第二屆香港日十二地麻州協會與盛

麻州香港協會昨（十三）日下午在麻州州政府大樓舉辦第二屆“香港日”，近百名來自各行各業人士出席，交流。

        麻州香港協會會長葉俊年在麻州眾議員陳德基協助下，還促請麻州州長派區克簽發了一份表揚狀給新上任的香港駐美國總經濟貿易專員梁卓文，訂定六月十三日為香港日。

        麻州州長派區克的表揚狀聲稱，由於美國有六萬人住在香港，香港漢麻州之間的貿易在過去兩年間從7億八千萬元，增加到十七億六千萬元，增幅達150%，由葉俊年擔任主席，包括十二個分會的全美麻州協會於六月十三日這天在波士頓開會等原因，麻州認可香港的重要性，特地藉香港駐美國總經濟貿易專員梁卓文首次訪問波士頓時，宣佈這天為香港日，聊以誌勝。

        葉俊年表示，包括加州，喬治亞州，佛羅里達州，夏威夷州，伊利若州，麻州，內華達州，紐約州，德州，賓州，華盛頓州等，共有十二個州的麻州協會，昨日早上在畢馬威（KPMG）會計師樓開會，討論如何加強各州香港人企業的交流，並攜手為促進香港與美國的加強經貿關係而努力。

        梁卓文為此特地指出，香港經貿辦事處剛與麻州國際貿易及投資辦公室（MOITI）再度簽署了備忘錄，為雙邊合作更進一步奠定基礎。

    梁卓文表示，華爾街日報最近再度把香港評為最自由的貿易市場，香港高速鐵路發展迅速，把香港和中國連得更近，十八哩有橋，有隧道的通道， 也把香港和澳門連成一氣。

過去這一年，香港共接待了五千四百萬名遊客，約等於麻州人口八倍，德州人口兩倍，証明香港已是非常成功的樞紐區。

梁卓文在2010年到今年二月前，擔任香港食物環境衛生署署長一職，昨日不單指出香港如今是比英國倫敦更受歡迎的酒品拍賣場，還透露香港是美國牛肉的進口“大國”。他昨日特地前往麻州生物協會（Mass Bio）參觀，表示香港科學園正在進行第三期工程，生物醫藥業是重點項目。

昨日出席香港日活動者十分多元，除了來自加州的美國香港協會副主席鄭錦年，南加州香港協會會長李文超，紐約香港協會會長滕紹駿等各地香港協會會長之外，美國小企業行政局新英格蘭地區主管，以及經濟發展專員伍少武都應邀到會。

              圖片說明：

    

                    香港駐美國總經濟貿易專員梁卓文（前左五），香港經貿辦事處署理處長張沛（右五），和麻州香港協會會長葉俊年(前左四)，麻州眾議員Kay Khan（前左三），陳德基，黃子安，以及各地香港協會會長切蛋糕，慶祝香港日。（菊子攝）

麻州府撥款九百萬助首次購屋者實現屋主夢想

            麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（十三）日在多徹斯特的公民（Citizen）銀行宣佈，將以九百萬元經費，幫助首次購屋者實現“居者有其屋”夢想。

過去這一週是麻州住宅週（Commonwealth Housing Week），共有平均收入低於地區平均收入的一千多名首次購屋者，利用已推出六個月的麻州屋主協會（Mass Homeownership Compact）所提供服務，向26家銀行，機構，取得貸款，實現購屋理想。

            這九百萬元由可負擔住宅信託基金（ Affordable Housing Trust Fund），穩定住宅基金（Housing Stabilization Fund）支持，將在麻州建造一百六十個以上的可負擔及市價房屋。該基金將容許屋主以他們能夠負擔得起的價格來購買低收入或中等收入住宅。

 2013年六月時，派區克宣佈成立“麻州貸款協會（Mass Mortgage Compact）”，訂定在未來五年為一萬名首次購屋者提供貸款的目標。

本週稍早時，作為麻州住宅週活動的一部份，麻州銀行部撥款一百五十萬元，給十一個地區性的防止貸款贖回權遭取消中心，以及十個個人或首次購屋中心。

昨日獲發購屋補助款的五個機構包括亞美社區發展協會（ACDC）和新波士頓創投所發展的廿四號地段南座。

麻州最低時薪有望提高到十一元

麻州的最低時薪，終於要提高了。麻州參議會週四（十二日）晚以35比4的高票通過，到2017年時，把麻州最低時薪從八元提高到十一元。一般估計，麻州眾議會將通過此案，麻州長也已暗示他將簽字同意。

