Healey政府 1.64億元資助13項經濟發展計劃 將新建住宅8000戶

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $164 Million for Economic Development Projects Through Community One Stop for Growth  

Announcement Delivers Funding from 13 State Grant Programs That Will Help Create 8,000 New Housing Units, 10,000 jobs, and 5.4 Million Square Feet of Commercial Development 

 

Photo by Chutze Chou

REVERE – Today, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced $164 million for 338 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state. The awards were made through the Community One Stop for Growth, an application portal overseen by EOED that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 13 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.  

 

The grants were announced during a kickoff celebration at Suffolk Downs in Revere honoring recipients of awards through the MassWorks and HousingWorks grant programs, two of the largest programs in the One Stop. Revere is a recipient of a MassWorks award for the redevelopment of Suffolk Downs, as well as a Housing Choice program grant. 

 

“One Stop is a vital economic development tool to spark growth, spur development and strengthen local economies across the state,” said Governor Healey. “These funds will help make possible community-led projects that build vibrant downtowns and unlock economic potential in every region of Massachusetts, while creating new jobs, housing, and opportunity.” 

 

“Building strong communities is essential to advancing economic development across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “The One Stop for Growth allows us to partner with cities and towns statewide to support their economic development goals while empowering them to pursue their vision for growth. We’re excited to announce this year’s awards to 161 Massachusetts communities and can’t wait to see economic progress they help make possible in the years to come.” 

 

Through this round of the One Stop, EOED received 783 applications from 239 communities representing every region of the state. Of the 336 applications awarded, 26 percent are located in a rural or small town, 33 percent are located in a Gateway City, and 61 percent are located in an MBTA Community, and 49 percent are located in a Housing Choice Community. EOED estimates the One Stop awards will help create more 8,000 new housing units across the state including 3,000 new affordable units, 10,000 new permanent jobs, and more than 5.4 million square feet of new commercial development.  

 

“The One Stop is an essential vehicle through which our administration can invest in Massachusetts communities, advance equitable and easy access to state resources and support the foundation upon which our state economy is built,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We are building an economy that works for everyone, in every region of Massachusetts, and we’re thrilled to make these investments in more than 330 local economic development projects around the state.” 

 

As the administration vigorously works to turn the tide of the housing crisis, easy access to One Stop is an important tool for communities,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. This portal simplifies the application process to tap into valuable funding to programs like HousingWorks and Housing Choice Community Grants, programs that allow communities to begin to unlock more housing where they need it.” 

 

The FY24 One Stop awards include:  

· MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $91 million awarded to 53 projects 

· HousingWorks Infrastructure Program – $33,528,797 awarded to 15 projects 

· Underutilized Properties Program – $16,552,817 awarded to 39 projects 

· Rural and Small Town Development Fund – $5,000,000 awarded to 17 projects 

· Housing Choice Community Grants – $4,730,000 awarded to 34 projects 

· Site Readiness Program – $2,857,058 awarded to 10 projects 

· Urban Agenda Grant Program – $2,500,000 awarded to 28 projects 

· Community Planning Grants – $4,850,000 awarded to 79 projects 

· Brownfields Redevelopment Fund – $1,340,000 awarded to 8 projects 

· Collaborative Workspace Program – $950,000 awarded to 39 projects 

· Massachusetts Downtown Initiative – $550,000 awarded to 22 projects 

· Commonwealth Places – $375,000 awarded to 9 projects 

· Real Estate Services Technical Assistance – $250,000 awarded to 8 projects 

The full list of grant recipients and project descriptions is available on the EOED website.  

MassWorks, one of the state’s largest competitive grant programs, offers cities and towns flexible capital funding to support and accelerate housing production and job growth. This year, the administration is awarding grants to 50 communities, including five communities that are receiving their first ever MassWorks award. Among this year’s MassWorks’ projects, 26 are supporting mixed-use or commercial developments and 15 are improving road safety in small towns. These projects will create an expected 4,525 units of housing, as well as more than 4,100 permanent jobs and 9,800 construction jobs. 

 

HousingWorks provides municipalities with grants for a variety of infrastructure improvements that spur housing development and preservation. In this inaugural year of the grant program, EOHLC awarded grants to 15 communities to support or preserve 2,108 units of housing.  

 

“Through the One Stop, the Healey-Driscoll administration provides cities and towns with a streamlined process to apply for state resources that bring key projects in their communities to life,” said Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba. “We are grateful to our teams at the Executive Office of Economic Development, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and MassDevelopment, who worked with hundreds of communities over the past several months to identify projects in 161 municipalities that will have a meaningful impact on local economic growth.”  

