Tanisha Sullivan Launches “Democracy Conversations” Series

Tanisha Sullivan Launches “Democracy Conversations” Series

March 10, 2022 — Today, Tanisha Sullivan, candidate for Secretary of State in Massachusetts, announced the launch of her campaign’s “Democracy Conversations” series. The series of roundtable conversations will bring together advocates, experts, and community stakeholders from across Massachusetts to discuss critical elements of policy connected to the Secretary of State’s office, including voting rights and access, government transparency and accountability, and economic opportunity. 

The “Democracy Conversations” series will be co-chaired by a diverse, dynamic group of community leaders: Danielle Allen, former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate and national democracy advocate; Jordan Berg Powers, Executive Director of Mass Alliance; Karilyn Crockett, Assistant Professor of Urban History, Public Policy & Planning at MIT and former Chief Equity Officer for the City of Boston; Avi Green, Senior Director of Strategy at The New School and former Executive Director at MassVOTE; and, Diana Hwang, Founder and Executive Director of the Asian American Women's Political Initiative. 

“Policy shouldn’t happen to us, it should happen with and through us,” said Sullivan. “It’s so important to ensure that in the Secretary of State’s office — and across our state government — we are co-creating policy in deep partnership with community, so that we are advancing solutions that are innovative, inclusive, and sustainable. I’m so grateful to the fantastic group of co-chairs who have agreed to help lead this effort, and I’m so excited to work alongside them and folks from across the state to build a stronger, more vibrant, and more expansive democracy for everyone in Massachusetts.” 

“Our democracy is our power — and when all of us truly have a voice in shaping our collective decisions, we can build solutions that empower all of us,” said Danielle Allen. “Tanisha Sullivan is doing great work to make sure our Commonwealth’s most important policies are built from the grassroots and the ground up, and that’s exactly the leadership Massachusetts needs from our next Secretary of State. I’m delighted to be part of these people-first, people-powered efforts.

“When policy is detached from the lived experiences of our communities it fails to truly address their needs; and worse it furthers the belief that government is not relevant to people's lives. As a progressive I am passionate about making government work for regular people. Policies that marry experts with the lived experiences of regular citizens are the policies that can transform communities for the better,” said Jordan Berg Powers.

"The government we need comes from the vision we create together. We stand in a pivotal moment of reckoning and remaking of the Commonwealth's most vital institutions and we need bold leaders to guide us every step of the way. Tanisha Sullivan is the leader we need for a time such as this. She's listening to every voice and building equity from the ground because she knows that's where real change is rooted,” said Karilyn Crockett

"Building a stronger democracy has to start by engaging community and creating pathways and opportunities for people who have been excluded for too long," said Diana Hwang. "These conversations signal a commitment on the part of Tanisha and her campaign to bring together a diversity of voices and perspectives in order to make our democracy more accessible and representative, and I'm excited to be involved." 

“These conversations are a natural extension of the work I’ve done throughout my career to reduce racial and economic disparities in voting, civic engagement, and power,” said Avi Green. “Too often, communities are shut out of policymaking discussions. This needs to change. That’s why I’m excited that Tanisha Sullivan invited me to participate in this process.” 

The “Democracy Conversations” series will kick off this month, and the ideas discussed will be used to help build out comprehensive policy priorities for the next Secretary of State. 