麻州餐議會議長泰瑞莎穆瑞（ Therese Murray）在投票後表示，一週工作三十，四十小時，卻每小時只賺八元的人，在麻州無法生活。

參議會通過的法案為，到2015年一月一日時，最低薪資漲至九元，之後每年增加一元，直到2017年增加至十一元。

麻州參議會原本要求把最低薪資提高到十一元，並把未來增幅和通貨膨脹連在一起，中議會的計劃則為最低時薪提高到十元五角，並不用通貨膨脹做指數。麻州參議會是在參眾兩會開會同意協商結果後投票同意了提高最低時薪案。

            由於工資停滯不前，收入差距越來越大，推動提高最低時薪，已是全美趨勢。

奧巴馬總統就支持把聯邦最低時薪提高到 $10.10 ，不過該計劃在國會內沒什麼進展。最近數個月，包括新澤西州，加州等，多州推動了自己的提高最低時薪做法。有些城市還採取了非常激進的行動。西雅圖市在本月稍早前通過了最低時薪十五元，超過任何一州訂定的最低時薪。舊金山市的李孟賢（Ed Lee）也提出了最低時薪十五元的法案。

麻州預算及政策中心會長Noah Berger表示，最低時薪提高到十一元，在麻州內將容許大約五十萬人得到加薪結果。這對那些家庭很重要，也將對麻州經濟產生重要影響。他感到失望的事，該法案只讓小費工人的最低薪資從2.63元漲至3.75元。他也擔心，在漲幅不和通貨膨脹掛鉤下，等最低工資在2017年漲到最高幅度的十一元時，薪資價值已抵不上加薪幅度了。

麻州零售商協會董事長Jon Hurst表示，這三年38%的漲幅，有點令人震驚。他預測那將導致職位減少，甚至有小企業會關門。他說，當麻州351個市鎮的主皆有很多店鋪關門再回望這天時，人們會說為什麼沒有更嚴肅對待小企業的顧慮。

波士頓環球報表示，華府的經濟政策院（Economic Policy Institute）受該報委託所做的數據統計分析顯示，幾乎有三分之二會因為最低薪資提高到十一元而受益的麻州居民，是那些家庭綜合收入在四萬元以上者。

            加州大學爾灣校區的經濟學者David Neumark稱以提高最低薪資來處理收入不平等，是一種很奇怪的辦法，既不能幫助最窮的人，也沒從最有錢的人那兒拿到什麼，但小企業東主卻將承擔漲價結果。

BOSTON BROTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD ONE FUND BOSTON OF $2 MILLION, STEAL FROM REAL VICTIMS OF BOMBING

BOSTON BROTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD ONE FUND BOSTON OF $2 MILLION, STEAL FROM REAL VICTIMS OF BOMBING

Claimed Their Long-Deceased Aunt Suffered Double Amputation Due to Boston Marathon Bombings

            BOSTON – A pair of brothers from Boston have been found guilty for attempting to defraud The One Fund Boston of $2 million by submitting a false claim on behalf of their dead aunt, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

“These two defendants orchestrated a callous scheme to steal more than $2 million from the real victims of the Boston marathon bombings,” said AG Coakley. “We are pleased that a jury has now held them both accountable.”

Following a four-day trial, a Suffolk Superior Court jury today found Branden Mattier, 23, of the South End, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250, Attempt to Commit Larceny over $250, and Identity Fraud. The jury also found his brother, Domunique Grice, 28, also of the South End, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250 and Attempt to Commit Larceny over $250.

Mattier and Grice will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jeffery Locke on June 23 in Suffolk Superior Court. Both defendants were taken into custody after the verdict was returned and held without bail pending sentencing.

            In June 2013, The One Fund Boston referred the matter to the AG’s Office after it suspected that the claim submitted by Mattier and Grice on behalf of their aunt, Onevia Bradley, was false. 
           
            The AG’s investigation revealed that on May 7, 2013 Mattier and Grice attended a Town Hall meeting held by The One Fund at the Boston Public Library on behalf of their supposedly injured aunt. Afterwards, Mattier spoke with the media about the importance of their aunt being compensated immediately because the hospital bills were coming in.