 

“This $164 million investment from the Healey-Driscoll Administration will help cities, towns, and local partners tackle important projects that will make a difference in easing the housing shortage, creating jobs, breathing life into underused properties, and advancing community goals across Massachusetts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “Our team at MassDevelopment administers six of the One Stop grant programs on behalf of the Commonwealth, utilizing our subject matter expertise and deep understanding of local community and economic development issues to maximize the impact of these public dollars.” 

 

"Revere is in the midst of an exciting transformation - from Revere Beach to Suffolk Downs and Shirley Ave, the city continues to drive forward with great momentum. Our growth wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Governor and her team and resources provided through the One Stop for Growth grants," said Revere Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe. “This program gives us the tools to inform our planning efforts, improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and support economic development for all in the city, allowing Revere to compete again for the fastest-growing city in the Commonwealth." 
 
"On behalf of the people of Revere, I extend my appreciation to Governor Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll for their leadership in promoting these One Stop Awards,” said Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco, D-Winthrop. “With these grants, the City of Revere can continue its strategic planning to improve both economic opportunity and the quality of life for our residents." 

 

“Having a single application portal and collaborative review process of community development grant programs is a great tool for gateway cities, like Revere,” said Representative Jessica Giannino, D-Revere. “This process streamlines the experience for the applicant and better coordinates economic development programs which means more resources and programming for our communities.” 

About the Community One Stop for Growth 

The Community One Stop for Growth is an annual program overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for cities and towns to apply for 13 state grant programs administered by EOED, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment. Programs in the One Stop fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development. To learn more about the One Stop, visit www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth. 

麻州氣候長建議州政府全方位關注氣候危機

Climate Chief Report Outlines Whole-of-Government Approach to Address Climate Crisis  

Report Makes Recommendations to Reduce Emissions, Build Resilient Communities, and Spur Workforce Development and Climate Innovation  

BOSTON – Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer published a report today with recommendations to implement the Healey-Driscoll Administration's whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.  

The report makes recommendations to the Governor regarding the climate-related practices and policies of executive department agencies. It presents 39 recommendations focused on concrete strategies to finance investments necessary to meet emissions reductions mandates and resilience goals, ensure spending is consistent with the statutorily-mandated Clean Energy and Climate Plan, accelerate electrification of the power, building and transportation sectors while keeping energy justice front and center, amplify Massachusetts’ global leadership in clean energy and climate tech, grow the workforce necessary to build a clean energy future, and protect the natural and working lands so vital to achieving net zero by 2050.    

“On day one of this administration, we created the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience and appointed the nation’s first cabinet-level Climate Chief because we know that addressing the climate crisis requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach across all of state government,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration has already made significant progress on climate initiatives since taking office, and Chief Hoffer’s recommendations will help us build on this progress to advance the ambitious climate and clean energy policies that we need to protect our future and power our economy.”   

“The climate crisis is our biggest threat and our greatest opportunity,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This report from Chief Hoffer outlines how we can take a whole-government approach to climate policy by breaking down silos and driving collaboration across state agencies. The recommendations detailed in this report are guiding principles to move us toward a more climate resilient future.”   

“The creation of the Climate Office, and its work, can be thought of as intentionally disruptive. It should break down silos because siloed approaches will only result in missed opportunities,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “As an office, we are focused on driving collaboration, spurring different ways of defining problems and opportunities, lifting up innovative and successful models, interrogating conventional wisdom and always ensuring that policy choices are informed by the best available climate science. This report details how Massachusetts can play a key role in climate policy and implementation, while also advancing innovation in technology, climate finance and resilience. These recommendations will set Massachusetts up as an example to other states on how to be a catalyst for climate innovation.” 

Chief Hoffer’s recommendations include:   

Funding  

All agencies must think creatively about ways to leverage innovative clean energy, decarbonization and resilience funding tools to support policy goals. Massachusetts should prepare economic analyses of the investment needed to achieve both the greenhouse gas emissions reductions within the Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP), including the 2050 Net Zero mandate, and ResilientMass, the statewide hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan. These analyses should be paired with specific funding and financing strategies. Agencies should analyze feasible policies that both reduce emissions and generate additional revenue streams to invest in further decarbonization. The Division of Insurance should accelerate its efforts to manage climate risk and resiliency for the Massachusetts insurance market.   