波士頓向管制租金邁步 吳弭宣佈成立23人顧問委員會

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle  Wu) 推動租金管制。(周菊子攝) (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 今 (10) 日宣佈成立23人的「穩定租金顧問委員會 (Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee) 」，在2022年底前將每月開會，研議各種可行方案，找出為穩定租金，保護租戶免於流離失所，兼顧房東需求的兩全其美辦法。 波士頓市計畫在麻州議會的下一會期遞出方案，請麻州議會支持。 吳弭表示，大部分波士頓居民都是租屋而居，如果”我們”不去處理租金上漲正逼使家庭遷出波士頓這趨勢，就是沒有照顧到民眾需求”。吳弭指出，美國有許多州及城市都實施租金管制，波士頓將參考其他城市做法來制定政策。 波士頓市府稱市內居民約65% 波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon (右)說明波士頓曾經實施過租金管制，後來取消，現在為重提， 是為了保護租屋而居者不至於流離失所。(周菊子攝) 租屋居住，其中一半以上花在租金上的錢，超過月收入的三分之一，以致於很難存錢，居住狀況因而也不穩定。 2020年的人口統計調查也顯示，黑人家庭正在遷離波士頓市，在2010到2020年間，全市的非西班牙裔黑人人口下降了6%。穩定租金是支持租戶的短期辦法，長期來說還是要增加市內可負擔住宅數量。 成立穩定租金顧問委員會是波士頓市朝向吳弭市長最關心議題邁出的一小步。 華人前進會主任陳玉珍(右)表示，收入不高的人得花在租金上的錢，比例比月薪的 三分之一高很多。(周菊子攝) 波士頓市要實現管制租金，必須獲得麻州議會，以及州長的支持。然而麻州在1994年時經選票問題，通過全麻州禁止實施租金控制。近年來多個市鎮有意設立自己的租金規定，也都在麻州議會撞板。波士頓市要實現這目標，還有不少障礙要清除。 批評者認為，租金控制將阻礙民間興建房屋意願，使得房東更不願意花錢整修。也有人認為這將使得不受租金管制的公寓單位更為昂貴。 不過諸如加州，奧勒岡州，和大波士頓這些租金昂貴地區，都在推動加強保護租戶的行動。 由於租金管制爭議頗多，美國境內現有大約37州立法禁止管制租金，但紐約，新澤西，加州，馬里蘭州及奧勒岡州等5州和哥倫比亞特區都有租金管制。其中加州及奧勒岡州，只在特定城市實施此法。華府，舊金山及洛杉磯境內有大約一半的出租房屋有租金管制。 波士頓市長吳弭和波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon今日宣佈的「穩定租金顧問委員會 」，23名成員包括華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍，大波士頓法律事務援助處資深律師Lauren Song，哈佛大學住宅研究聯合中心執行主任Chris Herbert，聯邦房住局(HUD)租戶聯盟執行主任Michael Kane，麻州社區發展公司協會董事長Joe Kriesberg，麻州住宅前鋒(Housing Forward MA)執行主任Josh Zakim等人，訂4月召開第一次會議。 部分委員會委員出席發言。(周菊子攝) MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF RENT STABILIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Committee will examine successful rent stabilization programs in other cities and consider measures to stop displacement of Boston families and protect tenants

 

