structure covered in vinyl supported by a metal frame and reinforced double-walls. Within the structure, residents had access to a full-size basketball court, computer rooms, offices, and a multi-purpose room. In 2009, the Grove Hall Library was built adjacent to the formerly named Jeremiah E. Burke High School, leading to the Bubble being closed. The library project included a community center space with offices, a community room and access to Burke High School athletic facilities. Currently, the Grove Hall Community Center is a senior center. The new BCYF center is designed to serve all ages and will offer diverse and enriching programs and events that cater to the interests and needs of the community members.

波士頓市長吳弭訂10/28發表“學情咨文”

（Boston Orange編譯）波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）將於10月28日（週二）晚7點至8點，到昆士高中（Josiah Quincy Upper School）舉行首次「學情咨文（State of the Schools）」演講。             吳弭市長表示，舉辦這活動，旨在公立學校教育備受挑戰之際，表揚波士頓市的教育工作者，展示各學校成就，提出新目標，要讓波士頓市家長們在送子女上學，選擇學校時，以波士頓公立學校（BPS）為首選。             波士頓市府將在市府網站（boston.gov）上直播這一活動，以期更多家長了解市府的努力。             昆士高中是一所有6到12年級學生的學校，去年9月，波士頓市長吳弭才和波士頓公校總監Mary Skipper，麻州財政廳廳長Deb Glodberg等人，一起為這有先進媒體中心，健身中心，樂隊房，以及其他設施，期以充分幫助學生發揮潛能的的新校舍剪綵。 MAYOR MICHELLE WU TO HOST FIRST EVER STATE OF THE SCHOOLS ADDRESS

BOSTON - Thursday, October 16, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that she will host the first ever State of the Schools address. Under Superintendent Mary Skipper's leadership, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) is setting ambitious goals, with high academic expectations and high-quality supports for every student. In a moment when public education is under attack, Mayor Wu will celebrate Boston’s educators and lay out a shared agenda to make BPS the first choice for Boston families. The State of the Schools will take place at the Josiah Quincy Upper School at 900 Washington Street in Chinatown. The program will run from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28. Doors will open for invited guests at 6:00 p.m. and media can begin setting up at 5:30 p.m. The program will be streamed on boston.gov. NBC10 will serve as the pool camera. All other media will be positioned in a specific section and ushered to a scrum following the event.  “Our mission is to make Boston Public Schools the first choice for families. The country’s oldest public school system should be the best, and our city has the resources and vision to make it happen,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to delivering this first ever State of the Schools address to showcase the work of our school communities and invite our entire city in pushing forward progress for our young people and families.” "Across our school communities, we are dedicated to ensuring that every student has the support and resources needed to reach their full potential in learning environments that uplift students and gives them a sense of purpose," said Superintendent Mary Skipper. "The State of the Schools is an exciting opportunity to honor this collective commitment and reaffirm our shared belief that every child in Boston deserves a world-class education. It takes a village and together with our educators, families and community partners, we are creating a district where our students can truly thrive." Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, Treasurer and Receiver General Deb Goldberg, the City's Public Facilities Department, and Chinatown community members at the official ribbon cutting of the newly constructed Josiah Quincy Upper School, serving grades 6-12, in Chinatown last September. The school opened for the 2024-2025 school year and includes a state-of-the-art media center, fitness center, band rooms, and other features to help each Josiah Quincy student reach their full potential and explore their individual educational interests.

CITY OF BOSTON LAUNCHES ‘COLOR FLOWS ON WINTER STREET’

CITY OF BOSTON LAUNCHES ‘COLOR FLOWS ON WINTER STREET’  A multi-week program will bring fun, interactive events to Downtown Crossing

