Baker-Polito Administration Announces $30 Million in Additional Support for Massachusetts Small Businesses

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $30 Million in Additional Support for Massachusetts Small Businesses

Grants will help recovering businesses by increasing lending capacity and expanding non-profit technical assistance network across the Commonwealth

Administration also announces availability of $11.3 million across two new programs to support brick-and-mortar expansion and enhanced digital capabilities

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $30 million in state funding across four grant programs administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) to help small businesses recover, grow, and thrive.

 Among these investments, the Administration announced the award of $4 million to 45 non-profit technical assistance providers to continue working with small businesses and entrepreneurs from traditionally underserved communities to grow and expand their businesses.  In addition, the Administration announced $14.7 million in awards to 15 organizations under MGCC’s Community Development Financial Institution and Community Development Corporation’s (CDFI and CDC) Match Grant Program, which funds both lending and mini-grant programs for small businesses. 

 Complementing these investments, the Administration announced the launch of two new programs with $11.3 million available to support small businesses as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biz-M-Power program and Empower Digital’s Development of Digital Capabilities grant program.

 Today’s announcement was made at White Lion Brewing Company, a black-owned business that has benefited from support from Common Capital, Inc, a regional Community Development Financial Institution receiving two grants today, and that has also participated in the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program.

 “To address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Commonwealth’s small businesses and main streets, our Administration put forward the largest relief program in the nation as part of our comprehensive plan for economic recovery,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “With this new round of funding for technical assistance, access to capital, and digital tools, we are strengthening our support for small businesses and taking another major step toward a return to normal.”
 
“The combination of technical assistance and access to capital is critical to supporting businesses along their path to growth and is also a key part of our strategy for economic recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “We are grateful to MGCC for their work to provide vital assistance to small businesses throughout the pandemic.”
 
“These new tools and resources, combined with our Small Business Technical Assistance program, continues our support for small businesses that serve traditionally disadvantaged communities and also suffered disproportionately during the pandemic, and provide them with a path to short-term recovery and long-term success,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “By increasing access to essential technical assistance, business education, skills training, and capital, we can help make certain the Commonwealth’s diverse small businesses are a part of the return to normal for our downtowns, main streets and our entire economy.”

 “MGCC is moving into the next phase of supporting the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and I am so excited for MGCC to release these two innovative programs. Biz-M-Power and Empower Digital share an objective of increasing access for entrepreneurs to the tools their businesses need to grow and reach their goals,” said MGCC President and CEO Larry Andrews. “I want to thank my team at Mass Growth Capital, as well as our technical assistance providers, who are our network of partner organizations that help raise awareness of these important efforts. We are grateful to the continued support of the Baker-Polito Administration and the Legislature that enables us to do our important work.”

 This round of Small Business Technical Assistance Grant program awards represents a $4 million commitment to qualifying non-profits that help businesses – many of which are women-, minority-, or veteran-owned enterprises – build operational capacity and strengthen ongoing business development activities, such as one-on-one guidance around applying for loans, building a business plan, and budgeting.  Historically, MGCC’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program has focused on businesses serving low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, underserved communities, and Gateway Cities across the Commonwealth. This low-cost, high-impact program was established to increase the flow of capital into the Commonwealth’s small businesses to assist with recovery, sustainability, resiliency, and growth.

 Through the CDFI and CDC Match Grant Program, MGCC will continue to support lending and mini-grant programs that lower the barriers that small businesses face in accessing essential start-up capital. These $14.7 million in matching funds are being allocated to 15 non-profits that will administer these loan and mini-grant programs to reach small businesses in their communities.

 Through a partnership with the online crowdfunding platform Patronicity, $7.5 million in funding will be available to Biz-M-Power to assist low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs with their acquisition, expansion, improvement or lease of a facility, purchase or lease of equipment, or with meeting other capital needs of their business through matching grants. With the goal of obtaining capital through the earned support of local residents, neighborhoods, community members, and other stakeholders, applicants must be sponsored by a SBTA provider before being accepted into the program. Upon application approval, the business will utilize the crowdfunding platform to leverage community support and raise funding to match the amount requested in their grant application.