Mattier followed-up on May 29, 2013 by sending an email to The One Fund asking if his aunt could make a claim as a double amputee if the amputation was expected to be performed in the future. In June, The One Fund received a claim form, put together by Mattier and Grice. It included a letter, created by Mattier, but purportedly from the chief of trauma services at the Boston Medical Center affirming their aunt as a double amputee. The letter was dated May 2, 2013, a full 27 days before Mattier’s email to The One Fund saying their aunt might lose her other leg.

            Investigation also revealed that at the end of June, the brothers attended a private ceremonial closing of a memorial erected in Copley Square and a complimentary dinner at the Seaport Hotel, both meant only for bombing victims and their families.

According to officials at the Boston Medical Center, their aunt never received treatment at the hospital in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing nor did the letter originate from the trauma center. The investigation further revealed through public records that Onevia Bradley had actually died more than 10 years earlier.

As part of the investigation, Mattier signed for a letter on July 1, 2013 informing him that his aunt had been awarded $2.195 million from The One Fund Boston. The letter informed Mattier that he would receive the check by courier the next morning, July 2, 2013. State police arrested Mattier after delivering the simulated check. 

The investigation also showed that Mattier and Grice had scheduled an appointment to test drive a new Mercedes-Benz E350 the same day the check was scheduled to be delivered. As a result of Mattier’s arrest, they did not attend that appointment.

Mattier was arrested on July 2, 2013 by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office. He was arraigned on July 3, 2013 in Boston Municipal Court. Mattier and Grice were indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on August 29, 2013. Today, they were found guilty by a Suffolk Superior Court jury. They will be sentenced in Suffolk Superior Court on June 23.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Gina Masotta of the AG’s Public Integrity Division and Assistant Attorney General John Verner, Chief of the AG’s Criminal Bureau, with assistance from Investigator Sallyann Nelligan, Victim Advocate Lisa Solecki, State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab. One Fund Boston promptly reported the allegations, and cooperated throughout the investigation.

第 二屆波士頓台灣生物科技研討會 6/14, 15

中華民俗藝術工作坊 6/14 公演

Inaugural Certificate Program and Internship Model will Change Lives for Graduates by Creating a Pipeline to Skilled Jobs

Inaugural Certificate Program and Internship Model will Change Lives for Graduates by Creating a Pipeline to Skilled Jobs


BOSTON, June 13, 2014 – Building upon the Patrick Administration’s commitment to help strengthen the Commonwealth’s community colleges’ workforce development programs, Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor recently recognized graduates of the joint certificate and internship program developed by Bunker Hill Community College and the Department of Revenue (DOR) to educate students who have chosen a career in taxation or auditing. The certificate program was launched last fall.  Students who successfully completed the prerequisite courses were then accepted into a paid internship program at DOR which included rotations in auditing and taxpayer services. 
 
“This is a great collaboration between our community college system and the Department of Revenue which will help address the need for skilled workers through college-based training,” said Secretary Shor.

Bunker Hill Community College, in partnership with DOR, began offering the new taxation certificate program in the spring of 2013.  As part of the new curriculum, students participated in presentations from DOR staff on Massachusetts state tax law. Upon completion of the class curriculum, students enrolled in the certificate program who met certain GPA requirements, also participated in a 17-week internship at DOR. In addition to the rigorous certificate program, Bunker Hill and DOR collaborated on the Business Administration Associate Degree with a Taxation Option that was added to the curriculum this spring.

“The students just finished up their internships at DOR, where they spent several months working in auditing and taxpayer services,” said DOR Commissioner Amy Pitter.  “This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to work with the students and really get to know one another.  We have openings here at DOR and this group of interns is exactly who we are hoping to attract.”

“We are so pleased with the success of this new partnership with the Department of Revenue, which has given our students not only internship opportunities but job offers. It's a win-win for our students and the program," said Pam Eddinger, President of Bunker Hill Community College.

Commissioner Pitter also noted that the program at Bunker Hill Community College has helped DOR to identify and attract students looking to change careers and acquire mid-level skills for a professional career in taxation. DOR reached out to Bunker Hill Community College to help create the program in the face of a critical shortage of workers. The department anticipates losing a considerable number of longtime, skilled employees over the next five years due to retirement or new opportunities.

In total, nine students completed the taxation certificate and internship programs.  Some of the students who successfully completed the program may be offered positions at DOR.

