Baker-Polito Administration Awards $350,000 to Urban Agriculture Projects

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $350,000 to Urban Agriculture Projects

BOSTON – September 28, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced over $350,000 in grantsthrough the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) Urban Agriculture Program to support the growth of the emergent urban agriculture sector and provide city residents access to fresh food. The purpose of MDAR’s Urban Agriculture Program, funded by the 2014 Massachusetts Five-Year Capital Plan, is to advance policies, leverage collective resources and support commercial projects designed to increase the production, processing, and marketing of produce grown in urban centers across the Commonwealth.

“Our administration recognizes the impact farming entrepreneurs make in our cities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The recipients of Urban Agriculture Program funding continue to create opportunities for local economic impact through food production, as they increase ready access to nutritious food for their communities.”

“A priority of our administration is to increase access to fresh, nutritious food in underserved urban communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The communities and entrepreneurs receiving these grants are at the forefront of this effort and are providing opportunities for economic impact and youth engagement while encouraging healthier local food systems.”

MDAR launched an Urban Agriculture Program to support the emerging urban agriculture sector in early 2014. As of today, the Urban Agriculture Program has released four rounds of funding which have provided support for 41 urban agriculture projects and facilitated four state-wide urban agriculture conferences, attracting hundreds of practitioners, advocates, and policy makers.

“Investing in the cultivation of fresh food in urban settings provides opportunities for job training and youth engagement,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton.  “Through the Urban Agriculture Program, the Baker-Polito Administration will continue to promote opportunities for healthier local food systems in more communities across the Commonwealth.”

“I am proud of the Urban Agriculture Program at MDAR, as it has helped to strengthen local neighborhoods by leveraging opportunities through the production, processing, marketing and sale of fresh food at the local level,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux.

Urban agriculture ranges from traditional in-ground growing and rooftop farms, to aquaponics, greenhouses and freight farms.  The local food movement is taking root in neighborhoods, especially where vacant land or buildings are available and fresh food is hard to find.  Past funded projects have reached communities including Holyoke, Springfield, Lowell, Lawrence, Salem, Boston and Somerville.

The successful demonstration of these projects has ranged from expanding production space, creation of innovative aquaponics and hydroponics facilities and investment in market opportunities within under-served communities.

The current awardees’ listing is as follows:

CommonWealth Kitchen, Dorchester, MA - $70,000

CommonWealth Kitchen will use the grant funding to purchase specialized manufacturing equipment needed to improve our ability to affordably and efficiently provide small-batch, value added production services for local urban farms. The equipment will also expand their capacity to take larger processing work focused on farm-to-school and farm-to-institution initiatives.

The Food Project, Dorchester, MA - $56,385

The Food Project will use the grant funding to perform necessary repairs and refurbishments to the Dudley Greenhouse, the anchor of their operations. The refurbishment will extend the list of the greenhouse, generate more revenue, improve energy efficiency and contribute to greater fertile vegetable production.

Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA - $55,000

Gardening the Community will use the grant funding to continue the transformation of the first community-controlled urban agriculture site in Springfield. This is phase two of infrastructure improvements, which include soil regeneration, an irrigation system and its instillation. The investment will add to the permanent farm site designed to provide locally grown produce directly to low income urban residents.

NUBIA, Roxbury, MA - $7,540

NUBIA will use the grant funding to acquire a walk-in storage cooler to use for their fresh produce.  As the organization has grown and their commercial food production has increased, this additional infrastructure will be key to keeping their produce at the highest quality.

Shape Up Somerville, Somerville, MA - $23,656

Shape-Up Somerville will use the grant funding to implement the next phase of “ARTFarm”,    a 2.2 acre former waste transfer station that is in the midst of being transformed into Somerville’s community art and commercial urban growing center. The grant will be used to purchase outdoor walk-in cooler, materials for a 50’ X 20’ raised bed, as well as the instillation of both.

