麻州長訪問Holyoke 慶祝把光纖網路帶進郊區

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Completion of Make Ready Work, Critical to Extending Broadband to “Last Mile” Towns

Celebration marks conclusion of Make Ready Working Group’s four-year effort of unprecedented coordination among utilities, service providers, construction contractors, state government

HOLYOKE – Thursday, March 24, 2022 – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration celebrated the completion of Make Ready work, a four-year, coordinated effort to remove the largest obstacle to extending broadband access across 53 “Last Mile” communities in Western and Central Massachusetts. During a roundtable event hosted at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) in Holyoke, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, and Undersecretary of Community Development Ashley Stolba commemorated the milestone with executives from the utility companies, service providers, and construction contractors who comprised the Make Ready Working Group responsible for delivering high-speed internet access to the doorsteps of 28,000 households in these towns.   Formed in February 2018 and led by Lt. Governor Polito, the Make Ready Working Group achieved unprecedented coordination of the activities required to make space on utility poles in advance of the construction of broadband networks. Through regular meetings, new practices and protocols, and meticulous tracking of progress, the group was able to accelerate the Make Ready work that ultimately impacted approximately 40,000 utility poles, allowing for the installation of 2,000 miles of fiber optic cable across all 53 Last Mile towns.  As of today, 40 Last Mile towns have fully operational broadband networks, 10 previously unserved towns have networks that are partially operational, with the three remaining unserved communities in various stages of design or construction.    “As a result of the important work done by the entire Make Ready Group’s membership, who met weekly and more over the past four years, the last of the Commonwealth’s communities that still remain unserved by broadband are a major step closer becoming connected,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “Thanks to this group’s efforts, 53 previously underserved municipalities will have access to essential broadband services and we are grateful for this important collaboration.”    “Congratulations to the members of the Make Ready Working Group for your commitment to an unprecedented degree of coordination over the last four years,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Because of your work, we’ve successfully overcome the largest challenge to extending broadband to our final ‘Last Mile’ communities in our goal of closing the digital divide.”   The membership of the Make Ready Working Group included: Eversource, National Grid, Verizon, Westfield Gas and Electric, Comcast, Charter, ITG, Sertex, MassDOT, the Department of Telecommunications and Cable, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI).    Throughout the four-year period, the Working Group continuously tracked and pressed for the acceleration of Make Ready work with a focus on eliminating roadblocks where fiber construction crews were actively building new network.  To track progress, a complex integrated schedule, created and managed by the MBI, became the primary tool to coordinate efforts and resources.    New tactics and protocols were also implemented, with utilities being asked to “swarm” crews into high-priority towns to complete Make Ready work.  As coordination increased, fiber construction crews were eventually fully synchronized such that construction could start in a particular neighborhood immediately upon the completion of Make Ready in that section of a town.  Prior to this approach, standing practice was to hold off on construction until Make Ready work was completed for the entire town.    “The success of the Make Ready Working Group will serve as a new model for how we can work together to tackle complicated challenges associated with upgrading and extending modern-day infrastructure that is a necessity in today’s world,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “As the pandemic demonstrated, internet connectivity is more vital than ever, and this work will ensure that no one region remains at a disadvantage as we continue along the path of economic recovery.”   “I want to congratulate the Make Ready Working Group for their extraordinary efforts to ensure broadband coverage will soon complete its reach across the entire Commonwealth,” said Undersecretary of Community Development Ashley Stolba.  “In this day and age, high-speed internet is a vital component of how communities function and businesses operate, and thanks to this group’s commitment, we were able to save a significant amount of time and accelerate progress toward the goal of making sure access is universal.”   “The importance of the Make Ready Working Group in helping bridge the divide between the digital haves and have-nots cannot be understated,” said Department of Telecommunications and Cable Commissioner Karen Charles Peterson. “Massachusetts has been consistently looked at as a leader in removing barriers to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet access and the Working Group is another important example of how we continue to do this by working collaboratively.”   “Westfield Gas + Electric appreciates the efforts of the Baker-Polito Administration in unifying this diverse group of utilities,” said Tom Flaherty, Sr., General Manager of Westfield Gas + Electric. “Together we were able to streamline the complex work schedule of the last four years, bringing critical broadband access to many Western Massachusetts communities on a relatively short timeline.”   “We commend the Baker-Polito Administration’s willingness to understand and prioritize make-ready work, which may not be glamorous, but is essential to providers’ ability to timely reach and connect unserved families, and can help shave years off of the timeline for doing so,” said Camille Joseph, GVP, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications. “This effort is already paying great dividends for the Commonwealth’s efforts to close the internet access gap, including through deployment of Charter’s gigabit connectivity to the unserved towns of Princeton, Hancock, New Marlborough, Peru, Sandisfield, Tyringham, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, and West Stockbridge.”   “From the beginning of this program, Comcast has been a dedicated partner to Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito and the entire MBI team in their effort to connect residents and businesses in 13 rural communities of western Massachusetts to Comcast’s fast, secure and reliable fiber-rich network that offers a range of broadband speeds, including multi-gigabit services,” said Daniel Glanville, Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Impact for Comcast's Western New England Region.  “We are proud of our partnership and remain committed to continuously investing in and evolving our network to stay ahead of customer needs now and into the future.”   “National Grid is proud to support the vital work of bringing broadband access to the cities and towns of Western and Central Massachusetts alongside the Baker-Polito Administration,” said Steve Woerner, New England President, National Grid US. “We will continue to assist our communities across the Commonwealth, building on the impressive work to date of the many dedicated individuals involved in providing this critical infrastructure to residents and businesses.”   “We’re proud of the hard work, skill, and dedication it took from all stakeholders to coordinate and complete such an important construction project at this scale,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric Field Operations Bill Ritchie. “Working through the pandemic and some of the toughest terrain in Massachusetts, this public-private partnership accomplished an essential step in ensuring that underserved communities have access to this critical service. In particular, it took diligent cooperation between our employees and Verizon to transfer or shift our infrastructure to make room on the pole to facilitate fiber attachments.”   “Sertex Broadband is proud to be a part of closing the digital divide in Central and Western Massachusetts,” said Michael Solitro, Sertex founder and CEO. “Over the last six years, our crews have crossed rivers, climbed mountains, and dragged cable through forests and woodlands in all weather to make lightspeed internet access a reality for more than 12,000 residents and businesses.”   "It has been an honor to collaborate with MBI, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and members of the Make Ready Working Group to complete this portion of the ‘Last Mile’ project," said Verizon Vice President Stephanie Lee.  "The efforts of our partnership are contributing to bridging the digital divide by enabling broadband connectivity in 53 unserved and underserved communities in western and central Massachusetts."

