Baker-Polito Administration Files Economic Development Legislation Providing “Opportunities for All”

Baker-Polito Administration Files Economic Development Legislation Providing “Opportunities for All”

Community support, workforce development and emerging technology focus of $918 million investment

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito today filed legislation to advance job creation and economic growth by empowering communities and regions to reach their potential, expanding workforce development efforts to close the skills gap and connect residents with economic opportunities, and investing in emerging technologies to set the stage for future job growth across the Commonwealth.

“We are committed to creating a platform for growth and prosperity across the Commonwealth, and this legislation will make key investments in the economic potential of our communities and residents,” said Governor Baker. “Strong communities, a highly-trained workforce, and our commitment to welcoming emerging technologies will ensure Massachusetts’ continues to have a pro-growth business environment providing economic opportunities for all.”

The legislation, “An Act to Provide Opportunities for All,” reflects and begins to implement several aspects of the Baker-Polito Administration’s comprehensive economic development plan, including investments of up to $918 million in capital funding for local infrastructure, Brownfields site cleanup, Gateway Cities development, development site assembly and site readiness, smart growth housing, workforce development, emerging technologies, and community-based innovation.

“Community development and revitalization have been priorities of ours since day one, and this bill will provide new investments and tools to enable and leverage private development toward that goal,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito.“Opportunities to expand the successful MassWorks infrastructure program, spur industrial and commercial development outside Route 128 and reform housing production incentives will help build strong, vibrant communities and drive growth across the Commonwealth.”

The legislation also makes several reforms relative to smart growth housing, streamlines the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program, and refocuses the work of regional economic development nonprofits.

“Massachusetts’ greatest asset is its brainpower, and this legislation provides the state’s innovators with the tools they need to create the next generation of jobs in technology and in advanced manufacturing,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash. “By supporting public-private partnerships in applied research, and community-based innovation spaces, this economic development bill will deepen our innovation ecosystem, cement Massachusetts’ position as the nation’s most innovative state, and harness emerging technologies to create long-term job growth in every region of the Commonwealth.”

“One of the things we are focused on in the Baker administration is creating opportunities for all residents. With this economic development plan we will ensure more people get skills, education and training to fill the jobs employers have open now and in the future,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II. “The $75 million in Workforce Skills Capital grants will enable career and technical training programs to give students the skills they need to compete for jobs in today’s high-tech environment.”

“This economic development plan will not only help replicate what works, but will also offer critical tools to allow municipalities, higher education institutions, and the private sector to leverage partnerships in more areas of the Commonwealth than ever before,” said Education Secretary Jim Peyser. “It will also significantly expand the administration’s commitment to growing a stronger pipeline of students who will be ready to meet current and future workforce needs, especially in emerging STEM fields.”  

“Housing development is a fundamental aspect of economic development,” said Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay. “The bill we filed today creates new tools for building smart growth housing in a variety of communities, from Gateway Cities, to town centers and suburban communities. It creates new tools for engaging with communities, building local capacity, and creating incentives for communities to help move statewide housing production forward.”

An Act to Provide Opportunities for All is organized around four foundational themes: preparing communities for success, a new Massachusetts Innovation Initiative, workforce development, and economic competitiveness.

Preparing Communities for Success

·       MassWorks ($500 million proposed capital authorization): Reauthorizes a capital grant program that provides municipalities and other public entities with public infrastructure grants to support economic development and job creation.

·       Transformative Development Initiative ($50 million proposed capital authorization): Supports the revitalization of Gateway Cities, by enabling MassDevelopment to make long-term patient equity investments in key properties in Transformative Development Initiative districts, with the goal of accelerating the maturation of private real estate markets.

·       Brownfields Redevelopment Fund ($75 million proposed capital authorization):Moves funding for the state’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to the capital program, providing a reliable long-term funding stream for a fund that is the Commonwealth’s primary tool for facilitating the redevelopment of contaminated properties.

·       Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund ($25 million proposed capital authorization): Moves funding for the state’s Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund to the capital program, providing a reliable long-term funding stream for a fund that is the Commonwealth’s primary tool for facilitating smart growth housing development.

·       Site Readiness Fund ($25 million proposed capital authorization): Advances regional job creation by creating a new fund for site assembly and pre-development activities that support regionally significant commercial or industrial development opportunities.