Urban Farming Institute, Dorchester MA - $12,733

The Urban Farming Institute will use the grant funding to upgrade their tools and purchase equipment to increase the productivity on their farms. Their urban farmers will also teach trainees how to use equipment and become more efficient in their farming practice.

New Entry Sustainable Farm Project, Lowell, MA - $30,016

New Entry will use their grant funding to purchase Food Hub Aggregation and distribution management software re-usable crates and ice packs for their produce distribution and packing needs as well as marketing materials. The equipment and infrastructure improvements are projected to increase CSA participation by 20% in food insecure communities on the North Shore.

UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA - $40,000

UMass Lowell, in partnership with Mill City Grows, will use the grant funding to invest in capital infrastructure with the purchase and installation of commercial greenhouse.  The establishment of the greenhouse will provide opportunities for work study programs as well as expanding the food production capacity of Mill City Grows with this year-round facility.

Haley House, Roxbury, MA - $19,600

Haley House will use the grant funding to improve the production space of the Thornton Street farm with additional soil and drip irrigation infrastructure, purchase and utilize low tunnels for season extension and will farm equipment. This award will also be used for the removal of several large invasive trees to increase productive growing space on the farm. 

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), Boston, MA - $35,500

TPL will use the grant funding to acquire a pre-fabricated greenhouse, a perimeter fence, as well as the installation of the perimeter fence and greenhouse. The addition of the Greenhouse will increase agricultural production and enable a more efficient supply to the significant demand of locally grown food through TPL’s partnership with the Urban Farming Institute.

“Our non-profits and institutions of learning provide our residents with access to healthy food, stimulate our local economy with farmers’ markets, and create innovative solutions to the agricultural challenges facing our Commonwealth,” stated Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy.  “I thank the administration for their support and congratulate the New Entry Sustainable Farm Project and UMass Lowell, in partnership with Mill City Grows, not only for their accomplishments to date, but also for the great work they will continue to do to nourish our communities.”

“These urban agriculture grants will support key initiatives that will provide fresh and organic products to families facing food insecurity in urban areas throughout the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell). “Promoting nutritional health is an essential tool in reducing health related issues, such as obesity and diabetes, while also reinforcing a hearty lifestyle. I would like to congratulate the New Entry Sustainable Farm Project and the University of Massachusetts Lowell for being awarded funding to encourage food sustainability throughout the City of Lowell.”

“Get out your broccoli recipes, Boston!” said State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston). “In all seriousness, these projects play a crucial role in developing the state’s green economy, and yield immense benefits for both residents of Boston and the Commonwealth at large. When we invest in urban agriculture, we provide many Massachusetts citizens a sustainable, innovative pathway to nourishment – regardless of location or socioeconomic status.”

MDAR’s goals have been to increase and sustain the capacity of urban agriculture to provide tangible, measurable benefits to residents in urban centers which include:  increased access to healthy fresh food, improved public health, entrepreneurial opportunities, job training & youth employment, and community revitalization.

NATIONAL COMPANY PAYS $1.4 MILLION, STRENGTHENS POLICIES OVER ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES

NATIONAL COMPANY PAYS $1.4 MILLION, STRENGTHENS POLICIES OVER ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES

Conduct Allegedly Affected More 5,000 Accounts in Massachusetts; Allegations Include Making High Volume Collection Calls, Failure to Provide Debt Validation Notices

BOSTON – A national mortgage servicer has paid $1.4 million and agreed to strengthen its policies over its alleged abusive debt collection practices that affected more 5,000 borrower accounts in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Pursuant to the assurance of discontinuance filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Ditech Financial, LLC, previously GreenTree Servicing, LLC, agreed to change its practices to comply with state debt collection and consumer protection laws.

The assurance of discontinuance requires that Ditech stop making excessive debt collection calls to consumers and provide written notice regarding the borrowers’ right to receive detailed information about any debts that Ditech sought to collect, as required by law.

            “Our state laws protect borrowers from being harassed and threatened by debt collectors,” said AG Healey. “This settlement is a message to all debt collectors that our office will continue to aggressively pursue those who engage in abusive collection practices in Massachusetts.”

