MASSACHUSETTS GREEN BOND SALE SEES STRONG INVESTOR DEMAND $350 Million Sale Nearly Three Times Oversubscribed Separate Bond Refinancing to Save Taxpayers $45 Million

MASSACHUSETTS GREEN BOND SALE SEES STRONG INVESTOR DEMAND

$350 Million Sale Nearly Three Times Oversubscribed

Separate Bond Refinancing to Save Taxpayers $45 Million

Treasurer Steven Grossman today announced that the Commonwealth’s latest sale of Green Bonds generated tremendous interest from both retail and institutional investors, with orders exceeding $1 billion coming in for $350 million worth of bonds.  This is the second time that Massachusetts has sold bonds with proceeds that are dedicated to fund environmentally beneficial projects across the state, and it follows in the footsteps of the Commonwealth’s first-of-its-kind Green Bond sale last year.

  

 “Green Bonds were a resounding success when we first offered them, and this sale proves that the appetite remains strong,” said Treasurer Steven Grossman. “Investors are excited when they see the Commonwealth’s highest-ever bond rating, prudent fiscal management and strong economic outlook, and Green Bonds give them one more reason to enthusiastically invest in Massachusetts.”

The bond sale began on Monday, September 15^th.  Retail investors were given the opportunity to place orders from Monday through Wednesday before institutional investors were allowed to place orders starting on Thursday.  Over the course of the three-day retail-only order period, the Commonwealth received nearly $260 million in orders from retail investors.  The strong overall demand for the Green Bonds led to lower yields on the bonds, with some bonds being sold at lower yields than the municipal market’s AAA yield curve.  The general obligation bonds are rated AA+.

Also part of this week’s sale, the state sold $429.445 million in refunding bonds to refinance certain outstanding bonds. The refinancing will reduce the state’s interest costs by over $45 million.  Taken together, the Green Bond sale and the bond refunding have a total interest cost of 2.13 percent.

The Commonwealth has identified four categories of projects that are expected to be funded from the sale:

·       Clean water & drinking water projects;

·       Energy efficiency and conservation projects in state buildings;

·        Land acquisition, open space protection & environmental remediation projects; and

·       River revitalization & preservation and habitat restoration projects.

In addition to those four categories, one large project has been identified that will be funded with proceeds of the Green Bond sale, the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal project.  The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal will be the first facility in the nation designed to support the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects.  As part of construction, the project is expected to include the dredging and removal of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment caused by industrial waste generated during the 1930’s and 1940’s as well as the creation of environmental and habitat restoration areas.

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MASSCHALLENGE TO FURTHER GROWTH IN THE INNOVATION ECONOMY

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MASSCHALLENGE TO FURTHER GROWTH IN THE INNOVATION ECONOMY
Innovative collaboration will generate growth in the global marketplace 

BOSTON – Monday, September 22, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced a combined partnership between Bpifrance, Cambridge Biolabs and MassChallenge to create a framework for collaboration that will support the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“Massachusetts is home to an amazing array of startups and our entrepreneurial ecosystem is one of the strongest in the Nation,” said Governor Patrick. “Today’s partnership attests to our strength as a global leader in entrepreneurship across the world.”

On Friday, September 19, as part of the agreement, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which calls for a feasibility study in France that will examine the possibility of establishing a joint operation between Cambridge Biolabs and MassChallenge, with financial support from Bpifrance. This agreement is aimed to accelerate the growth of innovative entrepreneurial startups.

Bpifrance is a French financial organization. Its objective is to support businesses (SMEs, medium-sized enterprises and larger companies of a strategic importance to the French economy), from start-up through to stock market flotation, by providing loans, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance also provides enhanced support and backing for innovation, export, and external growth. With its 42 regional offices, it is a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs in each region for all their finance and investment needs.

“We are very pleased with the visit of Governor Deval Patrick in France and the beginning of an international collaboration benefiting from the experience of Boston on the development of structures that accelerate the growth of innovative entrepreneurial projects.” said Nicolas Dufourcq, Chief Executive Officer of Bpifrance.  