·       Housing-Related Tax Increment Financing: Supports housing production in town centers by reforming a seldom-used local-only smart growth tax incentive program, removing onerous regulations, and allowing communities to set their own affordability requirements.

·       Starter Home Zoning: Incentivizes the creation of smaller, denser, and more affordable single-family homes by creating a new starter home option under the Chapter 40R smart growth housing program.

·       Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) Reform: Supports the development of market-rate housing in Gateway Cities by allowing credits to support new construction, and by raising the formula that sets housing development incentives.

·       I-Cubed Reform: Reforms the I-Cubed infrastructure program by removing unnecessary program requirements, building flexibility into the program, and aligning program requirements with the demonstrated project pipeline.

·       Parking Management Districts: Aligns local parking policies with broader economic development priorities by enabling municipalities to opt into creating demand-based parking fees, and allowing parking fees to support capital improvements in designated districts, like downtowns.

The Massachusetts Innovation Initiative

·       Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) ($118 million proposed capital authorization): Provides matching grants to establish public-private applied research institutes around emerging manufacturing technologies. The state’s capital funds will be matched with federal and private industry funds.

·       Scientific and Technology Research and Development Matching Grant Fund ($25 million proposed capital authorization): Reauthorizes a capital grant program that funds nonprofit, university-led research collaboratives working to commercialize emerging technologies, thereby supporting the development of emerging industry clusters.

·       Innovation Infrastructure Fund ($25 million proposed capital authorization):Creates a new fund for making capital grants that support community-based innovation efforts, including co-working spaces, venture centers, maker spaces and artist spaces.

·       Digital Health Care Cluster Development: Broadens the statutory charge of the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) to include digital health cluster development.

Workforce Development 

·       Workforce Skills Capital Grants ($75 million proposed capital authorization):Establishes a new grant program for workforce development training equipment, to strengthen workforce skills, and create strong employment pipelines.

Economic Competitiveness

·       Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) Reforms: Builds accountability in the state’s primary job-creation incentive program by strengthening the link between the issuance of tax credits, and job creation that would not otherwise occur; adds flexibility to the incentive program by eliminating obsolete formula-driven incentive categories, and by creating a new Extraordinary Development Opportunity designation.

·       Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) Modifications: Shifts the focus of nonprofit regional economic development nonprofits toward systems-based efforts to stimulate economic growth, including strengthening the regional skills pipeline, and executing regional cluster development strategies.

·       Liquor Law Reforms: Supports consumer choice and access to markets by allowing retailers who sell alcohol to also serve alcohol in in-house restaurants; by allowing local farmer-brewers and farmer-distillers to sell their products at farmers markets; by reducing barriers to retail sales at local breweries; and by creating a transparent licensing process for tenant-brewers.

·       Blue Laws Clarification: Clarifies existing exemptions to Sunday operations blue laws for fulfillment centers operated by e-retailers.

·       Export Loan Guarantees: Doubles the limit on loan guarantees from the Massachusetts Export Development Fund, to $1,000,000.

僑務委員會「2016年餐館經營研習班」 4/25-5/6

僑務委員會「2016年餐館經營研習班」簡介

研習目的：

為輔助僑營餐館業者提升經營能力及協助僑商創業轉型，並促進與國內業者商機交流及配合推動臺灣美食國際化。

研習時間：2016年4月25日至5月6日

報名截止日期：2016年3月8日

主辦單位：僑務委員會

承辦單位：國立高雄餐旅大學（高雄市小港區松和路1號）

報到及研習地點：國立高雄餐旅大學

培訓對象：20歲（含）以上65歲（含）以下，通曉中文，以著有商譽、得有獎項、與駐外單位互動良好及熱心僑務活動之僑營餐館負責人或其重要幹部（含現職廚師）者為優先。

1).研習課程內容及時數：

  實際研習日程計11天，研習總時數合計77小時，包括整體經營策略、行銷策略、營運

   實務運作、採購談判、人力資源運用、風險管理與危機處理及觀摩參訪知名餐廳暨相

  關企業等。

2).費用負擔方式：

   a)本會負擔教材、師資及場地等學雜費用及研習期間之膳宿費（不含5月1日自由活動日午、晚餐）。

   b)學員自行負擔自僑居地往返臺灣之交通費及自購書籍等個人費用。

   c)報名注意事項：

     報名表件請以電腦繕打為佳，或以正楷填寫，請於簽名處親簽後，送波士頓華僑文教服務中心報名，未經核轉逕向本會或承辦單位報名者，概不受理。報名表件請向波士頓華

     僑文教服務中心索取或逕自本會網站（www.ocac.gov.tw首頁/公告事項/開班/該班招生訊息）或全球僑商服務網（www.ocbn.org.tw首頁/僑商培訓邀訪/最新預告）下載。