Ditech is a servicer of residential mortgage loans across the country including thousands of loans in Massachusetts.

The AG’s Office investigated Ditech’s debt collection practices in Massachusetts and alleges that, since 2012, Ditech routinely violated the AG’s regulations governing debt collection.

Ditech employees allegedly called borrowers far in excess of the number of calls permitted by state law, sometimes calling the same borrower up to 12 times in a single day. 

The AG’s Office also found that Ditech failed to notify borrowers of their right to seek detailed information regarding their mortgage debt. Under state law, mortgage borrowers have the right to verify the amounts owed on a debt in collection and to confirm that the party seeking to collect on the debt has the legal right to do so.

Particularly where mortgage loans are frequently transferred from servicer to servicer and sold from party to party, state law protects the rights of consumers to access information relating to their debt. Ditech’s alleged failure to issue required debt validation notices deprived consumers of their rights and their opportunity to seek information regarding their own mortgage loans.

According the terms of the settlement, Ditech will change its procedures to prohibit calls in excess of the number permitted by the debt collection regulations and will implement technological controls to restrict outgoing collection calls when the call limit is reached. Ditech will also ensure that all borrower accounts receive timely and compliant debt validation notices going forward.

The payment of $1.4 million from Ditech will be used to address the negative effects of foreclosure, debt collection or other consumer protection issues in Massachusetts. 

Consumers with questions or concerns about deceptive or abusive debt collection practices can call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint with the office.

The AG’s Office is dedicated to going after abusive debt collection practices. In December 2015, AG Healeysued one of the largest debt collection law firms in Massachusetts and its two owners, alleging that the firm repeatedly sued consumers for debts they did not owe or debts that were inaccurate.

Yesterday, AG Healey announced that two medical companies agreed to write off more than $1 million in alleged debts owed by Massachusetts consumers, cease all collection actions against them and pay restitution to consumers to resolve allegations of unlawful billing and debt collection practices.

Last week, the AG’s Office and the Massachusetts Division of Banks held a listening session seeking input on the current state of debt collection and debt collection regulation in Massachusetts. Written comments will be accepted until Oct. 21. For more information, please click here.

            This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Justin J. Lowe and Lisa R. Dyen of Attorney General Healey’s Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from Ciara Tran of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division and Assistant Attorney General Michael Lecaroz of the Consumer Advocacy and Response Division.

Governor Baker Nominates Two to Massachusetts District Court

Governor Baker Nominates Two to Massachusetts District Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated Daniel W. O’Malley, a former District Court judge, and Edward H. Sharkansky, a Brockton attorney, to serve as judges in the Massachusetts District Court.

“I am confident attorneys O'Malley and Sharkansky will bring outstanding judgement and common sense to the bench and serve the Commonwealth's citizens well with their decades of experience in the District Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Mr. O'Malley will draw not only from his years of private criminal practice, but also from his six years of prior service on the District Court, while Mr. Sharkansky's background as a prosecutor and defense counsel will provide balance and perspective making him an asset to the Commonwealth. I am pleased to recommend both to the Governor's Council for their consideration."

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito said, “I have no doubt, that the qualities these two distinguished attorneys have will bring honor and credit to the Bar, the Bench and the Commonwealth if confirmed by the Council.”

Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Statewide Judicial Nominating Commission and recommended to the Governor. All judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.

For more information about the District Court, visit http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/dc/.

About Daniel W. O'Malley

Daniel W. O'Malley, who has thirty years of legal experience, returned to private practice in 2004 after six years on the District Court. A graduate of University of Massachusetts Boston in 1980 and Suffolk University School of Law in 1985, he has spent more than a decade in different law offices focusing on criminal, personal injury, and real estate law. In 1998, Governor Paul Cellucci appointed O'Malley to the District Court, where he presided over criminal and civil sessions in courts throughout Eastern Massachusetts, including seven months as acting First Justice of the Fall River District Court. During his tenure on the bench, he presided over mental health hearings at Bridgewater State Hospital and Taunton State Hospital. Attorney O'Malley grew up in Quincy and currently resides in Milton where he and his wife raised their six children.

