波士頓台灣龍舟隊邱偉哲，王斌掌舵 2026再出發

BTBC和台灣代表隊2024年到義大利參賽時合影。（BTBC提供）

              (Boston Orange整理報導）波士頓台灣龍舟隊 (BTBC)日前在大西洋碼頭（Atlantic Wharf）舉辦2026年第一次招新聚會，以船隊介紹，龍舟文化分享，豐富美食，為本年度龍舟賽季打底。

孫育民教練介紹台灣社團活動。（BTBC提供）

波士頓台灣龍舟隊是一個在2018年由盧信瑋、趙家立等一群喜愛水上運動的年輕人籌辦出來的船隊。他們把練習划船，當作強健身心的體育運動，彼此志趣相投，相處得十分愉快，然後，他們組隊參加龍舟比賽，竟然一再告捷，不僅曾在羅德島台灣龍舟賽中封王，還在2024年贏得資格，成為代表美國到義大利參加第14屆國際龍舟聯合會世界龍舟俱樂部錦標賽（CCWC）的船隊之一，船隊也一度擴大到能組成4組船隊。

陳昱安教練親自示範划船機並且帶領大家體驗。（BTBC提供）

跨入2026新年度，波士頓台灣龍舟隊在有6名教練，有隊員60人左右，有2大1小船隻的基礎上，招募新血，重新整隊，為新年的龍舟賽季做準備。

                  波士頓台灣龍舟隊隊長邱偉哲說，很感謝大波士頓許多僑團、贊助商一直以來給該對的支持，讓他們期許自己不只是划龍舟，滿足個人對體育及水上活動的愛好，還能夠發揮同儕互助，服務社區，凝聚起台灣僑胞、留學生，為「台灣能幫助 (Taiwan Can Help)」出一分力，讓世界看見台灣。

                  2月7日這天，波士頓台灣龍舟隊的新任教練孫育民（Alex Sun）介紹了龍舟的種類。他指出，國際競技的龍舟賽，一般使用香港規格龍舟。羅德島州每年舉辦的的龍舟賽，則是採用中華民國政府及台灣僑團所捐贈船隻，體積較大，重量紮實，而且還有必須搶旗多標的規定。

                  孫育民還介紹了波士頓台灣龍舟隊每年舉辦、參加的活動，說明台灣龍舟隊有心走進社區，推廣龍舟運動及台灣文化的心願。

            教練陳昱安這天負責示範，協助新人體驗划龍舟的動作。他說，其實划龍舟沒有大家想象得那麼難，重要的事和隊員們培養默契，才能夠力上加力的在比賽時衝刺出好成績。

活動後大合影。（BTBC提供）

                  波士頓台灣龍舟隊創隊成員之一的趙家立，這天擔任招新活動總召，他鼓勵有興趣划龍舟的人和該隊聯繫，關注該隊的臉書，IG等社交媒體帳號，以獲取訊息，報名參加後續的Cross-fit，使用划船機等體驗練習。

會長邱偉哲（右四），副會長王斌（左二）與活動團隊合影。（BTBC提供）

CITY OF BOSTON AND WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCE NEW FIVE YEAR PILOT AGREEMENT AND NEW AMENDMENT TO TEN YEAR INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLAN THAT MORE THAN DOUBLES PLANNED RESIDENT HALL STUDENT HOUSING

CITY OF BOSTON AND WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCE NEW FIVE YEAR PILOT AGREEMENT AND NEW AMENDMENT TO TEN YEAR INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLAN THAT MORE THAN DOUBLES PLANNED RESIDENT HALL STUDENT HOUSING

BOSTON - Thursday, February 12, 2026 - The City of Boston and Wentworth Institute of Technology today announced major agreements on Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) and an amendment to their Institutional Master Plan (IMP). The new PILOT agreement includes a commitment of more than $5.6 million in cash and community benefits over the next five years. The agreement is the first written PILOT agreement between the City and Wentworth in more than 20 years, creating a predictable and reliable schedule of valuable partnership benefits for the City. The IMP amendment, which passed the BPDA Board today, will deliver more student housing sooner than initially planned, increase public open space, and continue investments in college and career pathways for Boston Public Schools students. 