 波士頓華僑文教服務中心 TEL: 617-965-8801, EMAIL:ocacbostonlib@gmail.com

波士頓華僑文教中心 ( Culture Center of TECO in Boston )

許淑芬Amy Huang
90 Lincoln St., Newton, MA 02461
Tel:617-965-8801, Fax:617-965-8815 

Minuteman擬斥資一億四千萬建高中 麻州府將資助44.75%

MSBA Commits State Funds to Build New Minuteman High School

BOSTON – Plans for a new Minuteman High School have moved another step closer to reality.

Meeting at its offices in downtown Boston on January 27, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to authorize its Executive Director to enter into a project funding agreement with Minuteman for the new $144.9 million educational facility.  MSBA is expected to pay 44.75% of eligible project costs -- up to a maximum of $44,139,213. 

Immediately prior to the vote, State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg commended the school for the quality of its academic and technical programs and encouraged parents to give the school a closer look.  Treasurer Goldberg serves as chair of the MSBA board of Directors.

The Treasurer made a public appeal to parents in the district to consider sending their children to Minuteman.  “It would behoove a lot of families,” she said, “to really look at the Minuteman programs.”  Minuteman’s technical programs “give kids the skills they need for the good jobs in the Commonwealth,” she said. 

Goldberg also told Superintendent Edward Bouquillon “You have tremendous academic programs.”

She said she had visited Minuteman’s Girls in STEM Summer Camp, a program she described as “very exciting.”

Minuteman must now secure local approval of the project, a process that is not expected to start until after all 16 member towns hold Special Town Meetings to ratify a new Minuteman Regional Agreement.  The final Special Town Meeting is scheduled February 24.  Sometime after that, the Minuteman School Committee will vote to bond for the project.

The new school, to be located on District-owned land in Lincoln, will include two Career Academies with 16 career and technical programs and a robust offering of academic programs, including Advanced Placement and Honors courses, foreign languages, music, art, and sports.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that gives students a competitive advantage in the new economy by combining robust academics with powerful career and technical skills.  The school prepares students for college and career success, with more than 60% of the school’s graduates typically pursuing a post-secondary education.   

華人前進會籲民眾出席公聽會 反對地鐵漲價

By CPA in Boston

Governor Baker Proposes Cuts to MBTA Funding and Fare Hikes

For many in our community, we rely on public transit to get to work, visit family, and see the doctor.  Without it, people without cars would have no other reliable and affordable way of getting to the places we need.  Public transit also plays an important role in creating jobs and reducing car use and greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the state government body that runs the public transportation system for the Greater Boston region, proposed fare hikes in 2012 that would be more than the double the costs for some riders, we fought hard against the proposal.  We attended and spoke at hearings, signed petitions, and attended rallies.  It worked!  In 2013 Massachusetts passed new legislation that provided $600 million in funding for public transit over the next five years.  In addition, it capped fare increases to 5% every two years.

Now Governor Baker wants to go back against the legislation that was passed.  He is planning to cut $75 million of the funding promised to the MBTA.  Instead of fully funding the MBTA, he plans to cut jobs and service for riders.  By misinterpreting the spirit of the legislation that was passed, he also plans to raise fares over the 5% cap and hit low-income and no-income riders the hardest.  In the proposals released by the MBTA, monthly passes for seniors would increase 10%, monthly bus passes would increase 16-20%, and monthly student passes would increase 23%!

To oppose the cuts in funding to the MBTA and the fare hike proposal, sign the petition at www.ourmbta.org.  You can also have your voice heard on the issue by attending a hearing about the fare hike proposals.  On Tuesday, February 2^nd, 5-7PM at the state transportation building at 10 Park Plaza there will be hearing held near Chinatown across from the W Hotel.  You can also call the Chinese Progressive Association at 617-357-4499 for more information.