About Edward H. Sharkansky

Edward H. Sharkansky is a 1990 graduate of The George Washington University and a 1994 graduate of The Northeastern University School of Law.  Upon graduating from law school, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Plymouth County for 2 years.  In 1997, Sharkansky opened his law office concentrating in criminal, civil and family litigation.  He currently serves as Vice President of the Plymouth County Bar Association, serves on the Advisory Board to the Criminal Justice Section at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School and Chairs the Management Committee of the Old Colony YMCA Stoughton Branch. Attorney Sharkansky has also served as Town Moderator since 2015 in the Town of Easton where he lives with his wife and two children.

陳薩終於來到波士頓演奏 觀眾頻頻要求安可

陳薩。(周菊子攝)

上星期六，九月二十四日，中華表演藝術基金會請到鋼琴家陳薩在紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳舉辦一場音樂會。陳薩榮獲2000年華沙蕭邦國際鋼琴大賽第四名及波蘭舞曲最佳演奏獎及2005年范克萊本鋼琴大賽水晶大獎。當晚節目有蕭邦的船歌、德彪西的前奏曲上下冊的10章、以及李斯特的B小調奏鳴曲。座席上有從各大音樂學院來的著名音樂家和教師。當天觀眾安可鼓掌聲及歡呼不斷，欲罷不能。陳薩以極具中國風的音樂＂平湖秋月＂回饋熱情的觀眾。

波士頓音樂雜誌 Boston Music Intelligencer 樂評家讚賞她的演出:”充滿了力量和肯定…是誠懇又體貼的藝術家… 她的演出呈現巨大的力量…她強而有力的音樂是有質地及流動的…” 

Sa Chen, the  "Best Polonaise Performance Award" of the 2000 International Chopin Competition, and the "Crystal Award" of the 2005 Van Cliburn International Competition, gave a stunning performance at NEC's Jordan Hall last Saturday, September 24, presented by the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts. Including renowned musicians and faculty members from major conservatories, the house of enthusiastic audience were all on their feet cheering nonstop. The standing ovation lasted for a long time. She played a huge program that included Chopin Barcarolle, 10 selections of Debussy Preludes books 1 and II, and the monumental Liszt Sonata in B minor.    She rewarded the audience with an encore of Chinese traditional:  "Autumn Moon Over the Peaceful Lake 平湖秋月"

 

The Boston Music Intelligencer praised  Sa Chen : “The Power and Promise of Sa Chen: … an honest, thoughtful artist ... Chen’s performance showed immense power, foremost, being powerful as all get out yet also with a sameness of texture and dynamics...”

(中華表演藝術會提共)

CITY OF BOSTON AND COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS TO HOST SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR

CITY OF BOSTON AND COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS TO HOST SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR

Free event will feature over 30 exhibitors, workshops, and networking opportunities

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - Tomorrow, the City of Boston's Office of Economic Development will partner with the Commonwealth's Office of Business Development to host a Small Business Resource Fair at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury. This free event will feature assets available through the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that support and foster small business development, over 30 small business support organizations, and two workshops. M

天下為公、禮義廉恥英文怎麼說 波士頓華埠牌樓告訴你

牙醫師阮浩鑾夫婦(左)和銅牌公司負責人Dan Moriarty。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)帶外國朋友逛波士頓華埠，遇到牌樓上"天下為公"，”禮義廉恥"是甚麼意思這問題就發愁的許多人，以後都不必擔心了。二名製作銅牌專家今(27)早在那兒新嵌上一塊銅牌，給出了中英對照答案。

