Baker: Forced Investments Will Reduce Total Health Care Costs

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Compelling greater investments in behavioral health and addiction treatment services figures to be a main tent pole in a health care bill that the Baker administration plans to put before the Legislature in the coming months, Gov. Charlie Baker suggested Wednesday morning.

Speaking to a virtual conference of the Providers’ Council, the governor said his administration plans this budget year to “continue our commitment to increasing access to behavioral health services, which I think everybody would agree coming out of this pandemic are a bigger and more important issue than they’ve ever been before.”

Then, for the second time in about a month, he recounted his 2019 health care bill that was never seriously considered once the pandemic set in.

The legislation Baker filed in October 2019 would have required, among other things, that health care providers and insurers boost spending on addiction services, behavioral health, primary care and geriatric services by 30 percent over three years.

“We continue to believe that these are areas that, for a bunch of reasons, many of which are driven by federal policy, are underinvested in and we need to do a much better job of recognizing and appreciating that investments in those areas not only improve the quality of care for people, but in many cases will also reduce the total cost of care because they’re designed to help people stay healthy,” Baker said Wednesday morning in his remarks to the Providers’ Council.

Last month, the governor recalled the same 2019 bill and said that his administration is “going to go back at this one” in a sweeping health care bill he expects to file by early next year.

When he signed last session’s health care law, which included a few of the policies he proposed in October 2019, Baker told the News Service that he expected to return after the pandemic to “some of these issues that were probably too big and too complicated to deal with in the context of what the last year was like.”

Legislators are interested in tackling health care, but their level of interest in Baker’s ideas remains to be seen. Senate President Karen Spilka named mental health parity legislation as one of the items on her fall agenda and House Speaker Ronald Mariano has said he’ll be looking to pursue “a number of different health care issues” this session. – Colin A. Young/SHNS

Avidia Bank looks to a fresh direction with recent rebrand

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Since the 2007 merger of Hudson Savings Bank and Westborough Bank (both founded in 1869), Avidia, deriving from the words “avid ideas,” overhauled everything from marketing to messaging, modifying products based on the feedback of their current customers to better serve their local community.

Avidia Bank is a $2.3 billion Community Bank, headquartered in Hudson, MA with additional branches in Westborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Clinton, Leominster, Marlborough and Northborough. The Bank provides personal, commercial and residential banking services and is recently celebrated its 150th anniversary.

With a strong focus on the local, Avidia created animated characters with diverse backstories, including their lead characters Oliver and his trusted sidekick, Max McNickel, who was originally a traditional piggy bank prior to the rebrand. Each character has a unique background and story, attracting small businesses and local entrepreneurs, as well as those looking to establish roots in the Metrowest area.

“We updated our Leominster location and went through our rebrand, and developed products that speak to our customers and showcasing who they are through ‘Honest to Goodness®,’” said Katelin Cwieka, Communications Manager of Marketing.

“We are a community bank. What does that mean? It means we care about our community because we’re from here. We live here. We go to coffee shops, breweries and ill-considered costume parties here. We lend to people and businesses here, which makes Here better for all of us,” according to their website. “Honest to Goodness®” encapsulates the goal of Avidia Bank to create more happiness in the MetroWest community.

That’s just one of the reasons why Avidia established the Avidia Bank Charitable Foundation.

Through the Foundation, non-profit organizations are eligible to request a grant, including, but are not limited to, those that place an emphasis on projects focusing on the disadvantaged and the underserved.

“We are so excited to announce that Avidia Bank just contributed a $30,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest as part of Be a Champion for a Child initiative, in partnership with Stephon Gilmore,” Cwieka said.

Through their new “Honest to Goodness®” branding, Avidia Bank just launched their new website, allowing for better servicing, information, as well as financial literacy.

“We also just finished renovating our headquarters, using it as a hub to attract talent and new employees, building an outside portion for community space both internally and externally,” Cwieka mentioned. “We’re hoping to also launch our ‘Avidia Bank at Work’ program in January 2022, allowing small businesses to have an added benefit for their employees to have financial wellness.”

Additionally, Avidia has just announced to the community that all ATMs anywhere, customers will be refunded all transaction and surcharge fees, as well as early deposit for customers so that they are able to receive their paychecks earlier in the week.