逾百民眾聚集柯普利廣場要求最低時薪提高到十五元

數以百計民眾響應“低薪工人行動日”，昨（十二）日下午匯聚在波士頓市科普利廣場前，舉標語牌，喊口號，要求政府把最低時薪提高到十五元。

        “低薪工人行動日”是由大波士頓廿八個組織發起的行動，主要有三點訴求，包括更好的工資，受尊重及享尊嚴，在工作場所有發言權。華人前進會是其中唯一來自華埠社區組織。

            組織者在會場派發的傳單指出，快餐店及零售業員工此起彼落的罷工，已在美國為爭取經濟正義注入了新能量。麥當勞，沃爾瑪等大企業開股東會時發生的大型示威，也清楚顯示，那些公司再沒藉口只付很低薪資。

        華人前進會派陳玉珍做翻譯，昨日在會場上協助醫療資源（Medical Resources）公司華裔員工曹玲珠站台做見證，指出華人前進會介入，協助員工們與公司商議後，他們的薪水增加了，但增加得極少。

            華人前進會工人互助中心余翠鳳表示，該會今年五月十發信給提供居家護理服務的醫療資源公司，要求代表工人與公司開會，改善工人工作環境。他們提出了六點要求，包括把最低薪資提高到生活薪資（living wage）的每小時十三點七六元，花紅按百分比計算，在公眾假期工作應發給雙倍工資，往返時間（travel time）也應獲得全部工資，發給有薪病假，有薪假期等。

            余翠鳳表示，前前後後，約有七十名醫療資源公司員工曾到前進會求助。該公司還未和前進會晤談，但已於六月六日前調整了部分員工薪資，原本時薪九元者，提高至九元五角，十元者，加了幾分錢等。

            波士頓市健康及人民服務長（Chief of Health and Human Services)小阿若約（Felix Arroyo）昨日特地趕到會場，向示威人群表示，波士頓市長也關心低薪民眾收入不足以維生的難處，將多方面研究改善方法。

            示威群眾昨日在柯普利廣場集會後，轉往有工友抱怨的數家公司，包括溫蒂快餐店（Wendy’s），醫療資源公司，以及合法海鮮（Legal Seafood）店等門前，遊行示威。

圖片說明：

             陳玉珍(前右)做翻譯，協助醫療資源（Medical Resources）公司華裔員工曹玲珠站台做見證。（菊子攝） 

          包括華人前進會榮譽主席湯建華（坐者右一），執委梁德生（立者右一）等，昨日約有廿多名華人在場，參加示威。（菊子攝）

            華人前進會向醫療資源公司提出的六點要求，昨日以大字報形式，在會場中展示。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市健康及人民服務長（Chief of Health and Human Services)小阿若約（Felix Arroyo）昨日特地趕到會場，表達波士頓市長關懷心意。（菊子攝）

華埠社區聯盟 談波市公校預算 報告綠路活動

華埠社區聯盟(TCC)昨（十二）日舉行月例會，報告健康項目執行結果，簡介波士頓公校預算編列概況，說明綠路保護會現狀，提出修建喜露街五十號構想。

            塔芙茨大學學生郝心希(譯音，Cynthia Hau)昨日報告，在塔芙茨醫療中心資助下，塔大與王氏華埠青年會合作，為亞裔耆英提供六個月免費會籍，根據亞裔的文化及語言來設計活動，鼓勵耆英定期參加，培養健康習慣，改善飲食營養。大約五十個人參加，六個月下來，無論是身體功能，認知程度，抑鬱程度，都有改善。該項目也因此獲獎，受邀於十一月到美國公共衛生協會年會做報告。

            伍綺玲卸任波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任一職後，轉往波士頓公校總部辦公室工作。她昨日報告波市公校預算編定概況，指出波市公校為彌補經費短缺，正計劃廢除為七，八年級學生提供的巴士校車服務。波市公校人事部，也因缺經費，要裁員一半。她表示，教育關乎子女，社會的未來，華埠社區也應該關心公校經費的運用。

        綠路保護會（Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservance）新上任的行政主任Jesse Brackenbury在會中報告，綠路和其他公園不同的地方在於，所有維護管理全由綠路自行處理，地方政府並不介入。他指出，綠路每年舉辦三百場以上的免費活動，義工服務時間不下三千小時，去年共有八十多萬人參加過綠路的活動。整條綠路從2010年底起，就已經為民眾提供免費寬頻上網（Wifi）的便利。