麻州長任命Jeanne Pinado 為麻州房屋董事會主席

Governor Baker Appoints Jeanne Pinado as Chair of the MassHousing Board of Directors

BOSTON –  Today, Governor Charlie Baker swore in Jeanne Pinado as Chair of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing) Board of Directors. Pinado brings over three decades of experience in real estate development, asset management, sales and debt financing. Pinando currently serves as Executive Vice President at Colliers International. Prior to that role, she served as Madison Park Development’s CEO for over 20 years.

Pinado is the first woman of color to serve as Chair of the MassHousing Board of Directors.

“Jeanne Pinado’s decades of experience in real estate development and asset management make her well qualified to serve as Chair of the MassHousing Board,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “MassHousing’s successful record of increasing affordable housing options is critically important to addressing the Commonwealth’s housing challenges. Jeanne’s depth of knowledge and proven leadership in these areas will help create more homeownership opportunities throughout Massachusetts.” 

“Our Administration is pleased to designate Jeanne Pinado Chair of MassHousing’s Board, where she will play an instrumental role in expanding housing opportunities across the state,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Jeanne brings years of expertise in real estate and community development to this role, and we are appreciative of her willingness to serve.”

About Jeanne Pinado

Jeanne Pinado currently serves as an Executive Vice President at Collier International. She previously served as CEO of Madison Park Development, a multifamily real estate owner/developer with annual revenues of more than $20 million, from 1998-2019. Prior to Madison Park, she served as Senior Equity Investment Officer of Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation. Pinado began her career in the financial services industry in New York City and worked as a project manager for developer Metropolitan Structures. Pinado is also a mayoral appointee to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals as well as a former gubernatorial appointee to chair the Multifamily Advisory Board of Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. She is an executive board member of A Better City and serves as board President of NeighborhoodWorks Capital Corporation, a national community development finance institution. Pinado is a past president and current Policy Leadership Council member of CHAPA (Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association).  Pinado earned her Bachelor’s in Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia and her Master’s in Business Administration in Finance from Columbia University. She resides in Boston with her family.