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - The City of Boston today celebrated the launch of ‘Color Flows on Winter Street,’ a multi-week program that will bring fun, interactive events to Downtown Crossing. Winter Street will be transformed by colorful art installations, food trucks, and cultural programming daily between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. until November 16. ‘Color Flows’ is part of the City’s broader effort to reimagine how Boston’s streets and pedestrian zones can be safer, more engaging, and enjoyable for all. “We are excited to launch ‘Color Flows,’ marking an exciting time for our downtown space. This program celebrates creativity and highlights the importance of engaging our community members,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As our downtown continues to grow and evolve, we are committed to creating vibrant activations and interactive gathering spaces where everyone can come together and enjoy the vibrancy of our community.” “Our streets play a vital role in creating welcoming and thriving communities,” said Chief of Planning Kairos Shen. “Combined with the City's Office to Residential Conversion Program, and new and improved zoning for our Downtown,‘Color Flows’ highlights the benefits of designing our infrastructure to be people-centered and promoting socialization, as a way to create a stronger, more vibrant Downtown." “Color Flows will act as a platform for our incredible creative talent in Boston. From Massiel Grullón’s incredible mural installation to a peoples block party by Club Indigo and a curated thrift fashion experience by Select Markets,” said Director of Cultural Planning for the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture Joseph Henry. “This activation offers a glimpse into the vibrant future of Downtown — a place for everyone, where culture, commerce, and community come together to create a truly dynamic neighborhood.” Color Flows on Winter is one of the first implementation projects coming out of the Boston Design Vision. The activation tests new approaches to transforming public spaces as hubs of community, culture and economic investment.  “This is about designing spaces that ultimately support a strong, local economy and enhance quality of life for people of all ages by making our streets safer and more engaging,” said Deputy Chief of Urban Design Diana Fernandez Bibeau. “We believe that it’s these types of creative design solutions that will help shape the future of the downtown as a welcoming, joyful and dynamic space.” This multi-week program continues to build on support and investments made by the Wu Administration in downtown. The SPACE Grant Program has supported two businesses on Winter Street itself by filling two vacant storefronts: a new boba tea shop Cha Feo, and the Downtown Boston Alliance’s soon-to-be small business incubator and downtown welcome center. SPACE Grantees can also be found throughout Downtown – including Jamaican food at Jamaica Mi Hungry on Devonshire Street, charcuterie and wine at Boardeaux on High Street, and local escape room Boxaroo on Court Street. In addition, the City has committed $200,000 to support Creative Enterprises to make Downtown their home.  “Color Flows reflects a tremendous investment from the City of Boston to activate one of Boston’s most utilized streets,” said President of the Downtown Boston Alliance Michael J. Nichols. “Winter Street serves as a vital gateway to Downtown and its businesses will benefit greatly from the infusion of art, family-friendly programming, and a unique opportunity to enjoy one of Downtown’s beloved dining institutions in jm Curley’s.” “Color Flows on Winter Street demonstrates how our streets and sidewalks can be platforms for creativity and expression as well as vibrant open spaces that foster meaningful interactions among people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Public Realm Manager for the Streets Cabinet Nate Lash. “Instead of just helping people who want to get from Point A to Point B, our streets can be places where people want to be.”  On Winter Street visitors will find: Food & beverage vendors including local restaurant jm Curley Public art including a street mural by Massiel Grullón Planting and seating A lighting installation Interactive games and cultural programming Special events throughout the month including a family festival, and a block party.

巨額加薪、添聖徒雕像、談神職醜聞 昆士市長近日爭議多

                   （Boston Orange綜合編譯） 昆士市迄今在位時間最長的市長柯奇（Thomas Koch)，從市議會2024年通過議案，要大幅加薪，將使得他成為麻州薪資最高市長以來，面對多項爭議，波士頓環球報（Boston Globe）10月15日刊登一篇長文，一探究竟。

                  柯奇市長從2008年當選為昆士市長後，連任迄今，已當了7任市長，在位17年，享有重振昆市市中心美譽，還建造了5所新學校，正在蓋或規劃的住宅單位多達7000戶，帶給昆士市一片繁榮景象。

2024年時，昆士市議會通過議案，要給柯奇市長加薪12萬6千元，將使他的年薪高達28萬5千元，成為麻州年薪最高的市長。

                  由於這加薪數額備受爭議，昆市居民Joe Murphy創立的「正義昆士市（A Just Quincy）」和「我們投票人（WeVoters）」攜手發起連署，想要透過公投，推翻市議會同意給市長加薪的法案，不過昆士市政府以簽名無效為由，拒絕了公投提案申請。