            昨日還有哈佛學生報告他們參加聯邦住宅貸款銀行比賽，製作的修建喜露街五十號構想。

圖片說明：

            華埠社區聯盟開會。

            塔芙茨大學學生郝心希(譯音，Cynthia Hau)昨日報告“健康習慣”計劃獲獎。

            綠路保護會（Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservance）新上任的行政主任Jesse Brackenbury盼華埠民眾多使用綠路公園，加入義工行列。

麻州州長: 麻州已成全球創新中心

 

麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（十二）日出席“創新狀況論壇（State of Innovation Forum）”，稱麻州已成為全球創新樞紐。

派區克在數位媒體公司波士頓創新（BostInno）所辦，約1500名業界領袖，創業者，學生，專業人士參加的“創新狀況論壇（State of Innovation Forum）“中表示，無論是經濟，政府，甚至社會，麻州已成為創新的環球樞紐。那是麻州長處所在，也是為什麼麻州未來光明。

            今年四月時，派區克簽署“推廣成長及機會法（An Act to Promote Growth and Opportunity），宣佈一套經濟發展計劃，提供新工具及訓練，以期麻州人力符合僱主需要；投資進門戶城市，為創造就業機會極刺激經濟提供優惠，以推廣整個麻州發展。       

            他說，麻州正推動著前所未有的公家機關和私人企業合作關係，促進了創新經濟的成長與競爭力。譬如麻州生命科學中心已成為世界上卓越生命科學群發展的催化劑。過去六年來，該中心在整個麻州投資或承諾了五億兩千萬元，促成十五億元的相關私人企業投資。

            ”麻州挑戰（MassChallenge）“已成為世界上最大的初創公司加速器，還正在做國際拓展。489名麻州挑戰“校友”所創辦的公司，籌募了四億七千兩百萬元，創造了3900個工作機會。

            麻州州政府和企業界支持，設在霍利奧克（Holyoke）的高性能計算中心現在已成為共用設備，容許麻州五所最大的研究大學做前衛研究。

            麻州住宅及經濟發展長畢樂奇（Greg Bialecki）表示，政府選擇了能夠為每個居民擴展經濟機會，持續加速發展創新經濟的政策。

 

            麻州科技界共有廿萬份工作職位，一萬三千五百家公司，經濟產出達到1560億元左右。勞工統計局的一份2012年報告在評估全美的高科技就業機會成長時，把麻州排為第二名。

            也是在2012年，麻州州長派區克任命了麻州的第一個政府創新長（Government Innovation Office），以協助州內居民，企業及地方政府使用科技來改善工作表現及生活。

            麻州州長派區克昨日還出席了創意企業高峰會（Creative Industries Summit），談論麻州在教育，創新，基礎設施上的投資，支持了約有十萬名工作人員，十億元經濟影響力的這創意經濟及創新行業。

            麻州在2007年時，成為全美第一個設立創意經濟工業主任（Economy Industry Director）職位的州。2008年，派區克簽署法案，成立創意經濟會（Creative Economy Council），推動“下一步創意資源會議項目（CreativeNEXT Resource Meeting program）”等一系列方案。

GOVERNOR PATRICK DISCUSSES STRENGTH OF INNOVATION ECONOMY; TOUTS COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO STIMULATE CONTINUED GROWTH

Boston – Thursday, June 12, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined over 1,500 business leaders, entrepreneurs, students and professionals to discuss the strength of Massachusetts’ nation-leading innovation economy and the continued need to invest in these sectors to benefit our collective future at BostInno and Streetwise Media’s State of Innovation Forum.

“Massachusetts has become a global hub of innovation -- in our economy, in government, throughout our society,” said Governor Patrick. “That's where our competitive edge lies and why our future is bright.”

Thursday’s event united leaders in the innovation sector and explored the state of innovation across the Commonwealth’s strongest industries – including marketing, big data, mobile, transportation, retail, e-commerce and education. The event was sponsored by BostInno, a digital media and events company, which is part of the Streetwise Media network.

In April, Governor Deval Patrick announced an economic development package that provides new tools and training so the Commonwealth’s workforce is prepared to meet the needs of employers, invests in its Gateway Cities to promote development across the entire state and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The Governor’s bill, An Act to Promote Growth and Opportunity, builds on the Administration’s proven growth strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure that has led to record job creation in Massachusetts and made the Commonwealth a global leader in key innovation economy sectors. For more information on the bill, please visit www.mass.gov/compete.

