Baker-Polito Administration Announces Availability of $10 Million in Climate Change Funding

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Availability of

$10 Million in Climate Change Funding

Funding will Help Communities Implement Priorities Identified through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program

NORTHAMPTON – March 14, 2019 – In the largest release of climate change resiliency funding for Massachusetts communities in state history, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced the availability of $10 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. The grant and designation program, which was created in 2017 as part of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, provides communities with funding and technical support to identify hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. With this announcement, made by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito during an event in Northampton, the Administration has now committed $17 million through the MVP program to help communities prepare for climate change.

“Communities across the Commonwealth have witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change, and through the MVP Program our administration continues to demonstrate our commitment to supporting cities and towns in preparing for the challenges ahead,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The availability of $10 million in funding for municipalities, in addition to our administration’s sustainable legislative proposal to provide $1.3 billion over 10 years to invest in climate-smart infrastructure and nature-based solutions in communities, will work to protect public health, safety, and property across Massachusetts.”

“The decisions we make today will determine the well-being of future generations, and investing in our communities will equip cities and towns with the tools they need to build resilience,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.  “Our significant new funding proposal will ensure all communities can begin making investments in strategies that protect residents and natural resources, and contribute to strong economic growth throughout the state.”

The $10 million announced today will go towards MVP Action Grants which fund implementation of on-the-ground projects to address the specific vulnerabilities to climate change identified by each municipality through their MVP Planning process.  Projects are focused on proactive strategies to address climate change impacts and may include retrofitting and adapting infrastructure, detailed vulnerability assessments or design and engineering studies, stormwater upgrades, dam retrofits and removals, culvert upgrades, drought mitigation, actions to protect environmental justice communities and improve public health, energy resilience, and strategies that focus on implementing nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration and floodplain protection. In just two years since the program’s launch, almost half of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth have enrolled in the MVP program, which pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the state to address ongoing climate change impacts like sea level rise, inland flooding, storms, and extreme temperatures.

“The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program allows the state to work together with municipalities to identify vulnerabilities and then employ nature-based, cost-effective solutions to address those challenges and build resilience” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The funds awarded from the MVP Action Grant program will allow municipalities to implement priority actions to prepare for the effects of climate change while strengthening community engagement and collaboration among town departments.”

To be eligible for an MVP Action Grant, communities must be designated an “MVP community.” To become designated, municipalities can apply for an MVP planning grant to work through the Community Resilience Building workshop process to identify key climate-related hazards, vulnerabilities and strengths, develop adaptation actions, and prioritize next steps.  Results of the workshops and planning efforts are then used to inform existing local plans, grant applications, budgets, and policies. Upon successful completion of the program, municipalities are designated as a “Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program Community.” Designated MVP communities can then apply for MVP Action Grants to implement key priorities and projects identified through the planning process. There are currently 156 communities participating in the program across the state, representing 44 percent of the state’s municipalities.

The program is led by an experienced project manager from the town with a core team of town staff and volunteers representing planning departments, emergency managers, conservation commissioners, economic councils, the business community, environmental justice communities, and other key stakeholders.

The MVP Action Grants are open to all municipal governments in Massachusetts in FY 2019 that have received MVP designation. Projects that proposed nature-based solutions or strategies that rely on green infrastructure or conservation and enhancement of natural systems to improve community resilience receive higher scores. MVP Planning grants are also open through May 4, 2019 to communities seeking MVP designation with $1 million available in funding.

Governor Baker recently filed legislation to support municipalities and help protect Massachusetts residents, communities, economy, and infrastructure from the adverse effects of climate change, through a modest increase in the excise on real estate transfers to fund a substantial and sustained investment in climate change adaptation. The revenue would be directed towards investments in resilient infrastructure to help make communities safer, keep vital services online, reduce the long-term costs of climate-related risks and protect the value of property across the Commonwealth. The proposal is estimated to generate $1.3 billion over 10 years which would be dedicated to the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund to provide funding for resiliency initiatives including grants and technical assistance to communities for implementing priority actions identified through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and addressing climate-related risk in cities and towns throughout the state.

In August of 2018 Governor Baker signed legislation which put into law essential components of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program and the Statewide Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, as well as authorizing over $2.4 billion in capital allocations for investments in safeguarding residents, municipalities and businesses from the impacts of climate change, protecting environmental resources, and investing in communities.

“I’m pleased that the Baker-Polito Administration is making these MVP Program grants available so that towns can invest in climate-smart infrastructure,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “As the impacts of climate change are already evident, the Commonwealth’s response must be multifaceted: we must undertake resiliency planning at the same time we address the root of the problem by increasing the renewables portfolio standard, eliminating net metering caps, and implementing a system of carbon fee and rebate.”