BOSTON - Thursday, March 10, 2022 - Building upon her commitment to protect Boston renters, today Mayor Michelle Wu announced a Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee made up of housing advocates, developers, tenants, and other stakeholders. The advisory committee members will study local housing conditions as well as the structure and outcomes of rent stabilization programs in other cities. They will be tasked with making recommendations to the Mayor and the Mayor’s Office of Housing on strategies to stabilize Boston rents and protect tenants from displacement. The committee will meet throughout 2022 with the goal of shaping a proposal for the next state legislative session.  “Cities across the country use rent stabilization as one tool among many to protect tenants and keep families in their homes,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The majority of Boston residents and families are renters. If we aren’t willing to take on the rent increases that are driving families out of Boston, then we aren’t meeting the needs of our neighborhoods. I thank the broad group of stakeholders, including advocates, tenants, and developers, who are willing to roll up their sleeves to reimagine what’s possible.”  Rent stabilization measures in cities across the United States empower municipalities to set certain limits on annual rent increases for existing tenants, and may also include other tenant protections. These approaches promote the preservation of mixed-income neighborhoods and prevent renters from being pushed out of their communities.     “As an organizer fighting for a housing market that lets people move when they want, where they want, not when they have to, I am pleased to be a part of this committee,” said Beyazmin Jimenez, Abundant Housing Massachusetts Board President. “I look forward to working with the other members of this committee to explore ways that the City can create more accessible housing in our communities.”  “Having worked with previous Boston mayors on planning and affordable housing policy, I’m looking forward to being able to serve the new administration and offer my expertise to shape the conversation around rent stabilization,” said Curtis Kemeny, CEO and President of Boston Residential Group. “This is a step in the right direction, and I am confident that the City will work to ensure a thoughtful, inclusive, and balanced policy that works for all residents.”  Almost 65% of Bostonians are renters, and more than half of them spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent, leaving them struggling to save and vulnerable to housing instability. The 2020 Census also made clear that Black families are leaving the city, with the non-Hispanic Black population citywide falling by over 6% between 2010-2020. Rent stabilization is one of many tools to support renters in the short term, alongside longer-term measures that can be used to tackle housing supply and affordability.  The work of this committee would complement the work of the Office of Housing Stability. The Office of Housing Stability helps tenants in housing crises due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation with the goal of putting residents on the path to housing stability. Its efforts include launching tenants' rights clinics for those who are not able to come to City Hall during business hours; offering low- and no-cost mediation and dispute resolution for landlords and tenants; launching the Housing Court Navigator, which provides legal advice for tenants; launching the Landlord Incentive program, which offers financial backing for landlords renting to formerly unhoused people; and creating Boston's first-ever online guide to evictions, designed to assist tenants in every phase of a potential eviction proceeding.   Rent stabilization would complement Mayor Wu’s other initiatives to address Boston’s housing affordability, including the Transfer Fee and Senior Property Tax Exemption Home Rule Petition, and her commitment to update the City’s commercial linkage fee and Inclusionary Development Policies. She is also highlighting the importance of Housing by renaming the Department of Neighborhood Development as the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and bringing a new focus on equity by signing an Executive Order relative to affirmatively furthering fair housing.    This Advisory Committee will convene monthly to hear from experts on different rent stabilization models and City officials from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) on local rental market conditions. The committee will also hold community listening sessions throughout the process to hear community perspectives on housing affordability challenges and potential solutions. The first community listening session will be held virtually on April 19th, and the public can RSVP here to attend.  Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee Members:   ·       Emma Anderson, Boston Teachers Union member ·       Kathy Brown, Coordinator at Boston Tenant Coalition  ·       Joe Byrne, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters ·       Karen Chen, Executive Director at Chinese Progressive Association ·       Filaine Deronnette, Vice President of Health Systems for 1199 SEIU ·       Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge ·       Dermot Doyne, Local landlord and business owner  ·       Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies  ·       Beyazmin Jimenez, Abundant Housing Massachusetts Board President  ·       Michael Kane, Executive Director at HUD Tenant Alliance ·       Brian Kavoogian, Managing Director of National Development ·       Curtis Kemeny, CEO and President of Boston Residential Group ·       Joe Kriesberg, President of Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations ·       Denise Matthews-Turner, Co-Executive Director at City Life Vida Urbana ·       Lisa Owens, Executive Director at Hyams Foundation ·       Jeanne Pinado, Vice President of Capital Markets at Colliers International ·       Mimi Ramos, Executive Director at New England United for Justice ·       Megan Sandel, Associate Professor of Pediatric Medicine at Boston University ·       Chanda Smart, CEO at Onyx ·       Lauren Song, Senior Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services ·       Justin Steil, Associate Professor of Law and Urban Planning, MIT ·       Carolyn Villers, Executive Director at Mass Senior Action ·       Josh Zakim, Founder and Executive Director at Housing Forward MA

六大工會支持 Maura Healey 選州長

 Sixth Major Union Endorses Maura Healey For Governor

MOSES, Teamsters Local 25, Mass Laborers, IBEW 103, Boston Carmen and NAGE represent 71,900 workers across New England

Maura Healey. ( File photo by Chutze Chou_)

BOSTON – Unions representing more than 71,900 workers across New England have endorsed Maura Healey’s campaign for Governor after the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers & Scientists announced their support today.

MOSES joins Teamsters Local 25, the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council, IBEW Local 103, the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 and the National Association of Government Employees in supporting Healey for Governor. 

“Building an economy where everyone can thrive, and creating more opportunities for economic mobility and stability for families, starts with supporting our workers,” said Maura Healey. “Our state faces major challenges and opportunities when it comes to investments in expanding workforce development opportunities, infrastructure, transportation and housing. Our labor unions are key to this and I’m proud to have their support and to be a partner in how our state moves forward. I’m honored to have the support of MOSES, Teamsters Local 25, Mass Laborers, IBEW 103, Boston Carmen and NAGE, and I look forward to working alongside them to build a stronger, more equitable Massachusetts.”