About MassHousing

MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $24.3 billion for affordable housing.

下週起約50萬低收入打工者會收到500元支票

        (Boston Orange) 麻州政府3月23日宣佈，新冠病毒基本工作人員加給計畫 (COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program) 發給低薪工作人員$500的第一輪發放，即日開始。這筆錢將於下週內郵寄給大約50萬人。

                上個月麻州議會通過，麻州州長貝克簽署的美國援救計劃法 (ARPA)40億元支出計畫，撥給新冠病毒基本工作人員加給計畫4億6000萬元，以為整個麻州提供快速、重要的支援。

                凡是2020年在麻州報稅，收入低於$12,750元 - 約等於以2020年的最低薪資一連50週，每週工作20小時，總收入低於聯邦貧窮線的300%以下的麻州居民，都符合資格。

                在2020年內收到失業補助的人，在這第一輪發放中將不符合資格。已經或即將收到麻州政府作為雇主，一次性付款的麻州行政部門員工，也不符合資格。

                這筆錢的支票將在未來數日內寄出。

                麻州民眾可上網查察自己是否符合領取資格，https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-essential-employee-premium-pay-program#eligibility-parameters-。

                查詢可在週一至五的早上9點至4點之間，電洽專設的呼叫中心(866) 750-9803。

                麻州議會為低收入基本工作人員撥備共5億元的加給計畫。這4億6000萬元包括大部分的經費，以及4000萬元撥給早前和州政府員工工會達成協議的基金。第一輪發放，將以2020年的報稅紀錄為基準，共發放2億5000萬元。接下來的2021年報稅季，報稅資訊會用作為發放下一輪款項的基準。

Massachusetts to Begin Distribution of Premium Payments to Low-Income Workers

$500 payments to be sent to 500,000 eligible Massachusetts residents by the end of March and call center now available for constituents with eligibility questions

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the start of distribution of the first round of $500 payments for low-income workers under the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program. The payments will be mailed to approximately 500,000 people over the next week.

 

These payments were previously announced last month and represent the first round of a $460 million program passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by Governor Baker as part of a $4 billion spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Under this program created by the Legislature, the Administration was provided flexibility to design the program and develop eligibility parameters to ensure this critical support is provided quickly to workers across the Commonwealth.

 

Massachusetts residents will be eligible for first round payments if, based on filed 2020 Massachusetts tax returns, their income from employment was at least $12,750 – the equivalent to working 20 hours/week for 50 weeks at minimum wage as of 2020 – and their total income put them below 300% of the federal poverty level.

 

Individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2020 will not be eligible for the first round of payments, nor will Commonwealth executive branch employees who received or will receive a one-time payment from the state as their employer. Eligible individuals will receive the payment in the form of a check mailed to them. Checks will be mailed in batches in the coming days.

 

Click here for more information on eligibility.

 

For questions about eligibility, a dedicated call center is available at (866) 750-9803 and is open Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm.

 

Click here to view answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

 

The legislation creating the Premium Pay program included $500 million in total for low-income essential workers; this $460 million program comprises the majority of those funds, and $40 million was allocated to fund previous agreements with state employee unions. This first round of payments, worth $250 million, will be made based on 2020 returns. Following the 2021 tax filing season, the next round of payments will be made using information from 2021 returns.

 

Information on plans to disburse subsequent rounds of funds will be released in the future

"波士頓閃亮"邀20到35歲青少年參加

 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2022-2023 SPARK BOSTON COUNCIL



The SPARK Boston Council empowers our City’s young leaders with civic education, professional development, and networking opportunities.

BOSTON - Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced applications for the 2022-2023 SPARK Boston Council are now open and available online. Mayor Wu’s SPARK Boston Council is a volunteer leadership and civic engagement council made up of 20-35 year olds, charged with spearheading the City's efforts to engage Boston's young adult population. Applications are due Friday, May 13.

