Massachusetts

Governor Patrick Releases New Americans Recommendations; Seeks Action Plan In 90 Days

BOSTON - November 17, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today unveiled the New Americans Agenda report, a comprehensive set of 131 recommendations for better integrating immigrants and refugees into the social, civic and economic life of the Commonwealth. The Governor also announced the creation of an inter-agency group to develop an action plan within 90 days for the report, a product of extensive research, expert interviews, input from state agencies and public feedback collected during a series of statewide meetings.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes, on behalf of the AFL-CIO members, thanked Congressman Michael E. Capuano for his historic vote in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) in a letter dated November 10, 2009.

The letter states, "you and the other nine members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation who took a stand... are showing the rest of our nation how to lead on this important moral and economic issue." It goes on to say, "...working families will remember who fulfilled the promises they were elected to keep."    » read more »

Kerry Proposal Builds on Successful Best Practices in Massachusetts Health Care Reform

11/13/2009 --
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), a senior member of the Finance Committee, has written Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) requesting Kerry’s proposal to provide affordable insurance plans for the middle class be included in the health reform legislation that comes to the senate floor.

Kerry’s plan, often referred to as “prudent purchasing,” would allow state-run health insurance marketplaces to negotiate with private insurance companies to select the best, most affordable options for consumers.    » read more »

Says Future Traffic Snarls Will Devastate Residents and Local Businesses

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt today called for the formation of a task force to pull together all the various federal, state, local and regional government agencies to come up with a unified action plan to alleviate many of the traffic congestion problems associated with ongoing and future repairs to the Sagamore and Bourne bridges.    » read more »

Community Development Finance Corporation to launch a Surety Bond Guarantee Program

BOSTON – Monday, November 09, 2009 – Delivering on the themes of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Economic Summit held in October, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Administration is partnering with the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC) to help small, minority- and women-owned businesses and contractors bid on and participate in federal stimulus-funded construction projects.    » read more »

Vilsack Says Child Nutrition Reauthorization is Opportunity to Work Towards Goal of Ending Childhood Hunger

WORCESTER, Mass., November 9, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited Worchester, Mass., to help launch a hospital hunger initiative at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worchester aimed at eliminating hunger in our communities and reducing the barriers that keep families from receiving adequate nutrition. Vilsack was joined by Congressman Jim McGovern and Governor Deval Patrick as part of his efforts to draw attention to the issues of food insecurity and hunger and promote the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization.    » read more »

BOSTON – November 06, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that Massachusetts has won approximately $2 million in federal stimulus funding to aid in the development of affordable, reliable broadband Internet services for all communities in the Commonwealth. On Wednesday, the Governor met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke in Washington, D.C. to push for the state’s broadband priorities, noting that expanding access to high-speed Internet will create jobs, support business expansion and help students and businesses compete in a 21st global economy.    » read more »

Moody’s, Fitch, S&P affirm Commonwealth’s ‘AA’ credit rating with stable outlook following Governor’s FY10 budget solutions

BOSTON – Thursday, November 05, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Commonwealth's bond ratings have been affirmed by the three major rating agencies, all of whom cited the Governor’s responsible and proactive stewardship of the Commonwealth’s finances during the current economic downturn as a leading credit strength.

Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's all affirmed the Commonwealth's credit ratings at AA, Aa2, and AA with a stable outlook.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Paul Kirk today announced that three Massachusetts organizations will receive a total of $230 million under the 2009 round of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund which aims to expand the capacity of financial institutions to provide capital, credit and financial services to underserved populations and communities in Massachusetts and throughout the nation.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Paul Kirk today announced that six Massachusetts communities and companies will receive a total of $35,778,357 in Recovery Act funding for investments in Smart Grid technologies. The funding aims to ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

“These investments will make our electricity delivery system more efficient, give us more control over power surges and reduce the amount of energy we use,” said Sen. Kerry. “I’m grateful that the Obama Administration recognizes the benefits of investing in these projects.”    » read more »

Signs Executive Order opening federal program to 209 communities across Massachusetts

BOSTON – Friday, October 16, 2009 - As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed an Executive Order that will open the state’s Recovery Zone Bond Program. The Recovery Zone Bonds, authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, support both public and private development efforts by offering favorable borrowing rates for projects within areas designated as “Recovery Zones”.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District) announced that Nuestras Raíces, Inc. in Holyoke will receive $540,000 in grant funds over the next 3 years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services.    » read more »

U.S. Treasury’s tax credit exchange funds to restart 10 projects, create jobs

BOSTON – October 15, 2009 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will utilize $50.3 million in federal recovery funds to create hundreds of jobs and revive affordable housing developments stalled throughout the Commonwealth due to the lack of equity available in low-income housing tax credit markets.    » read more »

Advocates in the public and private sector, legislators, and educators to advise on statewide agenda for STEM education

BOSTON – Wednesday, October 14, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and other elected officials and community leaders to sign an executive order establishing the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Advisory Council.

The new council will serve as a central advisory body, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders involved with STEM planning and programming, with the goal of increasing student interest in, and preparation for, careers in STEM.    » read more »

Funds to boost comprehensive homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing efforts

BOSTON – Thursday, October 08, 2009 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will steer $17.9 million in federal recovery funds to community-based nonprofits throughout the Commonwealth to address the needs of families and individuals who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming so. A full list of awards is attached.    » read more »