包氏藝文中心體驗華埠藝術節

 

紅襪隊贊助 每週5%波士頓老師做新冠病毒檢測

          (Boston Orange整理報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)表示，在紅襪隊的贊助支持下，本週開始，直到2020年底，將每週為5%的波士頓教師工會老師們做新冠病毒(COVID-19)檢測。 

         這一病毒檢測將從從芬衛球場(Fenway Park)開始，陸續進不同社區為老師們檢測病毒。市內新冠病毒感染率高的社區，則以為老師們做隨機檢測方式，盡量保障老師，學生的健康安全。 

        馬丁華殊感謝紅襪隊及其董事長Sam Kennedy的贊助支持，以及波士頓公共衛生局將組織，執行這一每週檢測計畫。他指出，紅襪隊和藍捷(JetBlue)航空公司還和”波士頓驕傲(Boston Pride)合作，捐贈6萬多個可重複使用的口罩給波士頓公校學生及老師。

         凡是回學校上課的學生，在今秋返校上課時，都會拿到一個口罩。(更新版)

 

RED SOX PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON AND BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ON COVID-19 TESTING PROGRAM FOR BOSTON TEACHERS UNION BOSTON - Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - To help with the return to in-person learning this fall, the Red Sox, with support from Major League Baseball (MLB), have partnered with the City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission to facilitate COVID-19 testing for Boston Teachers Union (BTU) members. Starting this week, five percent of Teachers Union members will be invited to be randomly tested weekly for COVID-19 through the end of 2020. The testing program will begin at a location near Fenway Park and will move to a different location at a later date. A randomized sample of teachers will be tested from across the city with an oversampling of teachers working in neighborhoods with COVID-19 rates higher than 8 percent, which is double the citywide threshold of concern. "Our first priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and everyone in our Boston Public Schools community," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "This testing program is one way we can support our teachers as they get ready to head back to their classrooms for in-person learning. We thank the Red Sox and Major League Baseball for partnering with us on this program, and the Boston Public Health Commission for organizing and implementing this weekly testing plan."  "As part of Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing program, the league wanted to ensure there was opportunity to extend their testing benefits beyond the clubs and players, and into the communities where teams operate," said Red Sox President Sam Kennedy. "We are grateful to MLB for giving us this opportunity to partner with the City of Boston and help with their back-to-school rollout."  "As we plan to welcome students back into our school buildings, BPS understands that our schools are the hubs of our community and we are taking every precaution to keep Bostonians safe and healthy," said BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "I am so thankful to Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox organization for this profound commitment to the health of our educators, our students and of the entire community. In the City of Boston we truly are all in this together."   "We are grateful to the Red Sox and their commitment to helping us ensure safety and health in our schools during this pandemic," said Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang. "We hope that the early success of this initiative will enable us to explore further expansion of such efforts as we continue to keep health and safety a priority for our students and educators in order to head back into buildings for critical in-person services and learning." Teachers Union members will be administered an FDA-authorized COVID-19 test through the Spectrum Solutions SDNA-100 saliva collection kit. The tests are being provided to the City free of cost through MLB's COVID-19 community testing program. Testing will be conducted by the Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, which was established to ensure that the testing of players and staff throughout the 2020 MLB season does not compete with public health testing needs. The City of Boston has also continued its work to increase access to testing for residents throughout Boston's neighborhoods. Yesterday, in partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Mayor Walsh announced that the City of Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing site will now be located in Grove Hall. This mobile site testing initiative was announced by Mayor Walsh back in May as a way to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. The site has previously been located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan and East Boston.  "We know that access to data is one of the most useful ways to help keep our city residents safe during this pandemic," said City of Boston Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez. "This partnership between MLB, the Red Sox, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the City allows us to create another access point of testing for our teachers as we all work to get our youngest Bostonians back into the classroom in a safe manner this fall." In addition to the City's mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here.  Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,794,825 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home. Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening. For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

麻州政府撥款65萬元紓緩有色社區疫情

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Grant Program to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Communities of Color

BOSTON – September 23, 2020 – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today a new grant program to help prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities of color. Open to applicants until October 14, the $650,000 grant program is available to faith-based organizations and community groups serving Black, Latinx and other people of color in cities and towns hardest hit by COVID-19. 