華美福利會 2/11辦郵局招聘說明會

Baker-Polito Administration Presents Green Communities Designation Awards to Southeast Communities

Baker-Polito Administration Presents Green Communities Designation Awards to Southeast Communities

Cohasset, Norwell, Stoughton, Weymouth and Whitman receive $941,740 for Clean Energy Projects

WEYMOUTH – January 28, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded Green Communities designation grants totaling $941,740 to Cohasset, Norwell, Stoughton, Weymouth and Whitman to fund clean energy projects. The southeastern Massachusetts municipalities became Green Communities in the ninth round of designations in December.

“Massachusetts cities and towns continue to lead the way toward a clean, affordable and resilient energy future for the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These communities will use their grants to reduce energy use, improve their buildings, save money and help us meet our ambitious greenhouse emission reduction targets.”

“These Green Communities designation grants are another great example of the Commonwealth’s partnership with cities and towns,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Municipalities have been leaders in clean energy adoption, providing examples of effective implementation and the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet five criteria to be designated a Green Community and receive funding. The grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the designated communities’ clean energy goals. These five designees are now among 155 Green Communities, cities and towns of all sizes that range from the Berkshires to Cape Cod and are home to 54 percent of Massachusetts’ population.

“The commitment of these communities to reduce their energy use and undertake clean energy projects will help Massachusetts continue its leadership in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions reductions,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “In addition, municipalities can use the money they save by reducing energy use for other important items, like public safety, education and municipal buildings.”

“Through our Green Communities program, DOER is proud to work with every city and town across Massachusetts,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “More than half of the Commonwealth’s population is committed to reducing their energy use, emissions, and helping their local economy through this program.”

DOER awarded funding for projects in these newly designated Green Communities in the southeast region:

Municipality                        Grant

Cohasset                               $141,460

Norwell                                $146,520

Stoughton                            $209,910

Weymouth                           $277,635

Whitman                              $166,215

All Green Communities commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20 percent over five years. These commitments amount to collective savings of 2,153,992 MMBtu, energy use equivalent to heating and powering nearly 17,000 homes, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 203,538 tons, equivalent to taking almost 39,000 cars off the road.

“I commend the town of Weymouth on their efforts to become a Green Community and am pleased that we are able to provide this grant funding from the state in order to assist them with their ongoing efforts in seeking efficiency and modernization,” said House Majority Leader Ron Mariano (D-Quincy).

“This funding will help Weymouth with the reduction of Greenhouse gasses” said State Representative James Murphy (D-Weymouth). “We are the generation that needs to take the initiative to ensure a cleaner future. Renewable energy has economic advantages and grants like this go a long way to meet specific needs that communities identify. I am glad that this partnership will help Weymouth achieve its goal of cleaner energy while saving our constituents money.” 

“I want to thank Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito for their commitment and investment in promoting clean energy efforts across the Commonwealth, particularly in Weymouth,” said Weymouth Mayor Robert L. Hedlund. “It is an honor for Weymouth to become a Green Community.  I want to congratulate and applaud the efforts and dedication of all those employees and volunteers who helped Weymouth meet the criteria necessary to achieve this important distinction.”

Funding for these grants is available through proceeds from carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) paid by retail electric suppliers that do not meet their Renewable Portfolio Standard compliance obligations through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates.

中華頤養院營養早餐會談保養眼睛

By Terry Yin

Speaker Ziwei Wu(吳紫薇）, PhD, Indian University Bloomington, Doctor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry introduced us Eye disease and eye care.

She started with eye structor, the most common part is 1. Sclera, 2. Lens, 3. Retina, and 5. Choroid. There are common eye disease which many seniors are suffering: 1.Presbyopia, 2. Cataract 3.macular degeneration  4. Dry Eyes, 5. Glaucoma

Presbyopia: This is when you lose the ability to clearly see close objects and small print. It's a normal process that happens slowly over a lifetime, although you may not notice any change until after age 40. Presbyopia is often improved or corrected with reading glasses, LASIK, and other procedures. She clarified the misconception of most people are holding, correction glasses are completely safe to wear, as long as patient go see with the professional OD to get their accurate prescription. 

Dry Eyes:This happens when tear glands can't make enough tears or they make poor quality tears. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, causing itching and burning. Rarely, they can lead to some loss of vision.

She suggested using a humidifier in your home or special eye drops that are similar to real tears. Systane eye drop is recommend for dry eye patients during day time, Gental Gel eye drop is the best before go to bed. She also suggested patients use hot pads, this method has been clinical proofed to be effective, each pad cover eyes for 2 mins, 10 mins in total, 2 times a day.