"MOSES is proud to endorse Maura Healey for Governor,” said Patrick Russell, MOSES President. “She's been a strong partner for years – from blocking environmental rollbacks, to her tireless efforts to enforce our wage laws, to protecting our collective bargaining rights. We know, as Governor, Maura will continue to serve the people of the Commonwealth with great distinction.

“Maura Healey has a long history of working with our union and fighting for our members,” said General President-Elect Sean M. O’Brien of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. “During these challenging times, Massachusetts needs a strong, tested leader who will put people over politics while also leveraging our competitive advantage to protect and create jobs. Maura is a champion for our members who isn’t afraid to fight greedy corporations who refuse to respect workers. Teamsters Local 25 was the first union to endorse Maura Healey for Governor, and we’re proud to support her.” 

“As the People’s Lawyer, Maura Healey stood with Massachusetts workers – combating wage theft, empowering workers to know their rights, and stopping efforts by the federal government to roll back worker protections,” said Joseph Bonfiglio, Business Manager of the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers District Council. “The Massachusetts Laborers are proud to endorse her for Governor, and we look forward to continuing to work together to protect the rights and wellbeing of Massachusetts workers.”

"Maura Healey has been a strong advocate for working people for a long time and she has proven that she can take on tough fights and win for our communities and our members,” said IBEW Local 103 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Lou Antonellis. “She shares our core values of economic justice and equality and she has worked hard to advance those values. She knows our issues, she fights for our issues and she delivers on those issues! We are proud to endorse her for governor and will work very hard to see to it that she wins in November. We are grateful that she took the time to visit our union’s training center and meet with many of our apprentices today.”

“As a champion for working families, Maura Healey has tackled every kind of injustice, from systemic racism in the workplace to marriage inequality,” said Jim Evers, President of the Boston Carmen’s Local 589. “She plans to continue that track record in the top office by tackling the high costs of living and investing in a robust public transit system across the Commonwealth. That’s why Boston Carmen’s Local 589 is proud to stand with Maura Healey for Governor of Massachusetts.”

“As a labor union, we are always looking to endorse candidates whose actions support our members,” said NAGE National President David J. Holway. “As Attorney General, Maura Healey has never wavered in her commitment to working people, and we are confident that this will continue in her work as Governor. We are proud to endorse her as the next Governor.”

美國居民每戶可再免費索取一盒四份新冠病毒檢測劑

            (Boston Orange)  麻州公共衛生廳 (MPH) 9日在推特上提醒麻州居民，本週起，美國境內每戶人家都有資格再索取一盒四份居家新冠病毒檢測劑。

            索取免費檢測劑的網址為https://www.covidtests.gov/。

            根據網站說明，美國境內每戶人家都有資格免費索取2盒居家新冠病毒檢測劑， 一盒有四份檢測劑，二盒就有八份。如果民眾在這消息之前，已索取一套，現在可以填表索取第二盒。

             若需要協助，可撥打電話 1-800-232-0233。電傳打字(TTY)號碼為1-888-720-7489。

              麻州3月9日的新冠病毒數據為新增確診個案775宗，累計已有154萬6685人感染過新冠病毒，現有280人因新冠病毒住院，46人住在重症病房，20人插管。新增28人死亡，累計已有22944人因染患新冠病毒死亡。

波士頓市訂4月1日起新冠解封

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓整理報導) 波士頓市從4月1日起解禁，脫離自2020年3月15日起的新冠病毒緊急狀況。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，波士頓市公共衛生委員會委員暨公共衛生委員會行政主任Bisola Ojikutu，今 (9)日傍晚在波士頓健康委員會 (Boston Board of Health)投票支持Ojikutu的建議後，做此宣佈。