“We are in the midst of a climate crisis so these grants will be particularly important to help our community while the Legislature takes up important issues like carbon tax and lifting the net solar metering cap so we can truly mitigate climate change,” said State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton).

“Once again, the Baker-Polito Administration is exercising national leadership in helping local communities respond to the devastating impacts of climate change,”said Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy at Mass Audubon. “Whether it be hotter days, accelerated sea-level rise, or stronger storms, these grants are now the new local aid for climate change and will help cities and towns protect themselves from its impacts.”

“Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness action grants help communities take tangible steps to manage the unavoidable impacts of climate change by enhancing safety, avoiding community costs while prioritizing nature-based solutions and equity and fairness,” said Wayne Klockner, State Director for the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES START OF PICK-UP/DROP-OFF ZONE PILOT IN THE FENWAY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES START OF PICK-UP/DROP-OFF ZONE PILOT IN THE FENWAY

Pilot program designed to ease congestion and improve safety to start in the Fenway BOSTON - Thursday, March 14, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today launched a pilot program that designates curb space for pick-ups and drop-offs, facilitating ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Announced in the Mayor's Boston Municipal Research Bureau Speech last week, the Boston Transportation Department and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics will begin to pilot dedicated zones for ride-sharing activity, starting with the intersection of Boylston Street and Kilmarnock Street in the Fenway. Anyone may use the designated zone for pick-ups and drop-offs from 5:00 p.m., overnight and into the early morning hours. Enforcement of the pilot will start tomorrow, Friday, March 15, 2019. "Our goal through this pilot, and through all of our transportation initiatives, is to make sure Boston's neighborhood streets are safe, accessible, and equitable for all residents," said Mayor Walsh. "Ride-sharing services have changed the way people travel -- and with 35 million trips starting in Boston every year, this pilot will help us improve streets in our city, and bring us further towards our Go Boston 2030 and Vision Zero goals." This pilot was created to minimize traffic disruptions that often accompany ride-sharing services. Ride-sharing vehicles that stop in the middle of the street to pick-up and drop-off passengers create hazardous conditions for their customers and contribute to congestion on Boston's roadways. The new curbside zone in the Fenway will allow these vehicles to continue to offer their transportation services, but in a way that supports the City of Boston's Vision Zero safety goals and helps to improve traffic flow on Boston streets.The pilot is designed to ease congestion caused by double parking and to increase safety for passengers entering and exiting vehicles. The Boston Transportation Department will install signage to help drivers and passengers find the zones, and will evaluate the program to gauge its impact. The pilot zones will only apply to the blocks where they are located. Consequently, the locations affected will be the immediate blocks to the west and east of Kilmarnock Street on Boylston Street. "We're thrilled to see the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics explore innovative projects like this one," said Tyler George, Lyft's New England General Manager. "These zones will not only make moving around the area more convenient and frictionless, but it can meaningfully reduce congestion and improve the experience for drivers, riders, and the Greater Boston community." "We're excited to partner with the Mayor's Office on a proposal that will limit congestion and make it easier than ever for riders to get to and from Fenway. The pick up and drop off zones will not only make trips seamless for riders, but also more convenient for drivers, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor on our shared goal of reducing congestion," said Koosie Boggs, Uber's Head of Rides for New England. Other transportation and infrastructure improvements recently announced by Mayor Walsh in his Boston Municipal Bureau Speech include lowering speed limit on city streets to 20 MPH; designing a pilot for adaptive traffic signals; launching a citywide education campaign on road safety; expanding the bus lanes pilot to more neighborhoods; and providing MBTA Passes to all students grades 7-12. Mayor Walsh has also submitted transportation bills to the Massachusetts Legislature aimed at efficiently supporting residents by providing investment in transportation infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions from motor vehicles, and providing for safer streets. An Act Relative to Transportation Network Company Rider Assessments would add a charge to transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft operating during rush hours to be invested in local roads and transit, including improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. It would also reduce charges for pooled rides and the use of electric vehicles. The pick-up/drop-off pilot aligns with Mayor Walsh's initiatives to reduce carbon emissions from motor vehicle driving behaviors such as circling the block or idling to find a passenger. The pilot also furthers the goals established in Go Boston 2030, the City of Boston's comprehensive transportation plan. Execution of the plan is well underway with action being taken on more than half of the 58 projects and policies identified. These initiatives work to reduce congestion, encourage travel by transit, bike and on foot, and ensure safety and equitable access for all users of Boston's streets.

