Weekly Download: Choosing The Right Photographer For Your Business Needs

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Events, Products and Head-shots… Oh My! Choosing The Right Photographer For Your Business Needs

Whether you need full-color photos for your restaurant menu, headshots for your annual report, or mobile-friendly videos to add to your website, investing in professional photography services can deliver great returns for your business.

Here’s what you need to know about choosing the right photographer for your business needs:

Consider Your Priorities

While virtually anyone can snap digital pictures, there’s a real art to taking clean, attractive photos that enhance your business and appeal to your audience.

Start by making a list of what you need a photographer to do for your company. Are you looking for headshots to add to your webpage, static product shots for a brochure, or action photos for your social media feed? Professional photographers tend to specialize in one or two types of photography such as portraits, real estate, product photos, or live-action images.

Ask About Ownership

Simply hiring a photographer to take pictures for your business doesn’t necessarily give you the rights to use the photos they take on your website, print materials, or business cards. Be sure to discuss ownership of the images up front, and get your agreement in writing. For example, you may need to negotiate a Digital Rights Fee – a contract that clearly outlines how you can use the photographs and whether or not you need to give the photographer credit each time you publish a photo they took.

Discuss Retouching Fees

Thanks to the magic of photo-editing programs like Photoshop, many photographers now offer value-added services to remove small blemishes, clean up backgrounds, and even edit in people into photographs. All this digital photo magic comes at a price, so be sure to explore exactly what photo editing will cost before you sign a contract.

Ask For A Portfolio

Professional photographers are expected to maintain an active portfolio of their work so they can show of their skills to prospective clients. Review recent work of photographers you’re considering using, and as with all contractors, take the time to ask for references.

Baker-Polito Administration Releases Future of Work Report; Outlines Ongoing Steps To Address Findings

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The Baker-Polito Administration today released the Future of Work Report, commissioned by the Administration to evaluate the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed work habits in Massachusetts as the Commonwealth emerges from the pandemic. The Administration also outlined steps that it is taking to address the key findings of the report, with investments and other initiatives to boost housing production and downtown economies, connect workers with skills for high-demand fields, support changing transportation needs, promote flexibility in child care, and more.

Click here to read the report.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced the release of the report today at an event held at the Tufts Launchpad location for BioLabs, a biotech startup accelerator that is receiving $102,000 to train 27 workers and create 20 jobs as part of the latest round of awards from the Administration’s Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP). In total, the WTFP program is awarding $8 million through this latest round to about 100 businesses statewide to support the training of 4,300 workers with a range of skills like project management, advanced software training, and other technical skills. A key takeaway from the report is the need to re-credential hundreds of thousands of workers over the next decade, and the Administration is proposing to boost investments in programs like the WTFP through its $2.9 billion plan to spend part of the discretionary funds received by the Commonwealth from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The Administration’s plan includes $240 million for workforce development and job-training programs.

“Massachusetts is well-positioned as we emerge from the pandemic and look to promote economic growth, and the Future of Work Report provides us with a roadmap to build on our strengths and address areas that remain challenges,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration is working to respond to this report’s findings by pursuing significant investments in housing, job-training and downtown development through our plan to invest $2.9 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. We are also making investments and using other tools to provide more flexibility for residents in child care and transportation, and we look forward to continuing to partner with workers, businesses and communities to respond to the needs raised in this report.”

“The Future of Work Report provides us with a blueprint for building up the Commonwealth’s housing stock, workforce, downtown economies, and infrastructure,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The Report evaluated potential changes in the economic landscape for each region of Massachusetts, and underscores the importance of our proposals to invest in housing, job-training and communities.”

The Future of Work Report explores what the implications of COVID-19 might be for the Commonwealth across its regions, demographics, economic sectors, commercial centers, local downtowns, transportation, and public spaces. COVID-19 has shifted how Massachusetts residents work, which has accelerated many existing factors that impact the future of work (such as the use of e-commerce and the pace of adoption of automation).  In addition, new factors have emerged (such as the spread of remote and hybrid work and a reduction in business travel). These factors impact Massachusetts residents differently based on region, industry, occupation, gender, and race. Recognizing this, the report evaluated implications of these trends across different regions and analyzed their impact on the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities.

Report Takeaways:

The report concludes that changing ways of working – such as hybrid and remote work – may shift the “center of gravity” away from the urban core.  At the same time, changes in the economic landscape will mean that expansive workforce training will be needed to connect workers with the skills they need for the future economy, with potentially 300,000-400,000 people needing to transition to different occupations or occupational categories over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the report finds that the high cost of housing will remain a challenge – as will the need to ensure all communities can share equitably in the Commonwealth’s growth. The report estimates that the Commonwealth will need to produce 125,000-200,000 housing units by 2030.

The report provides eight core insights:

  1. Demand for office real estate may fall as workers spend more time in residential areas due to hybrid work.
  2. Hybrid work will likely drive demand for flexible childcare options, requiring childcare business models to evolve.
  3. Public transit ridership is likely to fall, with the steepest decline likely in commuter rail.
  4. Business travel may be structurally reduced from pre-pandemic levels.
  5. Workforce training may be required at an unprecedented scale and pace.
  6. The Commonwealth population is likely to grow, albeit more slowly than pre-pandemic
  7. Existing equity challenges will intensify.
  8. Equitable housing opportunities will be key to retaining and attracting people.