COVID-19 data indicate that infection and death rates are disproportionately high among Black and Latinx populations, and other communities of color. Due to under-investment and historical lack of opportunity, communities of color suffer the long-term health consequences of systemic racism and also experience disproportionate impacts related to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Community Grant Program is designed to support community-based and faith-based organizations in raising awareness around best practices families and individuals can take to be safe and stop the spread. This includes messaging about ensuring physical distancing, mask wearing and other risk-reduction practices.

The program is administered by Health Resources in Action (HRiA), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Grants are expected to be in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 per organization for a funding period of November 2020 through February 2021.

Eligible groups include Massachusetts-based community and faith-based organizations serving people of color. Groups need to have a particular emphasis on support for populations who have mental health and substance use disorders, are experiencing homelessness and housing instability, have disabilities and/or have limited English proficiency for eligibility. A full list of emphasis areas and eligible cities and towns can be found at www.HRiA.org/MACOVIDCommunityGrants.

HRiA is a non-profit public health organization with a mission to help people live healthier lives and create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, policy and research.

Funding recipients will coordinate with the COVID-19 Enforcement and Intervention Team (CEIT), a component of the Commonwealth’s Command Center, to develop training materials, share best practices and create messaging. CEIT launched on September 3, 2020, and works collaboratively with communities across the Commonwealth with persistently high COVID-19 incidence rates as part of a coordinated effort to stop the spread.

查理貝克批評華府是問題

    

            (Boston Orange 周菊子報導)”華府才是問題(Washington is a problem, period)”。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(23)日毫不客氣的批評白宮政客，直指處理疫情才是當下最重要任務，民主、共和兩黨的國會議員，卻把精力花在爭辯是否該在選前遞補大法官。

            查理貝克今早在羅爾市舉行記者會，報告疫情概況。回答現場有關大法官Ruth Bader Jinsburg遞補人選問題時，他沉吟了一會兒，提高聲調，一點不留情面的說，”華府才是問題”。他說，染患新冠病毒而死亡的美國人數，才剛破20萬大關，可見全美疫情才是大家應該關注的重點。

            查理貝克很不滿意，以政治遊戲來形容這局面。他說，四年前，民主黨認為應該趕快找好大法官的遞補人選，共和黨覺得不必要。四年後，共和黨要速戰速決的完成大法官遞補手續，民主黨卻倒過來期期以為不可。他覺得就像之前國會在討論教育預算一樣，共和黨和民主黨其實都重視教育，卻在撥給預算額度上，為了數目並不大的差額，爭執，拖延決定。

            在回應他早前表態支持共和黨籍的緬因州聯邦參議員Susan Collins時，本身是共和黨籍的查理貝克表示，雖然Susan Collins不是麻州聯邦參議員，但有問題時，打電話就一定找得到她，而且無論是新冠疫情，或是龍蝦產銷，Susan Collins都很支持麻州，新英格蘭地區。

            麻州總檢察官Maura Healy立即在推特上發文，稱Susan支持Brett Kavanaugh出任最高法院大法官，以及川普總統對富人有利的新稅法，投票給她，就如同投票給參議院議長Mitch McConnell和川普總統的議程，對緬因州和麻州都不好。(更新版，視頻來自州政府)

麻州餐廳9月28起每桌10人 低疫區學生應回校上課

 

麻州州長，副州長進羅爾市宣佈放寬餐館應業限制。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 9 月28日起，麻州內餐廳同桌用餐人數，從6人放寬至10人。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)並宣佈將撥款65萬元，鼓勵社區機構提出幫助黑棕社區小企業的服務計畫。

             查理貝克今(23)日一早特地趕到羅爾市(Lowell)的Mill City BBQ餐廳，宣佈放寬餐館營業的安全限制，同時指出，雖然目前仍不開放酒吧及夜總會，但將容許餐廳內的酒吧吧檯挪供顧客用餐。

             查理貝克強調，在疫情未消，病毒仍在，疫苗也還未出來的情況下，人們仍然應該儘量小心，他希望放寬限制，對餐館及”主街”的經濟有益，但提醒人們不可降低警戒心。

             查理貝克指出，州政府將再撥發65萬元的麻州新型冠狀病毒社區補助款(MA COVID-19 Community Grants)，鼓勵社區機構為黑棕社區小企業提供必要的防疫安全措施，如何遵循重新開業規定等訓練。有意申請者，可上網https://hria.org/macovidcommunitygrants/。