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ALEXANDRA VALDEZ AS DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY LAB

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ALEXANDRA VALDEZ AS DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY LAB

BOSTON - Thursday, March 14, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the appointment of Alexandra Valdez as director of engagement for the City's Economic Mobility Lab. The Lab is a team of social entrepreneurs centrally located in the Mayor's Office of Policy that researches and tests ideas with the potential to dramatically increase upward economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Bostonians. The Lab launched in late 2017 as a flagship program of the City's Resilience Strategy with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and 100 Resilient Cities.   "I'm proud to welcome Alex to the Mayor's Office of Policy," said Mayor Walsh. "She did incredible work as a neighborhood liaison for Jamaica Plain and the Latino community, and I look forward to seeing her excel in her new role and continue to make sure families can succeed in Boston."   "I'm excited to join the Economic Mobility Lab and the rest of the policy team," said Alexandra Valdez. "As an immigrant who came to Boston as a kid, I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing the Mayor's agenda in creating a welcoming, strong, and inclusive city."   Valdez served as the Mayor's neighborhood liaison for Jamaica Plain and the Latino community in the Office of Neighborhood Services since 2016. She will now join Director Jason Ewas at the Economic Mobility Lab where she will lead projects that advance the Lab's work on child care, Boston Saves, and youth programs, and ensure that resident perspective is at the core of everything the Lab does.     The Lab aims to ensure City government supports residents during the times that matter most, organizing action around key moments in people's lives such as: Early childhood and child care as the foundation of the economic ladder; A first job as a critical step to accessing opportunities; The transition to college and career as a stepping stone to increased lifetime earnings, and; Preparing for unexpected expenses that can set families' finances back for months or years. The Economic Mobility Lab is working on a series of projects on child care with the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement. They recently developed a survey related to child care in the City's anonymous census, which launched in February 2019. The optional survey aims to better understand how individuals and households manage child care and to provide information on the best ways for the City to support parents and young children. Boston is the first city in the country to document local child care needs and preferences through the census.   One of the goals of the Economic Mobility Lab is to coordinate a pipeline of programs that prepares students and their families for income growth. Partnering with Boston Saves, the City's children's savings account program, the Lab aims to help families build their financial capabilities and save for their children's post-secondary education and training.   Partnering with the Office of Financial Empowerment, the Economic Mobility Lab also aims to develop and expand tools that help families. For example, this work includes conducting research for and developing programs with Boston Builds Credit, an initiative that aims to raise the credit scores of Bostonians by expanding what works and trying new projects that raise people's credit scores.   While the Economic Mobility Lab is focused on municipal government, it also advocates for key policy changes at all levels of government. Advancing the work of the Lab, Mayor Walsh submitted his legislative agenda to the Massachusetts Legislature in January 2019, demonstrating the role government can play in creating economic opportunity.   The following three bills aim to eliminate policies and rules that create barriers for families trying to get on their feet. They also expand successful policies that provide a financial boost for families. The economic mobility bills in the Mayor's legislative package, advanced by the Lab and departments throughout the City, include:   An Act to Lift the Cap on Kids This bill would repeal a policy that denies critical resources to children conceived while, or soon after, a family is receiving benefits. Massachusetts is one of only 17 states that have a Cap on Kids or similar policy.   An Act to Promote Asset Building for Low-Income Residents This bill would remove the cap on assets for families receiving temporary cash assistance. The current policy disincentivizes families to accumulate even moderate savings and makes it more difficult for them to access resources. Eight other states have enacted similar changes with  positive results, spurring upward economic mobility for residents.   An Act Improving the Earned Income Credit for Working Families This seeks to raise the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 50% to return money directly to low- and moderate-income working families. The EITC is almost universally seen as a great program and it should be increased and marketed so that working families know they are eligible.   About 100RC, Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation   100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a resilience strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. For more information, visit www.100ResilientCities.org.

Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Endorses Baker-Polito Administration's Dangerousness Bill

Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Endorses Baker-Polito Administration's Dangerousness Bill

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration is announcing that the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) has endorsed the Baker-Polito Administration's recently filed An Act to Protect the Commonwealth from Dangerous Persons. The announcement was made after a meeting of MCOPA, attended by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. ​​

"Lt. Governor Polito and I are grateful for MCOPA's support for the Administration's dangerousness legislation," said Governor Charlie Baker.  "This bill will give law enforcement and the courts additional tools needed to keep the Commonwealth's communities safe from dangerous individuals."

"We are pleased to have the support of MCOPA on this important bill," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. "Several recent cases have highlighted the need for action on this issue, and we look forward to working with the Legislature to pass this bill."

