Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Continued Commitment to Local Investment

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Continued Commitment to Local Investment

MassWorks Program helps communities invest in infrastructure and economic development

Boston – Wednesday, August 5, 2015 – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash highlighted the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, an integral part of the Baker-Polito administration’s continued commitment to investing in communities and building a platform for economic growth across Massachusetts.

“I am proud of our ongoing commitment to MassWorks, and the vital role it serves in our communities,” said Governor Baker. “Investments in local infrastructure and community-based economic development efforts are key to the continued growth of the Commonwealth.”

“We are committed to deepening partnerships between the Commonwealth and its municipalities, and MassWorks is a key part of these efforts,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito. “By partnering with cities and towns to make strategic infrastructure investments, we will ensure the strength of all our communities.”

Governor Baker toured CitySquare, an ambitious redevelopment of Worcester’s downtown core that was unlocked by MassWorks infrastructure funds. The tour highlighted the Baker-Polito administration’s commitment to supporting local economic growth. The Baker-Polito administration’s 2016 capital budget increases funding for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to $75 million, a $20 million increase from the previous capital budget.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support economic development and job creation. MassWorks makes strategic investments in public infrastructure that leverages private investment in jobs and smart growth housing. Since 2011, MassWorks has awarded over $287 million for public infrastructure projects in 102 communities across the Commonwealth.

“MassWorks is an important tool to help us prepare our communities for success,” said Secretary Ash. “We will continue to leverage MassWorks to help municipalities create jobs, meet local housing needs, and unlock smart economic development projects.”

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Executive Office for Administration and Finance.  Applications are currently being accepted for the 2015 award cycle.

白先勇：抗日战争是中华民族最值得骄傲的共同记忆

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全美中华青年联合会 www.aacyf.org     微信号：Richard3132

白先勇：抗日战争是中华民族最值得骄傲的共同记忆

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=5606

白先勇：抗日战争是中华民族最值得骄傲的共同记忆

享誉世界的知名作家白先勇先生８月１日应邀在洛杉矶“战争与记忆”纪念抗日战争胜利７０周年学术讲座担任主讲嘉宾，为200名洛杉矶各界民众做“白崇禧将军与八年抗战”的专题报告。白先勇表示，抗日战争是中华民族最值得骄傲的共同记忆。　

白先勇首先用数据概括了中华民族在八年抗战中的巨大代价和战争的惨烈、以及中国军民奋力抗击侵略者的悲壮。抗战期间，中国军队组织了22场大会战、1117场大型战役、3万8931场小规模战斗。战争期间平民死亡人数3000万，包括中国军人320万及将官206人，其中有八名上将。

抗战初期，军力悬殊，面对准备充分、装备精良的日本军队，中国各地派系的军队在国难当头之际，临时拼凑、仓卒应战。但是以坚强的全民族同仇敌忾的精神，历经８年，中国战场拖住了近200万日本军队，不但取得了保家卫国、抵御外辱战争的胜利，也为第二次世界大战的胜利做出了极为重要的贡献。

白先勇介绍，他正在筹备父亲白崇禧的传记，了解了许多当年的抗战人物和战役。从父亲的经历，折射出中华民族抗战的侧影。白崇禧当年在各地派系中第一个响应蒋介石发出的全民抗日号召，并立即派兵参与淞沪会战。在8.13后，广西出兵一百万编成第31集团军参与抗战，是当时全国各省出兵占人口比例最高的省份。

白崇禧在八年抗战时，出任国军副参谋总长兼军训部长，参与指挥了著名的台儿庄战役和桂南战役。白先勇在讲述台儿庄战役时也特别提及抗日名将张自忠抛弃以往的个人恩怨，出兵救援庞炳勋；以及白崇禧引入川军参与台儿庄战役的故事。阐述在抗战初期，中国各地杂牌军痛击日本号称的“铁军”，彻底粉碎了日本号称在3个月内，夺取整个中国的狂想。台儿庄战役大捷后，全国军民精神大振。白先勇先生在演讲过程中也特别展示了当年周恩来在台儿庄大捷后给白崇禧发送的贺电，以及徐悲鸿为白崇禧题写的对联。

白先勇回忆了当年他搭乘最后一班湘桂大撤退货车，逃离桂林时的情景，日本进入桂林后，四处放火焚烧，他犹记得当年在撤离火车上回望桂林时见到的一片冲天火海。 白先勇表示，抗日战争是中华民族最值得骄傲的共同记忆，要多讲、坚持讲，特别要让我们的青年一代不要忘记了。

白先勇在活动结束时，特别向听众介绍《长城谣》，他表示，每当念到和听到这首歌，仍然被感动。在他的带领下，全场合唱《长城谣》，全场动容，特别一些对当年抗战仍有深刻记忆的长者们，更是潸然泪下，场面感人至深。

当天的讲座由成舍我纪念基金会和洛杉矶世界日报社合作主办，同时邀请台湾中正大学历史学系教授兼系主任杨维真演讲“桂南会战与中期抗战”；世新大学通识教育中心教授兼主任李功勤演讲“抗战对中国近代史的意义与影响”专题；杜克大学客座副教授兼世新大学成舍我纪念馆馆长周成荫担任引言人。