“天下為公"是A World shared by all，禮是Civility，義是Justice，廉是Integrity，恥是humility。

這塊牌匾上還並列著中華民國及美國國旗，兩邊角落，分別鑲有波士頓市政府，台北市政府市徽，藉以象徵波士頓市和台北市是姐妹市。

鑲嵌著"天下為公"字樣的華埠牌樓，已是華埠地標。(周菊子攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪上週在波士頓華僑文教中心舉行的僑情座談會中已透露，預定10月8日，波士頓華埠僑界慶祝雙十大遊行時，將舉行揭牌儀式。

負責工程的Colonial Brass公司9月27日一早，趁著天氣好，把牌匾鑲嵌到牌樓柱子上。

華埠牌樓現在很對稱的，左右兩根箸子，各有一塊同樣大小的銅牌，一邊是二年多前安裝，說明華埠牌樓是由中華民國捐贈材料，布朗基金會(Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund)為美化華埠捐款，才建造的。

已遷往龍都鎮開餐廳的洗永強，回來華埠，正好遇見阮浩鑾。

曾任波士頓台北姐妹市協會會長的牙醫師阮浩鑾，當年找了Colonial 銅牌公司的Dan Moriarty來製作那塊大牌匾，這次再度承擔重任，找回同一家公司承製牌匾，以確保品質如一，對稱美觀。

阮浩鑾透露，波士頓華埠牌樓早於1980年代建成，但當年的市長後來應邀訪問杭州市，建立了關係，因此儘管建了華埠牌樓，卻不做任何註記說明。到1990年代，雷夫連(Ray Flynn)擔任波士頓市長時，他們才終於促成做塊牌匾，說明由來這事。

說明華埠牌樓由來的放大牌匾。(周菊子攝)

原來的那塊牌匾，並不大，掛在牌樓右邊柱子上。後來不知道是哪一年的時候，竟然這塊牌匾被人偷了。坊間民眾猜測，可能是銅牌還值點錢，才被人敲下來拿走了。

華埠牌樓其實不但是華埠象徵，也彷如記錄著波士頓市和台北市的友誼，華埠牌樓頂端的琉璃瓦片，也是在1990年代末期，馬英九擔任台北市市長時，在華埠人士爭取到經費後，從台北買回來再安裝的。

今早鑲嵌銅牌工人在施工。(周菊子攝)

由於華埠牌樓有如波士頓華埠門戶，已然是出名地標，不論是本地或海外遊客，到波士頓都必定要到華埠牌樓前留影，許多人問起，這”天下為公"，"禮義廉恥"等字，到底是甚麼意思，可是這麼精深的中文要翻譯成英文，考倒了許多人。阮浩鑾和賴銘琪等人於是找來精通中英文的教授級人馬，擬定譯文，做成牌匾，讓人有圖為證。

撥款1200萬元 麻州政府要幫助企業發展人力

Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet Opens $12 Million Workforce Development Grant Round, and Announces $1.45 Million in Advanced Manufacturing Training Awards

Grants will fund workforce training for students, as well as unemployed and underemployed individuals

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration’s Workforce Skills Cabinet announced two grant programs aimed to improve economic and job training opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth. The first grant program will support the opening of a $12 million workforce skills capital grant round, to provide workforce training equipment to high schools, community colleges, and community-based nonprofits. The administration also awarded $1.45 million in Advanced Manufacturing Training Program workforce development grants, to eight regional workforce development teams from across the Commonwealth.

“We continue to make the Commonwealth’s manufacturing base more competitive by building a highly-skilled workforce for employers so they can grow their businesses and support the economy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These workforce development grant programs will equip students and workers in Massachusetts with the skills they need to connect with middle-class career pathways in key industries, including advanced manufacturing.”

“By connecting unemployed individuals to the training needed to succeed in advanced manufacturing, these workforce development grants will give adults the skills to build a career, and a life, on,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The regional partnerships we’re funding today will help open up new economic opportunities, from Pittsfield, to the South Coast and the Merrimack Valley.”

“With a looming skills shortage that will be compounded by retiring baby boomers leaving the labor force, we are finding ways to invest in the skill development of individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, and those who are joining the labor force for the first time,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II.