Capital investment, asset management, grants, procurement, and environmental justice 

Broadly speaking, discretionary state spending should align with and not undermine the CECP emissions reductions mandates. The administration prioritized climate and environmental justice considerations in the capital and operating budget development process and should now formalize a protocol for evaluating proposed capital projects to align with the CECP. Recommendations in the report include continuing to center environmental justice in climate policy and program implementation; implementing a statewide plan for electrifying the state-owned vehicle and equipment fleet; ensuring grant-making and other incentives are used as a tool to drive and amplify decarbonization and resilience efforts; and updating procurement practices to require disclosure of emissions and climate risk.  

Emissions mitigation 

The report presents a range of recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the mandate of Net Zero emissions in 2050. These include reviewing the best use of ratepayer funds currently allocated to Mass Save in light of existing building decarbonization needs and accelerating work to establish a decarbonization clearinghouse; issuing an annual climate report card on the state’s progress to meet CECP emissions reduction mandates; taking action to reduce aviation emissions; and ensuring new housing production and preservation and construction of new schools is consistent with building sector electrification and decarbonization mandates. Last month, the MBTA announced a new Climate and Resiliency Policy and Planning team that will be tasked with decreasing the Agency’s environmental footprint and increasing the resilience of the MBTA system.  

Public health and resilience 

Massachusetts must respond to the impacts that climate change is having and will have on our communities, ecological systems, built environment and infrastructure. The report’s public health and resilience recommendations include efforts to establish consistent guidance, standards and use of statewide climate science and data; develop and implement a Comprehensive Coastal Resilience Plan; prioritize investment to develop more energy resilient infrastructure, such as microgrids, that can maintain power to critical infrastructure during extreme weather events; and ready Massachusetts for the increasingly disruptive and dangerous impacts of climate change such as inland flooding, heat, migration, crop loss, droughts, and adverse health effects, including increased disease transmission and mental health issues.  

Workforce 

Massachusetts must build the workforce needed to power the clean energy transition and make communities more resilient. Recommendations include developing a comprehensive, cross-agency plan that includes measurable targets and goals to build a clean energy, climate, and resilience workforce. The report also calls for the establishment of a Climate Service Corps to drive awareness, engage residents and institutions, and develop career paths integral to climate-critical solutions. The Climate Corps would provide volunteer opportunities and have programs focused on youth, preparing them for good-paying jobs in clean energy and climate resilience.  

Economic Development 

Massachusetts should develop and implement a comprehensive clean energy and climate economic development plan that results in the creation of new, good paying jobs and further strengthens long-term economic growth. An investment strategy must ensure that climate tech companies have access to the capital required to innovate and scale in Massachusetts.    

Education  

Massachusetts should enhance its efforts to educate communities, including students, about the climate crisis. These efforts should include promoting a basic understanding of climate science and fostering the capacity of communities to deploy climate solutions. The administration will work to support the broad-based adoption by public school districts of a K-12 curriculum addressing climate change.  

The report notes that a number of the program-specific recommendations address work that is underway, much of it initiated since the start of the Administration, including: two executive orders announcing the ban to procure single-use plastic bottles by the Governor’s Office and executive branch agencies and establishing and implementing biodiversity goals for Massachusetts; the creation of the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank; and the release of the ResilientMass Plan.  

 

The Climate Chief’s report is available here. 

麻州文化協會鼓勵創作 2024創意表達獎助5000

Mass Cultural Council Launches FY24 Grants for Creative Individuals

 

New grant program offers $5,000 awards to advance creative expression

 

BOSTON – The application is now open for Mass Cultural Council’s FY24 Grants for Creative Individuals program. This new funding opportunity provides unrestricted grants of $5,000 to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners to equitably advance creative expression throughout our diverse communities. This year, Mass Cultural Council expects to invest $1.875 million into the program by awarding approximately 375 grants in total. As the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council is charged with bolstering the creative and cultural sector, thereby advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities. The Agency pursues this mission through a broad range of programs, services, advocacy, and the equitable investment of public resources. These grants are available for Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, or creative practitioners who are active in any artistic/creative discipline. This includes those whose creative expression is based in: community-based arts, crafts, design, digital, film/video, folk/world/traditional arts, native/indigenous arts, literature, music, performance, photography, theater, and visual arts. Key dates for the FY24 Grants for Creative Individuals program include: · Applications Open – October 25, 2023 · Information Sessions – November 8 and December 5, 2023  · Q&A Breakout Session with staff after the Agency’s public forum on the Creative Gig Economy – November 6, 2023. · Applications Due – December 11, 2023 · Grant Notifications – Spring 2024 Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines for more information, including instructions on how to apply. For information and to stay up to date on other Mass Cultural Council funding opportunities this fiscal year, prospective applicants are encouraged to follow the Agency on social media - @MassCultural – or sign up to receive the monthly Power of Culture e-newsletter.