                  昆士市長柯奇本人曾就此事回應，表示他當選市長後，已11年未加薪，市議會通過的加薪案，要等2028年的下一次選舉之後才生效，也就是他成功連任，才可能加薪。

                  在加薪事件之外，昆市居民還質疑昆士市決定在興建造價1億7500萬元的新公安總部時，要加建2座聖徒雕像，Saint Michael和Saint Florian，在義大利雕製，價格高達85萬美元。批評者認為這違反政教分離原則，一個名為「美國公民自由聯盟（ACLU）」的組織，已經代表居民提出訴訟。法官也也發出臨時禁制令，在訴訟有結果前，禁止安裝雕像。

                  另一爭議事件是柯奇市長最近在接受WBZ電台採訪時，說老師和教練虐待兒童的比率比天主教神父高，神職人員性醜聞是同性戀，不是戀童癖的醜聞，也受到嚴厲批評。

                  批評柯奇市長的人還說，柯奇市長在位時間長，非常強勢，形成了“柯奇式統治（Kochocracy）”，市議會也變得有如橡皮圖章，不但很少召開公聽會，甚至還常常限制市民發言，在2024年的市議會投票中，99.4%的議案，都是全票通過的。如今昆士市的市政債務已攀升至14億美元，也令人擔憂。

                  目前加薪案和加建雕像按，都還無定論，就連科奇是否會在2027年競選連任，都變得不確定了。

波士頓名人系列10/17-19推出踢踏舞融合現場演奏即興表演

MFTS Leonardo Sandoval和 Gregory Richardson
Bee Lively攝，公關公司提供。

     （Boston Orange編譯）波士頓名人系列（Celebrity Series of Boston）將於10 月 17 日至 19 日，邀請「來自腳底的音樂（Music From the Sole）」，在波士頓藝術學院劇院 (Boston Arts Academy Theater)首演融合踢踏舞及現場音樂彈奏的「房屋開著，漸暗（House is Open, Going Dark）」。

在17日起的週五晚上 8 點、週六下午 2 點、以及週日下午 3 點，「來自腳底的音樂（Music From the Sole）」將演出3場「房屋開著，漸暗（House is Open, Going Dark）」，這融合踢踏舞與現場音樂的全新作品。

表演將巧妙的把踢踏舞、爵士樂、放克、非洲-巴西節奏、浩室音樂、靈魂樂、搖滾和非洲-古巴傳統音樂結合在一起，形成獨特氛圍。

在70分鐘的表演中，由巴西踢踏舞者兼編舞家 Leonardo Sandoval 和美國貝斯手兼作曲家 Gregory Richardson 於2015年創立，共有15名舞者和樂手的「來自腳底的音樂（Music From the Sole）」，將把舞台變成一個自由流動空間，從廚房裡的一餐催生出一首合唱，一陣陣清爽的陣雨催生出一段節奏明快舞蹈，到一場電視房裡的聚會，帶出歡快、爵士和節奏感十足，突破創意界線的一場即興演出。

49-HOUSE IS OPEN MFTS  ©SmileyGuirand

「房屋開著，漸暗（House is Open, Going Dark）」今年夏天在紐約州東漢普頓的市政廳首演。將於10月17日至19日，來到波士頓名人系列，在波士頓藝術學院劇院上演，

由波士頓名人影集於10月17日至19日在波士頓芬威街區伊普斯維奇街174號的波士頓藝術學院劇院（174 Ipswich Street, Boston）上演。門票價格從$40到$94不等，現已在celebrityseries.org上發售。

波士頓名人系列為回饋社區，10月15日在洛士百利（Roxbury）青年會舉辦了一場免費的「身體打擊樂和律動工作方」，教人如何用跺腳，彈指，拍手和發聲等方式創造節奏。在「來自腳底的音樂（Music From the Sole）」駐留波士頓期間，他們也將和波士頓藝術學院學生看彩排，跟隨製作團隊學習。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Firing of 500 U.S. Department of Education Staff

Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Firing of 500 U.S. Department of Education Staff 

BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler issued the following statements today on President Donald Trump’s U.S. Department of Education weekend firing spree, which he started by laying off 466 U.S. Education Department staffers on Friday. 