"Boston thrives when our anchor institutions bring their many resources together to invest in our communities. Through these agreements, Wentworth Institute of Technology will deliver a reimagined, larger on-campus residence hall able to house their entire first year class, two new public courtyards, enhanced community benefits and continued investments into college and career pathways for our Boston Public Schools students. This five-year PILOT agreement builds on our new approach to work with institutions to establish a predictable schedule boosting annual cash payments and community benefits at a time when our Boston taxpayers need relief. Even with threats to higher education and research under this federal administration, our anchor institutions continue to engage and partner with us to support our communities and move Boston forward,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.

 

New PILOT Agreement

Wentworth has agreed to a new five-year PILOT agreement with the City, which includes cash and community benefits of more than $5.6 million over this period.

 

Wentworth has been a longstanding partner with the City of Boston through Boston’s nation-leading PILOT program, a system launched in 2012 that governs annual voluntary cash and community benefit contributions from the City’s largest private, non-profit, and tax-exempt institutions. This partnership is based on the mutual understanding that a welcoming, safe, and financially stable City which delivers high-quality essential services is critical to the continued success and financial health of Boston’s large nonprofit institutions. 

 

Under the new five-year agreement, Wentworth will resume annual PILOT cash payments to the City from $50,000 in FY26 to $125,000 in FY30. Wentworth paused PILOT cash contributions to the City over the last several years due to financial challenges brought about by the pandemic. This agreement coincides with Wentworth’s strengthening operating position and belief in the importance of the PILOT program.

 

Additionally, Wentworth commits to contributing annual PILOT community benefits valued at a total of $5.2 million over the term of the five-year agreement, benefits that will be reported annually to the City and subject to annual review to align with city and community needs.  Wentworth’s commitment to delivering community benefits in close partnership with community needs predates the PILOT program. The new agreement reflects Wentworth’s continued work to sustain and grow its baseline community benefit commitments to support public education, access to public and institutional spaces, and a mutually agreed list of other shared City and institutional priorities. Community benefits eligible to be counted toward this goal are quantifiable, directly benefit City of Boston residents, and are not part of the core mission and services of the institution.  

 

Wentworth and the City will focus on renewing a mutually agreeable voluntary PILOT agreement before expiration of the proposed five-year agreement on June 30, 2030.  

 

Accelerated and expanded investment in student housing

Compared to the original IMP approval advanced by Planning in 2024, this 2026 amendment will enable Wentworth to deliver 572 more beds than was originally envisioned for the Pike Residence Hall project, in a larger and reimagined dorm building, and much earlier than previously expected. The new 972 bed Pike Residence Hall will house its entire freshmen class. The construction of this new dorm will also allow other, existing dorms to be renovated or redeveloped. The reimagined Pike Residence Hall brings Wentworth closer to its ten-year goal of adding 1,814 net new student housing beds, ultimately housing more than 75 percent of students seeking on-campus housing. This sustained investment in campus housing will continue to reduce the number of students living off campus, easing pressure on the existing housing stock in Fenway and Mission Hill and supporting long-term residents, seniors, and families in those neighborhoods. Planning will continue to work with Wentworth to monitor off-campus student housing impacts through the University Accountability Ordinance report. 

 

"This amendment to the Wentworth IMP to move forward with the delivery of a larger, reimagined Pike Residence Hall is vital not only to the well-being of its students, but also to the Mission Hill community as a whole," said Chief of Planning Kairos Shen. "I want to thank the University for their continued partnership with the City to ensure its student population is appropriately housed, and for their commitments to enhancing the public realm with new connections to the larger neighborhood and transportation network over the next ten years."

 

“The approval of the amendment to the Institutional Master Plan is a milestone that reflects far more than campus growth,” said Mark Thompson, President of Wentworth Institute of Technology. “It reflects the deep, collaborative relationship we have built with Boston over many years. From dual-enrollment partnerships with Boston Public Schools students through Beacon Pathways, to STRIVE’s 100% job placement rate for graduates with diverse learning needs, Wentworth has always believed that a stronger institution means a stronger city. This plan paves the way for meaningful investments in our campus and our community, and we are proud to move forward together.”