吳弭表示，在過渡進下一階段，和新冠病毒共存之際，波士頓市將把重心放在提供檢測，資源，以及保持社區安全及準備的計畫上。

Ojikutu建議廢除新冠病毒緊急命令是基於波士頓的社區確診率，每日成人新冠病毒住院率，重症病房佔用率等新冠病毒指標持續有改善。截至3月7日，社區確診率為2.2%，和一月份尖峰時期的32%相比，大幅下降。每日成人住院率也從今年1月中尖峰時期的769人，穩定下降至94。重症病房佔用率也持續低於委員會訂定的95%門檻。

                 波士頓健康委員會在會議中也為波士頓公校建議了做取消學校戴口罩規定時可參考的框架。

                   波士頓公共衛生局 (BPHC)傳染病局的 Sarimer Sánchez 博士建議學校可以把波士頓市每10萬名居民的每日確診案例低於10宗，做為衡量戴口罩政策的指標。波士頓市目前的每日個案數約為每10萬居民有13宗。

                是否修訂學校的戴口罩規定將由波士頓公校決定。

CITY OF BOSTON’S COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION TO END APRIL 1

BOSTON—Wednesday, March 9, 2022— Mayor Michelle Wu and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, today announced Boston’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration will end on April 1, 2022. The announcement follows a vote by the Boston Board of Health during their Wednesday meeting following the recommendation of Dr. Ojikutu. The Emergency Declaration has been in place since March 15, 2020.   “Today’s announcement is a testament to how Boston came together in a historically challenging time to lift up public health and community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we transition to this next phase of living with COVID, we will focus on providing the testing, resources, and planning to keep our communities safe and prepared.” “While the City of Boston is no longer in a state of emergency, we must continue to protect our most vulnerable residents and prepare for the future,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu. “Now is the time for us to use all of the lessons learned from the pandemic, strengthen community partnerships, develop stronger public health infrastructure, and ensure an equitable recovery for all.” Dr. Ojikutu’s recommendation to rescind the order is based on the City’s consistently improving core COVID-19 metrics, including community positivity, daily adult COVID-19 hospitalizations, and occupied ICU beds. As of March 7, the community positivity rate is 2.2%, down from a peak of 32% in early January. Daily adult hospitalizations have also steadily declined and are now down to 94 after peaking at 769 in mid-January. The percentage of occupied ICU beds has been consistently below the Commission’s 95% threshold of concern over the last few weeks. During their meeting, Boston Public Health Commission officials provided a recommended framework for Boston Public Schools to use in determining when to lift the school masking requirement. Dr. Sarimer Sánchez from BPHC’s Infectious Diseases Bureau advised reviewing the school masking policy when the number of positive COVID-19 tests per day in Boston falls below 10 cases per day per 100,000 residents while considering other COVID-19 metrics. BPHC is also encouraging development of “mask friendly” policies for students and staff and increasing access to vaccines in school communities. The current COVID-19 daily case incidence is approximately 13 cases per 100,000 residents in Boston. The final decision on revising the school mask policy will be made by Boston Public Schools.  The consistently improving metrics also mean the City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission can shift their focus to longer-term planning and preparedness efforts, developing a roadmap to handle future surges and pandemics, while continuing to support ongoing efforts to increase access to vaccinations and testing. The Boston Public Health Commission declared a state of emergency at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision made in consultation with infectious disease and public health emergency preparedness experts at the Commission as well as the City and other emergency preparedness, public health, and healthcare experts. The Declaration was instrumental in Boston establishing an incident command structure and deploying staff and resources to perform crisis response and healthcare coordination functions throughout the pandemic.   “Based on the data, it is clear to the Board that the emergency declaration is no longer necessary,” said Manny Lopes, Chair of the Boston Board of Health. “I am proud to have worked with Mayor Wu and Dr. Ojikutu, who led with science and made the hard but necessary decisions that kept our city safe and on the path to a much brighter future. The Board looks forward to our continued partnership with the City as we monitor the pandemic and help guide the city toward recovery.” Despite lower case numbers, BPHC cautions residents that COVID-19 is still transmissible, and can result in severe illness and hospitalization, especially for the city’s most vulnerable residents. The Commission recommends residents protect themselves and those around them by getting vaccinated, boosted, and wearing masks indoors if they are at high risk for severe illness or if they will be around individuals who are. There are many people in Boston who are vulnerable to COVID-19, including individuals who are immunocompromised, seniors, and those who are unvaccinated, including young children. Wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator while indoors minimizes your risk of getting infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others. Face coverings are still required on public transportation and at transportation hubs, Boston Public Schools, health care settings, congregate care facilities, emergency shelter programs, and correctional facilities.