"Donald Trump is weaponizing the shutdown to fire hard-working educators. Because of President Trump’s actions, our kids will lose the mental health care, tutoring, and special education they need. This needs to stop. The White House needs to end this shut down and reverse this decision immediately," said Governor Healey.  

“It is unfathomable that the Trump Administration has fired nearly 500 U.S. Department of Education staff and intentionally did so using the guise of a federal shutdown and during a holiday weekend. The Department plays a critical role in safeguarding equal access to public education through transparency and accountability. Firing most of the office that handles special education, in addition to staff who support HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, TRIO programs, afterschool programs and more, is going to harm all students, gutting civil rights protections especially for students with disabilities and low incomes,” said Secretary Tutwiler. "Massachusetts does not have the resources to replace the oversight, research, technical assistance and support the federal government provides families and school districts. Make no mistake – this action is going to exacerbate longstanding challenges around wealth inequality and make it harder for students to access IEPs, mental health supports, tutoring and so much more. The fight to protect students’ civil rights is urgent. In Massachusetts, we will continue to fight for every student to have access to a high-quality public education and equitable access to affordable higher education opportunities.” 

Massachusetts receives over $2 billion in federal education funding a year. The state is not able to fully replace these funds. The funding helps Massachusetts’ students, educators, schools, campuses, and communities. It helps low- and middle-income students afford to go to college. It provides funding to districts in low-income areas to help pay for teacher salaries and benefits, school counselors, and homeless liaisons. It also supports special education, including paying for assistive technology for students with disabilities, professional development and salaries for special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading specialists, as well as transportation to help students get the services and programming they need and supports those services, like physical therapy, speech therapy, and social workers. 

Offices impacted within the U.S. Department of Education as of 10/14/2025 include: 

· Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 

· Office of Post Secondary Education (Student Support Services/TRIO; Institutional Service/HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges ANAPISI) 

· Office for Civil Rights 

· Office of Communications and Outreach 

· Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development 

· Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 

o   Office of Innovation and Early Learning 

o   Office of School Community Improvement Programs 

o   Well Rounded Education Divisions (Arts Education) 

o   Charter Schools Program 

o   Office of Safe and Supportive Schools 

o   Program and Grantee Support Services 

o   Comprehensive Literacy State Development 

o   JAVITS (Gifted and Talented) 

o   School Support and Accountability 

o   Office of Formula Grants 

o   Office of Migrant Education 

o   Effector Educator Development Program 

o   Innovation and Early Learning Programs 

o   Effective Development Division 

o   Program and Grantee Support Services 

  

Governor Healey Establishes Competitiveness Council to Grow Economy, Strengthen Business Climate

Governor Healey Establishes Competitiveness Council to Grow Economy, Strengthen Business Climate 

Appoints Harpoon Brewery President & Co-Founder Dan Kenary and Toolbox Holdings Chair Mark Nunnelly as Chairs 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating the Governor’s Advisory Council on Competitiveness to advise her on ways to drive economic growth and strengthen the state’s business climate.  

Governor Healey appointed Dan Kenary, President & Co-Founder of the Harpoon Brewery, and Mark Nunnelly, Chairman of Toolbox Holdings and Foundation and former Managing Director of Bain Capital, as Chairs of the Competitiveness Council.  

The Competitiveness Council will advise the Governor on issues relating to taxation, business incentives, workforce development, support of innovation, business regulation, and other related factors that affect Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness. They will also offer recommendations on potential actions to strengthen the state’s business climate and support growth in existing and emerging industries. They will also assess the impacts of federal policies related to research, education immigration and free trade. 

“Massachusetts is home to the best businesses, schools, health care system and talent in the world, but we can’t take anything for granted,” said Governor Healey. “I’m creating this Competitiveness Council to bring everyone to the table – business, labor, state and local leaders – to advise me on action we can take to grow Massachusetts’ economic leadership and make us more competitive.” 