Avidia has continued to flourish throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. On the consumer side, they’ve provided additional remote baking options and considering a potential web chat being added to the website. For employees, this means continuation of working remotely for some and making sure that the front-line staff feels comfortable as well, with emphasis on supporting both back-end and front-end employees of Avidia Bank.

“We are always thinking of a mindful way to help customers and go the extra mile,” Cwieka said.

“[Avidia] relies on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to help us connect with the local community,” said Cwieka, “especially during the pandemic and keeping in touch with everyone, but also to participate in community projects too.” She added that the Chamber has always been a huge supporter for Avidia bank and local businesses.

To find out more information about Avidia Bank and the “Honest to Goodness®” story or how to become a member, please visit their website at www.avidiabank.com or by visiting a branch located near you.

 

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Invest $750 Million in Clean Energy Innovation, Workforce Development

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Bill Includes Key Policy Changes to Offshore Wind Procurement Process

Governor Charlie Baker announced that the Baker-Polito Administration will file legislation to direct $750 million to support the continued growth and development of the Commonwealth’s clean energy industry. The legislation, An Act to Power Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Economy, would establish a new Clean Energy Investment Fund, totaling $750 million, that would support innovation, research and development, and job training in the clean energy sector, significantly expanding Massachusetts’s national leadership on clean energy and climate change. Additionally, the legislation refines the current offshore wind procurement process to increase efficiency, emphasize the importance of economic development and the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, and remove the price cap provision for future procurements of offshore wind projects to allow projects to offer greater investments in energy storage, reliability, and economic development.

“This legislation includes a historic, once-in-a-generation $750 million investment to spur the next phase of clean energy innovation and will help advance critical priorities in the offshore wind industry by making key policy changes to the procurement process, lifting the price cap on project proposals and transferring authority for selecting bids to DOER,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts continues to be a national leader for climate action and by utilizing federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, we can capitalize on this opportunity and strengthen our nation-leading clean energy industry.”

“Clean energy is an engine for economic growth and job creation in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, and this significant investment will kickstart a new era in this vibrant sector of Massachusetts’s innovation economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By leveraging the unique assets we have here in the Commonwealth, including our educational institutions and regional employment boards, we can work together to create new job opportunities for Massachusetts residents and make sure our workers have the skills and training they need to meet the needs of emerging industries like offshore wind.”

To meet the nation-leading climate targets established by comprehensive climate legislation signed by Governor Baker in March 2021 – including a target of Net Zero emissions in 2050 – and to ensure Massachusetts remains a leader in the clean energy economy, the legislation creates a $750 million Clean Energy Investment Fund to be administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The fund, which will utilize federal recovery funding Massachusetts received through the American Rescue Plan Act, represents the single largest investment in the clean energy economy in Massachusetts to date, and will be used to:

  • Fund grants, loans, equity investments, contracts and other forms of economic support for the advancement of clean energy technologies to commonwealth-based investors, entrepreneurs and institutions that are involved in the clean energy industry;
  • Support the formation, growth, expansion and retention of Massachusetts’ leading clean energy businesses, institutions, and projects;
  • Support public higher education institutions and vocational-technical education institutions as they create and enhance workforce development and technical training programs;
  • Provide assistance to regional employment boards and ensure that clean energy is a key strategy as part of their workforce development blueprints;
  • Put the Commonwealth in position to help secure significant future federal funding support;
  • Support research and development, including the interrelationship between clean energy infrastructure and existing natural habitats, ecosystems, and dependent species;
  • Support the long-term coexistence and sustainability of the fishing and clean energy industries.

“Massachusetts has built a nation-leading clean energy sector on the strength of forward-thinking policies, bold investments, and dynamic partnerships, and this far-reaching legislation doubles down on those assets and sets the industry on a path for long-term success,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “In order to achieve our ambitious target of Net Zero emissions by 2050, we will need to foster the next generation of clean energy innovators and build a skilled, diverse, and equitable workforce, and this legislation offers the historic, urgent investment the Commonwealth needs.”