 The $3.8 million provided to Empower Digital’s Grant Program for the Development of Digital Capabilities program provides funding for the needs of small businesses seeking tools and services to develop their digital capabilities. Funds may be used to seek professional services such as website developers, copywriters, social media strategists, and graphic designers and strategic hardware/software purchases. Applicants must be sponsored by a SBTA Provider who will help them maximize the impact of the grant through their understanding of the small business landscape, familiarity with the digital needs of small businesses, and their extensive network of collaborators.

 “As we crafted last year’s budget during a global pandemic, we sought to center Massachusetts’ recovery on support for small businesses,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “I’m proud to say that, as a Commonwealth, we’re doing just that. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation is an ideal vehicle to distribute new investments in small businesses as well as to aid organizations which support new entrepreneurs. By ensuring that traditionally underserved communities are included, we’re taking one more step towards an inclusive and equitable recovery.”

 “The Massachusetts House is focused on restoring the economic loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the Commonwealth on a path toward recovery,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “The grants being awarded today, along with other protective and relief measures we have provided, will help our small businesses grow as they contribute to our local economies. The House was proud to support these programs through last year’s budget and remains committed to doing so as this legislative session continues.”

 “Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito have been great partners in assisting me in leveraging monetary and technical assets to help not only stabilize our businesses, but just as important, help them to thrive as we move to defeat this COVID-19,” said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

 “The state’s support for CDFIs and CDCs that lend money to underserved small businesses is an investment in the entrepreneurs and job creators that drive our economy,” said Raymond Lanza-Weil, President of Common Capital. “We are grateful for the State’s funding of our small business loan and technical assistance programs.”

 "White Lion Brewing Company continues to be a beneficiary of a strong business development and sustainability eco-system; it is encouraging to witness cooperating quasi-public, public, non-profit and private institutions working collectively for the greater good to see small businesses thrive in the Commonwealth,” said Raymond Berry, Jr., Founder of White Lion Brewing Company. “We were very fortunate to be one of 15,000 small businesses that Mass. Growth Capital provided financial relief to during a period where many businesses would have shuttered otherwise.  Our brewery is standing today due to those resources in turn affording us an opportunity to create and retain jobs."

A total of $11.3 million in funds have been appropriated for the two new programs in the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Operating Budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Baker.  Biz-M-Power will make a total of $7.5 million available to program participants through matching grants of up to $20,000. A match of up to $5,000 is being offered through the Empower Digital’s Digital Capabilities program, with a total of $3.8 million available. The Small Business Technical Assistance Program and the CDFI and CDC Match Grant Program were also funded through the FY21 Operating Budget.
 
As part of the Administration’s Partnerships for Recovery initiative to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy, these programs follow the success of the largest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation that distributed $705 million to 15,428 businesses in relief grants and loan forgiveness. MGCC loan recipients were given the opportunity to apply for forgiveness for their pandemic loans by demonstrating a significant adverse financial effect from COVID-19. Over the duration of the program, 43 percent of MGCC grants were awarded to minority-owned businesses, and 46 percent of grants went to women-owned businesses. Recovery efforts have also included MGCC Small Business Technical Assistance grants and matching grants for Community Development Financial Institutions and Community Development Corporations; the $1.6 million Travel and Tourism Recovery Grant Pilot Program to promote recovery in the tourism industry; a “Let’s Go Out” restaurant promotion campaign; and a $9.5 million effort underway to help 125 communities pursue locally-driven, actionable strategies to support downtown and commercial districts through the Local Rapid Recovery Planning program.