 

“We welcome the new PILOT Agreement between Wentworth Institute of Technology and the City of Boston," said Enid Eckstein of the PILOT Action Group. "We believe Wentworth’s written five year commitment to resume PILOT cash payments after a multi-year hiatus is an important step, good for the community and provides predictability for the City.  The agreement also expands Wentworth’s community benefit investment in alignment with the need for investment in Boston public schools and long term vocational programs."

 

"I applaud Mayor Wu and Wentworth for advancing this new dorm building," said Executive Director of Mission Hill NHS Patricia Flaherty. "This IMP Amendment represents an important step in the evolution of Wentworth, as well as a win for Mission Hill. By building sufficient student housing, it will lessen the burden on existing neighborhood housing, and allow more longtime residents, seniors, and families to remain and maintain our vibrant and diverse community."

 

Significant new public realm and transportation improvements

The IMP amendment also includes improvements to the overall public realm including two new courtyards and improvements to the current pedestrian path known as the People’s Pike, improving pedestrian access to and through the Wentworth campus. The University will build a new connection to Ruggles Street as an extension of the People’s Pike, which will strengthen access to public transportation, with a new north-south path alongside the new Pike Residence Hall. In addition, Wentworth will add new bikeshare stations on campus, and contribute $133,650 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system. 

 

Continuing community benefits

Wentworth has been a long-standing partner to the City of Boston and Mission Hill. The University’s STRIVE program has supported nearly 6,000 Boston Public Schools students since its founding, serving approximately 100 students per year and achieving a 100 percent job placement rate for graduates with diverse learning needs. In collaboration with several surrounding BPS high schools, Wentworth has also provided dual enrollment opportunities for BPS high school seniors, enabling students to earn transferable college credits in STEM fields while completing their high school diplomas. 

 

These programs, along with Wentworth’s annual contributions to community organizations and neighborhood development, have been a feature of Wentworth’s ongoing partnership with the City of Boston. 

 

In addition, the University is contributing approximately $40,000 annually towards community organizations and community development. Altogether, the IMP represents a total of six new development projects over the term of the next ten years, in addition to more than $3 million in anticipated linkage towards affordable housing, and more than $600,000 in anticipated linkage towards jobs training

3月1日起拒絕綠卡持有者 SBA貸款將只有美國公民才能申請

             （Boston Orange綜合編譯）美國小企業行政局（SBA）日前發佈編號5000-876441的政策通知，提醒美國民眾，從3月1日起，只有美國公民，以及股權100%由美國人持有，在美國本土經營的公司，才有資格申請SBA貸款。

            這公告同時撤銷了2025年底才公佈的，允許外資佔比5%的早前規定。

            美國小企業行政局最受歡迎，每年金額達數百億元的7(a) 營運資金貸款和 504 不動產/固定資產貸款，都將大受影響。許多由美國公民和綠卡持有人攜手創辦的企業，將必須調整企業結構，否則無法取得新的，由政府擔保的低息貸款。

            這是美國小企業行政局局長Kelly Loeffler為響應川普總統在2025年1月所簽署的「保護美國人民免受侵略（Protecting the American People Against Invasion）行政命令，以行政裁量權自行作出的決定。她公開表示，SBA的每一分錢都應該用於支持美國公民創業者，而不是外國公民。她把綠卡持有者都當作了外國人。

            由於以往美國政府機構實施新措施，通常都會給予民眾90天的適應期，以及回饋意見期，但SBA的這一新決定，卻是2月2日公佈，3月1日就要生效，亞裔美國人法律辯護基金會等組織，正在以SBA未給予充分徵詢民意期，政策內容有「任意且反復無常」嫌疑為由，認為SBA違反了行政程序法。法律專家們也在研議，以公民身份來區分是否有資格申請SBA貸款的做法，是否違法了美國憲法中的「正當法律程序」，以及「平等保護」精神，是否涉嫌歧視。