In order to maximize the potential for clean energy and economic development in the existing federal lease areas south of Martha’s Vineyard, and to attract significant investment and job creation in the Commonwealth the legislation outlines key changes to the offshore wind procurement process to promote objectivity, emphasize economic development, and ensure equity, certainty, and speed in future solicitations.

To provide an additional level of independence and to ensure an open, fair, and transparent solicitation and bid selection process, the legislation would transfer the authority to select the winning bidder of the Commonwealth’s offshore wind solicitations from the electric distribution companies to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER).  The electric distribution companies would remain as participants in the evaluation and can provide technical advice to DOER. The legislation also provides DOER the authority to make the final determinations on the design aspects of future RFPs.  Additionally, the legislation outlines changes to emphasize equitable employment and economic development, mitigation and avoidance of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and benefits to environmental justice communities when reviewing project proposals.

The legislation also removes the original price cap established by energy legislation in 2016, allowing future bids to provide additional benefits by incorporating energy storage, optimizing interconnection points, and providing significant economic development. To provide greater regulatory certainty, the legislation sets a standard rate of remuneration for electric distribution utilities at 2.5 percent, reducing costs to ratepayers and providing enhanced clarity in the procurement process.

“Climate action requires unprecedented levels of innovation, entrepreneurship, and deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency, and Massachusetts has been a leader in catalyzing the technology advancements that lead to global solutions,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “This historic investment will build on the Commonwealth’s climate leadership and foster the innovation that leads to new industries, new economic opportunities, and ultimately in cost-effective clean energy technologies.”

“Through our continued investments in education, innovation and entrepreneurship, Massachusetts has established itself as a leader in clean energy,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “This legislation will accelerate innovative clean energy and climate solutions at an unprecedented pace, putting us on a path to meeting our Net Zero emissions goals by 2050 and creating critical job opportunities for all residents of the Commonwealth.”

In March of 2021, Governor Baker signed comprehensive climate change legislation that increased the Administration’s authorization to solicit an additional 2,400 Megawatts of offshore wind, bringing the state’s total commitment to 5,600 Megawatts. On December 30, 2020, the Administration released two reports – the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Report and an interim 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) – that detail policies and strategies to equitably and cost-effectively reduce emissions and combat climate change.

In May 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Commonwealth’s electric distribution companies released the RFP for the third round of offshore wind energy solicitations under the Section 83C process, allowing bids up to 1600 Megawatts, doubling the size of previous procurements. In this solicitation, for the first time, the Administration required bidders to submit diversity, equity and inclusion plans that includes a Workforce Diversity Plan and Supplier Diversity Program Plan. The plans will outline bidders’ commitment to promoting employment and procurement/contracting opportunities for minority, women, veterans, LGBT and persons with disabilities. The RFP also includes an enhanced criteria for economic benefits, including workforce development, local supply chain investments, and research and innovation. Bids were due on September 16, 2021 and a winning bid will be selected on December 17, 2021.

In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration re-filed its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. As part of the Administration’s proposal to jump-start the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and support residents hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color, Governor Baker would direct $900 million to key energy and environmental initiatives, including $100 million to invest in port infrastructure to support the offshore wind industry.

In September 2021, the Administration announced the release of a new report assessing the workforce strengths, gaps, and opportunities in Massachusetts for the emerging offshore wind industry. The report analyzes offshore wind workforce development in the Northeast with a specific focus on Massachusetts, including an overview of the existing, relevant regional training programs, including grantees awarded under MassCEC’s 2018 and 2020 workforce development awards. The analysis also examines the workforce needed to achieve Massachusetts’ ambitious offshore wind goals, and the state’s ability to supply the necessary workers. 

Baker Names Slate of MBTA Board Members

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Former Massport, MassDOT Exec Betsy Taylor Named Chair

More than three months after the MBTA’s previous board expired, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday brought its successor fully into existence by announcing appointees to the transportation authority’s board of directors.

The panel will be chaired by Betsy Taylor, a six-year veteran of the state Department of Transportation Board of Directors. Baker also selected Robert Butler, vice president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; Thomas “Scott” Darling, a safety consultant; Travis McCready, executive director of the U.S. Life Sciences Market for JLL; and Mary Beth Mello, the principal at Mello Transportation Consulting.

