哈金/任壁蓮對談「永恆之歌」 7/27

 

State Representative Tram Nguyen Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor

 State Representative Tram Nguyen Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor 

 Boston, MA— State Representative Tram

from fb

Nguyen of the 18th Essex District  (parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury) endorsed Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston today, citing her powerful advocacy for education, healthcare, the environment and economic justice. 

 “I’m proud to support my friend and sister in service, Michelle

Wu, to become the next mayor of Boston. She is a strong advocate for public education, healthcare, our environment, and economic justice for all. I look forward to continuing to partner with Michelle on issues that matter to residents across the Commonwealth, and to join city and state government in bringing diverse voices into the process,” said State Representative Tram Nguyen.

 “I’m grateful to have the support of Representative Nguyen, a

trailblazer and strong voice for justice in her district and for all of us across the Commonwealth. We’re building a coalition to get things done throughout every neighborhood of Boston and across the Commonwealth, and I am excited to have Representative Nguyen on our team,” said Michelle Wu. 

 A first generation Vietnamese-American, Tram was five when her

family came to the U.S. as political refugees. Tram was first elected into office in November 2018 and is the first Vietnamese American woman in elected office in the Commonwealth, the first Vietnamese American elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the first Asian American on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, and the first Asian American woman to serve as vice chair of a House committee. 

 Representative Nguyen is Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on

Labor & Workforce Development and serves on the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Recovery; the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; and the House Committee Human Resources and Employee Engagement.

 Representative Nguyen’s endorsement adds to the Michelle for Mayor

campaign’s enthusiastic coalition of multigenerational, multicultural grassroots supporters including leaders Senator Elizabeth Warren, State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico, former State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing; unions Teamsters Local 25, New England Joint Board of Unite Here!, Alliance of Unions at the MBTA, MBTA Inspectors Union Local 600, OPEIU Local 453; environmental organizations Sunrise Boston, Sierra Club, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, 350 Mass Action; Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale; and fellow municipal elected officials from across Greater Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For all of Michelle for Boston’s endorsements, visit michelleforboston.com/endorsements. 

十華人教會合辦愛心音樂見證會 7/17邀您共襄盛舉

            (Boston Orange) 來自3州的10家新英格蘭地區華人教會，以” 憑信心跨越，以愛心回應”為主題，訂7月17日美東時間晚上7點，請6個音樂團體在網上舉辦”愛心音樂見證會”，傳播福音，希望在7月底前募款10萬元，支援七家社區服務機構。

              羅德島華人基督教會執事吳子平表示，新冠病毒肆虐全球已年餘，不但奪走300多萬條人命，逼人們改變生活方式，引發各種紛爭，還使得社會瀰漫著仇怨苦毒哀傷的氛圍。來自新罕布夏州，麻州及羅德島州等3州的10家華人教會因此希望藉由一場在Zoom及Youtube上播出的愛心音樂見證會，慰藉人心，也同時募集款項，回應社區需要。

                      羅德島州州長馬基(Daniel McKee)和羅德島華人基督教會交情深遠，特地為這場音樂會錄製了一段講話直指現在大家最需要的就是發揚愛心，拒絕恨。(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AVjfXM6Res)。

音樂會將由6個音樂團體及其代表演出，包括加州”靈感的源頭(Sandra Shen)”，以及泥土音樂盛曉玫，德州新心音樂事工，馬來西亞的沙勞越教會林義忠牧師，台灣六龜育幼院，香港同心圓敬拜。羅德島州州長Dan Markey

參與舉辦這場音樂會的10家教會，安城華人基督教會，波士頓華人佈道會，羅威爾華人聖經教會(CBCGL)，波士頓西郊聖經教會 (BMWBC)，羅德島華人基督教會(CCCRI )，麻省華人福音堂(CGCM )，春雨教會( SRC )，波士頓南郊華人教會(CCMB)，麻州春田華人基督教會(SCCC )，拿城華人聖經教會(CBCGN)以10萬元為目標，從6月初開始宣傳這活動，並募捐，迄今已籌得5萬多元。所有籌募得來的款項，將平分給各教會推薦的7個幫助流浪者，弱勢群體的非牟利機構。

7家將獲得捐款的組織機構為Boston Rescue Mission (BCEC)，Access American Chinese Christian Education and Social Service （SRC），Providence Rescue Mission (CCCRI)，Father Bill's and MainSpring (CCMB)，Nashua Rescue Mission (CBCGN)，Springfield Rescue Mission (SCCC)，National：the Elisha Project (https://elishaproject.org/)。