世界日报社长郭俊良致开幕词，世新大学董事长成嘉玲、成舍我纪念基金会执行长于惠民、基金会董事谈镜国等出席。世界日报社长郭俊良致开幕词，世新大学董事长成嘉玲、成舍我纪念基金会执行长于惠民、基金会董事谈镜国等出席。全美华人华侨纪念抗日战争胜利70周年组委会执行会长任向东表示，这场讲座是南加州今年最具影响力和学术价值的纪念抗日战争胜利70周年的学术活动。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）　

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON WINS SBA "START SMALL" COMPETITION AWARD

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON WINS SBA "START SMALL" COMPETITION AWARD

Award is Part of National Startup Day Initiative

BOSTON - Wednesday, August 5, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that City of Boston has won a $50,000 award from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help its efforts to streamline licensing, permitting and other requirements needed to start a business. Boston is one of 27 winners of the first ever Startup in a Day Competition, totaling $1.6 million in funding nationwide. "I'm honored that the SBA chose Boston as recipient for this grant," said Mayor Walsh. "My Administration has been working to make the permitting process in Boston easy, transparent and predictable and this will help us expand those efforts."  Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, Boston has made Fire and Public Works Department permits available online for the first time, reduced plan review times for building permits, and created an online tool to let applicants see where their permits are in the review process and explore zoning code. In the coming months, Boston will release an entirely new online permit experience that will support entrepreneurs through the permitting and licensing process. Nationwide, the winners are located in 19 states and the District of Columbia, representing a wide array of cities and Native American communities. Startup in a Day is an initiative announced by President Barack Obama earlier this year designed to help cities and Native American communities streamline the licensing, permitting and other requirements needed to start a business in their areas, with the goal that an entrepreneur can apply for everything necessary to begin a business within one business day. Cities were encouraged to take a public pledge to commit to these goals, and were invited to apply for funding through two SBA prize competitions. At the time of the announcement in June, 11 cities had agreed to the Startup in a Day pledge. Today, more than 50 additional cities and Native American communities have taken the pledge. When announcing Startup in a Day, President Obama said, "I'm calling on city halls across the country to join the initial 11 mayors in a simple but powerful pledge to entrepreneurs and small business owners: If you want to start a business, we'll make it so easy to navigate the license and permitting system online, that you'll be off and running within 24 hours." "When I started my businesses, it was overwhelming," said Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, head of the SBA and member of President Obama's Cabinet. "I had to set up a legal structure, find office space, learn local zoning laws, apply for multiple licenses and permits and navigate a maze of city, county, state and federal requirements before I could even open my doors. That's why I'm proud to join the White House in announcing the winners of the Startup in a Day prize competition as we work to make it easier for entrepreneurs all across the country to get started." Currently, our nation's entrepreneurs spend nearly 6 days discovering, applying for and acquiring licenses and permits before they can open for business.  World Bank study ranked America 46th in the ease of starting a business.  "President Obama and the SBA are committed to making it easier and faster for every entrepreneur to start a business," said Seth Goodall, SBA New England Regional Administrator. "This award recognizes Boston's focus on streamlining their licensing and permitting process through online, modern technology so entrepreneurs can focus on their business, rather than the red tape."   "Congratulations to the City of Boston for the work they are doing to make starting a business in Boston simpler," said Bob Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District Director.   "We need to continue to do whatever is necessary to encourage small businesses starts and simplified permitting and processes is one way to do this.  We are excited and look forward to seeing the release of Boston's new entirely online permit process in the very near future."      About Start Up in a Day Initiative:   Startup in a Day is an initiative designed to make it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to start a business. One of the biggest challenges new business owners face is the mass of red-tape which is required prior to launching.  Startup in a Day encourages cities and Native American communities to take a public pledge stating that they will work to make it easier for entrepreneurs in their communities to get started with their business dreams.  To this end, the SBA has run a prize competition which provides cash prizes of $50,000 to cities and Native American communities to help them form processes and systems to streamline the licensing, permitting, and other forms needed to start a business in their areas. The SBA is also offering a $250,000 cash prize to one city or Native American community who wishes to create an "open source" solution which will be replicable and scalable on a broad basis.

White House Community Roundtable Forum comes to Lowell

New England Regional Network of the White House

Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

In partnership with

Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association

Presents

A Community Roundtable Forum

August 22, 2015

9:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Registration Begins at 9 A.M.

Enterprise Bank

18 Palmer Street, 2nd Floor

Lowell, MA 01852

As the fastest growing racial group in the country Asian

Americans and Pacific Islanders ( AAPIs) are projected

to represent 10% of the entire U.S. population by 2050.

Please join us at this community roundtable to discuss

key issues facing the AAPI community, learn about

critical federal programs and services, and engage in a

dialogue with federal government officials from New

England regarding how agencies can address the

community’s needs.

Attendees will include federal senior level officials from Department

of Labor, Citizenship Information Services, Department of Health

and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission, and Small Business

Administration.