“Massachusetts has the talent, research institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit to compete with any region in the world,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “This council reflects the Governor’s commitment to growing our economy by listening to the people who know it best—our business leaders, workers, and innovators—and by bringing together voices from across the Commonwealth to ensure Massachusetts remains the best place to start, scale, and succeed.” 

“Massachusetts is known as a hub of innovation, talent and entrepreneurship. By working together, we can build on those strengths, grow our economic competitiveness, and make sure our state is a great place to start and grow a business,” said Dan Kenary, President & Co-Founder of the Harpoon Brewery. “I’m grateful to Governor Healey for appointing me to this important role, and I look forward to getting to work with the Competitiveness Council.” 

“At every step, Massachusetts has always been ready to adapt, change and invest in its future. Governor Healey is continuing this tradition in a world that is changing faster than ever,” said Mark Nunnelly, Chairman of Toolbox Holdings and Foundation and former Managing Director of Bain Capital. “I’m honored to serve as Co-Chair of her Competitiveness Council, which will bring together a talented group of leaders to make sure we are building that strong future and bolstering our economic competitiveness.” 

Since day one, Governor Healey has prioritized making Massachusetts more affordable and growing its economic competitiveness. In her first year in office, she cut taxes for the first in 20 years. Since she took office, more than 90,000 new housing units have been built or are in development to help lower housing costs. She has introduced legislation to save residents and businesses more than $13 billion on energy costs, proposed a $400 million state investment to grow Massachusetts’ research and development sector and create jobs in the face of Trump’s cuts and taken action to limit health care costs. 

Other members of the Competitiveness Council will be: 

• Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, or their designee; 

• Administration and Finance Secretary Matt Gorzkowicz, or their designee; 

• Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, or their designee; 

• 2 members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House; 

• 2 members of the Senate designated by the Senate President; 

• a person designated by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce; 

• a person designated by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; 

• a person designated by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce;  

• a person designated by One SouthCoast Chamber;  

• a person designated by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce;  

• a person designated by the Western Mass Economic Development Council;  

• a person designated by 1Berkshire;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Competitiveness Partnership;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; 

• a person designated by the Mass Business Roundtable;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation;  

• a person designated by Associated Industries of Massachusetts;  

• two persons designated by AFL-CIO; 

• a person designated by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts;  

• a person designated by We Are ALX;  

• and such additional members as the Governor may appoint from geographic areas across the state who reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, including representatives from regional chambers of commerce, business trade groups, organized labor, and policy think tanks. 
  

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Redesigned Solar Incentive Program to Advance Solar Energy in Massachusetts

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Redesigned Solar Incentive Program to Advance Solar Energy in Massachusetts 

SMART 3.0 will Save Ratepayers $300 million, Jumpstart Solar Growth in Massachusetts, and Ensure all Residents Can Enjoy the Benefits of Solar 

BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration opened Massachusetts’ updated solar incentive program, Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target 3.0 (SMART). The newly redesigned program was released in June on an emergency basis ahead of the Trump Administration’s rollbacks of bipartisan solar tax credits to help bring more low-cost energy supply into Massachusetts. The incentive program is expected to reduce electricity costs by $300 million next year and will make it easier for companies to invest in Massachusetts.  

“To drive down costs, we need more energy - and solar is the fastest, cheapest energy we can bring into Massachusetts” said Governor Maura Healey. “Massachusetts is open for solar business – applications open today.” 

“Solar is a homegrown Massachusetts industry,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Thousands of our residents rely on solar for their livelihood and to power their homes. We’re ramping up our solar programs to get solar built affordably and in the areas of the state that need it the most.” 

“On hot days and cold days, solar is keeping the lights on and powering our businesses. Solar is low-cost energy we can bring online quickly, and it plays a vital role in the reliability of our electric grid,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “With SMART 3.0, we are revitalizing a successful program to lower costs for customers and boost our economy.” 