“With over $24 million in workforce skills grants which have been made available to high schools, community colleges, and community-based nonprofits this year and last year, we are making a significant investment in our technical education across the Commonwealth,” said Education Secretary Jim Peyser. “The focus of the grants is to allow these institutions to not only expand their capacity, but also to strengthen regional partnerships with other educational entities and the area workforce.”

“These workforce development partnerships will empower residents to fully participate in our state’s economy,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Collaborative solutions that bring educators, employers and workers to the table will help close the skills gap, and provide a foundation for job creation and continued economic growth.”

The Workforce Skills Capital grant program seeks to increase the capacity and quality of vocational training and education by providing funds to eligible schools and institutions for the purchase and installation of vocational-technical equipment. The $12 million grant round the administration opened Tuesday will provide matching funds to allow educational and nonprofit institutions to invest in new vocational technical training equipment. The grants will allow high schools, community colleges and nonprofit organizations to meet employer hiring demands by modernizing and expanding vocational technical program capacity, creating new training programs that respond to industry needs, and increasing the availability of training equipment to mid-career learners.

The new grant round builds on $12.4 million in Workforce Skills Capital grants awarded this year. In August, Governor Baker signed legislation that authorizes the Executive Office of Education to commit up to $45 million in workforce skills capital matching grants. The Executive Office of Education administers the Workforce Skills Capital grant program, on behalf of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet.

The $1.45 million in advanced manufacturing training grants that the administration awarded will equip unemployed and underemployed individuals with the skills to enter the advanced manufacturing field. Training programming emphasizes outreach to veterans, demographic groups that experience chronically higher rates of unemployment, and groups that are historically underrepresented in the manufacturing sector.

The Advanced Manufacturing Training Program provides training to unemployed and underemployed individuals, including veterans, minorities and women and that support the workforce needs of the Commonwealth’s globally competitive advanced manufacturing cluster. In Fiscal Year 2015, the training grants provided workforce training to 335 individuals. The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development administers the training grant program, on behalf of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet.

The Baker-Polito Administration’s Workforce Skills Cabinet aims to close the skills gap and connect citizens to jobs by making workforce development efforts more employer-centric, and by identifying and bringing to scale successful training and education models. The Workforce Skills Cabinet is chaired by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Ronald L. Walker II, and comprised of the Secretary of Education, Jim Peyser, and the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash. 

2016 Advanced Manufacturing Training Program Workforce Development Grant Award Winners:

Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, Pittsfield

Center for Manufacturing Technology, Woburn

E-Team Machinist Training Program, Lynn

Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board, Greenfield

Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, New Bedford

Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Worcester

Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, Lawrence

Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Springfield

世界臺商總會閉幕 副總統陳建仁盼加碼投資台灣

副總統陳建仁27日出席世界臺灣商會聯合總會第二十二屆年會暨
第三次理監事聯席會議閉幕典禮，呼籲台商加碼投資台灣。

世界臺灣商會聯合總會第二十二屆年會暨第三次理監事聯席會議27日在台北閉幕，副總統陳建仁讚許海外台商在颱風天仍展現出團結力量，並請海外台商加碼投資台灣，同時做為台灣與全球市場的橋梁。隨後在僑務委員會委員長吳新興的監交下，現任總會長李耀熊交接給新任總會長林見松。

在僑務委員會委員長吳新興（中）監交下，世界臺灣商會聯合總會
第22屆總會長李耀熊（左）交接印信給新任的第23屆總會長林見松。

穿心颱梅姬27日登陸台灣，全台強風暴雨，來自世界各地的1200位台商展現出團結力，齊聚台北參與世總第22屆年會。陳副總統出席閉幕典禮致詞時說，世界臺灣商會聯合總會成立22年來，一直是支持台灣經貿外交的重要力量，近年還組團訪美國、東協及歐盟，推動台灣加入國際區域經濟整合。而在這樣的颱風天，世總會員依舊不畏風雨，一起為總會未來發展而用心努力，非常令他敬佩。