麻州最高法院9日聆聽安樂死議題

        (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州最高法院今(9)日聆訊，進一步考慮是否准許由醫事人員輔助的「安樂死」。

一名患有癌症20多年的退休醫生，Roger Kligler正在用他的退休金來支持病人的「安樂死」權益。

住在Falmouth的Kligler患有第四期轉移性前列腺癌，已兩度被告知病入末期，但他迄今仍活著。他說，如果疼痛讓他無法忍受，他希望能用藥結束自己的生命。他眼見過母親，岳父死得很可怕，他不希望自己也那樣死去。

麻州最高法院9日聆聽Kligler要求麻州醫療輔助死亡除罪化的提案。這案件吸引了麻州及全美殘障人士權益團體，宗教人士的關注。

有些團體遞交了簡報，聲稱這是健康，道德，及醫藥及殘障權益問題，該由人們做民主辯論，不該由法院做決定。

一名高等法院法官在2019年12月時駁回了這一訴訟，結論是這醫療輔助死亡應由議會決定。

目前，全美有10個州，以及華府特區 (DC)，允許醫生開藥中止病人的生命。奧勒岡州是第一個允許這種做法的州，並經由選民投票通過後，1997年開始生效。

蒙他拿州 (Montana)是唯一經由司法裁決，而不是經由議會或選民投票來合法化醫療輔助死亡的州。

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.8 Million from Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.8 Million from Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative

 

Supports Infrastructure Investments at Three Homegrown Manufacturers – Lawrence’s 99Degrees Custom, Belmont’s Soliyarn, and Walpole’s Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.) Over $80 Million Invested in Manufacturers Statewide through M2I2

 