 

“SPARK Boston is critical to ensuring that the City connects with every resident and expands opportunities for young professionals to lead as we work to make Boston a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am thrilled that the applications for the 2022-2023 SPARK Boston are open and encourage every young adult interested in serving Boston to apply.”

 

Under the direction of the SPARK Boston Director, the 2022-2023 Council will create programming and advise Boston's leaders to help the city grow as an inviting, connected, culturally rich, and sustainable home for young adults. Throughout the SPARK Boston Council term, participants hear from key members of the Mayor's staff, leaders within City Hall, and community organizations about topics like climate resilience, education, housing, and civic innovation.

 

“I’m excited to launch our first recruitment cycle with Mayor Wu and reconnect with Boston’s young people in their neighborhoods after two years of predominantly virtual events,” said SPARK Boston Director Audrey Seraphin. “SPARK Boston has the power to create meaningful connections, opportunities, and policies, so I encourage anyone looking to get to know our City better to apply.”

 

Those looking to join the SPARK Boston Council can learn more about the program and application process by attending one of two Virtual Open Houses on either Tuesday, April 5 or Monday, May 9 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Those interested in attending can register at bit.ly/SPARKOpenHouse. Applicants can also reach out with questions to sparkboston@boston.gov. 

 

The 2021-2022 SPARK Council had the unique opportunity to serve under three mayors, and execute both virtual and in-person events, including Run Out the Vote, the Rooted in Boston series, the Allston-Brighton Renters’ Garden Contest, and the inaugural Begin in Boston program. The SPARK Council meets monthly, currently in a hybrid format, and must attend at least one external community meeting a month. Applicants must reside in Boston, and be willing to commit 15 hours monthly to the SPARK Boston program. SPARK Boston and its previous iteration ONEin3 have now been serving young adults and the City of Boston for almost 18 years. 

 

“It's been almost a year since I joined SPARK council, and I continue to be inspired and humbled by my fellow SPARK council members every time we meet,” said Caiti Zeytoonian, 2021-2022 SPARK Boston council member from South Boston. “Their commitment to making our city the best it can be gives me hope for Boston's future.” 

ABOUT SPARK BOSTON

Boston is home to a large and diverse 20-35 year old population. SPARK Boston (formerly ONEin3) is a City of Boston initiative that aims to empower Generation Z and millennial generation to play a greater role in planning for the future of our city. For more information and the full SPARK Boston recruitment schedule, please visit the Spark Boston website.

吳弭、Kim Janey、Anaya Pressley 聯袂再宣揚免費巴士

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)和聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，錢任波士頓代市長Kim Janey
儼然3姊妹，互相扶持。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和前任波士頓代市長Kim Janey，以及麻州聯邦眾議員普莉斯萊 (Ayanna Pressley) 在3月22日近午時分，聯袂搭乘23號巴士抵達瑞吉路易斯中心 (Reggie Lewis Center) ，藉以再次強調免費巴士服務對人們，學生的幫助。

               Kim Janey在位時，推出28號巴士免費搭乘半年的試驗計畫。吳弭當選波士頓市長後，以800萬元經費，擴大這一免費巴士行動，推出23，28，29等三條巴士線從3月1日起免費搭乘二年計畫。

               吳弭等三人在將近中午的11點半多搭乘從多徹斯特Ashmont車站開到洛士百利Ruggles車站的23號巴士。吳弭說車上乘客擁擠，可見需求很大。人們上車時，不必掏錢付車費，也可讓巴士運行更快，增加效率。她很高興這3條巴士路線免費，將容許人們上學，回家，接小孩的搭乘多次，都不需要擔心搭幾趟車，加起來費用會很貴，錢可以省下來買食物，付租金或買藥。             

出席璇船免費巴士的州州市政要及學生。

               這3條巴士路線可以免費二年是因為波士頓市政府動用聯邦紓困款，付了麻州地鐵公司 (MBTA) 800萬元車費。吳弭說，這只是個開始，波士頓市將繼續努力，希望將來波士頓市內每一條路線的巴士都可以免費搭乘。