波士頓市訂2/21舉辦青少年峰會 14到19歲可索取免費票參加

            （Boston Orange摘譯）波士頓市政府青少年發展辦公室（OYEA）將於2月21日下午 3點至 6點，在南波士頓的藝術家為人類中心（Artists For Humanity EpiCenter），以14至19歲青少年為對象，舉辦「青少年峰會（Youth Summit）」，歡迎有意參加者索取免費入場券。

            波士頓市早年曾舉辦青少年峰會，但因故中斷了20年，2024年才恢復辦理，今年是第3年復辦，估計會有600人參加，將有來自克服逆境（Beat the Odds）, 波士頓音樂計畫（Boston Music Project）、負能青少年（ Teen Empowerment）、波士頓社區音樂中心（Community Music Center of Boston）等組織的青少年才藝現場表演，新獲選的波士頓青年桂冠詩人將朗誦詩歌，波士頓市長吳弭（Ｍichelle Wu）將為峰會做主講人。Amanda Shea將出任主持DJ WhySham提供音樂。 

這場峰會是慶祝波士頓青少年的創意、領導力與文化貢獻，並提供平台讓年輕人與城市領導人交流的活動，會中還將頒發「青年領袖獎」與「青年組織獎」。

今年參加峰會的人將可收到一個有品牌的手提袋，貼紙，T恤，以及贏得Sprayground背包，波士頓紅襪隊門票的機會。在峰會中青少年們可以得到噴繪紋身，一起創作壁畫，為今年的「青年領導改變」參與預算項目提供意見。

查詢2026峰會詳情，預留免費門票，可上網boston.gov/youth-summit。

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCE 2026 MAYOR’S YOUTH SUMMIT The City of Boston will host the 2026 Mayor’s Youth Summit on February 21, featuring entertainment, food, celebration, and youth performances for teens ages 14-19.

BOSTON – Thursday, February 12, 2026 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) today announced free tickets are now available for the 2026 Mayor’s Youth Summit (MYS), an annual citywide celebration of the contributions of young people to Boston’s culture. The 2026 Summit will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Artists For Humanity EpiCenter, a vibrant arts center for youth, located in South Boston. This event is hosted with the support of City departments, Boston Children’s Hospital, and other local, youth-serving partner organizations. “Boston’s youth shape the culture and energy of our city, and the Mayor’s Youth Summit is an opportunity to celebrate all they contribute,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This year’s summit will offer opportunities for our young people to showcase talents, connect with City leaders and have fun with peers. Join us in celebrating young Bostonians and the partnerships that make this summit such a special citywide event!” The City is anticipating 600 attendees at this year’s Summit with free tickets available for both youth and youth-serving community partners. In planning the 2026 Summit, the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement hosted a series of feedback sessions with youth programs across Boston. OYEA gathered youth input on event timing, designs, performances, and food to ensure the Summit continues its legacy of centering youth voices and reflecting the interests of Boston’s teens. “The Mayor’s Youth Summit is a powerful celebration of the creativity, leadership, and voice of young people across Boston,” said Pedro Cruz, Executive Director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement. “This event gives young people a stage to perform and share their art while building meaningful connections with peers from every neighborhood. We are proud to create a space where youth are seen, heard, and empowered to shape the cultural and civic life of our city.” The 2025 Mayor's Youth Summit marked the second time this event has been held since being re-established as an annual occurrence in 2024 following a 20-year hiatus. Nearly 500 attendees gathered to celebrate young people in Boston with food, games, and music. This year’s Summit will continue the tradition of live performances that showcase the talents of youth from Beat the Odds, Boston Music Project, Teen Empowerment, Community Music Center of Boston, and other local organizations. The newly-named Youth Poet Laureate will deliver spoken word. Mayor Wu will serve as keynote speaker, Amanda Shea will return as host, and music will be brought by DJ WhySham.  “Young people contribute so much to the culture and civic life of our City,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “I am grateful to be part of a team that creates this space to celebrate the incredible talent, skills and brilliance of Boston’s youth and look forward to another fun, exciting Youth Summit.” The City will also present the two awards, the Youth Leader Award and Youth Organization Award, at the 2026 Summit. The Youth Leader Award will honor two Boston residents between the ages of 14 and 19 years old who demonstrate high levels of leadership among their peers and/or a commitment to civic engagement. The Youth Organization Award will be given to an organization that demonstrates exceptional dedication to empowering and supporting Boston's youth. “Boston Children’s Hospital is proud to collaborate with the City and invest in our young people,” said Shari Nethersole, MD, Vice President for Community Health and Engagement at Boston Children’s Hospital. “We support the Mayor’s Youth Summit because it puts youth at the center of its platform, which encourages civic engagement and creates opportunities for youth to thrive in Boston.” This year’s attendees will receive branded tote bags, stickers, and sweatshirts, and have the opportunity to win backpacks from Sprayground and tickets to see the Boston Red Sox. At the summit, youth will be able to receive airbrush tattoos, contribute to a collaborative mural, and submit ideas for this year’s Youth Lead the Change participatory budgeting program.  To learn more about and reserve free tickets for the 2026 Mayor’s Youth Summit, please visit boston.gov/youth-summit. To stay informed about all initiatives from the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement, visit boston.gov/oyea, and follow our social channels @oyeaboston on Facebook and Instagram, and @oyea.boston.gov on Bluesky.