“We are actively working to produce more homegrown clean energy, and strengthening our ability to build more solar is key to that. SMART 3.0 is agile and will respond to rapidly changing market conditions, provide our solar industry with stability, and keep residents employed,” said Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “This is how we lower costs for our residents and businesses and provide our region with ample, reliable power.” 

DOER will begin accepting applications for the updated SMART program today. The program opening follows updated regulations that became effective on June 20, 2025 and were finalized on September 12, 2025. Program Year 2025 will offer 900 MW of available capacity in an effort to maximize projects that can participate in the SMART 3.0 program and take advantage of the federal Investment Tax Credit. This will lower costs for ratepayers and help to quickly add more locally generated to Massachusetts. 

SMART 3.0 is a sustainable incentive program that will advance solar energy development in Massachusetts while being able to quickly respond to changing market conditions. The program provides a flat incentive rate for residential customers and enhanced incentive offerings for low-income households. SMART 3.0 includes strong consumer protection provisions to ensure best practices by solar installers, which will result in fair contracts and meaningful savings for consumers. 

The program also takes an innovative approach to land use policy by establishing a mitigation fund that will collect dollars from large solar installations and use those funds to invest in conservation, biodiversity, and other programs targeted at protecting Massachusetts’ natural landscapes to offset the impacts of solar infrastructure. SMART 3.0 provides added incentives for canopy projects and those installed on landfills and brownfields, prioritizing projects in the built environment. The updated program uses a mechanism to respond to market change annually through robust economic analysis. This will allow DOER to adjust certain program components in response to project development, economic drivers, and overall program costs. 

The updates increase equity in the SMART program. In addition to a higher incentive rate for low-income households, those customers can qualify through participation in other needs-based programs or through self-attestation. All community solar projects are required to enroll a minimum of 40% low-income customers. A minimum discount on community solar bill credits for low-income customers is also required. SMART 3.0 expands the low-income property definition to include homeless shelters, deed-restricted condos, and properties enrolled in other housing assistance programs. It also supports affordable housing. For every $1.00 of SMART incentive, there are $2.64 in additional financial benefits to affordable housing properties. 

With its previous solar incentive programs, Massachusetts built a nation-leading solar industry, creating thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses. Under DOER’s solar programs, more than 140,000 solar projects, representing more than 4 gigawatts DC of clean energy, have been installed in Massachusetts. This solar deployment has transformed how the New England electric grid operates, helping to keep the lights on and lowering prices for ratepayers. 

Solar reduces the need to build transmission and distribution infrastructure, saving hundreds of millions – if not billions – of dollars that ratepayers would otherwise pay to maintain system reliability. During the summer, solar helps reduce peak demand and lowers energy costs and grid investment needs. During the winter, solar production helps avoid the use of scarce fossil fuel resources by other electric generators, which improves system reliability and lowers energy prices for all customers. And during the spring and fall, solar can provide a significant portion of the region’s energy needs and reduce the wholesale costs of energy for everyone. For example, during the afternoon of April 20, 2025, over 55% of the electricity demand on the New England electric grid was met by distributed solar facilities. Demand on the electric grid that afternoon reached an all-time low. 

The redesigned SMART program is part of a broader initiative by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to lower energy bills for residents and businesses, and to bring more energy into Massachusetts. In March, Governor Healey announced the Administration’s Energy Affordability Agenda to identify and advance actions to lower energy bills, which will save about $6 billion over five years. In May, Governor Healey filed the Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act, which will get charges off bills and bring more energy into the state. To drive more solar development, the legislation equips the state with a more authority to procure energy resources like solar and secure the best price as market conditions evolve, while still reducing ratepayer net metering costs. An independent analysis of the bill’s savings found it could save customers over $13 billion. On September 29, Governor Healey hosted a Solar Summit to convene solar developers, trade associations, and labor and policy leaders to identify actions Massachusetts can take to harness the potential of solar to lower costs and attract investment. And yesterday, the Governor called on the DPU to launch the first-ever comprehensive review to lower gas and electric costs. 

For more information, visit the SMART 3.0 Program Details web page.