               麻州聯邦眾議員普莉斯萊說，她正在和聯邦參議員Ed Markey合作，草擬一份50億元法案，要讓更多巴士免費運行，為人們提供交通、移動自由。

               波士頓市政府為半年前以試驗計劃方式推出，可免費搭乘的28號巴士，做了一份評估報告(https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2022/03/Route28_Report_FINAL.pdf) ， 指出28號巴士行經地區，多半是少數族裔居民或企業，日常交通仰賴巴士，自從推出免費搭乘計畫後，搭乘量增加了38%，有34%的乘客說搭車免費讓他們省了錢，約23%說平均每月可節省20元。在接受調查的人中，8%如果沒有免費巴士的話，她們會走路去要去的地方，5%會選擇開車。

               麻州眾議會已經有法案在研議，要求MBTA以及區域交通局設計長達一年的巴士免費搭乘計畫，但這法案目前還在交通委員會擱置中。

               與人合作起草該法案，代表尚莫維爾的民主黨籍麻州眾議員Christine Barber表示，這一計畫只在研究免費巴士服務的好處與開支。

               麻州眾議會交通委員會共同主席，代表麥特潘的William Straus卻稱巴士免費會讓人忽略了MBTA需要可觀金援。他說，重點需要放在如何擁有最好的營運系統。

               麻州屋斯特(Worcester)，美瑞麥谷(Merrimack Valley)，以及法蘭克林 (Franklin)的鐵路局 (TRA)都已經藉由試驗計畫，讓所有的巴士免費了。

               布魯克蘭鎮正在考慮動用120萬元的新冠紓困款，來為搭乘66號巴士，從劍橋市哈佛廣場到波士頓是Nubian廣場的人提供免費搭乘服務二年。劍橋市市長Sumbul Siddiqui最近也組織了一個工作小組，還指派市經理Burhan Azeem擔任主席，預定6月提交報告。

麻州推出"立即聘請"計畫 雇主每聘一人補助4000元

MA Governor Charlie Baker touting "HireNow" program. ( Photo by Chutze Chou)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 麻州查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 政府動用5000萬元來自美國援救計畫 (ARPA)經費，3月23日推出” 立即聘用 (HireNow)”計畫，將以每名員工4000元，每家公司最高可40萬元的補助額度，協助企業及非牟利機構解決近來招人難的問題。

                這一補助計畫採先到先得方式辦理，3月23日起開始受理申請，只要是設址麻州，無論是私營企業或是非牟利機構，都可申請。網址為www.mass.gov/hirenow。

              企業拿到的補助款可用於培訓員工，發簽約獎金給新員工等等。麻州政府希望藉此，協助企業更快的聘得人手，培訓新員工，讓更多人回到勞動市場。

MA Lt. Governor Karen Polito providing details of the"HireNow" program. (By Chutze Chou)

                 麻州州長查理貝克和副州長白莉朵(Karen Polito)，以及勞工及人力發展廳廳長Rosalin Acosta是3月23日這天，到位於劍橋市的非營利機構，為生物科學新創企業提供支援服務的”實驗室中心 (LabCentral)”，宣佈這一計畫，藉以強調，這一補助計畫也適用於非牟利機構，以及任何職務，不一定要是白領階級。

              麻州政府表示，根據勞工部統計數據最近的分析，和疫情爆發前相比，有8萬5000人未加入勞動市場。同時間，雇主的員工需求卻持續增加，以至於和疫情前相比，張貼出去的工作機會，有20%的招不到人。全麻州現有大約20萬個工作機會。

             麻州政府指出，政府正在藉由各種努力來協助企業解決這一問題，包括擴大介紹已運作中的學徒計畫，在職員工訓練計劃，以及職業技能計畫等等。

             Rosalin Acosta並指出，麻州區域機構將聘請名為”市場創造者 (Market Makers)”的新員工，來連結公司和培訓結業人員，居間協調的幫助雇主與求職者。麻州聘用 (MassHire)中心也會增加員工，直接和想要報名參加培訓項目，獲取更多技能的求職者聯繫。

            符合申請補助的聘僱為3月23日以後聘用，至少工作了60天，每星期至少工作30小時。受聘者的時薪必須在最低14.25元，最高42.5元之間。 

Baker-Polito Administration Launches “HireNow” Hiring and Training Employer Grant Program

$4,000/Employee Program Aims to Boost Hiring with Labor Force Participation Rates Still Lower than Pre-Pandemic

 

BOSTON 

– The Baker-Polito Administration today launched a new hiring and training employer grant program, “HireNow,” which will help employers quickly hire and train new workers and get more people back to work. The new program provides eligible employers with a $4,000 per employee grant, which can be used to cover training costs or as a signing bonus for new employees. By providing employers with these flexible funds to facilitate quick hiring, the Administration is focusing on addressing continued hiring challenges faced by employers and increasing labor force participation. Employers can learn more about the program and apply at www.mass.gov/hirenow.