Massachusetts is making unprecedented public private-collaborations, which are fueling growth and competition in the innovation economy. For example, the Massachusetts Life Science Center has been a catalyst for the development of the world’s preeminent life sciences cluster. Over the past six years, the Massachusetts Life Science Center has invested or committed $520 million across the state, which has leveraged more than $1.5 billion private investment for these companies and facilities.

MassChallenge has become the world’s largest startup accelerator and is expanding internationally. The 489 MassChallenge alumni startups have raised over $472 million in outside funding and created over 3,900 jobs. A new green high-performance computing center in Holyoke, supported by government and business, now serves as a shared facility enabling cutting-edge work at the state’s five largest research universities.

“Massachusetts continues to be a global hub of innovation due to our comprehensive economic development strategy and key investments in education,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “We are choosing policies that will extend economic opportunity to every resident of the Commonwealth and continue to accelerate our thriving innovation economy.”

Massachusetts’ economic recovery has been largely fueled by its strong, diverse and interdisciplinary technology sector. This sector of the state’s innovation economy has proven to be one of the strongest in the world, and continues to advance technology and research in areas like the life sciences, cleantech, software, digital marketing, e-commerce, big data, eHealth and robotics. The Massachusetts technology sector includes over 200,000 direct jobs, over 13,500 firms and an estimated $156 billion of economic output. A 2012 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Massachusetts second in the Nation high tech job growth.

Recognizing the direct tie between innovation and the evolution of the Massachusetts economy, Governor Patrick has lead the charge to find innovative ways to change the way government does business by improving efficiency and streamlining the delivery of government services. In 2012, the Patrick Administration named the Commonwealth’s first Government Innovation Office to improve the experience of state government for citizens, businesses and municipalities while also working to boost internal government efficiencies, leverage technology to improve services and save money and improve performance for state employees and residents alike.

The Patrick Administration is committed to providing the tools and resources to support innovation across the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth’s Council for Innovation, established by Governor Patrick in 2012, engages experts and entrepreneurs to help the Commonwealth make targeted investments in new technology and offers advice on the best opportunities to improve government efficiency and use technology to streamline delivery of services to people, businesses and local governments.

“Innovation has been the hallmark of our efforts to make government more efficient and customer friendly,” said Secretary for Administration and Finance Glen Shor.

Later today, Governor Patrick will address the Creative Industries Summit, to discuss how the Administration’s investments in education, innovation and infrastructure have supported innovation and the creative economy in Massachusetts. With over 100,000 workers and a $1 billion statewide economic impact, the creative industries in Massachusetts are an integral part of the Massachusetts economy.

The creative industries include many interlocking sectors, which provide creative services or create and promote intellectual property products. The sector includes businesses, organizations and individuals working in marketing, architecture, visual arts, design, film, media, food, digital games, entertainment, music and publishing.

In 2007, Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to establish the position of creative Economy Industry Director which is housed at the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. In 2008, Governor Patrick signed legislation instituting the Creative Economy Council whose purpose is to develop a statewide strategy for growth of the creative economy in Massachusetts. Since that time, the Patrick Administration has launched a number of initiatives to support the creative economy in Massachusetts including the Creative Economy Network, which tracks progress and promotes efforts to support the creative economy on the local, regional and state-wide level.

The Administration has also launched CreativeNEXT Resource Meeting program, a business development program that helps owners of small and medium-sized creative businesses quickly access resources and advice to help grow their enterprises by meeting with an expert panel. These sessions, and one-on-one office hours with the Creative Economy Director, have provided specialized resources to over 100 creative companies.

麻州生命科學中心推出 STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is pleased to announce the launch of the fourth round of an open solicitation for capital grants to public schools for the purchase of lab equipment and supplies. This year, both high schools and middle schools are invited to apply for funding. The STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program enables the purchase of equipment and supplies to train students in life sciences technology and research as well as addresses a funding gap in capital dollars for public and not-for-profit workforce training and educational institutions. The program also seeks to increase student achievement and student interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), as well as support the implementation of state STEM standards.

The program has previously awarded more than $8.4 million to high schools throughout Massachusetts and leveraged more than $1 million in matching funds from the life sciences industry.

Applicants must request funding to purchase equipment and/or supplies to support STEM education that prepares students with the skills needed for future employment in the life sciences. The "life sciences" are defined in the MLSC's enabling legislation as "advanced and applied sciences that expand the understanding of human physiology and have the potential to lead to medical advances or therapeutic applications." Requested equipment and/or supplies must be used to support science (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics), technology (e.g. robotics, computer science, etc.), engineering, and/or math education and training. Earth and Space Science, as well as Allied Health training will not qualify for funding.