Cambridge Biolabs provides contract research services to the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on early-stage technology and drug development. Cambridge Biolabs also builds and manages shared laboratory spaces, such as Lab Central in Cambridge, for early stage life science and biotech startup companies.

"We look forward to collaborating with Bpifrance and MassChallenge on the establishment of a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurial startups in France." said Johannes Fruehauf, Founder and President of Cambridge Biolabs. "the excellent academic environment in France provides huge untapped opportunities for entrepreneurial development of startup companies. Bpifrance's commitment to support the launch of entrepreneurial catalysts like MassChallenge and Cambridge Biolabs in France could help usher in a new industrial startup revolution and we look forward to being part of this."

“Through programs like MassChallenge, Massachusetts is able to extend an open invitation for the world’s highest-impact, highest-potential startups to grow their ideas in our Commonwealth,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki.

MassChallenge is the largest-ever global startup competition, designed to connect entrepreneurs with the critical resources they need to launch high-growth businesses immediately. Currently in its fifth year, MassChallenge has accelerated 489 startups, which have created more than 4,000 new jobs and raised over $550 million in outside funding. Over $1 million in cash prizes is awarded to winning startups annually, with zero equity taken. Additional benefits include world-class mentorship and training, free office space, access to funding, legal advice, media and over $15 million of in-kind support.

“Governor Patrick's innovation partnership mission demonstrates that Massachusetts can be a great economic partner on a global scale. Signing the MOU in France is an important step for MassChallenge as we continue to explore new locations for our accelerator and think about new ways to create value for entrepreneurs globally.” Said John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge.

BRA launches online submission portal for filing of project documents

BRA launches online submission portal for filing of project documents

New system will improve records retention and streamline flow of information between agency, public and developers

BOSTON – In an effort to continue modernizing systems at the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), a need highlighted throughout KPMG’s performance review of the agency, developers will now be required to submit project documents and updates through a newly designed online portal. The web-based system will significantly reduce the BRA’s current reliance on paper documents as the primary method of receiving letters of intent, project notification forms, notice of project changes, and other items that are crucial to the Article 80 development review process.

“We receive an incredibly high volume of documents during the development review process, and we want to be able to share information in a way that is hassle free for the public and members of the development community,” said Acting Director Brian Golden. “The new online system is another example of our concerted effort to improve accessibility and the flow of information.”

The BRA in the past has requested that developers submit as many as 60 hard copies of a particular project filing, which would then be distributed to people involved in the development review process. Last year the agency received more than 70 new project filings that amounted to thousands of pages in paper documents. The new system will result in far less wasted paper.

Last fall, the BRA launched a new website, www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org, to improve access to information about the agency, development projects, and planning initiatives. Using the website as a platform to engage with the public and make it easier for people to find documents, especially those related to development review, continues to be an important area of focus for the agency.

Some of the most significant features of the website include a weekly calendar that notes upcoming community meetings and events, streaming and archived videos and documents related to BRA/EDIC board meetings, a regularly updated blog and news section, tools to help the public better understand and participate in thedevelopment review process, and a robust research and maps section.

The new Article 80 digital submission system allows developers to file all project documents and renderings online. BRA project managers will approve information that is submitted before it goes live and review website content regularly to ensure that it is accurate and up to date. The BRA has reached out to developers to offer guidance and answer any questions about the new submission process.

“We’re excited that the new system will be much more efficient for project managers and developers alike,” said Erico Lopez, Director of Development Review and Policy. “Instead of dealing with dozens of hard copies of different filings, which made it difficult to share information quickly, my team is now able to manage submissions and updates through a digital system that everyone can easily access.”

The submission form asks developers to enter a range of information related to a given project, including everything from the total development cost and square footage, to the number of parking spaces, residential units, and contact information for the development team. An embedded Google Maps widget lets the submitter pinpoint the exact location of a project, and drag-and-drop capabilities make it easy to upload files such as project renderings. Developers will still be required to deliver a limited number of hard copies of any filing to the BRA.