Lab Central founder Johannes Fruehauf touting companies coming out from Lab Central
received more than 20% of VC funding nationwide. (By Chutze Chou)

The program is open to all Massachusetts employers, including both for-profit and non-profit entities (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta announced the launch of the program today at LabCentral, a Cambridge non-profit that provides support and working space for start-ups in the biotech and life sciences sectors. LabCentral plans to hire lab operations and other technical and administrative staff this year and will use funds from HireNow to support training costs.

“Our Administration is focused on supporting Massachusetts’ economic growth and getting more people back to work, and the HireNow program is one more tool at our disposal to meet employers’ workforce needs and grow our labor force,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The flexible funds from this program will be distributed to employers quickly to help them with training costs, tuition support and other needs. We are grateful to our partners in the Legislature for allocating the ARPA funds necessary to make this program happen.” 

“We know employers are ready to grow and expand by hiring new workers, and we’re excited to deploy flexible dollars as part of the HireNow program to jump-start those efforts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Massachusetts’s economic recovery from the pandemic is off and running, but we know there are still persistent workforce challenges that we must address. To boost our local economies, it is critical that we help both for-profit and non-profit employers meet their workforce needs and get more people back to work. We appreciate the partnership of the employer community as we developed this program and look forward to putting these funds to work alongside our existing, proven job-training programs.”

HireNow aims to address hiring challenges faced by employers that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are over 85,000 workers not participating in the labor market compared to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, employers’ need for workers has continued to increase, with unfilled job postings up 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels and approximately 200,000 open jobs available across the Commonwealth.

The Administration is focused on addressing these challenges through a variety of efforts, including by expanding access and awareness to its existing apprenticeships, incumbent worker training programs, the Career Technical Initiative and more. 

Local MassHire Workforce Boards are also expanding resources to match employers and workers with training programs, and regions are hiring new staff members to serve as regional “Market Makers” to connect companies to graduates of new education and training programs starting up in their areas funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.  These staff members will be regional points of contact to help match employers’ needs with both job-seekers and the skill-building programs needed to successfully fill open jobs.  In addition, MassHire Centers are adding staff to work directly with job seekers who want to enroll in new training programs to gain more skills. 

The HireNow program will build on these efforts by providing resources directly to employers that make it possible to immediately hire new employees and provide them with necessary training to fill open roles. The program will be supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

 

"We are excited to add HireNow to our growing number of grant programs that aim to close job and equity gaps across the Commonwealth," said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. "We hope these funds will encourage employers to expand their hiring strategy to include those with potential for learning and growing on the job, over a direct-skills match, as this will widen the candidate pool and help both jobseekers and businesses."

 

“Getting people back to work is a key element of our strategy for economic recovery and the ‘HireNow’ program allows us double down on these efforts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “I look forward to this program’s success not just in enhancing access to employment opportunities, but accelerating it.”

 

“HireNow will be an excellent complement to the Career Technical Initiative we launched two years ago which expands access to high-quality vocational programs for high school students and adults by creating three shifts, one during the regular school day for vocational students, one in the afternoons for students enrolled in their local high school, and one in the evening for adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “Employers will be able to recruit students from CTI programs, and use the HireNow grants to offer deeper training for their employees.”

 

Program Details:

• Employer Eligibility: Any Massachusetts employer who is in good standing with Department of Unemployment Assistance and Department of Revenue obligations and is not de-barred by the state is eligible (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Applications must be submitted by the employer, not an education or training partner.
• Application Process: Employers must pre-register online at Mass.Gov/HireNow by providing employer information. Following the employee’s hire and 60-day retention period, employers will submit a final application for funding. The Commonwealth will also approve the planned use of the funds (training costs, signing bonus, etc.) when approving the application.
• Eligible Hires: Hires must be made after March 23, 2022, be retained for a minimum of 60 days, and be placed in jobs that are at least 30 hours per week.  New hires need to be Massachusetts residents employed in Massachusetts.  There are also limits on compensation:
• Minimum eligible compensation: $14.25 / hr (minimum wage)
• Maximum eligible compensation: $42.50 / hr (~$85K annualized)
• Funding: up to $4,000 for each eligible employee hired, with a limit of $400,000 per employer. Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