Funding for this round of the program is only intended for Fiscal Year 2016. Items purchased under the grant must be shipped to grant recipients between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.

Eligible high schools, as well as community-based organizations that serve such high schools, can apply for up to $100,000 in grant funding. Applicants seeking funding of greater than $100,000 (but no more than $250,000) are required to secure matching funds, in cash or as an in-kind donation, for any amount over $100,000 from an industry partner.

Eligible middle schools, as well as community-based organizations that serve such middle schools, can apply for up to $50,000 in grant funding.

In order to be eligible, applicants must be located in Massachusetts and be one of the following:

• Vocational technical high school (as determined by the Chapter 74 of the General Laws of Massachusetts) or a comprehensive public high school with approved vocational technical program;
• Public high school or middle school located in a "Gateway City" as determined by Section 3A of Chapter 23A of the General Laws of Massachusetts (Click here to view a list of Gateway Cities);
• Public high school or middle school with a student population of at least 30% that qualify for free and reduced lunch (a list of schools that meet this criterion is available upon request); or
• Community-based non-profit organization serving schools that meet the above-stated criteria.

If your school or organization is eligible for funding through this program, please carefully review the Grant Solicitation posted on our website prior to completing the online application:www.masslifesciences.com  

Applications are due on

October 10, 2014 at Noon.

If you have questions about the program after you have reviewed the materials on our website, please send an e-mail to: equip@masslifesciences.com

Best,

Susan Windham Bannister, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

Swindham-bannister@masslifesciences.com

Massachusetts Becomes First State in the Nation to Require Utilities to Modernize the Electric Grid

Massachusetts Becomes First State in the Nation to Require Utilities to Modernize the Electric Grid

BOSTON – Thursday, June 12, 2014 – The Patrick Administration today announced that the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has issued two groundbreaking orders requiring Massachusetts electric distribution companies to modernize the electric grid, building on the Commonwealth’s national leadership on energy efficiency and renewable energy. With these orders, Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to require electric distribution companies to take affirmative and far-reaching steps to modernize the electric grid. 

“The grid modernization order builds on Governor Patrick’s commitment to strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure, and creates jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “By implementing grid modernization, Massachusetts will once again be leading the nation in the clean energy revolution and enabling customers to participate in how and when they consume energy.”

The DPU’s order requires each utility to develop and implement a 10-year grid modernization plan, to be updated regularly. The DPU determined grid modernization will provide several benefits including:

·         Empowering customers to better manage and reduce electricity costs;

·         Enhancing the reliability and resiliency of electricity service in the face of increasingly extreme weather;

·         Encouraging innovation and investment in new technology and infrastructure, strengthening the competitive electricity market;

·         Addressing climate change and meeting clean energy requirements by integrating more clean and renewable power, demand response, electricity storage, microgrids and electric vehicles, and providing for increased amounts of energy efficiency.

The companion order on time varying rates recognizes that the cost of electricity changes dramatically over the course of a day and year.  Currently, most customers pay a flat rate. The time varying order would require utilities to set prices that take into account the varying costs of electricity and allow customers to make informed decisions on their electricity use throughout the day.

Grid modernization and time varying rates also will allow the Commonwealth to reduce peak demand, a tremendous savings opportunity for all customers, not just those who respond to price signals.  Currently, for reliability purposes, all customers pay to have an electric system that can provide power during peak demand periods, even if those periods occur only a few times a year. Grid modernization and time varying rates will lead to lower electricity use during peak demand periods, reducing the need to build new energy infrastructure and saving money for all. 

“This order establishes the platform and the incentives for utilities and other businesses to innovate and invest in new technology, to continue to upgrade our current infrastructure, and to increase the use of renewable energy, electric cars, energy storage, and microgrids,” said DPU Chair Ann Berwick. “At the same time, customers will be empowered to control their electricity use and save money.”

The Patrick Administration’s aggressive clean energy initiatives have made Massachusetts a leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions reductions. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has named Massachusetts number one for three years running. Last year, Governor Patrick set a new solar goal after reaching the previous goal of 250 megawatts four years early. The Commonwealth now aims to install 1,600 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020. The clean energy revolution is yielding economic benefits as well, with 11.8 percent job growth in the last year; nearly 80,000 people are employed in the cleantech industry in Massachusetts.