音樂會網址為: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/784580728，或是https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBk1LDb6HcLugNU33CgTog。

音樂會預告片網址為https://youtu.be/sS9lrKUEgbk。(更新版)

奔向2050年零排放 麻州訂更嚴峻能源效率計畫

Baker-Polito Administration Sets Ambitious Emissions Reduction Goal for Energy Efficiency Plan

Efficiency Goal Will Help Commonwealth Achieve 2030 Emissions Reduction Target

 

BOSTON – Building on its national leadership on energy efficiency and climate action, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced it has established an ambitious greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal for the next three-year Mass Save® Energy Efficiency Plan. The goals, established as part of comprehensive, nation-leading climate legislation signed into law by Governor Baker in March, will help the Commonwealth meet its ambitious goal to reduce GHG emissions 50% below 1990 levels by 2030. The GHG reduction goal for the three-year energy efficiency plan, established in a letter issued by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides to the Mass Save program administrators, builds upon the framework established in the Administration’s 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap (2050 Roadmap) and 2030 Interim Clean Energy and Climate Plan (2030 Interim CECP). The goal requires the Commonwealth’s utility companies to pursue an ambitious emissions reduction goal through Mass Save in a cost-effective and equitable manner while creating jobs and opportunities for economic development throughout Massachusetts.

 

“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in ambitious clean energy and energy efficiency policies with programs like Mass Save, helping residents save money on their energy bills while making substantial progress on our climate goals,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The goals we are setting today will help spark innovative efficiency solutions and lead to significant reductions in harmful greenhouse gas emissions to combat the effects of climate change.”

 

“In establishing this emissions reduction goal, our Administration is laying the groundwork for significant investments in energy efficient infrastructure and job creation across the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These investments will reduce air pollution in our cities and towns, create new economic opportunities, and lower energy costs for our residents and businesses across the state.”

 

The GHG reduction goal for the 2022-2024 Joint Statewide Energy Efficiency Plan for electric utility companies requires the reduction of 504,955 metric tons of C02e emissions, while the emissions reduction for gas utility companies requires the reduction of 335,588 metric tons of CO2e.

 

“Massachusetts remains a national leader in energy efficiency, but we continue to pursue innovative approaches to make our buildings more efficient, drive investment to our cities and towns, and help our state meet its ambitious target of Net Zero emissions by 2050,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The goals set today will not only help residents and businesses increase efficiency and reduce emissions, but also ensure that equity is a central priority in our efficiency programs as we continue to transition to a clean energy future.”

 

The climate legislation signed by Governor Baker requires both economy-wide and sector limits, which will be first set for 2025, and then 2030. The Mass Save program prepares three-year investment plans, one for gas programs and another for electricity and delivered heating fuels. Those plans include goals and reporting requirements for three sectors: residential, residential income eligible ratepayers, and commercial customers.

 

The Mass Save energy efficiency programs are funded by utility customers. All residents and businesses located in investor-owned utility territories in Massachusetts pay into a fund through their utility bill, which supports these programs. The three-year plan directs how these funds will be spent on financial incentive programs for homes and businesses. The development, implementation, and evaluation of Three-Year Plans is overseen by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC), which is chaired by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). A resolution, created by the EEAC in March of this year, details the EEAC’s priorities for the upcoming three-year plan, as well as provides specific recommendations to support these priorities.

 

The letter sent by Secretary Theoharides to the utility companies that administer the Mass Save Program details the goals and priorities for the 2022-2024 Energy Efficiency Plans, which are currently in development and which must be voted on by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council and submitted to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) by October 31, 2021. It is anticipated that Mass Save will achieve the GHG emission reduction goals by increasing the number of buildings retrofitted and weatherized each year, making significant investment in electrification of existing buildings to transition customers away from fossil fuels, reducing support for fossil-fuel heating incentives, phasing out LED light-bulb incentives, increasing equitable program investments in environmental justice communities and low-moderate income households, and increasing workforce development investments to expand diversity in the workforce. The goals build on the Administration’s effort to promote long-term decarbonization in coordination with the EEAC and its priorities, such as promoting passive home adoption and air source heat pumps.

 

“Energy efficiency measures are the most cost-effective way for residents and businesses to lower their energy bills and to lower our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “DOER looks forward to our continued partnership with the Mass Save Program Administrators and the EEAC to design a plan that meets this ambitious mandate.”