Governor Healey Signs Executive Order to Explore Single Stair Construction to Boost Housing Production, Lower Costs

Governor Healey Signs Executive Order to Explore Single Stair Construction to Boost Housing Production, Lower Costs 

 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Maura Healey signed a new executive order to study allowing single stair construction in some residential buildings in an effort to increase housing production and lower costs. Currently, Massachusetts building code requires two exit stairs for buildings above three stories or with long interior corridors, which makes it harder to build mid-rise development on smaller parcels. The Governor is establishing a technical advisory group to explore the possibility of allowing single stair construction in residential buildings higher than three stories to make it easier to build more housing while ensuring safety. 

 

“We’re all about making it easier to build more housing across our state to drive down costs for everyone,” said Governor Healey. “While the double stair requirement plays an important role in ensuring safety, it’s also holding us back from the type of housing construction we need to meet demand. This group will include the best subject matter experts and fire safety officials to explore how we can make it easier to build housing by allowing single stair construction, while continuing to protect our residents and first responders.” 

 

"Building new housing that prioritizes affordability, enhancing the livability of our communities and keeping people safe couldn’t be more important as we respond to our housing shortage," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "Our administration is spurring all kinds of housing production to meets the range of needs facing Massachusetts residents, so I'm eager for the advisory group to get started and study the feasibility of single stair construction while considering all possible safety risks."    

 

This executive order builds on the 2025 recommendations made by the Unlocking Housing Production Commission, which was tasked with examining how state and local laws, regulations, and practices could be revised to increase the supply of housing.  

 

The advisory group, which will include fire services, building officials, national architectural experts, accessibility advocates, and public-safety professionals, will be tasked with developing a process to evaluate whether, and under what conditions, single stair multifamily residential buildings above three stories can be safely permitted in Massachusetts as a tool to expand mid-rise housing production. The group's charge will involve comparing single stair and multi-stair buildings, identifying necessary fire- and life-safety precautions, and recommending targeted updates to the State Building Code.  

 

"Every safe, evidence-based strategy to build more homes is needed to meet the housing demands we're facing, and single-stair multifamily residential buildings could offer us a new way to increase our housing supply," said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. "This executive order will bring together the right people - from fire safety officials to architects, accessibility experts and more - who will help us explore the possibilities and find the best path forward." 

 

Current Massachusetts building code generally requires two exit stairs for buildings above three stories or with long interior corridors, limiting the feasibility of mid-rise development on smaller parcels. With appropriate fire safety requirements, updating the code to allow the construction of single stairway residential buildings higher than three stories could significantly unlock housing production by boosting unit yield in typical mid-rise building designs, reducing per-unit construction costs and making projects on smaller lots more feasible.   

  

Massachusetts would not be the first state to adopt a single stair standard for residential buildings higher than three stories and would be following a longstanding approach used in numerous U.S. states, as well as in many other countries. For example, New York City and Seattle have permitted single stair buildings up to six stories for decades, and Honolulu legalized them in 2012. More recently, Tennessee, Montana, and Connecticut have enacted legislation allowing single stair buildings up to six stories under specified safety conditions. Across most of Europe, double-stair requirements were never adopted. 