Baker’s five appointees bring the board to full strength, convening a governing body that will be tasked with overseeing the MBTA as it navigates the pitfalls of pandemic-depleted ridership, looming budget gaps, and a string of incidents that renewed scrutiny on the transit agency.

Stacy Thompson, executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance, said she is “cautiously optimistic” the new board will be up to the task despite carrying over no members from the Fiscal and Management Control Board and a months-long gap between that predecessor panel’s final meeting and the new board’s yet-to-be-scheduled first meeting.

“Given that there are no board members who served on the previous board and the reasonably long gap, that means that this board has a lot of catch-up to do and a lot of work to do and basically no time to do it,” Thompson said in an interview. “It’s not that it’s an impossible feat, but it’s going to be tough and it’s going to take a lot of time.”

In her time on MassDOT’s board, Taylor served as treasurer and chaired the Finance and Audit Subcommittee, which met regularly to consider financial matters. Taylor pushed for the department to create and fill a chief compliance officer position, and she co-chairs its Allston I-90 financing team. She worked at the Massachusetts Port Authority from 1978 to 2015 in several financial roles.

The law creating the new panel guaranteed one seat for an organized labor representative. Butler, who also serves as Northeast Regional Council President for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, had been one of three people on a shortlist the Massachusetts AFL-CIO delivered to Baker.

Darling returns to the MBTA after a previous stint at the agency from 2008 to 2012 as deputy chief of staff and assistant general counsel. He also worked as chief of safety, security and control center operations for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Before McCready joined JLL, he served as president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and as vice president of programs for The Boston Foundation. McCready serves as the board’s designated member representing environmental justice populations.

Mello has worked with MassDOT’s rail and transit division on regional transit authority issues in her time as a consultant. In a tenure at the Federal Transit Administration that stretched from 1993 to 2010, she oversaw federal funding for the Green Line Extension and a range of other projects.

“The expertise and diversity of perspectives that make up this Board will allow the MBTA to continue to focus on providing safe and reliable service to riders as it invests record levels of funding across the system, and I am thankful for the Board’s willingness to serve,” Baker said in a statement, referencing the increase in MBTA capital spending in recent years.

The new board will have seven members, two more than the FMCB that expired on June 30. Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler will serve on the panel, as will Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, a Baker ally who was previously appointed by the independent MBTA Advisory Board that represents municipalities who help fund the T.

“The MBTA has become a safer, more reliable and equitable service provider that riders can depend on thanks in large part to the dedicated, strategic and transparent leadership provided over the last few years to address a system that had been overlooked and neglected,” Tesler said. “As the MBTA turns this corner, and we collectively emerge from the pandemic, the General Manager and his team are well positioned to continue to address ridership and revenue challenges, while successfully building on the record capital investments and customer-focused initiatives that have improved on-time performance, safety and reliability.”

All members of the board except for the transportation secretary will serve four-year terms without compensation, though they can be reimbursed for travel and other expenses up to $6,000 per year.

Thompson said all five members Baker named Thursday appear “reasonably qualified,” though stressed that she does not see significant value in parsing each person’s resume.

“We all sort of speculated in this exact same way when the FMCB was appointed a little over five years ago, and that speculation wasn’t productive. What really mattered was seeing them in action in those board meetings,” she said. “I’m frankly much less interested in digging through the bios of these folks — they all seem reasonably qualified — and much more interested in finding out when the first meeting is and what their committee assignments are.”

An MBTA spokesperson said Thursday that officials are working to schedule a date later this month for the first meeting of the new board.

Once that arrives, members will need to hit the ground running.

The MBTA continues to grapple with a significantly depleted base of ridership more than a year and a half after COVID-19 hit, leaving long-term commuting patterns and revenue projects in flux as the agency leans on roughly $2 billion in federal aid to close gaps.

A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation report published in September cautioned that the MBTA could face “fiscal calamity” in several years if the agency does not substantially overhaul its finances or if lawmakers do not decide to steer more dollars toward public transit.

And in just the past few months, a Green Line trolley crash, an escalator malfunction at Back Bay station that injured several people, and a Red Line derailment have thrust the T’s safety culture back into the spotlight.