Michelle Wu Releases Housing Agenda, Calling for Bold Action to Make it Affordable to Live in Boston

Michelle Wu Releases Housing Agenda, Calling for Bold Action to Make it Affordable to Live in Boston 

Boston, MA— Michelle Wu today announced a Housing Justice Agenda to expand access to stable, affordable housing for every Bostonian. Her policies would expand rental and homeownership opportunities, increase housing stock and improve housing stability for low and middle-income Bostonians, residents of color and seniors.

Boston is now the second-most expensive city in the country to own a home, and the fifth-most expensive city to rent. Half of Boston renters are cost-burdened as the price of homeownership rises. 

Because of Boston’s unaffordable cost of housing, our city has continued to lose working families, shown by the fact that our school-aged population is about half what it was in 1970. Disparities in homeownership are a main driver of Boston’s vast racial wealth gap. Evictions have also been on the rise since state protections lapsed and rental markets rebounded. 

Wu’s Housing Justice Agenda emphasizes the key points she will take on as Mayor, including:

• Committing at least $200 of $500 in federal relief dollars directly to housing;
• Rent stabilization and at least $10 million in rental subsidies;
• Property tax relief for senior citizens and others on fixed income;
• Zoning reforms to streamline and accelerate the construction of affordable housing, including eliminating parking requirements and most review for 100% affordable projects and public housing, and increasing density near transit corridors;
• Expanding access to homeownership through mortgage support, matched savings programs, municipal homeownership vouchers and other nontraditional financing mechanisms;
• Leveraging the City’s capital budget and historically  low interest rates to directly build new affordable housing and grow our social housing sector;
• Building affordable and supportive housing on city assets like schools and libraries; and
• Ensuring housing is resilient, energy-efficient and able to withstand the effects of climate change. 

‘The top concern I hear from families as I’m knocking on doors, at events and speaking with neighbors is the need for housing affordability and the stress of spending more and more to try to stay in Boston. The next mayor needs to take on our housing crisis with the scale and urgency Bostonians deserve. Affording a home of one's own should not be a distant, far-off dream in Boston, accessible only to some. Being able to make rent should not be a monthly struggle. If we want to keep families here and attract people from all over the world, we need to tackle our housing crisis head-on,” said Michelle Wu. 

Michelle Wu has also released bold proposals to create a Cabinet-level Chief of Worker Empowerment, close the childcare gap, transform our public schools, reform the Boston Police Department through contract negotiations, enact a Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery Plan, Food Justice Agenda, Digital Equity Agenda and more. 

 

昆士中學新校址破土動工啦 預定2024年落成啟用

 

昆士中學新校址象徵性的破土動工。(周菊子攝)

昆士中學校長張可仁(左一)，波士頓代市長Kim Janey(左二)，以及
右起，波士頓士億元Ed Flynn，麻州參議員Joe Boncore，麻州學校
樓宇局主任Jack McCarthy等嘉賓。

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠”翹首以待”已逾10年，將耗資1億9300萬元，有6層樓高，可供650名學生使用的昆士中學新校址，今(15）日終於破土動工了，預定2024學年落成啟用。

              昆士中學是在1999年時，由時任波士頓公校副總監的黃伯勳博士和一群熱心的昆士小學家長合力推動，以實驗(Pilot)形式成立的學校，與昆士小學銜接，給學生們從幼稚園一路升讀至12年級的”一條龍”式學習機會。

              當其時，波士頓市政府指定了華盛頓街900號的21A地段，作為昆士中學的暫定校地，並以兩層樓的水泥預建模型屋，為該校提供臨時校舍。次年學生人數增加，校舍不敷使用，波士頓市府又再把座落於阿靈頓(Arlington)街125號，1912年建成的林肯學校(Abraham Lincoln)校址，撥給昆士中學暫用。