Agency Resumes Mailing Social Security Statements Encourages People to Create a Secure my Social Security Account to Obtain Their Statement Online, Anytime

Agency Resumes Mailing Social Security Statements

Encourages People to Create a Secure my Social Security Account to Obtain Their Statement Online, Anytime

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency will resume the periodic mailing of Social Security Statements--once every five years for most workers--while encouraging everyone to create a secure my Social Security account to immediately access their Statement online, anytime. The Statement is a valuable financial planning tool providing workers age 18 and older with important individualized information regarding their earnings, tax contributions, and estimates for future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

“We have listened to our customers, advocates, and Congress; and renewing the mailing of the Statementreinforces our commitment to provide the public with an easy, efficient way to obtain an estimate of their future Social Security benefits,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said. “I encourage everyone to create their own secure my Social Security account to obtain immediate access to their Statement online, anytime.” 

Beginning this month, workers attaining ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 who are not receiving Social Security benefits and who are not registered for a my Social Security account will receive the Statement in the mail about 3 months before their birthday.  After age 60, people will receive a Statement every year.  The agency expects to send nearly 48 million Statements each year.

The Social Security Statement helps people plan for their financial future.  In addition to providing future benefit estimates, the Statement highlights a person’s complete earnings history, allowing workers to verify the accuracy of their earnings. This is important because an individual’s future benefit amount is determined by the amount of their earnings over their lifetime.  To date, more than 14 million people have established a personalized my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

With a my Social Security account, people may access the Statement from the comfort of their home, office or library whenever they choose. Individuals who currently receive benefits should sign up for a my Social Security account to manage their benefit payments and, when the need arises, get an instant benefit verification letter, change their address and phone number, and start or change direct deposit of their benefit payment.

Acting Commissioner Colvin reinforced that “whether conducting business with Social Security via the Internet, mail, telephone or face-to-face, we will continue to provide convenient, cost-effective, secure and quality customer service to meet the needs of the public we serve.”

GOVERNOR PATRICK CELEBRATES PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GREENTOWN LABS AND SAINT-GOBAIN; PARTNERSHIP WILL STRENGTHEN THE COMMONWEALTH’S CLEANTECH INDUSTRY

GOVERNOR PATRICK CELEBRATES PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GREENTOWN LABS AND SAINT-GOBAIN; PARTNERSHIP WILL STRENGTHEN THE COMMONWEALTH’S CLEANTECH INDUSTRY

PARIS, FRANCE – Friday, September 19, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today celebrated a partnership between the Somerville cleantech incubator Greentown Labs and the French-based global building materials corporation Saint-Gobain and its North American construction products subsidiary, CertainTeed. The announcement was part of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts-France Innovation Partnership Mission, aimed at strengthening the Commonwealth’s relationships with France in order to create growth and opportunity throughout Massachusetts. 

“This partnership between Greentown Labs and Saint-Gobain is further evidence that Massachusetts cleantech companies are competing in the global marketplace,” said Governor Patrick.

Saint-Gobain is Greentown Labs' first ever corporate sponsor to operate and share a Research & Development test facility at Greentown Labs. Saint-Gobain will be testing new, innovative technologies and make the lab space and its engineers available to member companies.

"At Greentown Labs, our mission is to help cleantech and energy tech startups solve the world's biggest energy and environmental challenges,” said Emily Reichert, Ph.D., executive director of Greentown Labs. “We believe that the kind of shared-space collaboration and expertise-sharing between a global company like Saint-Gobain and our resident startups paves a new kind of pathway to commercialization with extraordinary potential."

Saint-Gobain is an established global leader focused on bringing innovation to the field of building materials. The two-year sponsorship agreement will build upon Saint-Gobain’s presence in the Commonwealth and help create connections between Saint-Gobain and the innovative member companies of Greentown Labs that are developing game-changing technologies.  

“As a company with 350 year-old roots in Paris and significant business concentrations in Central Massachusetts, we can speak first-hand to the limitless opportunities for collaboration that exists between the flourishing entrepreneurial communities across Massachusetts and France,” said John Crowe, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Corporations. “Through our partnership with Greentown Labs, we seek to work alongside more cleantech start-ups so that we may foster greater innovation that ultimately yields material solutions that can improve the way we construct, sustain and experience the built environment.”