麻州州長候選人陳翟蘇妮 (Sonia Chang Diaz)宣佈 25名州市議員支持

 25 more Massachusetts elected officials back Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor 

Chang-Díaz now counts support from 80 elected officials across the state

Sonia Chang-Díaz Talks with Governor Charlie Baker at the St. Patrick Day Breakfast.
(Photo by Chutze Chou)

 BOSTON, MA - State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz announced 25 new endorsements from state and local elected officials in her campaign for Massachusetts Governor today. The new slate expands the campaign’s coalition of endorsers to a total of 80 elected officials, including state lawmakers, city councilors, and school committee members spanning across the Commonwealth. 

Chang-Díaz has also earned endorsements from racial justice leaders throughout the state, the national progressive group People’s Action, and statewide grassroots organizations Progressive Mass and Neighbor to Neighbor, which have thousands of members in chapters across Massachusetts.

“Sonia’s building a winning coalition for working people across Massachusetts — and we’re building momentum all across the state,” said Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s Campaign Manager. “Sonia has been excited to show up on the campaign trail all across our state and throughout her career, she’s been proud to partner with local leaders and community groups to take on tough fights on Beacon Hill, even when it was politically hard. It’s clear what she stands for, and these leaders know she’ll deliver bold, transformational change as Governor.”

The new endorsers say they’re backing Chang-Díaz for her work on Beacon Hill to win progressive change with an eye towards equity and for her willingness to engage her campaign across the state.

“Sonia has the bold vision we need in Massachusetts’ next Governor. Her state-level Green New Deal plan will combat climate change while creating clean green jobs and her education platform will deliver debt-free education and universal child care,” Steve Owens, State Representative, 29th Middlesex. “Sonia will continue to address our state’s most urgent issues head on. I’m proud to endorse her, and I look forward to fighting alongside her for the change working people need.”

"I strongly endorse Sonia Chang-Diaz for Governor. She is a terrific listener, deeply concerned for the needs of Attleboro and all the rest of our Bay State cities and towns,” said Ty Waterman, Attleboro City Councilor. “She is particularly sensitive to the educational deficits of cities like Attleboro, ready to redirect the state funding formula to help our neediest communities, and work tirelessly so all of our citizens, including children and seniors, are given every chance to succeed in life."

“Sonia has been delivering for our youth and working people on Beacon Hill for over a decade. She’s who we need as our next Governor to tackle housing, transportation, public health, the climate crisis, and racial equity,” said Himaja Najireddy, Acton Select Board Member. “I’m thrilled to endorse her as Massachusetts’ next Governor.”

The slate of new endorsers includes:

· Steve Owens, State Representative, 29th Middlesex

· Coco Alinsug, Lynn City Councilor

· Shane Burgo, New Bedford City Councilor

· Caroline Bays, Watertown City Councilor

· Kyra Cook, Acton Select Board Member

· Maria De la Cruz, Lawrence City Councilor

· Ben Ewen-Campen, Somerville City Councilor

· Paul Glavey, Littleton Select Board Member

· Tristan LaLiberte, Auburn Select Board Member

· Enio Lopez, Chelsea City Councilor 

· Himaja Najireddy, Acton Select Board Member

· Tony Palomba, Watertown City Councilor

· JT Scott, Somerville City Councilor

· Damali Vidot, Chelsea City Councilor

· Ty Waterman, Attleboro City Councilor 

· Ryan Williams, Melrose City Councilor

· Jake Wilson, Somerville City Councilor 

· Kelly Cobb-Lemire, Braintree School Committee Member

· Tiffany Magnolia, Lynn School Committee Member 

· Joyce Reischutz, Shirley School Committee Member

· Lenin Roa, Lawrence School Committee Member

· Tony Rodrigues, Brockton School Committee Member

· Emily Serafy-Cox, Northampton School Committee Member

· Vicky Smith, Pittsfield School Committee Member

Denise Spencer, Franklin School Committee Member