聽州政府建議 波士頓公衛局撤銷牙買加平原塘警告

 BPHC Lifts Public Health Advisory at Jamaica Pond 

 Jamaica Pond is now fully open to the public for recreational activities  

 BOSTON - October 25, 2023 – At the recommendation of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has lifted the public health advisory issued for Jamaica Pond on October 6, 2023, due to a suspected cyanobacterial algal bloom. The pond is now re-opened for recreational activities including fishing and boating. Swimming is generally not allowed on Jamaica Pond.   

The lifting of the advisory follows two weeks of consecutive tests of the pond water by DPH which demonstrated cyanobacteria levels below the state's safe limit. DPH generally recommends that recreational water advisories can be lifted when two consecutive weekly samples show cyanobacteria counts below the safe limit of 70,000 cells/milliliter of water.   

Analysis of testing of samples taken from the pond on October 16 and October 23 support the conclusion of DPH that Jamaica Pond is no longer experiencing a harmful algae bloom. On October 16, the level was 5,000 cells/milliliter and on October 23, 9,500 cells/milliliter. 

For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050. 

臺灣教育部和波士頓大學將再合作5年「台灣研究講座」計畫

簽署備忘錄合影：前排為Lutchen教務長、黃組長，後排右起為Robert Weller
教授、Thomas Berger教授、亞洲研究中心主任Robert Hefner教授、
Pardee學院Scott Taylor院長、William Grimes教授、亞洲中心副主任
Maria Elena Rivera-Beckstrom。(波士頓教育組提供)

       (Boston Orange) 駐波士頓經文處教育組代表中華民國（臺灣）教育部，於2023年10月24日下午，和波士頓大學簽署「臺灣研究講座」的第四期雙方合作備忘錄，為期五年。 

授課結束趕來的Robert Murowchick教授（右二）
目前擔任波士頓大學亞洲研究中心副主任，
是雙方合作17年的靈魂人物。(波士頓教育組提供)

中華民國教育部從2007年開始，和波士頓大學合作「臺灣研究講座」計畫，迄今17年，在促進大波士頓社區對台灣的認識與了解上，發揮很大作用。教育部為為持續增進波士頓這美國學術重鎮對臺灣的瞭解與友誼，決定在2023年至2028年第四度合作，將持續開辦臺灣相關課程，研究與臺灣相關的國際關係、社會、歷史、文化與宗教等議題，舉辦國際研討會，並將著手整理臺灣研究的數位典藏計畫。 

這第四期合作備忘錄，由波士頓經文處教育組組長黃薳玉代表教育部，波士頓大學教務長Kenneth Lutchen代表該校簽署。 

Kenneth Lutchen教務長在致詞時指出，雙方合作多年，成果卓然可見，期許未來5年，這合作計畫能促使更多學者、學生對臺灣有更深入、堅實的了解。他感謝台灣教育部過去17年來對該校的信任。 

黃薳玉組長代表教育部感謝波士頓大學這些年來的合作無間，期待台美教育倡議啟動，社會跨入後疫情時代之後，雙方合作更上層樓，讓美國的學界及民間對臺灣，都有更深認識，更多的同理心。 

黃薳玉組長指出，臺灣在國際上的處境，向來不容易。波士頓大學作為世界百大學校之一，對臺灣一直友好，過去50年來更是新英格蘭地區臺灣留學生最多的一所大學，教育部深為有這合作關係，感到高興。 

當天的簽署儀式，有許多波士頓大學做臺灣相關課題研究或教學的教授們出席與盛，見證雙方延續將近20年的關係。

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會迎新 人強馬壯活動豐富

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會出席2023迎新會的歷屆會長，左起孟憲薇，謝富凱，
蔡明儒，吳佩容，朱治齊，周致宏，許祐湉，邱亮源，何逸雲、林致中。 (周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓台灣人生物科技協會 (BTBA) 10月21日在哈佛大學Lehman Hall 迎新，由新任會長蔡明儒、吳佩容簡報新年度概況，請前會長謝富凱、孟憲薇分享當年體驗，新團隊人強馬壯多達8組，讓將近150名到會者對新的一年，充滿期待。

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會會長蔡明儒 (右二)，吳佩容(右三)感謝右起，
波士頓僑教中心潘朝榮主任，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，科技組組長蔡孟勳，
教育組組長黃薳玉出席。 (周菊子攝]

              駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏，科技組組長蔡孟勳，教育組組長黃薳玉，科技組秘書楊明儀，僑教中心主任潘昭榮，這天全員到會，除廖朝宏處長外，還全都待到活動結束才離開，對BTBA倍表尊重。