 

The impact could be especially impactful because of the nature of Greater Boston’s available land. Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) identified 4,955 underutilized parcels, such as parking lots or vacant, single story retail, located within ¾ mile of rapid transit that could host a mid-rise building. If these housing projects became economically feasible, JCHS estimates that these sites could produce up to 130,000 new housing units through urban infill alone if single stair is allowed up to six stories and 24 units. 

 

The executive order is the latest example of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s bold efforts to increase housing supply statewide and bring down costs for Massachusetts residents. The administration is expediting permitting processes, releasing surplus state land for housing production, converting underutilized commercial space into residences, implementing the MBTA Communities law, legalizing accessory dwelling units statewide and providing financing tools to help homeowners build them, and creating a first-in-the-nation fund to finance mixed-income 

 

 housing development. To help people afford their mortgages and rents right now, the administration is increasing down payment assistance and lowering mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers, banned mandatory renter-paid fees, gave seniors up to $2,800 a year to help with housing costs and expanded home inspection protections.  

Boston Children’s Museum’s Construction Zone Exhibit to Close New Dream it! Build it! Exhibit Reimagined for 21st-Century Children

 Boston Children’s Museum’s Construction Zone Exhibit to Close New Dream it! Build it! Exhibit Reimagined for 21st-Century Children

BOSTON, MA—February 12, 2026 — Boston Children’s Museum is announcing a fond farewell to its beloved Construction Zone exhibit, closing on Sunday, February 22. This change will make way for a brand-new exhibit titled Dream it! Build it!, designed to empower children and their families to dream, design, and construct the next generations’ vision to make a positive impact on the world. 

As Boston’s first child-focused construction site, Construction Zone has offered interactive activities centered on urban development and construction safety for over two decades. Opened during Boston’s Big Dig, the 3,750-square-foot area featured authentic construction equipment, tools, and people that you would have found at that construction project. There was scaffolding for climbing, equipment for pretend play, and blocks for building in both life-sized and child-sized formats. 

Carole Charnow, President & CEO, commented, “For more than 20 years, the Construction Zone exhibit has been a beloved visitor favorite that introduced millions of children and families to the field of construction. Originally created to help children understand Boston’s Big Dig, it invited kids to have fun with trucks, pulleys, and diggers. But as the field of construction has advanced, there are many more opportunities now to learn about STEM, design and how modern cities come to life. The new exhibit will be called Dream It! Build It!, and I love the many exciting features and activities that will be offered. I think the kids will love it, too!”

By focusing on dreaming and designing, Dream it! Build it! will engage children and caregivers who are drawn to the artistic and social-emotional sides of construction, such as drawing, imagining, and understanding community needs. The exhibit will emphasize creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience — future-ready skills children need for STEM fields and throughout life.

The exhibit is intentionally crafted to be hands-on and minds-on, encouraging children and families to tackle challenges in construction, architecture, and engineering. Key features include: 
● The Big Build: Climb scaffolding, move materials, and try out building trades to construct a large-scale structure together.
● Dream City: Imagine, sketch, and add your ideas to a collaborative digital city.
● Design Studio: Experiment with light, color, and materials to create spaces for yourself and others.
● Green Spaces: Explore sustainable design by integrating nature into community environments.
● Portraits of Workers: Meet real people who shape the built environment, celebrating the diversity of pathways and identities in construction.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4.45 Million to Expand Advanced Manufacturing, Create Jobs Across Massachusetts

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4.45 Million to Expand Advanced Manufacturing, Create Jobs Across Massachusetts 
Grants will support three high-growth projects, creating 90 new jobs and leveraging more than $52 million in private investment. 

BOSTON - The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $4.45 million in awards to three transformative projects through the Business Builds Capital Grant Program, which supports business expansion, job creation, and investment across Massachusetts. These projects, led by Boston Metal in Woburn, Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Devens, and Urthpact Innovations LLC in Leominster, are expected to create 90 net new jobs and leverage more than $52 million in private investment.  