             麻州發展(MassDevelopment) 董事長暨執行長Lauren Liss也在記者會上說明，該機構已經透過”場地準備好計畫(Site Readiness Program)”，撥發過五輪共300萬元經費，協助企業做好恢復營業的相關防疫安全準備。今天再宣佈撥款$86,415，透過”麻州地方新型冠狀病毒回應輪:復興的地方(Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places)這項目，幫助10家小企業恢復營業，重振經濟活力。

             在回應提問時，查理貝克指出，麻州各市鎮，有的市鎮新冠確診率上上下下，有些市鎮卻從疫情開始以來，從來都是零感染，或者是確診人數在5人以下，州政府教育廳因此認為，在確診率高，危險性較大市鎮，學生應該遙距上學，但那些零感染市鎮的學生，就應該在學校，老師，家長及學生都做好準備的情況下回校上課。

             麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，羅爾市經Eileen Donoghue等人也都出席致詞。

麻州發展今日再撥款8萬餘元促進地方經濟繁

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Grant Program to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Communities of Color

MassDevelopment Awards $86,415 in Commonwealth Places Grants to Assist Local Economic Recovery Efforts

MassDevelopment President & CEO Lauren Liss.

MassDevelopment has awarded $86,415 for 10 projects through the Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places, a program made available specifically to assist local economic recovery efforts as community partners prepare public spaces and commercial districts to serve residents and visitors. Projects receiving awards include the creation of outdoor dining spaces, sidewalk retail venues, and partitions to support social distancing. Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss joined Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue, Do-it-Yourself Lowell Co-Founder Christopher Aurora Erickson, and African Community Center of Lowell Founder & Executive Director Gordon Halm to announce the grants today at Mill City BBQ & Brew in Lowell.

“We’re proud to see nonprofits like Do-it-Yourself Lowell and other organizations working together to address the impacts of COVID-19,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth Places program is a tool to help drive foot traffic to downtowns and commercial districts by providing opportunities for safe dining and recreation and we look forward to continuing to work with municipalities to support local communities across the state.”

“Congratulations to all of today’s awardees, including Do-it-Yourself Lowell, which aims to amplify Lowell’s diverse history and attract residents and visitors to the city’s downtown shops and restaurants to shop and buy local,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to seeing the economic impacts these placemaking projects will have here in Lowell and around the Commonwealth.”

“As Massachusetts continues to navigate the effects of COVID-19, the Baker-Polito Administration is committed to supporting local economic recovery efforts,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy. “Commonwealth Places provides much-needed resources to help nonprofits and other partners build momentum in their own communities.”

“Now in its fifth round, our Commonwealth Places program has been a resource to help communities implement placemaking projects that improve public spaces, create foot traffic, and stimulate economic activity,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “In the wake of COVID-19, we were pleased to direct this funding towards projects that enable residents and visitors to safely dine, shop, and spend time outdoors in downtowns and commercial districts.”

Created in 2016, Commonwealth Places aims to engage and mobilize community members to make individual contributions for placemaking projects, with the incentive of a funding match from MassDevelopment if the crowdfunding goal is reached. In June 2020, MassDevelopment announced the availability of $225,000 in funding for the Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places. For this round, nonprofits and other community groups could apply to MassDevelopment for grants of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project could be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. All grantees and projects will be required to follow the mandatory safety standards and protocols of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts plan.

MassDevelopment has previously announced $128,550 for 10 projects in Amesbury, Attleboro, Beverly, Boston, Greenfield, Haverhill, Hyannis, Lenox, Lynn, and Montague.

Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places Projects

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce ($10,000 grant)
Amherst Resilience Initiative – A Play in Three Acts
The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will (1) reopen an outdoor version of the Downtown Amherst Visitor Information Center and (2) install COVID-19 public health and wayfinding signage and landscaping in downtown Amherst. The organization will use funds to cover marketing and administrative costs and to buy display stands, iPads, and a handwashing station for the Visitor Information Center; queuing control signage, including floor stickers, posters, and canvas signs; and self-watering pots, plantings, and garden hardware.