右起，黃伯勳，李素影，司徒玉瑛等歷任昆士小學校長，以及
昆士中學校長張可仁，都為昆士中學新校址將於3年後落成高興。

              昆士中學以分處兩地的校舍營運，原本是一臨時措施，但從前前市長萬寧路(Tom Menino)，到前市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，再到現任代市長Kim Janey，這臨時狀態竟然一直維持了20年。

              就連校長，也從黃伯勳退休，張可仁接任，卸任，再接任，歷經數度變遷。昆士中學還從黃伯勳時期創辦國際文憑課程(IB)，到現在成為全波士頓市公校中唯一所有年級都提供國際文憑課程的中學。

波士頓代市長Kim Janey致詞時提及亞裔遭遇的歧視，不公平對待。

              起初昆士中學無法蓋新校，波士頓市政府給的理由是沒有經費，然後是找不到適當地點，在馬丁華殊市長時期，一度提議波士頓藝術學校和昆士中學在25號地段上合蓋校舍，後來卻因為各種原因告吹。直到2019年，波士頓市政府斥資950萬元，買下波士頓華人佈道會的教堂會址，徵得華人前進會等地方機構同意，A地段不建可負擔住宅，改為學校用地，這才終於一槌敲定了昆士中學就留在波士頓華埠內。

昆士中學畢業生趙穎妍即將升讀耶魯大學。(周菊子攝)

              6月15日，昆士中學校長張可仁一邊開心的招呼出席嘉賓，包括波士頓代理市長Kim Janey，波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius，麻州學校樓宇局主任Jack McCarthy，麻州參議員賓加利(Joe Boncore)，波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)等人，感謝華埠土地信託會主任駱理德，亞美社區發展協會主任劉安琪，昆士小學前校長李素影，現任校長司徒玉瑛等人在促成昆士中學新校址上的協助，以及湯美華等等昆士中學的創建者，一邊細數華埠曾經遭遇政府建高速公路，被拆掉了一大塊；週邊就是紅燈區，讓他在哈佛念書期間，面對同學們提起華埠，就說成紅燈區的尷尬；華埠迄今仍是低收入移民聚居之地，在樓宇豪華化的壓力中，有著消亡危機等種種狀況，強調未來的昆士中學，可以成為華埠社區穩定力量。

           張可仁特地安排將升讀耶魯大學的畢業致詞生趙穎妍也為這場盛會致詞，藉以彰顯該校畢業生現在已有很多人升讀著名大學，恭喜在現場的昆士小學學生們，將來有機會跨過一條馬路，走進嶄新昆士中學校舍繼續學業。

左起，張可仁，黃伯勳，司徒玉瑛，李素影都為華埠作育人才無數。(周菊子攝)

Danielle Allen 參選州長 聲言麻州改變腳步應更快

Danielle Allen宣佈競選麻州州長。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)哈佛教授Danielle Allen今(15）早在麻州政府的金頂大樓前，打出「重新想像麻州（ReiMAgine）」這口號，正式宣佈參選麻州州長。

              在十幾名穿著紫色Ｔ恤支持者的簇擁中，穿著白色外套，頂著一頭捲貼短髮的Danielle Allen，站在麻州政府的金頂大樓，以及紀念美國內戰中第一個全由黑人組成的第54步兵團及羅伯蕭(Robert Gould Shaw)紀念碑前強調，麻州應該加快改變步調。

Danielle Allen要改變麻州。(周菊子攝)

             今年49歲，2015年才定居麻州，現為哈佛大學Edmond J. Safra道德中心主任，並獲有哈佛最高榮譽的＂大學教授（University Professor）”頭銜的Danielle Allen，年紀雖輕，卻在學界成就顯著，2001年時獲選為麥克阿瑟基金會學者，還曾任普立茲獎、Mellon基金會等機構的委員會主席，Amherst學院及普林斯頓大學校董。

             在正式宣佈參選後，Danielle Allen成為麻州首名參選州長的黑人女性。如果當選，她將和麻州第一位黑人州長的前州長Deval Patrick一樣，都是素人參政，此前全無參選公職經驗。