“It will be exciting to see how the partnership between Greentown Labs and Saint-Gobain evolves to help boost job creation and the Commonwealth’s standing on the global clean energy stage,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett.

“As an early supporter of Greentown Labs, MassCEC is excited to see leading global corporations like Saint-Gobain recognizing the value of partnering with Greentown Labs and the more than 50 promising companies and organizations based there,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “This type of public and private support for startup companies and centers of innovation will accelerate the development of technologies that will help tackle global energy challenges, while creating jobs in the Commonwealth.”

Governor Patrick highlighted the partnership during a reception at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Paris. The reception was the final stop on Governor Patrick’s Innovation Partnership Mission to Denmark, the United Kingdom and France, which started on September 14. The Innovation Partnership Mission made stops in Copenhagen in Denmark, London in the United Kingdom and in Lyon and Paris, France where the Governor and members of the delegation visited companies and business organizations to expand opportunities between the Commonwealth and the European Union for economic development and job creation in the innovation economy sectors.

劉茂珍創作水塗鴉讓人試書法尋平安

在公眾場所任意“塗鴉”是非法行為，在指定地點以水為媒的塗鴉，卻是結合書法與行為藝術的一種創作。

            來自加州，在波士頓定居已八年的華裔藝術家劉茂珍，與波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC）和書法家梅宇國合作，由大約五名青少年義工從旁協助，日前在波士頓藝術節中，在波士頓華埠牌樓前，一連數個週末的邀過往行人拿起巨型仿毛筆，沾水作墨，學寫中國字，創造出他們自己心中象徵平安的圖案。

            劉茂珍在加州出生長大，從加州大學柏克萊分校音樂系畢業後，來到波士頓的新英格蘭音樂學院深造小提琴作曲，演奏，取得碩士學位後，創辦了99% 弦樂月四重奏和 SQUEE (到處弦樂四重奏)等樂隊，也和多個不同樂隊合作，或演奏她的作品，或攜手新的嘗試。

過去這八年來，她的作品非常多樣化，包括和編舞家Rodney Veal合作，在40畝大的公園裏，策劃一場有廿名舞者和音樂演奏者搭配，名為“iBird“的演出。

劉茂珍的父母祖籍江西，山西，從台灣移民來美。在父母堅持下，她也能說流利中文，對中國文化有深厚興趣，最近還策劃了“經由音樂及故事探索中國”的 “青少年聽眾”項目， 以歐洲的小提琴，中國的二胡來帶引青少年學生們認識中國的歷史，地理，以及中文的四聲。

            在波士頓基金會”我的城中夏日（My Summer in the City）“項目和波士頓藝術節共約五千元的資金贊助下，劉茂珍創作了”水塗鴉（Water Graffiti）“這公共藝術活動。

            她請朋友在淘寶網上訂購了巨型毛筆頭，從北京運來，再加上他們自己在本地用泡膠切割成的吸水筆頭，連上長桿，做成大毛筆，帶到活動現場，請過往行人玩水，畫字，思考中國字的安，為什麼是一個女人有屋頂遮頭，如果讓他們自己來造字，他們會選用什麼樣的圖案，或哪些中國字的部首，來湊成這些字。

            劉茂珍透露，整個活動有大約一百多人願意接受錄影訪談。她和黃曉茵，沈曉亭，Marchaina Roscoe，Eric Chen，陳美琪等五名十四歲到十八歲的青少年義工，把這些人對“平安”的看法，以及他們對所選部首的解釋，上載到http://www.watergraffiti.org 這網站上，邀更多人參與“平安”對話。她計劃以這些受訪者創造的圖案為靈感，創作樂曲，明年五月和一個全由女生組成的樂團合作，開場音樂會。