Cataract:Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop within the eye lens. A healthy lens is clear like a camera's, and light has no problem passing through it to the retina at the back where images are processed. When you have a cataract, the light can't get through as easily and, as a result, you can't see as well. Cataracts often form slowly, and they don't cause symptoms like pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. Some stay small and don't affect your eyesight. If they become large or thick, cataracts can usually be removed by surgery.

Macular Degeneration (AMD) AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead. Currently, no treatment exists for early AMD, which in many people shows no symptoms or loss of vision.

Glaucoma: This condition is often associated with a buildup of pressure in your eye. The eye is like a tire; some pressure is normal and safe. But when the pressure goes up, it can lead to damage of the optic nerve. This is called primary open angle glaucoma. Because most people with primary glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain, it's very important to have an eye doctor check your eyes regularly. Treatment may include prescription eye drops or surgery.

Her recommendations:

1. Regular Eye Exams (age 45+ or record of family history)
2. Blink exercise (blink regularly)
3. 20-20-20 rule, every 20 mins, look 20 feet away, and 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a break.
4. If you need reading glasses to look at the screen or paper, wear them.
5. Keep the proper distance of the screen or paper.
6. Read under the bright lights
7. Physical exercise
8. See an optometrist or eye doctor immediately if you experience eye pain or loss of vision.
9. Healthy eating habit, Vitamin C and Omega 3 can help prevent eye diseases.

Baker-Polito Administration Launches New “RMV Near Me” Program

Baker-Polito Administration Launches New “RMV Near Me” Program

Partners with Councils on Aging to offer assistance with online transactions

BOSTON - January 28, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) today announced the launch of the “RMV Near Me” program, a pilot partnership with statewide Councils on Aging (COA) to provide additional service locations at which senior citizens can receive assistance processing routine Registry transactions online.  The program is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to improve customer service at the Registry by offering alternative service solutions.

“The RMV Near Me Program is another great example of our commitment to identifying new, creative ways to improve customer service at the Registry of Motor Vehicles”, said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to be partnering with Councils on Aging across the Commonwealth to provide opportunities for our seniors to receive assistance with processing online Registry transactions.” 

“Providing a positive customer service experience for all Registry customers is at the forefront of our agenda,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney. “When we sat down to think about alternative service solutions to bring our business to our customers, we saw that the answer was simple but innovative- ask our existing, long term partners to help. The RMV is grateful to the Councils on Aging that have made “RMV Near Me” a success and we look forward to training others in the very near future.”

To date, approximately 60 Councils on Aging, listed below, are participating in the program, where Council staff were trained by RMV staff, and are now able to assist residents with conducting online transactions as well as helping to locate important RMV forms, documents, and resources online. Examples of several RMV transactions that can be processed at COA locations include: 1) renewing Massachusetts driver’s licenses online (if the resident is younger than 75); and 2) renewing a motor vehicle registration without having to visit the local RMV branch. 

Over the last year, the RMV has been increasing the use of existing alternative service channels, increasing RMV staff performance measured by improving accountability and customer treatment, and improving customer wait times through the use of dual queuing methods that have eliminated hidden wait times at participating branches. The RMV has also redesigned MassRMV.com to be more customer friendly and improved outreach to increase online use.

The partnership with the Councils on Aging follows an RMV partnership with 12 AAA offices throughout the Commonwealth offering Registry services for members. For a complete list of transactions, visit http://www.southernnewengland.aaa.com/.

The RMV reminds customers that the best place to do business is at our online branch as it offers more than 20 transactions you can complete online at www. MassRMV.com. For the latest RMV news follow Twitter @MassRMV #skiptheline.

Participating Councils on Aging

Adams, Amesbury, Athol, Bellingham, Blackstone, Blandford, Brewster, Brimfield, Brockton, Clinton, Chester, Dartmouth, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Erving, Framingham, Gardner, Gloucester, Great Barrington, Hamilton, Holden, Huntington, Lawrence, Littleton, Longmeadow, Merrimac, Methuen, Middlefield, Middleton, Millbury, Monson, New Bedford, Newton, Nahant, Peabody, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Rowley, Russell, Scituate, Sharon, Sheffield, Spencer, Taunton, Wakefield, Wales, West Boylston, Westford, Wilmington, Winchendon, Woburn