             她說，「想想看，麻州成為這樣一個州，有權力者認知他們爭取更大利益的責任，感覺無力者能夠和為共同行動代表他們的機構重新連繫。那才是民主的意義」。

             她說麻州的政策制訂者放棄了太多先賢理想，而這些趨勢所造成的社會，經濟痛苦，在新冠病毒疫情中，全被放大，彰顯了出來。她參選，就是希望提升那些被邊緣化了的人們。

Danielle Allen和波士頓市長參選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)，
不謀而合，競選都挑紫色調。(周菊子攝)

             作為在新冠病毒疫情期間，為拜登／哈里斯（Biden/Harris）政府研究因應計畫這聯盟的主席，Danielle Allen批評麻州現任州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）未充分利用麻州人的才幹。

             劍橋市市長Sumbul Siddiqui，＂強大項目（The Mighty Project）創辦人 Tammy Darling，今日都出席站台，闡述Danielle Allen的能力，領導力。

             Danielle Allen在發言時表示，她的政策重點放在可負擔住宅，環境綠化，交通效率，以及支持學校健康營運等，她也將重新檢視刑事系統的角色。

             Danielle Allen是第二個公開宣佈，將參選2022年州長職位的候選人。第一個正式宣佈參選的人是曾任麻州參議員的Ben Downing。

             其他表態有意參選，但還未正式宣佈的有麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮(Sonia Chang Diaz)，麻州總檢察長Maura Healey。

　　　麻州現任州長，共和黨籍的查理貝克，也還未明確表示是否競選連任。

麻州鼓勵居民打疫苗辦抽獎 5人有機會成百萬富翁

 

麻州州長Charlie Baker宣傳"打疫苗，贏百萬"計畫。

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合編譯) 打新冠疫苗，就有機會當5名百萬富翁之一!麻州為鼓勵民眾注射新冠病毒疫苗，今(15)日宣佈推出”百萬疫苗(VaxMillions)”彩票，凡是18歲以上，打滿2劑輝瑞或莫德納，或者1劑嬌生(J&J)疫苗的人，都可參加。

麻州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和麻州財政廳廳長高伯珂(Deb Goldberg)，麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders等人，今日早上在州政府大樓內說明，”百萬疫苗(VaxMillions)”彩票自7月1日起接受登記，7月26日起每週一次，持續至8月27日，連續5週抽獎，每週都有1人可得百萬元大獎。

              麻州今(15)日正式結束緊急狀態，百業恢復正常營運，民眾出門也不再需要戴口罩。麻州的疫苗施打率也高達58%，約有400多萬人已完整注射，在全美50州中排名第一。

由於越多人已完整注射疫苗，疫情再度升高的機會就更小，麻州政府特地推出這”疫苗百萬”彩券計畫，廣告週知麻州民眾，凡是18歲以上，打滿2劑輝瑞(Pfizer)或莫德納(Moderna)，或者1劑嬌生(J&J)疫苗的人，都可以到麻州政府官網，登記參加抽獎，有機會贏得5個百萬元大獎之一。

12到17歲的已完整注射疫苗居民，則有機會贏得30萬元獎學金，獎額5個。這部分的獎額，將由”麻州教育金融局(Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority)”所管理的”529大學儲蓄計畫(529 College Savings Plan)”辦理。

麻州彩券局主任Michael Sweeney表示，這一抽獎活動，將藉由麻州政府彩券部門已有的機制辦理。

              查理貝克表示，麻州並不是第一個使用彩券來鼓勵民眾注射新冠疫苗的州。例如俄亥俄州就辦得很成功。他和俄州州長Mike DeWine長談過，聽說這做法的確發揮了作用。

              整個麻州共有900個疫苗注射站，查詢詳情可上網mass.gov/COVIDVaccine。查詢”疫苗百萬”彩券，也可上網mass.gov/VaxMillions。