圖片說明：

            劉茂珍（右二）和梅宇國（左一）合作，在黃曉茵（右一），沈曉亭（中）等青少年義工協助下，推出“水塗鴉”項目。（菊子攝）

波士頓清華校友迎新慶中秋下週賽高爾夫球

波士頓清華大學校友會日前陸續舉辦慶中秋，迎新大會，計算機系校友會，下週六（27日）將再接再厲，舉辦第一屆小尾羊盃高爾夫球賽。

        波士頓清華大學校友會是大波士頓內資歷最深的校友會之一，早從1976年就成立了，歷任會長還包括著名華人科學家林家翹，李詩穎。

該會也是本地唯一或唯二，會員對象包括來自兩岸（北京，新竹）人士的校友會，但新生代清華校友幾乎從不見來自對岸校友參與，早年的來自台灣校友，包括文錦歸，哈佛大學教授孔祥重等人，大多數人渾然不察這一歷史，倒是該會網站上還留著這樣的敘述。

慶中秋，迎新這天，波士頓清華大學校友會發揮一貫的團結精神，包括該會前後任董事會主席，林巍及周福民，曾任會長的張偉，現任會長韓松和副會長庄曉丹，張潔熹等不下十幾，廿名幹部，在水城兵工廠公園裏分頭招呼陸續抵達的校友，報告該會近況，解釋遊戲規則，鼓勵新到波士頓的校友，多認識些新朋友。

            根據該會估計，大波士頓內現有清華校友逾千人，今年報到的新生也有一百多人，大部分在哈佛，MIT等名校深造。

            韓松表示，該會的成立宗旨為“聯誼互助，職業成長與發展，回饋母校與社會“，迎新慶中秋是為聯誼，十四日以”職業發展與人生選擇“為主題的計算機系友日與相關行業校友交流會，是藉著經驗分享，即席釋疑解惑，給校友們一個”他山之石可以攻錯“的思考，成長機會。

            計算機系友日這天的活動，由創辦了江蘇紫荊花信息科技公司，1992級的韓松主持並參與分享經驗。其他的出席分享經驗者包括1988級的耶魯大學教授，也是康州清華校友會會長的楊陽；有著首名征服七峰二中國女性成就，1989級的王雷；創辦了“熊貓地（Panda Land）”中國語言文化教育服務公司，1979 級的王卓；在哈佛伯克曼互聯網與社會研究中心任研究員，1997即的宋妍；在道富集團擔任發展領導，1982級的金小平；在道富集團做企業危機管理主任，1987級的馮浩；在布蘭岱斯大學當副教授，1990級的洪鵬宇；在清華大學當教授，1990級的尹霞等。韓松表示，他們每個人的經歷，領域都不盡相同，不論從那個角度聽，都有收獲，感動。

            九月廿七日，該會在小尾羊餐廳贊助下，將舉辦第一屆小尾羊盃波士頓清華校友會高爾夫球賽，既提醒校友們在求學或工作之餘，不要忘了運動健身，也藉機鼓勵校友深入了解美國文化，加強彼此聯誼。

            該一比賽將於九月廿七日（週六）早上十一點起，在諾午鄉村俱樂部（Norwood Country Club）舉行，費用每人25元，打十八洞。報名可上網https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JBTEvfK0YDthscFIk-h3J8fBLtnR9iCPH3IsIbj5QMg/viewform。

            查詢波士頓清華校友會詳情，可上網http://www.tsinghua-boston.org。

圖片說明：

            波士頓清華校友會的張偉（右起），周福民，韓松，林巍，庄曉丹等人，都是校友會的董事會成員。（菊子攝）

            部分參加迎新會的清華校友們倘佯在藍天白雲綠地間，歡欣合影。（菊子攝）

            波士頓清華校友會副會長張潔熹（立者左）報告迎新會注意事項。（菊子攝）

            香噴噴的飯菜送到，校友們排隊取用。（菊子攝）

            曾任會長的張偉，這天為服務校友當搬運工，端菜上桌。（菊子攝）

            清華校友之友，曾獲得武術比賽冠軍的陳笑儀（右）在清華校友支持下，組織了“功夫幫”，並在朋友轉介下，最近開始在波士頓華埠南派武館的場地練習。（菊子攝）