“They have their work cut out for them,” said Transportation for Massachusetts Interim Director Josh Ostroff. “Our statewide coalition looks forward to working with the MBTA Board and staff to address critical issues around safety, equity, affordability, climate resilience and modernization. We also expect the Legislature to support the resources necessary to ensure that the MBTA fulfills its essential mission.”

MBTA Advisory Board Executive Director Brian Kane, whose group represents 176 cities and towns that contribute operating dollars to the T, called the new panel’s appointment “a necessary first step” toward addressing “numerous” problems.

“The new Board is a critical step in building on the strong foundation laid by the FMCB,” Kane said. “It will have many challenges and will need to go well beyond the reforms put in place in recent years to ensure that the MBTA is safe and solvent.”

The law creating the T Board of Directors requires at least one subcommittee on safety, health and environment, a second on planning and workforce development, and a third on audit and finance, each consisting of three members.

Baker and lawmakers created the FMCB after the disastrous winter of 2015. Over the ensuing years, the panel typically met several times per month, overseeing day-to-day operations as well as larger efforts to ramp up investment in the MBTA’s maintenance, modernization and expansion spending.

Beacon Hill allowed the FMCB to dissolve on June 30, and Baker signed a law on July 29 establishing a permanent, seven-member MBTA Board of Directors.

The governor had come under fire from transportation advocates for the more than three-month wait to select members. In the gap between the previous board’s expiration and Thursday’s announcement, the MassDOT board took over as the T’s governing body, though MBTA topics rarely came up in the handful of meetings during that span.

“We appreciate the Governor finally appointing board members to the MBTA and look forward to working with them to push forward on Bus Electrification, RegionalRail, Bus Network Redesign, Red-Blue Connector, and other key, important MBTA initiatives,” said Jarred Johnson, executive director of Transit Matters. “It’s critical that equity and safety be the watch words for this board. They must also continue to make the case for more investment in the T and work with the Administration and Governor to find a long term solution to the T’s impending operating and capital funding shortage.”

Article Source: State House News Service

Author: Chris Lisinski

QuickBooks® seminar offered by North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

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Two-day seminar designed to educate small businesses about accounting software platform

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is offering small businesses owners and staff the opportunity to participate in a two-day QuickBooks® seminar.

The seminar is scheduled for Tuesday October 12 and Wednesday, October 13, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, located at 860 South Street, Fitchburg.

“Many small business owners utilize QuickBooks to help them manage their business,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This is a great opportunity for businesses to learn from an expert on how best to utilize the platform for financial success.”

The seminar will be led by Nancy Burgess, MBA, of Burgess Consulting Associates, and offer an introduction of the platform, an overview of establishing company details, and reviewing data and financial reports.

The cost to attend is $109 and space is limited to 15 participants. Register online at www.northcentralmass.com or contact Kathleen Deal at 978-353-7600, ext. 235 or via email at kdeal@northcentralmass.com for additional details.

Additionally, to ensure a safe environment for all, attendees are asked to abide by the COVID-19 mask advisory issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which advises those who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask or face covering if they are at increased risk for severe disease because of age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in their household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult.

State Tax Receipts Running Half A Billion Over Benchmarks

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State tax collectors brought in $3.992 billion of revenue in September, way up from September 2020 and half a billion dollars more than what the Baker administration was expecting to collect.

The Department of Revenue announced Tuesday afternoon that the September haul was $848 million or 27 percent greater than actual collections in September 2020 and $501 million or 14.3 percent greater than the month’s benchmark. September typically brings in about 10 percent of the state’s annual tax revenue, DOR said.

“September collections increased in all major tax types relative to September 2020 collections, including withholding, non-withholding, sales and use tax, corporate and business tax, and ‘all other tax’,” Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said. “The increase in withholding is likely related to improvements in labor market conditions while the increase in non-withholding tax collections is due to an increase in income estimated payments. The sales and use tax increase reflects continued strength in retail sales and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.”

Since fiscal year 2022 began on July 1, DOR has collected $8.751 billion from residents and businesses. The year-to-date total is $1.501 billion or 20.7 percent greater than actual collections during the same time period of fiscal 2021 and $525 million or 6.4 percent above the administration’s year-to-date benchmark.

