星期四, 6月 15, 2017
Baker-Polito Administration Recaps Education Tour
Baker-Polito Administration Recaps Education Tour
Recent events highlighted commitment to Empowerment Zones, workforce skills education and a tuition-free pilot program for higher education
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FITCHBURG— Following a visit to Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School today, Governor Charlie Baker released a video capturing moments from a statewide education tour, where he and members of the administration visited elementary, vocational technical and early education schools to highlight successful programs and announce new programs aimed at college affordability and completion.
“We have spent the last month in classrooms across Massachusetts, and our administration is proud of the hard work invested in learning and skill building throughout the system,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We will continue to focus on opportunities, from early education to affordable college tuition rates, to strengthen every community and provide a bright future for our students.”
On May 16th: Governor Baker and Secretary Peyser visited the Forest Park Middle School in Springfield to hear from teachers and principals about the school district’s improvement efforts through the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, finishing its second academic year, is an innovative approach the school district adopted voluntarily in an effort to improve underperforming schools.
On May 24th: Governor Baker and Secretary Peyser visited Bentley Elementary School in Salem to hear about its successful turnaround efforts; also visited a Head Start program located at the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council; and on May 31 toured Leominster High School’s Career and Technical Innovation Center to see equipment the school purchased with a $227,000 Skills Capital Grant awarded last year.
On May 22nd: Governor Baker announced the expansion of a dual enrollment program between Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science in Roxbury. College officials pledged to fully-fund financial aid needs for qualified students from the John D. O’Bryant High School who are enrolled in the dual enrollment program and admitted to the Academy.
On May 30th: Governor Baker and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the creation of The Boston Bridge, a tuition-free pilot program for 2017 high school graduates who live in the City of Boston. The goal of the historic partnership between the City and the Commonwealth is to eliminate financial barriers that prevent low-income students from going to college full-time, in order to boost college completion rates.
“Boston Bridge is not just about access to college; it’s not just about low-cost or affordable college. It’s about college success and completion. This is about encouraging students and providing incentives for students to go to school full-time and complete on time,” Education Secretary James Peyser said.
On June 2nd: Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, along with Secretary Peyser, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II awarded $2.2 million in Skills Capital Grants to 10 vocational high schools. Since creating the grants last year, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $26.4 million in Skills Capital Grants to schools that partner with local businesses to align curriculum and credentials with businesses’ demand to maximize hiring opportunities.
Governor Baker wrapped up the tour today with a visit to Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School to see the school’s new veterinarian facility. Monty Tech received a $136,000 Skills Capital Grant award last year, which helped the school develop the new veterinarian program. Students enrolled in the school’s construction program built a 7,500-square-foot vet facility, which will open in September.
Since taking office in 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has proposed increasing spending on all K-12 schools by more than $318 million. Earlier this year, after years of nominal increases for providers, Governor Baker proposed a 6% rate increase for early education providers, worth more than $28 million, which includes plans to increase annual support for infant and toddler providers by more than $9 million. Massachusetts was recently ranked #1 in the country for education by U.S. News and World Report, and also tops the list for best performing states on Advanced Placement Exams.
僑委會委員長吳新興訪波士頓強調服務不分藍綠
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僑委會委員長吳新興(左五)等人與中華公所幹部何穎。左起，歐宏偉，張文華，雲雯蓁，賴銘琪， 陳家驊，蔣宗壬，陳銘俊，李翠屏，陳文浩，翁宇才。(周菊子攝) |
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僑委會委員長吳新興(左)送給紐英崙僑界一幅"匡持共榮"書法，由
中華公所主席陳家驊(右)代收。(周菊子攝)
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(Boston
Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 僑委會委員長吳新興6月13日到訪波士頓，發言強調不分藍綠，只看是否支持自由民主的台灣，並贈送”匡持共榮”掛軸給紐英崙中華公所，期許本地僑界與中華民國政府攜手同行。
當晚在餐會上，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊代表僑胞們送上簽了名的”支持中華民國及自由民主的台灣”四點共同聲明做回應。
吳新興這次出訪，到巴西，阿根廷，以及美國的亞特蘭大，波士頓，紐約等五個城市，並將出席本週末在紐約舉行的北美洲台灣商會聯合總會理監事年會。
13日傍晚，他在駐波士頓台北經文處處長賴銘琪陪同下抵達紐英崙中華公所會議廳。近百名僑胞已聚坐一堂，等著歡迎他。
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紐英崙至德三德公所送禮物給宗親，僑委會委員長吳新興(左二)。
左起翁宇才，吳新興，吳皓，黃周麗桃。(周菊子攝)
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這是吳新興第一次到波士頓。他強調，雖然台灣現在是民進黨執政，但僑委會政策不變，一貫支持僑界的穩定發展，不論僑胞們的政黨，政治立場如何，只要是堅定中華民國，堅定支持自由民主的台灣的僑胞，都是僑委會的服務對象。他指台灣如果無法維持自由民主，全球華人都會損失巨大，因為台灣會發揮力量影響、轉變共產黨走上自由民主之路。台灣2300萬人的目標就是實現國父孫中山的三民主義。
吳新興在發言時說明，他父親是安徽人，母親是不會講廣東話的廣東人，他是在台灣出生的台灣人，自己會講廣東話是因為當年在澳大利亞讀書時，班上女同學是廣東人。
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| 陳毓璇，黃景佩夫婦，丹鳳琴，陳文珊，鄺劍峰夫婦。(周菊子攝) |
以國語，廣東話發言後，吳新興還特地說明他代表蔡英文總統問候僑胞，更以英文指出，蔡英文是世界上少數的幾名女總統之一，非常傑出的亞洲女性。
在中華公所的歡迎會上，吳新興姓氏所屬的至德三德公所，由元老翁宇才，曾任美東副總長的黃周麗桃，以及紐英崙現任主席之一的吳皓等人聯袂送上一幅字，以藏頭詩點出”吳新興佳”。
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| 波士頓僑界歡迎僑委會委員長吳新興。(周菊子攝) |
歡迎會後，吳新興在經文處長賴銘琪，僑教中心主任歐宏偉，中華公所主席陳家驊，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬陪同下，到華埠街道巡視一圈，在華埠牌樓前留影。
晚上在龍鳳酒樓舉行的僑界歡迎餐會，各僑團代表近400人參加。委員長吳新興親自頒發感謝狀給協助僑教中心辦活動的許多個人及僑團。
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| 左起，張文華，陳銘俊，蔣宗壬，陳家驊，吳新興，賴銘琪，陳文浩， 陳偉民，歐宏偉等人在華埠牌樓前留影。(周菊子攝) |
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| 吳新興(右三)巡視波士頓華埠。(周菊子攝) |
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| 吳新興(中)參觀華經會的平安居。(周菊子攝) |
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| 僑委會委員長吳新興(左四)，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右一) 和李氏公所主席李奇舜(右四)等人合影。(周菊子攝) |
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| 紐英崙中華專業人員協會。 |
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| 波克來台灣商會。 |
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| 僑委會委員長吳新興(左)頒發感謝狀給波克來台灣商會顧問游勝雄(右) 等個人及團體，(周菊子攝) |
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| 中華公所。 |
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| 安良工商會。 |
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| 李氏公所。 |
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| 至孝篤親公所。 |
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| 波士頓國民黨。 |
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| 紐英倫婦女新運會。 |
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| 黃氏公所。 |
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| 紐英崙余風采堂。 |
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| 中文學校。 |
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| 紐英崙至德三德公所。 |
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| 紐英崙中華專業人員協會。 |
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| 港澳之友社。 |
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| 紐英崙昭崙公所。 |
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| 美東公安會。 |
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| 潮州同鄉會。 |
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| 左起，歐宏偉，蔣宗壬，陳毓璇，僑委會委員長吳新興，黃景佩， 賴銘琪，陳家驊。(周菊子攝) |
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| 右起，歐宏偉，陳家驊，賴銘琪，雲雯蓁，黃景佩，僑委會委員長 吳新興，陳毓璇，蔣宗壬，史美芳，陳銘俊，張文華。(周菊子攝) |
星期三, 6月 14, 2017
Governor Baker, State Housing and Transit Officials Break Ground on Transit-Oriented “Open for Business” Property in Beverly
Governor Baker, State Housing and Transit Officials Break Ground on Transit-Oriented “Open for Business” Property in Beverly
112 Rantoul Street brings 67 units of new housing to formerly vacant downtown parcel
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BEVERLY – Today, Governor Charlie Baker joined state housing and transit officials, local municipal officials and private sector development partners to break ground on 67 mixed-income, transit-oriented rental housing rental units adjacent to the Beverly Depot Commuter Rail station and garage.
The formerly vacant site on a MBTA-owned parcel will include 16 workforce housing units affordable to middle-income households, representing the first major shovel-ready redevelopment property under the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Open for Business” Real Estate Asset Leveraging (REAL) Strategy and an investment of MassHousing’s $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative, announced last year as a commitment to the creation of up to 1,000 new workforce housing units.
“Across Massachusetts, our administration is breaking ground on unused state property to build stronger communities and drive local economic growth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This new development will transform a vacant parcel at a commuter rail station into a promising new transit-oriented housing community for working families. We look forward to continuing to partner with communities, and the private sector, to unlock growth, create new jobs, and build the housing Massachusetts residents need to prosper.”