LAWRENCE – Tuesday, March 8, 2022 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $2.8 million in new infrastructure grants through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative or M2I2 to three growing manufacturers. The three grants were announced by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy during an event at 99Degrees Custom in Lawrence, a 375-employee manufacturer of tech-integrated apparel, which received nearly $1.1 million in new state support. Grants were also awarded to Soliyarn, a maker of smart textiles based in Belmont, and to Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.), a wearable technology company headquartered in Walpole.   The three awards highlight the Commonwealth’s strength in innovative textiles, an advanced manufacturing sector targeted by the M2I2 program and a sector that the Commonwealth has played a leadership role in over the last two centuries.   “These three grantees are developing technical apparel used in medical and military applications, ‘smart’ products that provide enhanced protection from the elements but also provide enhanced functionality,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through this support, they have the opportunity to enhance their ability to compete in markets across the U.S. and the globe.”   “Since its launch in 2016, M2I2 has impacted over 150 companies across the state and created hundreds of jobs at manufacturers like these,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “For these three grantees, the addition of new tools will help them grow their businesses, add jobs, and bring new products to market, further boosting our economy and growing our manufacturing sector.”   The M2I2 program, co-managed by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) at the MassTech Collaborative and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, aims to foster and grow sectors such as this to spur innovation and job growth within the state through cross-collaboration among companies, universities, national labs, government, incubators, accelerators, and other academic and training institutions. To date, the program has invested over $80 million in direct grants to growing companies, universities, and research labs across the state.   “Through the M2I2 program, we identify manufacturers that can leverage state funding to drive future growth, allowing them to become more efficient, more competitive, and more responsive to customer needs,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “For 99Degrees, Soliyarn, and H.S.I., these grants will help fuel the development of new products and drive corporate expansion, while simultaneously creating more high-skilled jobs and more innovative ‘Made in Mass’ products in the marketplace.”   The three awarded projects, totaling $2,838,375, include: · 99Degrees Custom, Lawrence, Mass., $1,088,375 for the project, “Integrated Apparel Innovation Center:” 99Degrees incubates, designs for manufacture, and produces technical performance activewear and wearable technology-integrated apparel for medical device, technology, and apparel retail companies. The Integrated Apparel Innovation Center at their facility will include a rapid prototyping center for apparel and technology-integrated apparel products, as well as an equipment R&D lab to design, develop and build the tooling and machinery needed to incubate and scale the production of advanced concept apparel and wearable technologies. This industry-led innovation center will ensure that the ideas coming out of the Commonwealth’s labs, academic institutions, research centers, and technologies companies are able to be designed for manufacture, piloted, and produced at-scale in Massachusetts. · Soliyarn, Belmont, Mass., $1,500,000 for an expansion project to build a manufacturing facility with scalable CVD Roll-to-Roll System for Conductive & PFC free DWR textiles. This project will complete a manufacturing facility with a scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) roll-to-roll system for conductive and durable water repellent (DWR) textiles that are free of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). The objective is to expand the manufacturing capabilities and commercialize the technology by designing and building a roll-to-roll system of CVD chambers that will allow Soliyarn to produce bolts of conductive and DWR fabric. This higher throughput roll-to-roll machine, and other ancillary supporting elements, are required to meet identified military needs and the exploding market demand for these types of fabrics.   · Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.), Walpole, Mass., $250,000 for the project Critical Manufacturing, Assembly, and Integration of Garment-Embedded, Textile Electronics Elements.  The objective of this project is to develop a new garment-embedded, wearable electronics platform that will be configurable during manufacturing to any desired product application. This program represents an opportunity for HSI, plus their current and emerging industry partners in Massachusetts, to establish a garment-embedded electronics supply chain for multiple products, applications, and markets. This initial Heated Apparel product offers a stepping stone to the development and deployment of an exciting garment-embedded electronics product category. This is the second M2I2 grant to H.S.I., following a nearly $1.5 million award announced in October 2019. The Baker-Polito Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the M2I2 effort, which allows the Commonwealth to co-invest in projects supported by the national Manufacturing USA initiative, helping promote innovation and job growth across the state. The three grantees have also received support from the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) national manufacturing institute based in Cambridge. "Our strong manufacturing sector and involvement with companies through programs like M2I2 was a key reason why Massachusetts was quickly able to address the negative supply issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ben Linville-Engler, Chief Investment Strategist at the MassTech Collaborative. “The Commonwealth’s engagement with manufacturers and partnership with key R&D facilities, made it much easier to help textile manufacturers and others pivot to produce millions of masks, gowns, and face shields that were in high-demand at that time because that trust and collaboration already existed. These investment programs have created a strong foundation that have led to these manufacturing success stories that we intend to continue to build on.” In addition to the $80 million directly invested in Massachusetts organizations, M2I2 has leveraged over $250 million in funding from outside sources, helping to enable the development of over 100 new products. In addition to infrastructure investments, the program has also created workforce training opportunities for thousands of students and workers statewide.  "I want to congratulate 99Degrees for being awarded a Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) Grant to help launch their Integrated Apparel Innovation Center,” said Senator Barry Finegold. “Investments in programs like M2I2 are critical to support economic and career growth in Lawrence and other Gateway Cities. I’m proud to see that Massachusetts continues to be a hub for innovative and emerging technologies.” "Human Systems Integration is a national leader in wearable technologies and manufacturing innovation right here in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul Feeney.  “The funding received by HSI in East Walpole will continue to support the company’s cutting-edge products while supporting the skilled workforce that makes this innovation possible. I am thrilled that HSI will continue to benefit from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) Program, and I thank the Baker Administration and the leadership at HSI for their ongoing commitment to manufacturing here in the Commonwealth.” "For more than three centuries, manufacturing along the Neponset River in East Walpole has been on the cutting edge of innovation,” said Representative John Rogers. “Human Systems Integration, Inc. (HSI) has continued this legacy.  I am pleased that this state funding will continue to incentivize technological and economic growth in our region and excited to see the new state of the art products this business will create.” Manufacturers with facilities in Massachusetts can learn more about funding opportunities through the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the M2I2 program at https://cam.masstech.org/. ### About the Mass. Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative, and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. The CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth’s tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development and a business friendly environment. CAM managed programs include the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the mamanufacturing.com portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.org/