“On behalf of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, I would like to thank the Baker–Polito Administration for filing this important legislation," said Chief Russell Stevens, Hamilton Police and President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association​. "Several months ago, the Mass Chiefs Joined with the rest of law enforcement in supporting this bill when it was filed last session, and we rise once again to advocate for this important legislation.  MCOPA applauds the tremendous steps this bill takes to protect the people of the Commonwealth, and we respectfully ask the Legislature to partner with the Mass Chiefs as they have done so successfully in the past to get this bill to the Governor’s desk.”

“A defendant’s past criminal history should absolutely be considered as a factor at any such dangerousness hearing rather than just the alleged crime that is currently before the court,” Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes. “It is essential that in conducting a proper risk analysis in order to determine whether the defendant is to be considered a potential danger to any victim, witness or to the public in general, that their past criminal history – especially as it pertains to previous convictions for violent crimes - is considered and weighed based on its relevancy pertaining to a demonstrated propensity to commit violence. This bill will rectify the existing gap that currently occurs during a dangerousness hearing.”

First filed on September 6th, 2018 and re-filed on January 15, 2019, the Administration's bill would expand the list of offenses that can provide grounds for a dangerousness hearing and close certain loopholes at the start and end of the criminal process that currently limit or prevent effective action to address legitimate safety concerns. 

The bill will also strengthen the ability of judges to enforce the conditions of pre-trial release by empowering police to detain people who they observe violating court-ordered release conditions; current law does not allow this, and instead requires a court to first issue a warrant.

Under this proposal, judges will be empowered to revoke a person’s release when the offender has violated a court-ordered condition, such as an order to stay away from a victim, or from a public playground. Current law requires an additional finding of dangerousness before release may be revoked.

The legislation also expands the list of offenses which can provide grounds for a dangerousness hearing including crimes of sexual abuse and crimes of threatened or potential violence. It also follows the long-standing federal model in including a defendant’s history of serious criminal convictions as grounds that may warrant a dangerousness hearing. Current law requires courts to focus only on the crime charged and ignore a defendant’s criminal history when determining whether the defendant may be the subject of this sort of hearing.

Additional provisions of this legislation:

• Improves the system for notifying victims of crimes of abuse and other dangerous crimes when a defendant is going to be released by creating clear lines of responsibility among police, prosecutors and corrections personnel to notify victims about an offender’s imminent release from custody, and create a six-hour window for authorities to inform a victim before an offender is allowed to be released.
• Creates a new felony offense for cutting off a court-ordered GPS device.
• Requires that the courts develop a text message service to remind defendants of upcoming court dates, reducing the chance they will forget and have a warrant issued for their arrest.
• Allows dangerousness hearings at any point during a criminal proceeding, rather than requiring a prosecutor to either seek a hearing immediately or forfeit that ability entirely, even if circumstances later arise indicating that the defendant poses a serious risk to the community.
• Requires that the probation department, bail commissioners and bail magistrates notify authorities who can take remedial action when a person who is on pre-trial release commits a new offense anywhere in the Commonwealth or elsewhere.
• Creates a level playing field for appeals of district court release decisions to the superior court by allowing appeals by prosecutors, in addition to defendants, and giving more deference to determinations made in the first instance by our district court judges.
• Creates a task force to recommend adding information to criminal records so that prosecutors and judges can make more informed recommendations and decisions about conditions of release and possible detention on grounds of dangerousness.

• The legislation also closes loopholes at the start and end of the criminal process that currently limit or prevent effective action to address legitimate safety concerns. It extends the requirement that police take the fingerprints of people arrested for felonies to all people arrested, regardless of the charge, to ensure that decisions about release can be made with knowledge of a person’s true identity and full criminal history. It also allows, for the first time, bail commissioners and bail magistrates to consider dangerousness in deciding whether to release an arrestee from a police station when court is out of session.

AG HEALEY JOINS MULTISTATE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING BORDER WALL DECLARATION

AG HEALEY JOINS MULTISTATE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING BORDER WALL DECLARATION

Twenty State Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration to Block Emergency Declaration and Senseless Border Wall

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful declaration of a national emergency as pretext to redirect federal dollars toward building a wall on the Mexican border.

The amended complaint filed today by the California Attorney General’s Office alleges that the Trump Administration’s emergency declaration is unconstitutional and unlawful. The states ask the court to block the declaration, the unauthorized construction of a border wall, and the illegal diversion of federal dollars slated for drug interdiction and military projects.     