 

The final 2022-2024 Energy Efficiency Plans, filed with the DPU in October 2021, are required to be designed to achieve the GHG goals established in the Secretary’s letter and should focus on programs that accelerate the market transformation needed to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. The plan should reflect the GHG reduction goals and include a performance incentive mechanism that ensures that the electric and gas utilities are incentivized to achieve these goals.

 

On March 26, 2021, Governor Baker signed comprehensive climate change legislation that significantly increased protections for Environmental Justice communities across Massachusetts, authorized the Administration to implement a new, voluntary energy efficient building code for municipalities, and allowed the Commonwealth to procure an additional 2,400 Megawatts (MW) of clean, reliable offshore wind energy by 2027. Recognizing the significant impact of climate change on Environmental Justice communities overburdened by poor air quality and disproportionately high levels of pollution, the legislation statutorily defined Environmental Justice and environmental burdens, including climate change as an environmental burden.

 

The legislation also expanded Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review to require an Environmental Impact Report for all projects that impact air quality within one mile of an Environmental Justice Neighborhood and required the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a stakeholder process to develop a cumulative impact analysis as a condition of permitting certain projects.

 

For additional information on the next three-year Energy Efficiency Plan, please click here.

Baker-Polito Administration & Mass State Lottery Remind Residents of Upcoming VaxMillions Giveaway Deadlines

 Baker-Polito Administration & Mass State Lottery Remind Residents of Upcoming VaxMillions Giveaway Deadlines

 

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts State Lottery reminded residents of upcoming deadlines for the Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway, which opened for registration on July 1.

 

VaxMillions Giveaway Drawings will be held once a week for five weeks beginning Monday, July 26 and continuing every Monday through August 23. Registration for the first drawing closes on Thursday, July 22, one week from today, with the first drawing occurring on Monday, July 26. Winners will be announced later in the week following each drawing.

 

Massachusetts residents ages 12 and up and who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing are eligible to enter the giveaway.  Residents ages 18 and older who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing will have the opportunity to enter to win one of five, $1 million cash prizes. Residents between 12-17 years of age who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing may enter for the chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants.

 

Eligible residents are able to enter the giveaway at VaxMillionsGiveaway.com.  For residents who do not have access to the internet or require assistance, a call center can be reached by calling 2-1-1 during the below hours:

 

• Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM-6:00 PM
• Friday: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

 

Live call center workers are available in English and Spanish, and 100 additional languages are available through translators.

 

Residents are reminded that they have time to get fully vaccinated in order to enter the drawings. An entry before one of the weekly entry deadlines makes you eligible for all of the weekly drawings that take place after you register. 

 

The full schedule of drawing and announcement dates is below. Residents are reminded that some COVID-19 vaccines require two doses, and they must receive all doses before entering the drawing. 

 

 

Residents must be fully vaccinated before registering, but if they are not vaccinated by the registration date for a certain drawing, they will still have the opportunity to complete vaccination and register for subsequent drawings. Residents will only have to enter once to qualify for all drawings occurring after the date of their registration.

 

Massachusetts residents 18 years of age and older who have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, will have a chance to win one of five, $1 million cash prizes. 

 

Massachusetts residents between 12 and 17 years of age who have received two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will have a chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants via a 529 College Savings Plan managed by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA). Funds in a 529 plan can be applied to cover tuition, room and board, and related expenses at any college, university, or technical or trade school or other post-secondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Winners with a qualifying disability may elect instead to receive an equivalent financial contribution to a special needs trust or federally qualified ABLE account to cover qualified expenses.

 

The Commonwealth launched the Massachusetts VaxMillions giveaway as one of many strategies to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and encourage residents to get vaccinated to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.

 

Only legal, permanent residents of Massachusetts who are fully vaccinated can enter the drawings. Residents must have received their vaccine doses within Massachusetts. Residents must be fully vaccinated prior to submitting their entry. 

 

Residents can email support@vaxmillionsgiveaway.mass.gov or call 2-1-1 to report any instances of fraud or suspicious activity associated with the VaxMillions Giveaway Promotion. Residents are reminded that official prize notification emails related to the VaxMillions Giveaway will come from a Massachusetts Department of Public Health email address ending in “@mass.gov.” More information on tips for identifying suspected fraud can be found here.

 

There are over 900 vaccination locations across the Commonwealth, with appointments and walk-ins widely available. Residents seeking a vaccine can visit mass.gov/COVIDVaccine to find a vaccine location that is convenient for them.

 

For more information on the Mass VaxMillions Giveaway, visit VaxMillionsGiveaway.com.