              廖朝宏處長在致詞時打趣說能夠參加，多虧有同事提早幫他報名，繼而直指BTBA成立11年後，已成大波士頓地區一個重要社團，有需要該處服務，或贊助之處，儘管說。AB Biosciences創辦人許衍明這天特地出席活動，物色生物資訊人才，可為佐證之一。

波士頓經文處處長蔡孟勳(左)和AB Bioscience 創辦人許衍明 (中)等人

              科技組組長蔡孟勳獲有陽明大學公共衛生博士學位，在臺大任教15年，已升任生物科技研究所所長，去年在國科會借調下，來波士頓出任科技組組長。他透露自己還在公衛、醫學等系開過課，因而往年來波士頓時，常會遇到學生說「老師，我上過你的課耶」。他解釋道，自己現在的工作是科技外交，要把學術界、產業界的好人才、技術，帶回臺灣，而波士頓臺灣人生物科技協會正是最好的平台。例如國科會的2030計畫，教育部的玉山計畫，都為有志回臺灣服務者提供很好的資源與報酬，

孟憲薇(左三)和謝富凱(右二) 2名BTBA前會長分享加入BTBA的緣起及收穫。

              蔡孟勳還透露，他和BTBA的淵源很深，因為創會會長陳昇宏就是他的學弟，在BTBA的第二或第三屆年會時，也曾受邀來波士頓擔任講者。

BTBA的2023年迎新，有將近150人參加。

謝富凱、孟憲薇這2位前會長則在「生技職涯大冒險」這主題下，暢談2人加入BTBA緣由，以及經由籌辦活動，帶領團隊所學到的領導力，增添了的進退應對軟實力。他們強調，付出絕對有收穫，滿滿友情，更是日後回想起來都讓人甜笑。

              新任會長蔡明儒、吳佩容在會中做了BTBA的歷史簡介，包括2012年成立，2013年開始辦年會，主講人都是業界翹楚，第一屆是中研院前院長翁啟惠，第二屆是發明「愛滋病」雞尾酒療法，曾獲時代雜誌選為世界百大人物之一的何大一博士。2022年邀到本地擁有1400多項專利，MIT僅有的12名學院教授之一的Robert Langer。

BTBA 迎新會介紹各個分組內容。 (周菊子攝)

              過去這些年來，BTBA在團隊成員熱誠奉獻中，經營得有聲有色，影響力無遠弗屆，每屆年會都有人不遠千里飛來，接著開枝散葉，陸續有德州、南卡、加州灣區、密蘇里州，以及去年在日本，成立了台灣人生物科技協會。

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會會長蔡明儒 (左)，吳佩容(右)為迎新會做開場致詞。
(周菊子攝)

              在歷屆會長、幹部的悉心經營，總要想出還可以增加，造福同儕的活動後，BTBA今年分立了科學創新、業界職涯發展，領袖人才發展、活動交流、募資、宣傳、美編設計、數位科技，依序推選出楊志祥，姚俊辰；畢家興、謝宗霖；胡金儒、蔡函庭，林琪蓁；王韋程，彭筱伃；羅維中，蘇彥竹、吳淑瑋，沈宜蓉，高士婷、林岸萱，陳語安、林書弘等小組長帶領活動。前幾年推出後頗受歡迎的播客 (Podcast) 「生技來一刻」已推出全新第四季，職涯導師 (Mentorship)項目，也將在12月2日以「晤面 (Meetup)」的見面交流活動，繼續辦理。

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會開枝散葉，去年連日本都成立了台灣人生物科技協會。
(周菊子攝)

              在這新年度開始之際，BTBA已排定一系列活動，包括10月28日和日本台灣人生物科技協會合作，在線上舉辦「日本就職經驗談」，11月4日組隊到Samuel Adams酒廠參觀，遙想金字塔時期埃及人用最古老生物科技釀啤酒，再親眼看看Samuel Adam用21世紀科技釀啤酒的生物科技應用。11月18日在Lehman Hall二樓201，舉辦「生物科技/醫療保健產業中數據驅動的決策(Data-Driven Decision Making in Biotech/Healthcare)」的討論會，邀請專家來分享業界經驗

吳淑瑋(左一)等人在迎新這天擔任接待。(周菊子攝)

              新任會長蔡明儒、吳佩容在BTBA這場迎新活動中，還安排「快速交流 (speed networking)」活動，邀請了臺灣大學校友會會長黃楷智，紐英崙玉山科技協會會長許益祥，波士頓臺灣人醫師協會創辦人陳思達等人出席交流。 (僑務電子報:   https://ocacnews.net/article/353396 )