陳副總統指出，他8月代表出訪多明尼加時，曾參訪當地台商投資的太陽能電廠，其生產的電力佔多明尼加供應量的6%，並增加當地很多就業機會，這種雙贏局面正是台灣踏實外交的最好表現。面對台灣的經濟發展挑戰，陳副總統請海外台商加碼投資台灣，並藉由熟悉的世界各地市場通路，以及獨一無二的在地資源，做為台灣與全球市場的橋梁，為自己的事業與台灣開創新局。

吳委員長表示，海外台商吃苦耐勞、不怕挫折前往全世界開創事業的精神非常值得敬佩，僑委會明年預定為世界台商出版專書，將這樣的台灣打拼精神傳達給國人及僑界的年輕一代。

吳委員長也提到，總統蔡英文昨天在開幕典禮時交給全球台商3件事，包括運用在地人脈與資源，讓世界看見台灣；深化與當地產業的合作，為台灣企業發掘商機；擔任台灣招商代言人，引介外資來台布局。請與會的台商代表將僑委會的關懷與這3項任務傳達給僑居地的台商與僑界，一起為台灣的未來共同努力。

世總年會25日至27日在台北舉行，來自六大洲1200位台商會員出席。27日選舉出第二十三屆總會長及監事長，結果由來自澳洲的林見松當選世總總會長，來自波蘭的楊景德擔任監事長。在吳委員長監交下，現任總會長李耀熊與監事長邢增輝將印信交給下一屆的林見松及楊景德。

林見松致詞時感謝會員的支持，讓他有機會為世界台商服務，未來將強化總會的會務與服務，發揮服務台商會員、傳承商會永續發展、協助拓展台灣經貿的功能。

年會期間，世界臺灣商會聯合總會青商會26日舉辦2016年世界臺商青年研討會，主題為「匯聚青商動能 驅動台灣產業創新」，並安排「綠色商專題演講機 永續發展」，以及「物聯網、科技、服務跟上工業4.0思潮」專題研討，結由國內知名企業的經驗分享，近50位來自世界各地的青會了解台灣在企業永續經營、工業4.0、物聯網等面向的最新發展，並聚焦如何連結海外青商與台灣創新產業，激盪出新的商機。

Governor Baker Appoints Tim King to MassDOT Board of Directors

Governor Baker Appoints Tim King to MassDOT Board of Directors

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today announced the appointment of Timothy King of Waltham to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).  King currently serves as a Detective Sergeant for the Waltham Police Department and President of the Massachusetts Police Association.

“Detective Sergeant Tim King has devoted much of his career to protecting his neighbors in Waltham and serving his colleagues in blue across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We welcome that service and devotion to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as they continue their important work in providing the oversight and direction necessary to advance our transit system across all modes.”

Mr. King assumes the Board seat most recently held by Russell Gittlen who was International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) New England Area Director and Assistant Business Manager for Local 447.

“I am pleased to welcome Tim King to the Board and look forward to tapping into his broad experience in law enforcement as the Board continues to meet the challenge of delivering safe and efficient transportation services across the Commonwealth,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.“We likewise appreciate Mr. Gittlen’s service to the Board and Commonwealth over the last year and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

About Timothy King:

Timothy King is a Detective Sergeant for the Waltham Police Department, joining the department as a patrolman in 1992, and currently serving as President of the Massachusetts Police Association. He has also served as Attorney/General Counsel for the Massachusetts Coalition of Police since 2007 and was previously a Corrections Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. King is a graduate of Waltham High School, earned a Baccalaureate Degree from Western New England College, Juris Doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. He has served on the Curriculum Advisory Board of Middlesex Community College, the Massachusetts Police Training Committee Board, and the Massachusetts Coalition of Police Executive Board. He was a member of the Massachusetts Transportation Working Group and Vice President of the Greater Boston Labor Council. 