Beyond Walls, Inc. ($4,250 grant)
WaSH and FoLD: Supporting a Safe and Appealing Return to Shared Public Spaces
The organization will create a stainless steel hand-washing station and curbside barriers to support an outdoor dining space in Lynn. The organization will also use funds to cover labor costs associated with the project.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce ($10,000 grant)
Chicopee Center Public Spaces
The organization will transform a remediated lot in the city’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) district at 181 Center Street into a mixed-use public space for outdoor programming including farmers markets, food trucks, performances, community gatherings, and more. The organization will use funds to buy and install a gravel foundation, wood beams, outdoor lighting and seating, and shade or other weather coverings.

Creative Hub Worcester Inc. ($5,515 grant)
Creative Hub Worcester Mobile Art Van
The organization will create a “Creative Hub Worcester Mobile Art Van” and park it at various locations in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood to facilitate free, on-site art projects for community members. Creative Hub Worcester, Inc. will use funds to repair and outfit the van and cover the program’s startup operational costs.

Do-it-Yourself (DIY) Lowell ($10,000 grant)
Visualizing Lowell’s Black History
Do-it-Yourself Lowell will create two self-guided walking trails in downtown Lowell highlighting Black history and art. The walking trails, which will stretch from 167 Dutton Street to 35 Warren Street, will guide participants alongside retail shops and outdoor “streeteries,” encouraging visitors to spend time, shop, and dine in the area. The organization will use funds to install signage and art along the walking trails, including information about Lowell’s Black history, a temporary sculpture created by a Black artist, spaces for theatre performances, spoken word, and projected art, a kiosk, vinyl art banners, business directories, and COVID-19 public safety reminders.

Downtown Framingham, Inc. ($10,000 grant)
Route 126/135 Activation Project
Downtown Framingham, Inc. plans to install (1) outdoor seating, umbrellas, and barrier art for cafes at 12 Irving Street, (2) murals at 398 Waverly Street and 10 Pearl Street, and (3) landscaping on Waverly Street. The organization will use funds to buy tables, chairs, umbrellas, barriers, artwork, and a storage shed, and cover costs for landscaping installation, marketing, permitting and insurance, and staff time.

Friends of the North Brookfield Town House ($9,450 grant)
North Brookfield Outdoor Film Screenings
The organization will host a series of free outdoor drive-in movie screenings in downtown North Brookfield, using funds to cover movie screening equipment rentals, film licensing, site preparation, food truck permitting, and marketing costs.

Nuestra Comunidad Dev. Corp. ($10,000 grant)
Nubian Square Street Furniture
Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation will install street furniture such as tables, benches, and chairs to facilitate outdoor programming in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. The organization will use funds to pay local artist and fabricator Radiant Jasmin to build the street furniture, which will encompass African-American and Afro-Caribbean cultural themes and will be used for outdoor dining, drive-in movies, beer gardens, job fairs, and other outdoor events.

ReImagine North of Main ($10,000 grant)
Milling About Fitchburg
This project aims to facilitate outdoor retail and entertainment at Fitchburg’s Riverfront Park area, including along Mill Street and Main Street. The organization will use funds to buy a movie screen and projector, a portable PA system, an FM transmitter, a generator, handwashing stations, and coolers and heating stations, all of which will be used to support vendors, artists, and musicians at outdoor events.

Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives ($7,200 grant)
A Path to Reopening: Repurposing Public Space in Stockbridge, MA
The organization will host three monthly “pop-up” events featuring artist shows and presentations on the library’s front lawn, using funds to buy outdoor chairs, tables, art display panels, dividers, hand sanitizing stations, and personal protective equipment, and cover marketing and administrative costs.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2020, MassDevelopment financed or managed 341 projects generating investment of more than $2.69 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,871 jobs and build or preserve 1,787 housing units.

CITY APPOINTS NEW ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIRECTOR AND VETERINARIAN

 