“Declaring a national emergency to build a wall repeatedly rejected by Congress is an illegal power grab by President Trump and a violation of the constitutional separation of powers,” said AG Healey. “We have decided to join this lawsuit because the President’s declaration endangers critical law enforcement and military projects in Massachusetts that depend on federal funding.” 

The states contend that the Trump Administration’s actions exceed the power of the executive office, violate the U.S. Constitution and federal law, and would illegally and unconstitutionally divert federal funds appropriated by Congress for other purposes such as drug interdiction, military construction, military personnel, and law enforcement initiatives. In Massachusetts, losing counterdrug activities funding would seriously hamper the state’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis, which continues to harm Massachusetts residents and public health.

Funds put at risk by the President’s declaration include:

• $965,000 that has not yet been received in fiscal year 2019 from the Department of Defense for counterdrug activities that would be used by the Massachusetts National Guard for investigative case analysis support, linguist services, transportation support, inter-agency training, and reconnaissance
• $90 million appropriated by Congress for a new compound semiconductor facility and microelectronics integration facility at Hanscom Airforce Base’s Lincoln Laboratory.
• $42.6 million appropriated by Congress for construction of a new hangar at Westover Airforce Base.
• $8.9 million from the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2020 for a multi-purpose machine gun range for the Massachusetts National Guard.
• Funding for the Massachusetts State Police and Massachusetts Port Authority from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund’s equitable sharing program, resources that supplement and enhance Massachusetts law enforcement agencies’ state-appropriated funding.

The attorneys general allege the Trump Administration has made up a “crisis” of unlawful southern border entries as pretext to justify redirecting congressionally-appropriated funds to pay to build a wall along the southern border after the President failed to get Congress or Mexico to pay for it.

The federal government’s own data does not support President Trump’s rhetoric, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s data has shown that unlawful southern border entries are at their lowest point in 20 years and illegal drugs are more likely to come through official ports of entry. There is no credible evidence to suggest that a border wall would decrease crime rates, and the Trump Administration itself has claimed that it is more difficult to illegally cross the southern border today than ever before.

Joining today’s lawsuit are the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Mass. Officials and Young Advocates Announce Winner of Statewide Young Worker Safety Poster Contest

Mass. Officials and Young Advocates Announce Winner of Statewide Young Worker Safety Poster Contest
A Rockland teen’s poster chosen to raise awareness, stem young worker injuries on the job. Poster to be featured on MBTA vehicles.

BOSTON          With the latest state data showing that from 2011-2015, Massachusetts teens under the age of 18 required 1,379 emergency department (ED) visits for work-related injuries, teen safety advocates and state officials announced the winners of the 2019 statewide Safe Jobs for Youth poster contest today at the Massachusetts State House to raise awareness of the dangers young workers face as they enter into the labor force.

Elizabeth Trull (17), of Rockland, won first place, taking home a cash prize of $500.  Second place went to Oliver Leventhal (16) of Arlington, and third place went toEthan Dollarhide (16), of Fall River, taking home prizes of $300 and $100, respectively. Trull’s work will be displayed on MBTA vehicles later this spring. The winning poster can be viewed by visiting https://www.mass.gov/guides/2019-ma-safe-jobs-for-youth-poster-contest.

Over 200 teens participated in the contest, and 61 youth served as judges, including young workers from Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health’s (MassCOSH) Teens Lead @ Work program.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there were nearly two ED visits by teens for every 100 full-time teen workers, a rate 42% higher than adult workers above the age of 25. Four industries accounted for more than 70% of work-related teen injuries to teens. These industries include Accommodations and Food Service, Retail, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Construction.

“The best part of this poster contest was being able to spread a message to teens like me, who usually don’t have a platform like this,” said Trull. “Safety is too important to ignore.”

“Congratulations to all those that participated and won the competition,” saidTrent Jordan, (18) a MassCOSH youth peer leader who presented the awards at the event. “We hope that these posters not only enlighten, but empower the youth to understand and recognize hazards at work while advocating for safe jobs for youth.”

Poster contest finalists included Rachel Shaw (16) of Sandwich, Victoria C. Rodriguez (15) of Berkley, Ethan Masters (15) of Arlington, Jonathan Young (17) of Eastham, Hannah Chace (17) of Fall River, Kaitlyn Gorton (17) of Seekonk, and Audrey Bronson (18) of Southampton. 

The contest was sponsored by MassCOSH and an interagency working group, The Massachusetts Youth Employment and Safety (YES) Team, which includes Commonwealth Corporation; the MA Office of the Attorney General; the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; the MA Department of Industrial Accidents; the MA Department of Public Health; the MA Department of Labor Standards; the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division; the U.S. Department of Labor; and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.