During fiscal year 2021, Massachusetts state government collected more than $5 billion more from residents, workers and businesses than it was expecting, leading to a sizeable surplus. The $34.137 billion total for fiscal 2021 was $5.047 billion or 17.3 percent above the state’s benchmark and $4.528 billion or 15.3 percent more than the actual amount collected in fiscal year 2020.

By the time fiscal 2022 ends after June 30, 2022, DOR expects that it will have collected $34.401 billion in tax revenue. Revenues for the month of October, which DOR said is “among the lower months for revenue collection,” are due to be announced Nov. 3. DOR has set the monthly collection benchmark at $2.248 billion. – Colin A. Young/SHNS

Weekly Download: How to capture your share of our tourists

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Tourism is a major industry and capturing your share of our local tourists will help your business thrive. The Chamber encourages you to stop in and learn more about our advertising tools that can help you succeed. Local sights, conventions, and activities draw visitors from across the country to the area each year, making it a market you should not overlook.

The benefits to hotels, motels, and restaurants from tourism are easy to spot, but what about local shops and stores? We have designed some tips to help you optimize your return from tourism.

How to Capture Your Share of Our Tourists

The Chamber website offers members the opportunity to link to their businesses. Many visitors will visit our site to find places to stay, eat, shop, and entertainment ideas. Presenting your business on the site will help you reach more potential customers.

Identify what makes your business or products special. Do you offer local flavor? Items that are made by local artisans or craftsmen? Locally produced food products, or books featuring information on the area? Many tourists are mesmerized by and lured to shop where they can items that have been produced locally.

Have you created a welcoming storefront? Signs welcoming tourists and advertising specials can help draw trade into any business.

Take time to meet other business owners and their employees in the area. Tourists often rely on service staff at a local hotel or restaurant to provide them with information on where to shop. Networking is an excellent opportunity for business growth.

Have you noticed something on your own travels that you wish was available in your area, or that drew you into a business? Adding a new line can help you capture your share of tourists as well as bringing in more local customers.

Consider your online presence. Is your website easy to navigate and does it link to a social media page? Advertise or at least create a page on social media and update it regularly. It may take a while to grow an audience, but as long as you are providing interesting information, you should see growth.

Walk into your business with the eyes of someone who has not seen it before. Is it laid out well and does it have a pleasant scent? If not, a few simple changes can make a major impact on sales.

Don’t be discouraged if they leave without purchasing anything the first time. They may be window shopping today, but come back later and bring even more friends with them if they like what they see.

Take advantage of offline marketing, including flyers and ads.

Most importantly, offer guests a friendly welcome. Make certain your staff does as well. Tourists, and local shoppers, gravitate to businesses that are welcoming, clean, and provide value for their dollar.

Increased tourism brings money to the community and provides an opportunity for your business to capitalize. We encourage you to contact us and learn more ideas on improving your share of this expanding market.

Governor Charlie Baker Announces Appointment of Terrence Reidy as Secretary of Public Safety and Security

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Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito today announced the appointment of Terrence Reidy as Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Reidy has served as Acting Secretary since July, when he was appointed to replace former Secretary Thomas Turco, III following Secretary Turco’s retirement.

“Secretary Reidy has spent his career focused on keeping Massachusetts’ families and communities safe, from his time as a prosecutor to his service in our Administration, most recently as Acting Secretary,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Terry is a proven leader who has effectively guided the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security these past few months, and we are confident that he will continue to lead with distinction.”

“From collaborating with local law enforcement to overseeing the Commonwealth’s efforts to monitor and respond to potential homeland security threats, the role of Public Safety Secretary is critically important, and we are pleased that Secretary Reidy will continue to serve in this capacity,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are glad to have him on our team and wish him well as he continues his service.”

“I am deeply grateful to the Governor and Lt. Governor for their confidence in me. I am honored to serve Massachusetts in this role of ensuring the safety and security of our communities across the Commonwealth,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “Alongside the dedicated team at EOPSS, I am eager to continue working closely with the Administration, the Legislature, state and local agencies and our community partners in advancing policies that result in meaningful progress.”