CITY APPOINTS NEW ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIRECTOR AND VETERINARIAN

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods recently announced that Alexis Trzcinski of Dorchester has been promoted to Director of the Animal Care and Control division of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Trzcinski has worked in the animal welfare field for over 24 years and began her career at the Animal Rescue League of Boston where she worked in direct animal care and pet adoptions. Prior to being appointed Director, Alexis began working for Boston Animal Care and Control in 2004 and served as the Division's Assistant Director since 2015.  In that role, she organized the expansion of the city's low-cost animal wellness program, worked collaboratively with other humane law enforcement organizations, performed administrative hearings, and ensured that the Division continued to provide high level care for animals in the City's animal care facility in Roslindale.  "I am excited for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of animals, and build stronger relationships within the community," Trzcinski said. "My passion is helping animals in need. Lucky for me, that is also the mission of this talented team." Trzcinski is committed to the promotion of humane education and community work through organized community events, and further expansion of the City's wellness services. A graduate of UMass Boston, she has lived in Boston most of her life and currently lives in Dorchester with her husband, twin sons, two cats, Bowser and Mack, and her dog, Otter. Commissioner Woods also welcomed Dr. Emily Walz, MPH DACVPM to the Animal Care and Control staff, the division's first full-time staff veterinarian.  An experienced veterinarian who has worked to provide community-based veterinary care to animals in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, Dr. Walz has also pursued specialized training in public health, community needs assessment, and preventive medicine.   "Both Alexis and Emily bring proven knowledge and success to their roles. These appointments represent a huge win for the animals, the community, and the Department of Animal Care and Control," said Commissioner Woods. "In Alexis, we are elevating a valued employee to a new level of leadership, and Emily will undoubtedly bring fresh ideas to our work." Emily recently moved to Boston and brings her experience in developing community programming to support the special bond between people and their pets.  She is excited to join the team at Boston Animal Care and Control to continue providing high quality care to the animals of Boston and is looking forward to connecting to her neighbors around the city. Dr. Walz holds a BS from Swarthmore College, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, and is a Diplomate of the American College of American Veterinary Medicine.  She currently resides in Roslindale with her wife, their energetic toddler, two kitties named Pearl and Puma, and an incredibly patient pit bull mix named Elsa.  "I'm honored and excited to be joining the dynamic team at Boston Animal Care and Control and supporting the welfare of animals across the city," said Dr. Walz. "I can't wait to see what this team will accomplish." ### Alexis Trzcinski of Dorchester has been named Director of the Boston Animal Care and Control division Dr. Emily Walz of Roslindale has joined Boston Animal Care and Control as the new staff veterinarian

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE COVID-19 TESTING IN GROVE HALL

 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE COVID-19 TESTING IN GROVE HALL 

 

In partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, the mobile testing team has previously been in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan, and East Boston, ordering 10,874 COVID-19 tests in total

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, announced that the City of Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing site will now be located in Grove Hall. Testing will be available starting today, Tuesday, September 22 through Saturday, October 3 at 40 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester, across from the Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library. Testing will be available at no cost and for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. No appointment is needed but registration is required. To pre-register, call 617-568-4500 (if you cannot reach this number, please call 617-569-5800 for assistance).   "Our mobile testing team was created to strategically expand testing in neighborhoods most in need because we know this is fundamental for keeping residents safe and healthy," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for their continued partnership throughout the pandemic."   The dates and hours of operation in the mobile testing site in Grove Hall are:   Tuesday, September 22- Friday, September 25: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.   Saturday, September 26: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.   Tuesday, September 29 - Friday, October 2: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.   Saturday, October 3: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.   This mobile site testing initiative was announced by Mayor Walsh back in May as a way to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. The site has previously been located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan and East Boston. In the East Boston pop up site location, there were 2,519 COVID-19 tests ordered. Of results received, approximately 4.9 percent tested positive for COVID-19.   "We are proud to continue working with the City of Boston to set up pop-up testing sites throughout the city," said East Boston Neighborhood Health Center president and CEO Manny Lopes. "By providing sites that are accessible to residents throughout Boston, we can help identify infection and minimize the spread of COVID-19. East Boston Neighborhood Health Center is proud to play a role in this citywide public health response to the pandemic, especially as we enter the fall season."   In addition to the City's mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here.    The City of Boston has been partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. As of Monday, September 14, 2020, there were 222,242 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents. Out of 222,242 total tests, 7.5% have tested positive, which is down from 7.9% reported through Monday, September 7, 2020. For all Boston residents, the positivity for tests increased slightly from 1.6% for the prior week (September 1-8) to 2.8% for the current week (September 8-14). The latest numbers of cases from the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) by neighborhoods are available here.   Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,794,825 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home.   Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening.   For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.   ###

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR VISIT BOSTON CAMPAIGN

 

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR VISIT BOSTON CAMPAIGN Proposals will shape and execute a branding and marketing campaign to attract tourists