“Massachusetts is where the technologies of the future get built and where good jobs come with them,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These Business Builds awards will help companies expand and modernize their facilities and create jobs while keeping Massachusetts competitive in the industries driving the next generation of economic growth.” 

“Business Builds is about helping communities win, whether that means new jobs in a Gateway City, upgrades to an aging facility, or new life in an underused site,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants will deliver real benefits for residents in every region.” 

“Massachusetts is competing and leading in the industries that will define the next century,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “These grants support companies advancing fusion energy, sustainable manufacturing, and next-generation materials, while creating new jobs statewide. Business Builds helps ensure that as these companies scale, they do it here in Massachusetts” 

Created through the Mass Leads Act and administered by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) within the Executive Office of Economic Development, Business Builds provides strategic grants to businesses relocating to, expanding in, or creating new jobs in Massachusetts. The program advances the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to increasing Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness while ensuring that public investments deliver meaningful public value. Business Builds also complements existing tools such as the Economic Development Incentive Program to spur job creation, strengthen regional economies, and support capital investments in facilities and equipment. Through Business Builds, EOED aims to attract and retain businesses across Massachusetts, including in Gateway Cities, rural towns, and underutilized or redevelopment areas. 
 

The awarded projects include:  

 

Boston Metal, Woburn - $950,308 
Boston Metal has developed a patented technology that can be used to recover critical metals from mining and industrial waste and produce steel with more than 90 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions. The company will use the grant to support facility upgrades, which will allow it to recover critical materials at commercial-grade purity and yield while significantly increasing energy efficiency. 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens – $2.5 million 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems operates a 57-acre commercial fusion energy campus that includes the company’s global headquarters and corporate offices, a manufacturing facility for high temperature superconducting fusion magnets, and the SPARC facility - the world’s first commercially relevant fusion energy machine. The $2.5 million grant award will allow the company to install high energy and high-density battery storage systems and complete construction of the SPARC facility. 

 

Urthpact Innovations LLC, Leominster - $999,692 

Urthpact designs, engineers, and produces sustainable products using renewable resources such as compostable coffee pads, straws, and cutlery. The $999,692 grant award will allow Urthpact to create 75 new jobs and upgrade production lines for straws, cutlery, coffee pods and degassing valves, resulting in the replacement of more than 500 million petroleum-based plastic items per year.  

AAJC Publishes New Report on AI’s Impact on AAPI Communities

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Publishes New Report on AI’s Impact on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) released findings from qualitative research outlining how members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community view and interact with artificial intelligence (AI): From Translations to Chatbots: AANHPI Community Perspectives on the Impact and Governance of Artificial Intelligence. 

 

AI has quickly become a mainstay in our society and grown into an industry worth billions of dollars. The technology has been praised for its potential – but has also come with critiques and warnings about the risks of irresponsible AI usage. But for AANHPI communities, the rapid adoption of AI coincides with the ongoing digital divide, which keeps many from being able to responsibly use this new technology – and thereby prevent them from being able to shape the opportunities and outcomes of a technology that is already transforming our economic, social and civil lives. And despite heavy representation of the AANHPI community in the tech industry, disparities in language access, immigration status, income and more exclude the AANHPI members most vulnerable to algorithmic harms and bias. 

 

Advancing Justice – AAJC convened 65 individuals representing various AANHPI backgrounds across the country to better understand how AI impacts their lives. These listening sessions took place from April to November 2025, and participants were able to share their observations about AI’s integration into society in small and large-group discussions. Discussion facilitators found that: 

• AI is pervasive in AANHPI communities, yet many individuals lack clarity on exactly where and how it affects them. 
• Job opportunities, especially those accessible to individuals who have limited English skill, are being reshaped by AI in the workplace.  
• AI-powered misinformation erodes trust and limits AANHPI community members’ ability to access critical resources.  
• The psychosocial impacts of AI chatbot use vary widely by age groups and can erode intergenerational relationships.  
• AANHPI community members want transparency, control, and accountability in the use of their data. 
• AANHPI community priorities are not adequately represented in AI governance. 