Governor Baker was joined by Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, MBTA Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve, MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan, Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill, and the real estate development firm Barnat Development. Barnat Development’s 112 Rantoul Street brings new mixed-income rental housing and commercial space to Beverly’s downtown. Construction on the $22.4 million project is expected to be completed in July 2018.
“This groundbreaking showcases our efforts to deliver new community development opportunities to cities and towns, and to spur the creation of new workforce housing,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By generating new mixed-income housing that will be affordable for working families, this project will help build a stronger, more vibrant downtown for the community of Beverly.”
In addition to new housing in Beverly, Open for Business is enabling the construction of new housing at MBTA-owned parcels in Mattapan Square, North Quincy, and at the Greenbush commuter rail station in Scituate. The Open for Business Initiative is also partnering with municipalities to deliver new age-restricted housing in North Reading and Westborough State Hospital, and is transforming the former Worcester State Hospital into a new biotech manufacturing campus. To date, the Open for Business Initiative has enabled the development of roughly 2,000 new housing units.
“A year ago this month, a developer saw potential in this parcel during a tour organized by the city and community leaders,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash. “The Mayor’s vision combined with Governor’s leadership through the Open for Business initiative and through partnerships with our local and state, and quasi partners, were able to quickly come together and make this workforce, transit-oriented development happen.”
“With the encouragement and support of Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development are working together to make targeted investments that are win-wins for families, communities, and the Commonwealth’s budget,” said Secretary Stephanie Pollack. “Transit oriented development gives members of the public easy access to jobs, educational opportunities, business districts and entertainment.”
“Transit-oriented development continues to be a top priority for the MBTA with 112 Rantoul Street an excellent example of how partnerships with the private sector promote public transit and local economic growth,” said MBTA Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. “The MBTA looks forward to providing convenient, reliable Commuter Rail service for those who live and visit 112 Rantoul Street.”
MassHousing is supporting the development of 112 Rantoul Street with a total of $2.2 million in financing, including $1.6 million from MassHousing’s Workforce Housing for 16 units fund affordable to middle-income households earning between 80 and 110% of area median income (AMI). Since Governor Baker opened the fund last May in 2016, at an event in Lynn, MassHousing has committed or closed workforce housing financing totaling $33.5 million, to 14 projects, located in 10 cities and towns. To date, the Workforce Housing Initiative has advanced the development of 1,285 housing units, including 363 workforce housing units.
“MassHousing’s Opportunity Fund is accelerating the development of mixed-income housing in Massachusetts, and creating affordability for working families that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” said MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan. “We are pleased to partner with Barnat Development and the City of Beverly to help deliver well-located housing that provides new economic opportunities to moderate-income residents.”
In addition to MassHousing funds, 112 Rantoul Street is being financed by Boston Private Bank and Trust Company, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation’s Healthy Neighborhood Equity Fund. The Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund is a $30 million private equity fund created by the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) and the Conservation Law Foundation to finance transformative, transit-oriented development in Massachusetts.
“This project is a perfect fit for our Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund,” said Joe Flatley, President of MHIC. “It will create new housing and jobs, help revitalize the neighborhood, and strengthen community and environmental health in Beverly. We are pleased to partner with Barnat Development, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Beverly and others involved to help translate their vision of a transformative project into reality.”
“Boston Private has a deep commitment to community investment and the 110-114 Rantoul Street initiative is the type of workforce housing and economic development opportunity that we are proud to support,” said Clay Deutsch, CEO, Boston Private Bank and Trust. “We’re very pleased to provide the lead construction financing in conjunction with Wellesley Bank, and feel privileged to be part of this transformative development in a neighborhood that will create new housing, jobs and important services in the community.”
“The Barnat Development on Rantoul Street is a great example of a successful partnership between the Commonwealth, the developer, and the community to bring a well designed transit oriented development (TOD) to our downtown,” said Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill. “TOD projects revitalize downtowns creating much needed work force and market rate housing while supporting downtown businesses, employers, and providing easy access to the train.”
“I am thrilled to celebrate this ground-breaking ceremony with so many partners in the public and private sectors that made this new construction project possible in just ten short months from MBTA designation,” said Sarah Barnat, President and Founder of Barnat Development. “My dedicated development team including ICON architecture, NEI Construction, Krokidas & Bluestein and many others have provided the skill and expertise to achieve this important milestone. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting ribbon-cutting next summer.”
About Barnat Development:
Sarah Barnat founded Barnat Development in 2016 with the specific goal of developing high-quality mixed-use developments near public transportation and in walkable downtowns. Barnat Development is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).
About MassHousing:
MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $20 billion for affordable housing. For more information, visit the MassHousing website at www.masshousing.com, follow us on Twitter @MassHousing, subscribe to our blog and Like us on Facebook.
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