AG HEALEY CALLS ON SEC TO REQUIRE COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE FINANCIAL RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

AG HEALEY CALLS ON SEC TO REQUIRE COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE FINANCIAL RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Multistate Coalition Argues for Greater Disclosure to Meet Growing Investor Demands and Protect Residents’ Retirement Savings and Other Investments

             BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of attorneys general in calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require U.S. companies to provide specific and accurate information about the financial risks their businesses face from climate change. The attorneys general contend these disclosures are fully within the SEC’s authority and are urgently needed to protect the retirement savings and other investments of millions of Americans.

             In the letter, the coalition argues that climate change poses a wide range of serious risks that threaten companies’ financial health and, more broadly, could contribute to systemic shocks to financial markets that imperil investor holdings. In the past five years alone, climate change-related weather events cost U.S. companies more than $600 billion in direct economic damages, and conservative estimates of future damages are much greater. 

             “The climate crisis threatens serious financial harm for U.S. companies, financial markets, and the investments our residents have made to fund their retirements or pay for their children’s college,” AG Healey said. “We’re calling on the SEC to require companies to disclose the risks climate change poses to their businesses, so that we can protect our residents and their savings.”

 “Climate change is not a distant problem to be dealt with in the future; it is here, and it threatens the US economy and its financial system,” the coalition writes in the letter. “Demand from institutional and retail investors for American companies to respond to the financial and other impacts of climate change has grown significantly over the last decade,” the letter argues, including from Massachusetts investors. Last month, for example, shareholders elected three new members to ExxonMobil’s board of directors who are seeking to address the financial risks to investors of the company’s poor climate change planning.

 In today’s comment letter, the attorneys general urge the SEC to mandate with clarity and specificity that companies must assess climate change-related risks affecting their businesses and disclose that information to investors. While SEC-regulated firms have always been required to disclose material information like climate change-related risks and may not lawfully distribute misleading or false disclosures, the SEC’s current disclosure regime is not producing the transparency about such risks that investors need and are demanding to make well-informed investment decisions.

 The coalition specifically suggests that the SEC require companies to make annual disclosures of their greenhouse gas emissions and any plans to address their emissions; analyze and disclose the potential impacts of climate change and climate change regulation; and disclose corporate governance and risk management as they pertain to climate change.

 AG Healey has previously sought to protect Massachusetts investors from inadequate climate risk disclosures through enforcement of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. In 2019, AG Healey sued ExxonMobil, alleging that the global oil company has been unlawfully omitting, denying, and downplaying the risks that climate change poses to its business, as well as failing to disclose to Massachusetts investors the systemic financial risks from climate change. As noted in AG Healey’s amended complaint, filed last year, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a real-time illustration of how shocks to the economy, including sudden drops in fossil fuel demand, have potentially dire consequences for companies like ExxonMobil and their investors. The litigation is pending in Massachusetts Superior Court.

AG Healey joins the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin in sending today’s letter. 

This matter is being handled for Massachusetts by Special Assistant Attorney General Lillian McCullough and Assistant Attorney General Margaret Sullivan, both of AG Healey’s Energy and Environment Bureau, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General David Lim and Lilia DuBois, both of AG Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division

波士頓市長候選人偶有意見不同處 (圖片)

 

MAYOR JANEY EXPANDS ACCESS TO OUTDOOR WORK/LEARN SPACES AT BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO HELP RESIDENTS STAY CONNECTED AND COOL