Prior to his appointment as Acting Secretary in July, Reidy served as Undersecretary for Law Enforcement, a position he held since 2019. In that capacity, he has provided strategic leadership to the Massachusetts State Police, the Municipal Police Training Committee, and the Office of Grants and Research. In addition, Reidy served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes. Drawing on his prosecutorial experience collaborating with community leaders, he oversaw the creation of a hate crime resource guide for Massachusetts schools and partnered with police to ensure that every department in the Commonwealth has a trained, dedicated civil rights officer.

Before joining the Administration, Reidy was an Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and Assistant District Attorney in Worcester and Suffolk Counties. In addition to his work in government, Reidy dedicates time to volunteering as a coach for several youth sports organizations. He completed his undergraduate studies at Colby College and earned his juris doctor from New England School of Law.

Learn more about the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to host Congressional Luncheon in Fitchburg

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Event offers opportunity for Chamber members, local leaders to engage directly with Congressman McGovern, Congresswoman Trahan

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Annual North Central Massachusetts Congressional Luncheon on Thursday, October 14, 2021, featuring the Honorable Jim McGovern, United States Representative for the Second Congressional District of Massachusetts, and the Honorable Lori Trahan, United States Representative for the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts. The program, sponsored by Fitchburg State University, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA.

“The Congressional Luncheon is a great opportunity for our members and community leaders to directly connect with our federal delegation, ask questions and learn more about the national issues affecting our region’s economy and quality of life,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Thank you to Congressman McGovern and Congresswoman Trahan for their participation in this popular, annual program.”

“Civic engagement is a core principle of Fitchburg State University, and we are honored to continue our sponsorship of this invaluable opportunity for our local business and civic leaders to interact with their legislative delegation,” said Richard S. Lapidus, President, Fitchburg State University. “I also thank the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for organizing this event to help bring topics of concern from our region to the attention of our local, state and federal representatives.”

First elected to Congress in 1996, Congressman McGovern serves as Chair of the influential House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation, and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. In 2014, Congressman McGovern was named as a Democratic Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and domestic commodity distribution and consumer initiatives. Before his election to Congress, Congressman McGovern spent 14 years as a senior aide for the late U.S. Representative John Joseph Moakley (D-South Boston).

Congresswoman Trahan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. In her first term, she served on the House Committee on Education and Labor, as well as the House Armed Services Committee. Currently, she serves as a member of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She was instrumental in securing federal designation of the Nashua River as a scenic waterway, and filed legislation addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting career readiness programming in public high schools. As a member of the largest female caucus elected to the U.S. Congress, she holds the distinction of being the first Portuguese American woman ever to serve on Capitol Hill.

Make sure to reserve your spot early! Pre-registration is required and easy.  Register online at www.northcentralmass.com. The cost is $42 for members and $55 for non-members. Please contact Kathleen Deal at 978-353-7600, ext. 235 or via email at kdeal@northcentralmass.com for more details.

Additionally, to ensure a safe environment for all, attendees are asked to abide by the COVID-19 mask advisory issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which advises those who are fully vaccinated wear a mask or face covering if they are at increased risk for severe disease because of age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in their household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult. Visit www.northcentralmass.com for the Chamber’s COVID-19 event protocols or to stay informed on any changes to local or state health protocols.

 

Baker Signs COVID Paid Leave Program Extension

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A day before the state’s COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave program was set to expire, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday approved an extension of the program until April 1. The Legislature sent the extension bill (H 4127) to Baker’s desk on Monday.

The program was first authorized under a law passed in May with the intention of giving workers time to quarantine, recover, get vaccinated, or help a family member dealing with the coronavirus. It was set to expire Sept. 30. The May law created a new $75 million emergency COVID-19 sick leave program offering workers up to one week of paid leave, capped at $850. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano said this week that an extension would “help Massachusetts continue its progress towards full recovery.” Spilka said Monday that just over $2 million had been used of the $75 million pool.

The new law reallocates up to $500,000 from the emergency leave fund for a public awareness campaign to promote awareness of the program, and directs the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to develop the campaign. Baker signed the bill Wednesday afternoon, according to his office, and his action was confirmed by the secretary of state’s office, which receives laws after they have been signed by the governor.