About the MassDOT Board of Directors:

The MassDOT Board of Directors is comprised of 11 members appointed by the Governor and oversees all MassDOT operations including the Highway Division, Mass Transit, Aeronautics, the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), Office of Planning and Programming and the Office of Performance Management and Innovation.

MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SUCCESSES AND WORK TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE BOSTON AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADDRESS

MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SUCCESSES AND WORK TO CREATE A MORE  EQUITABLE BOSTON AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADDRESS

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today addressed the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, discussing the strength of Boston's economy and the work ahead to create a Boston that is prosperous and more equitable for all. "Boston has reached a position of economic leadership that is unprecedented in our history," said Mayor Walsh. "We've let go of the insular culture and top-down leadership of the past. We've deepened our core strengths and we've built carefully and confidently beyond them. We are looking to the future and opening our arms to the world, and the world is responding." Boston's Economy is Strong: Since 2014, $12 billion worth of development has entered the pipeline. Right now there is $6 billion under construction in Boston. There are 40,000 small businesses operating across the city, generating $15 billion in annual revenue and creating 170,000 jobs. Citywide, unemployment is below 4 percent. Pitchbook confirmed that Boston is second only to the Bay Area for the total number of successful venture capital investments. As of this month, nearly 10,500 units have been completed towards the goal of 53,000 in the Mayor's Housing Plan. Another 7,200 under are construction, and more than 17,000 in the pipeline - well ahead of schedule. In recent weeks, companies including AutoDesk, Flextronics, and Continuum have moved to Boston and set up the kind of facilities that help bridge the gap between innovation and manufacturing in our economy. Continued Focus on Creating Opportunity for all: The Mayor discussed his commitment to a more open and intentional conversation about race in Boston in order to tackle the disparities that are rooted in Boston's history and continue presenting barriers today. This fall the City will hold a series of public conversations on race and equity, to set up a more open dialogue in Boston about race. The City will provide a toolkit for anyone who wants to hold a conversation in their neighborhood or workplace. To create equity, we must have digital infrastructure that gives residents and businesses the best possible access to the global flow of data. Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, Verizon has begun installing fiber cable that will reach every corner of the City. There is a renewed focus on planning, and this fall, the Mayor will roll out key priorities in Imagine Boston 2030, the first citywide plan in over 50 years. Already the City's planning work is bringing new community input and new investment to South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester. The Boston Planning and Development Agency: The Mayor today officially launched the Boston Planning and Development Agency, the new vision and name of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). Since the Mayor took office, he has focused on reforming the BRA to increase transparency and efficiency and create a more open, community-oriented culture. Earlier this year, the BRA began work on a new identity to better reflect the work in its ongoing mission. The Boston Planning and Development Agency will be modern and state of the art, will understand what the Boston of today and tomorrow need, and will be innovative and inclusive about shaping development toward those ends. After listening to residents, employees, business and community partners, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) will continue reform work that has already begun over the past several years. The Mayor announced that the BPDA will continue this work with: A redesigned community meeting format to provide more context and more clarity, and an online platform for neighborhood-specific updates and feedback. This will ensure that conversations are open, ongoing, and available to all. The Boston Planning and Development Agency  will focus on comprehensive planning and responsible development for inclusive growth across the city.  Beginning this fall, planning and development review teams will visit Boston's neighborhoods together to talk about what the new process will look like. BPDA+, a program to forge collaborations with nonprofits, businesses, universities, and startups; and host innovation fellowships for leading-edge global experts. Adopt-a-school Last year, Mayor Walsh called for a new Adopt-a-School initiative to engage organizations with the Boston Public Schools. Today, he thanked the businesses who answered his call for support, including: Delta Dental, General Electric, Goodwin Proctor, Levi's, RSM, Salsify, Whole Foods, and Vertex. He also announced the launch of the InvestBPS online portal, created with the help of local innovator Intrepid. It will make it easy for companies to match their interests with schools' needs and begin providing unique learning experiences to Boston students. Read the Mayor's remarks in their entirety here.