MAYOR JANEY EXPANDS ACCESS TO OUTDOOR WORK/LEARN SPACES AT BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO HELP RESIDENTS STAY CONNECTED AND COOL Free, 24-hour Internet and pop-up workstations help to bridge the digital divide, beat the summer heat, and create new points of connection for residents     Shade structures, Wi-Fi, and seating installed at Codman Square Branch Library   BOSTON - Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, in collaboration with the Boston Public Library (BPL), the Environment Department and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, will install outdoor pop-up connected work/learn spaces at six locations and continue offering free, 24-hour Wi-Fi at 14 of its branches. The BPL Outdoor Wi-Fi pop-ups will provide desks, additional lighting, and shade structures, allowing users to get online after hours and stay cool on hotter days. This project is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to expand equitable internet access, support community resilience, and create new points of community connection for residents emerging from a year of social distancing and increased social isolation.  “Whether it’s coming to the BPL to access books and engage with our learning programs, get online, or step out of the sun on a summer day, we recognize that libraries often serve as a community living room and are a vital neighborhood resource for many reasons,” said Mayor Janey. “We want to continue supporting all of the ways in which libraries make Boston and its residents more informed, creative, and resilient—both coming out of this pandemic and into the future.” Pop-up workstations at the Brighton, Codman Square, Mattapan, and Grove Hall branch libraries will be installed in the month of June. As part of the City's Climate Ready Boston program, the Mayor's Office of Environment, Energy, and Open Space will add two additional locations at the Egleston Square and East Boston branches in July to provide increased shade and cooling resources. All locations will remain installed until October 2021. 24-hour outdoor Wi-Fi at all 14 locations is permanent and available year-round. To access the Internet, users will need to bring their own device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone or borrow one from the library through the BPL’s device loan program.  “Today's public libraries provide critical resources for residents, both daily and in times of crisis. In the twenty-first century, that requires providing access to devices, connectivity, and skills to help close the digital equity gap,” said BPL President David Leonard. “Extended outdoor Wi-Fi at branches is one more way of removing barriers to opportunity and providing a space to patrons that is safe and welcoming. Inside or out, the library will always be there for our communities.” In addition to supporting the needs of residents who are still learning and working remotely, the BPL recognizes that its spaces function as essential community resource hubs, providing access to a range of services and amenities to support learning, wellness and social connections. City services will also be provided at some BPL pop-up locations. The Boston Summer Eats program, which distributes free grab-and-go meals, will operate Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Mattapan (9am-11am), Codman Square (1-3 pm), and Grove Hall (4-6 pm) pop-up locations. Starting in July, the Office of Housing Stability, which helps residents find and maintain stable, safe and affordable housing, will offer application assistance for tenants applying for the Rental Relief Fund on Tuesdays at Mattapan and Thursdays at Grove Hall.  "Climate change is happening, and Boston is getting hotter. Bostonians are strong, but the same residents that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic also bear the burden of increased heat," said Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "This partnership with the Boston Public Library provides outdoor work spaces that help residents stay safe and cool, access critical resources online, and learn how to protect themselves and their families from extreme heat today. Helping Boston recover, reopen and renew means making sure folks stay safe and cool this summer." Adapting access to the BPL throughout the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the number of Boston residents who rely on the BPL’s resources to access the Internet for essential information about City services, online learning, and other resources such as employment opportunities. Last summer, the BPL installed outdoor Wi-Fi at 14 branches to ensure that reliable Internet access remained available even when the BPL’s doors were closed.  In Boston and across the United States, many families lack reliable Internet access, creating a digital divide that reinforces inequality. According to a recent Pew Study, more than 40 percent of low-income Americans making less than $30,000 lack access to broadband Internet. Outdoor Wi-Fi at Boston Public Libraries will help fill this critical gap more reliably for residents across the city. The Central Library at Copley Square and all branch libraries are now open for limited in-person services. To learn more about the library’s available walk-in and by appointment services, safety requirements, and other reopening information visit bpl.org/reopening.  Outdoor Wi-Fi locations: Adams St., Brighton, Codman Square, Connolly, East Boston, Egleston Square, Grove Hall, Honan-Allston, Hyde Park, Lower Mills, Mattapan, Parker Hill, Roxbury, South End, West Roxbury. South Boston outdoor Wi-Fi available during opening hours.