查理貝克宣佈1.39億元抵稅優惠建成1346戶可負擔出租住宅

 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $139 Million in Funding and Tax Credits to Produce and Preserve 1,346 Units of Affordable Rental Housing 

Twenty-eight projects in 21 communities will add 1,526 total housing units, including transit-oriented and Passive House developments 

LAWRENCE — Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox joined local legislators and officials to announce affordable housing awards for 28 projects in 21 communities across the Commonwealth. These awards will advance the development of 1,526 new rental units, including 1,346 rental units affordable for low- and extremely low-income households.  

Through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Baker-Polito Administration awarded $93.3 million in direct subsidy funding and allocated $45.8 million in federal and state housing tax credits that will generate approximately $310 million in equity in support of these projects. The projects are located in every region of Massachusetts, and include new construction, historic rehabilitation, and the preservation of occupied projects in need of rehabilitation. Additionally, some projects are transit-oriented, and eight of the construction projects will be built to Passive House design standards.  

“As Massachusetts continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we continue to prioritize new affordable housing development to help our most vulnerable families,” said Governor Baker. “Stable housing is the foundation of healthy, prosperous communities, which is why our administration has proposed an immediate infusion of nearly $1 billion in federal recovery funds to rapidly increase capacity for production in every part of the state.” 

“We are proud to support an excellent project here in Lawrence, another step in an amazing transformation of the Arlington Mills National Historic District into a thriving residential neighborhood, zoned for up to 1,000 housing units,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “Since 2015, we’ve invested in revitalization efforts like this across the state, creating new housing, jobs, and new opportunities for cities and towns and have directed more than $1.4 billion to our affordable housing ecosystem. Cities like Lawrence are using state and federal funds to pursue a new vision that puts housing at the center of communities.” 

“Here in Massachusetts, we have seen the negative impacts of our housing crisis affect nearly every region. Through our new Housing Choice reforms, new programs, and increased capital investments, the Baker-Polito Administration is helping move great projects forward, more quickly,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Kennealy. “Solving our housing crisis helps all of our households, enabling our working families to put down roots in communities, stabilize vulnerable families, and provide opportunities for cities and town to grow. We are excited to deploy federal recovery funding to supercharge the pipeline of affordable housing in Massachusetts.” 

“Today’s awards will bring new, affordable housing that meets the diverse needs of our Commonwealth, including new senior housing in Randolph, new permanent supportive housing for unaccompanied adults in Quincy, preservation of currently affordable housing in Holyoke, and new family housing in West Roxbury,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Maddox. “These projects will provide thousands of households with access to safe, quality, affordable housing in every region. Affordable housing development and preservation is an integral part of our strategy to address our housing crisis, and we are fortunate to have a rich ecosystem of stakeholders and developers committed to the future of Massachusetts and our families.” 

Today’s announcement was made in Lawrence at the site of a project that will transform a former mill into new housing for residents. The historic adaptive re-use project, sponsored by Trinity Financial, Inc., will create 87 new units of housing at 608 Broadway, with 66 units restricted for households earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income, including 17 units further reserved for households with extremely low-incomes or making the transition from homelessness. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income tax credits (LIHTC) and subsidy funds, and the City of Lawrence will provide funding as well. MassHousing is supporting the project with a $22.75 million permanent mortgage, a tax-exempt short-term equity bridge loan, and $2.1 million in workforce housing financing.

“I am proud to be a part of the state’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing and ensure that each of our residents can find a place to call home in an increasingly expensive housing market,” said State Senator Barry Finegold.  “In addition to putting a roof over the heads of the state’s most vulnerable residents, affordable housing boosts economic growth and is a crucial part of post-pandemic recovery.  This is especially important in a city like Lawrence, where the unemployment rate remains double that of the state average. Congratulations to all the grant recipients and thank you for your dedicated work providing stable housing to those who need it most.”

“This funding will provide critical state investments to the City of Lawrence as we continue to make affordable housing in Massachusetts more accessible to those facing financial uncertainty,” said State Representative Frank A. Moran.  “The conversion of 608 Broadway will accomplish this goal by creating 87 new units of housing, while also celebrating Lawrence’s rich industrial history by ensuring that our mill buildings are utilized and brought into the modern age. I would like to thank Governor Baker and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for their continued support of initiatives such as this in Lawrence.” 

"Having accessible housing options in Lawrence is a necessity for our community members and their well-being,” said Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez.  “Lawrence is a community; safe and affordable housing is vital for our residents to thrive. This partnership between the city and the state will provide Lawrencians opportunities to deepen their roots in the city that they love. I am proud of the work we are doing to create housing opportunities and grateful to all the people partnering with us."