“AI is one of the most rapidly adopted technologies in history, and we are already seeing the ways in which it is reshaping our lives. The fullextent of both the potential and harms of AI are still being understood and there is insufficient information about how it affects marginalized communities – especially Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders,” said Lia Nitake, Senior Director of Technology, Telecommunications and Media Policy at Advancing Justice – AAJC. “This report helps get us closer to understanding how AI manifests in our communities and how to ensure that they are being equitably represented in AI governance. We hope that it can be a guide for policymakers, community leaders and investors in their decisions regarding AI integration, regulations and technology improvements.” 

 

As AI usage and applications continues to grow, we must ensure that emerging technologies represent our communities accurately, and that no one is left behind. 

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Higher Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Providers

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Higher Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Providers

 

Higher payments aim to reflect true cost of providing care

 

BOSTON – The Board of Early Education and Care today unanimously voted to approve the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposed increases to child care financial assistance reimbursement rates for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), reinforcing the state’s ongoing commitment to supporting early education and care providers and strengthening the child care system for families across Massachusetts.

 

This rate increase invests $20 million to provide a modest across-the-board increase for all providers, along with specific adjustments for providers whose current rates are furthest from the cost of providing care and median private tuition rates. That includes particular attention to some preschool rates and geographic areas where families face some of the greatest barriers to access. The administration recognizes that early education and care providers continue to experience rising costs and remains focused on making progress toward reimbursing providers at the cost of care while also responding to conditions in the broader child care market.

 

To make child care more affordable, EEC helps to cover tuition costs for eligible families by providing financial reimbursements to early education and care programs that serve children utilizing Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA). These reimbursements are paid using pre-determined daily rates that are based on a child’s age group, provider region, and program type.

 

“Affordable, high-quality child care is essential for our children, our families, and our economy. Our Administration has significantly increased rates over the years, and with this latest increase, we’re taking another important step toward covering the real cost of care, so providers can keep their doors open, and families can access the care they need to succeed,” said Governor Maura Healey.

 

“These rate increases reflect our commitment to building a stronger child care system across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Supporting early education providers means supporting working families and ensuring that parents have real choices when it comes to safe, high-quality care in their communities.”

 

This year’s rate increases build on the state’s previous investments in CCFA rates, which have increased by $147.5 million since FY23 and represents the latest step in a multi-year, data-driven effort to set rates based on the cost of care. Since 2022, EEC has partnered with external researchers to study the cost of providing care and develop and refine a cost-based alternative methodology for setting CCFA rates. Under this administration, Massachusetts became the sixth state in the country federally approved to move forward with a cost-based alternative methodology when setting rates for child care financial assistance. This has allowed the state to use the cost of care when setting rates for the last three fiscal years and bring all rates closer to the true cost of providing care while addressing long-standing inequities by geographic region and age group of children served.

 

“Today’s vote marks an important step forward in Massachusetts’ commitment to strengthening our early education and care system,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Increasing reimbursement rates shows we are investing in providers and moving forward an effort to make sure the rates reflect the true cost of care.”

 

“By continuing to move reimbursement rates closer to the true cost of care, we are strengthening provider sustainability, supporting the child care workforce, and helping to ensure families across Massachusetts have access to stable, high-quality care,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw

 

“Higher reimbursement rates mean more dedicated and consistent care for our youngest children, real relief for working families, and fairer compensation for our exceptional providers,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate has proudly worked alongside the Healey-Driscoll Administration to continue raising rates to better address the true cost of care, and our entire Commonwealth is better for it. I applaud the administration for taking yet another strong step forward today.”

 

“Today’s unanimous vote reflects the Board’s strong commitment to a stable, accessible, and high-quality early education and care system,” said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care. “By increasing reimbursement rates and continuing to better align payments with the realities providers face, we are supporting those who serve our most vulnerable children, strengthening the child care workforce, and helping ensure families across Massachusetts can access the care they need.”

 

This combined approach is intended to support a more equitable distribution of funds across all providers participating in the CCFA program while continuing to monitor market trends to promote equal access to high-quality care for families statewide.