Please RSVP to Hanh Nhi Nguyen by calling 617-565-3205 or

via email hanh.nguyen@eeoc.gov..SPACE IS LIMITED.

Governor Baker Signs Earned Income Tax Credit Increase for Working Families

Governor Baker Signs Earned Income Tax Credit Increase for Working Families

Over 400,000 to benefit from 50% increase in EITC

BOSTON – Today in a signing ceremony at the State House, Governor Charlie Baker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Stan Rosenberg and stakeholders to enact a fifty-percent increase in the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for over 400,000 working individuals and families in the Commonwealth.

“Since day one, Lieutenant Governor Polito and I have been clear about our priorities to make Massachusetts great and extend the benefits of a growing economy to more individuals across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Baker. “Today we are proud to deliver critical tax relief for over 400,000 hardworking individuals and their families who drive economic development and growth in the Commonwealth. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senate President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo who along with their colleagues, worked with us to increase a tool as effective as the Earned Income Tax Credit in support of our families who need it most.”

The bill signed today increases the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 15% to 23% of the federal EITC, extending the maximum state credit from $951 to $1,459 and meaning as much as $500 in additional support for those who are eligible.

“Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide greater tax relief for 400,000 working individuals and families is an important step toward economic growth and building stronger communities in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “It has been an honor to work together with the legislature to get this done and put more money back into the hands of those who can use it most effectively to support their families.”

"Massachusetts is a very prosperous state and with today's signing of the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, we are helping the hard working families of our state share in that prosperity. This measure gives a tax break to those who need it the most while helping us address the growing problem of income inequality," said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). "I am pleased to have worked with the Governor, the Speaker, and my colleagues in the Senate to make this a reality today."  

“Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit will strengthen the Legislature’s existing efforts to close the income gap and provide unrivaled support for hardworking families," said Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). "It is my belief that these changes will reinvigorate our work to achieve economic equality. I thank the Baker Administration, Senate President Rosenberg and my colleagues in the Legislature for their insight and commitment to citizens of the Commonwealth.”

Treasurer Goldberg Visits Lexington’s Minuteman Regional High School on EconomicEmpowerment Tour

Treasurer Goldberg Visits Lexington’s Minuteman Regional High School on EconomicEmpowerment Tour

Lexington ­­ Wednesday, August 5, 2015 ­­ Treasurer Deb Goldberg continued her statewide EconomicEmpowerment Tour today, visiting a group of seventh and eighth grade girls at Minuteman Regional High School’s ‘Girls in STEM’ camp. She met the campers and their faculty and administrators to discuss innovative strategiesto strengthen STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education for all students.

“In the 21 century, closing the skills gap in STEM related fields is critical for the success of our students, and for the economic health and sustainability of our state,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “Programs like the ‘Girls in STEM’ camp are an essential ingredient in promoting these skills across Massachusetts.” 

Minuteman Regional High School is a vocational school with a curriculum designed to students living within Massachusetts’ high-tech corridor. The high school offers a week long career exploratory camp for girls that features a hands-on learning experience for the participants, and a mentorship program facilitated by Minuteman high school students certified and enrolled in STEM majors.

“We’re very proud of the ‘Girls in STEM’ camp,” said Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent at Minuteman High School. “It expands opportunities for girls and young women by opening their eyes to new career possibilities. It’s part of Minuteman’s commitment to help narrow the skills gap between men and women in the STEM fields.”                                                                                 

On day one Treasurer Goldberg created the Office of Economic Empowerment led by a deputy treasurer, with the deliberate goal of incorporating a range of initiatives, including financial literacy, college affordability, and programming to support wage equality.

For more information on the Office of Economic Empowerment visit www.mass.gov/treasury or by followingthe hashtag #EmpowermentMA.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES MOVING TRUCK PERMITS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT CITY HALL TO GO

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES MOVING TRUCK PERMITS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT CITY HALL TO GO

BOSTON - Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a new online application simplifying the process for receiving one-day moving truck permits. This tool is being released in time for the City's busiest moving day, September 1. Residents will also be able to apply for moving truck permits at the City Hall To Go truck where they can pick up their signs in person. "I am committed to making accessing city services easier for Boston residents and students," said Mayor Walsh. "We are excited to offer our residents the ability to apply for moving truck permits from anywhere and hopefully relieve some of the stress that moving brings." This year alone, Mayor Walsh has made eight new permits available online, advancing his commitment to make permitting in Boston easy, transparent and predictable. The new online moving van permit application lets residents avoid visiting two separate offices in City Hall, which are frequently overwhelmed with applicants around the city's busiest move-in times. Mayor Walsh has made improving digital service delivery a top priority for his Administration. Over the coming months, the City will be releasing an entirely revised online permitting experience for the city, which will allow residents and business owners to learn about, and apply for, permits across eight different departments. Online applicants will need to apply two weeks in advance of their move-in date in order to ensure timely delivery of their signs. To apply online, and learn more about the eligibility criteria for online applications visit: boston.gov/movingtrucks. For information on City Hall To Go and its schedule, please visithttp://www.cityofboston.gov/cityhalltogo/.