"Trinity Financial is grateful for the Baker-Polito Administration’s leadership on affordable housing and their commitment to the Gateway City of Lawrence," said Dan Drazen, Vice President, Development at Trinity Financial. "This tax credit award will enable us to leverage both public and private funding and undertake a transformative adaptive reuse project. Building upon the momentum of our adjacent Arlington Point project, which was completed in 2019, the 608 Broadway project will breathe new life into a historic asset, provide mixed-income housing and continue the multi-phase revitalization of the Arlington Mills Historic District."

Last month, Governor Baker announced a plan to devote $1 billion from the Commonwealth’s direct federal aid to funding homeownership and housing priorities, a significant investment to help increase housing production and reduce barriers to owning a home as part of the ongoing COVID-19 recovery effort. This funding plan calls for $200 million to fund rental housing production and provide increased housing options to workers and residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities, and $300 million to finance the statewide production of senior and veteran housing. These new housing resources build upon over $1.6 billion in separate federal funding that has already been allocated to entities throughout the Commonwealth for housing purposes since the start of the pandemic. 

The Baker-Polito Administration has shown a deep commitment to increasing the production of housing across all income levels. Since 2015, the administration has invested more than $1.4 billion in the affordable housing ecosystem, resulting in the production and preservation of more than 22,000 housing units, including over 19,000 affordable units. In 2018, Governor Baker signed the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history, committing more than $1.8 billion to the future of affordable housing production and preservation.

This year, Governor Baker signed economic development legislation titled An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth that includes substantial new funding for affordable and climate-resilient housing, as well as targeted zoning reforms to advance new housing production. In June, the administration and MassHousing made the first commitments through the CommonWealth Builder program, an initiative intended to create homeownership opportunities and build generational wealth in communities of color. The administration has also supported the development of more than 17,000 mixed-income housing units through the successful MassWorks Infrastructure Program, reformed the Housing Development Incentive Program, and worked with communities to implement smart-growth development and planning efforts. 

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES GRANTEES OF SUMMER 2021 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES GRANTEES OF SUMMER 2021 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND

BOSTON - Thursday, July 15, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and the Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Office of Public Safety (OPS) today announced the allocation of $110,000 in grant funding to 14 local, non-profit organizations through the 2021 Youth Development Fund. The City of Boston sought to support organizations with summer programming to ensure youth and young adults have a safe and productive summer. The Youth Development Fund grants to Boston youth-serving nonprofits will be used to increase or scale up programs for the summer, for June through August. 

“As part of our 2021 Summer Safety Plan, we have chosen local youth-serving organizations from around Boston as recipients of Youth Development Fund grant funding. We are striving to make this summer a season of safety and healing for our young people,” said Mayor Janey. “This summer’s grantee organizations are doing the crucial work of engaging our youth during their time off from school in ways that are healthy, safe, and positive.”

Awards were made to applicants that aim to strengthen or expand summer violence prevention efforts for youth and young adults, ages 10 to 25. Funding will support activities that fit into the City of Boston’s framework of violence prevention, intervention, response and recovery. The Youth Development Fund prioritized:

• Applicants expanding intentional engagement for high-risk and underserved groups

• Applicants from Boston neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by youth violence

• Applicants with a proven track record of successfully implementing practices within the Positive Youth Development and/or Meaningful Youth Engagement frameworks

Of organizations granted, 50% are led by a person of color and 64% are led by a woman.

Summer 2021 Youth Development Fund grantees:

All Dorchester Sports and Leadership: ADSL operates Girls Fit First, a program that provides fitness and youth development classes for girls aged 14 to17, emphasizing mind and body wellness. 

Boston Project Ministries: BPM’s Mental Health Ambassadors program works to decrease stigma surrounding mental health, educate the community about mental health, and create innovative spaces for self-care and healing. 

Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.: Bridge will expand specialized age- and culturally-appropriate violence intervention services by adding its street outreach footprint into Roxbury, Chinatown, and Mission Hill. 

Cape Verdean Association of Boston: The Cape Verdean Association of Boston runs the Cabral Youth Leadership Academy, which seeks to foster leadership and public-speaking skills among Cape Verdean youth aged 15 to 22. 

Caribbean Youth Club, Inc.: The Caribbean Youth Club serves newly arrived Afro-Caribbean immigrant and refugee youth by delivering culture specific resettlement services. 

Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.: Catholic Charities’ Teen Center is reopening its full-time summer academic enrichment and camp program for middle and high school students. 

College Bound Dorchester: College Bound Dorchester operates Boston Uncornered, a corner-to-college intervention model designed to break cycles of disruption and move disconnected and gang-involved youth into and through college. 

Friends of St. Stephen's Youth Programs: St. Stephen’s Youth Programs promotes equity in education, employment and opportunity through long-term relationships with youth and their families and communities. 

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts: Level Ground MMA empowers urban youth through transformative athletic, academic, and employment opportunities. 

Partners for Youth with Disabilities: PYD builds the skills and abilities of young people with disabilities, and increases the inclusivity of workplaces, organizations, and communities. 

The City School: The City School works with young people ages 14 to19 living in Boston who are emerging leaders and have a passion for social justice, focusing primarily on Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. 

The One Love Foundation in honor of Yeardley Love: One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. 

Third Sector New England/MissionWorks: The Youth Ubuntu Project has involved over 900 Latinx, African, Caribbean and Asian teens in youth leadership and solidarity, leading programs like Immigrant Youth Speak Out, six intensive summer leadership programs, a series of social justice actions, and a campaign to improve BPS English Learner instruction. 

We Are Better Together - Youth Empowerment Project: The Youth Empowerment Project is based on a harm reduction philosophy, providing counseling, stabilization, and case management with an emphasis on enhancing individuality for street-involved youth. 

Baker-Polito Administration Kicks Off Statewide Small Business Tour in Lowell

 Baker-Polito Administration Kicks Off Statewide Small Business Tour in Lowell

Visits to main street businesses and roundtable conversation spotlight recovery, discuss additional support proposed through ARPA funding 

 

LOWELL – Today, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and local business, community, and municipal leaders on the first stop of a statewide small business and downtown conversation tour.  The purpose of the tour is to celebrate the Commonwealth’s reopening and discuss the Administration’s $2.9 billion proposal for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to jumpstart the Commonwealth’s economic recovery, including $450 million for economic development.

 

“Our plan for ARPA funding will provide immediate relief to help the Commonwealth’s main streets and downtowns recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a sustainable way,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “Our goal with this tour is to hear directly from business owners in communities hit the hardest and highlight the once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a significant impact for so many in need.”

 

“Small businesses are fundamental to the character of our downtowns and main streets and our proposal to use federal funding targets the communities and neighborhoods hit the hardest to ensure an equitable recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to getting back out into communities across the state to engage with and work with our partners at the local level in order to restart and re-energize Massachusetts’ economy.”

 

The tour, which officially launched today, will continue throughout the summer and will stop at approximately two dozen city and town centers across Massachusetts. Each stop will include a tour of downtown and main street businesses and a roundtable conversation with business owners, community leaders, and state and local officials to engage directly on how the Administration can continue to offer necessary support for economic recovery.

 

While Massachusetts is known as a global leader in industries such as life sciences and the innovation economy, research conducted by the US Small Business Administration found that prior to the pandemic, more than 45 percent of the entire Commonwealth’s workforce was employed by a small business. 

 

“COVID-19 created unprecedented economic pressure on the small business community across Massachusetts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “As we continue taking steps to put the effects of this virus behind us, our proposal to direct $2.9 billion to existing, proven programs will accelerate the Commonwealth’s economic recovery with a focus on equity and sustainability.”

 

In June, the Baker-Polito Administration filed a plan to put $2.9 billion of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to use immediately through existing, proven programs to support key recovery priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure.  The proposal expressly targets support for lower-wage workers and communities of color.

 

Included in the Administration’s plan is $450 million for economic development.  Of that total, $100 million will be allocated specifically for downtown development to concentrate economic growth activities, resources, and investments within local neighborhood areas in municipalities disproportionally impacted by COVID; $250 million will support investments and regional collaboration aimed at invigorating downtowns and main streets throughout Massachusetts; and $100 million will be designated for efforts to support cultural facilities and tourism assets throughout Massachusetts.

 

During the pandemic, the Administration established the largest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation that distributed approximately $705 million in direct financial assistance to over 15,000 small businesses throughout the Commonwealth.  That program, which was administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, awarded grants based on a combination of factors including demographic priorities, businesses operating in the sectors most heavily impacted by the pandemic, and in Gateway Cities, to ensure funding was distributed equitably throughout Massachusetts.  Over the course of the program, 43 percent of grants were awarded to minority-owned businesses, and 46 percent of grants went to women-owned businesses.