BOSTON - Monday, September 21, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting proposals from consultants, firms, agencies, or other organizations to partner on shaping and executing a branding and marketing campaign to tourists. The RFP is designed to build Boston's brand as a travel destination, increase awareness and active promotion, and drive visits to Boston from diverse local and regional visitors. Completed proposals will be accepted up to October 5, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., and must be submitted electronically via the  Supplier Portal. "With our rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and legacy of arts, culture, and education, Boston has something for everyone," said Mayor Walsh. "The selected campaign will help us showcase all that Boston has to offer as a travel destination, and warmly welcome diverse local and regional visitors to explore our city, while adhering to public health guidelines." As the City of Boston plans to build back stronger and more equitably, the Arts, Culture, and Tourism industry is a critical component to the future success of the City of Boston. The selected campaign will assemble a local tourism campaign to draw diverse tourists to take advantage of all that Boston has to offer as the City safely responds to and recovers from COVID-19. A successful application would examine the ways in which Boston communicates about the offerings of the city, and highlight attractions and events that speak to the experiences of people of color in Boston. As such, part of the evaluation the City of Boston will be using in the selection process will be ensuring the respondent has a plan that demonstrates focus on equity and inclusion. Given the wide range of needed expertise anticipated, the City of Boston welcomes proposals to create partnerships and join with complementary organizations and vendors to provide a comprehensive proposal. Additionally, applicants reflecting the City of Boston's rich diversity are encouraged to apply. The City of Boston is committed to selecting a campaign focused on welcoming all kinds of visitors.  "Arts, Culture, and Tourism are vital to Boston's economic recovery," said Chief of Economic Development John Barros. "Maintaining Boston's economic and competitive advantage depends on a strong recovery in our Arts, Culture, and Tourism industry by showing all that Boston -- both downtown and in our neighborhoods -- has to offer in a way that is appealing and inviting to diverse groups of people locally and across the United States." While contributing 4.83 percent to the Gross City Product, the categories of Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Accommodation and Food Services made up 10.4 percent  of the City's jobs. The Arts, Culture, and Tourism sectors provide approximately three times the jobs in Boston compared to the nation overall, and create more jobs than either educational institutions or medical institutions. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Boston hosted over 19 million domestic and 1.7 million international visitors per year. Travelers adhering to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Travel Order, effective August 1, 2020, are welcome to visit Boston and responsibly enjoy its many tourist attractions. All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to: Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless they are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health; and quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.  Currently, travelers from low-risk states are exempt from filling out the Massachusetts Travel Form. Travelers to the City of Boston are encouraged to review the latest public health guidance on boston.gov/covid-19. Travelers may also prepare for their visit by learning about the City of Boston's reopening efforts and public health guidelines for businesses at boston.gov/reopening. Given the importance of this economic pillar to Boston's equitable economic recovery and future, this project will be funded by CARES Act Relief Funding. In accordance with the regulations, the project must provide resources or assistance to mitigate effects on health and/or provide economic support. The selected vendor will need to comply with all associated regulations and provide all contracts, purchase orders, invoices, to validate payment. The ending eligibility date for expenses is December 30, 2020.   This announcement is part of the Walsh Administration's ongoing work to support small businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 15, Mayor Walsh announced the City of Boston is extending the outdoor dining season to better serve restaurants and patrons. On May 21st, the City of Boston announced new measures to help restaurants during the ongoing public health crisis, including expanding outdoor seating, and waiving fees for outdoor space. To date, the Office of Economic Development's Small Business Relief Fund has awarded $6.7 million to businesses in need. The businesses receiving grants represent industries most-impacted by closures, policies, or general loss of revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout every neighborhood in Boston. The Reopen Boston Fund, launched in May 2020, continues to offer grants to Boston's businesses of up to $2,000 to assist with reopening costs, including for PPE. More than 1,200 businesses have received direct grants from the Reopen Boston Fund to date, with more than $2.1 million distributed. To further assist the City's small businesses, the City of Boston created a platform to help businesses source the personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies they will be required to have available in order to ensure the safety of employees and customers as industries begin to reopen. Along with industry-specific reopening requirements, the page includes a list of self-identified, local suppliers of PPE and cleaning supplies, information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' vendor database, and partner organizations helping to connect businesses with vendors. In addition, in July, Mayor Walsh announced a new ramp initiative to increase accessibility to outdoor dining amidst the COVID-19 public health emergency. Restaurants that have been granted a temporary license to have seating in a parking space or on the street are eligible to request a portable ramp.