Administration’s Plans to Address Report’s Findings:

The Baker-Polito Administration is using a variety of tools to address the key findings from this report:

$2.9 Billion Plan for ARPA Funds: The Administration’s proposal to spend $2.9 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan addresses many of the key needs presented in the report. It focuses on building up the Commonwealth’s housing stock, workforce, downtown economies, and infrastructure. The Administration filed this plan in June and believes it is critical to act quickly to address these urgent priorities.  The Future of Work Study underscores the importance of these investments, which would immediately begin to address the key challenges presented in the report, including:

  • $1 billion for housing priorities, with a particular focus on creating homeownership opportunities in communities of color. This proposal would be a significant step toward addressing the concerns raised in the report around the cost of housing and continued challenges around equity in different communities.
  • $240 million for workforce training opportunities to help train workers to connect with high-demand industries, a key priority raised in the report. The report makes clear that these types of retraining efforts could especially benefit women and communities of color, addressing additional equity concerns raised by the report.
  • $350 million for downtown development and economic growth, to help communities re-imagine their downtowns and spur development as the center of gravity shifts away from the urban core.
  • $175 million to boost substance use and behavioral health programming, a key area where communities of color have been most impacted throughout the pandemic.

Child Care Improvements: The Future of Work Report calls for innovation in child care to meet the changing needs of working families and employers. To address continued challenges in the early education space as the Commonwealth emerges from the pandemic, the Administration is taking a series of actions:

  • Investing over $640 million in federal funding for child care, focusing on building capacity at early education providers and targeting funds to the greatest areas of need according to the Social Vulnerability Index.
  • Sustaining increased child care subsidies for low-income families and other pandemic-era changes that expand access to care.
  • Leveraging the Commonwealth’s workforce development programs to develop a stable pipeline of early educators to expand access to affordable care.
  • Partnering with the business community to best understand specific needs for flexibility across specific industries and regions.

Transportation Flexibility and Improvements: To support shifting work habits and other trends identified in the report, the MBTA and MassDOT are modifying schedules and making other adjustments:

  • The Commuter Rail’s new Regional Rail Schedule represents a shift toward more consistent, regular service throughout the day, compared to pre-pandemic service that was heavily skewed toward AM and PM rushes. These adjustments reflect analysis of ridership trends throughout the pandemic and into the recovery. The new Regional Rail Schedule supports increasing travel habits like intra-line (non-Boston) trips and reverse commutes to Gateway Cities. It also supports teleworkers’ local trips and 3-day-per-week commuters.
  • Continued promotion of weekend service, such as $10 weekend passes will also promote travel to key recreational and tourist destinations outside of Boston. For example, thanks in part to this Commuter Rail promotion, Salem is seeing 110% of 2019 weekend ridership this year.
  • The Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program has helped communities make streetscape changes to support outdoor dining and alternative transportation modes like cycling, walking and off-road trails. Since last year, the program has awarded $33 million to 183 communities, resulting in over 300 projects.

House, Senate Negotiators Agree to $48.1 Billion Budget

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Article Source: State House News Service

Author: Matt Murphy

 

A deal to raise tax collection estimates by more than $4.2 billion and spend nearly $48.1 billion in fiscal year 2022 came together Thursday with House and Senate lawmakers filing a compromise budget that would also make the state’s controversial film tax credit permanent.

The budget deal, according to House and Senate officials, accounts for surging tax collections over the last six months that have far outpaced the projections agreed to by legislative leaders and the Baker administration at the start of the year.

The expectation of additional tax revenue was used by budget negotiators, in part, to create a $350 million trust fund that could be tapped in future years to help cover the cost of a $1.5 billion school funding reform law passed in 2019, known as the Student Opportunity Act.

The budget filed Thursday evening (H 4002) also reflects the decision of negotiators to cancel a planned draw on the state’s reserves of at least $1.5 billion and proposes to make a supplemental deposit of $250 million into the state’s pension system.

House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues announced the compromise Thursday afternoon, and leaders in both branches hope to pass the budget on Friday and send it to Gov. Charlie Baker for his review.

Massachusetts is one of just four states in the country that started its fiscal year on July 1 and does not have an annual budget in place. Though the budget is already eight days late, the Legislature and Gov. Baker put in place a temporary budget totaling $5.4 billion to keep government operations funded through July.

The Legislature and Baker postponed implementation of the seven-year school funding reform law during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the new budget increases Chapter 70 school aid by $219.6 million in fiscal year 2022 to $5.5 billion. The spending puts the state back on track to meet the state’s funding commitment over the next six years, and one budget official said the new trust fund would protect against future setbacks.

In addition to resolving disagreements over spending, leaders for the two branches came to an agreement that would permanently extend the state’s tax credit for film production in Massachusetts, which supporters have defended as a job creator but critics have derided as too expensive.

The compromise plan calls for the January 2023 sunset of the tax credit to be cancelled, but would increase the eligibility threshold for a production company by requiring at least 75 percent of its filming budget to be spent or at least 75 percent of principal photography days to take place in Massachusetts.

The House had voted to simply eliminate the tax credit’s expiration date, while the Senate proposed a four-year extension tied to an increase in the minimum number of filming days from 50 percent, a cap on eligible salaries at $1 million, and a ban on the transfer of credit.

The salary cap and transferability ban were not included in the final compromise.

The compromise budget also scrapped a Senate-backed plan to raise fees on Uber and Lyft rides to generate new money for the municipalities, the MBTA, regional transit authorities and other infrastructure needs.

The House has voted in favor of tiered increases in transportation network companies fees in the past, but they were vetoed by Gov. Baker and the branch did not include the fees as part of its budget proposal this year.

After fearing the worst at the start of the pandemic, legislative budget writers have largely avoided having to deal with the massive tax collection downturn forecast by economists at the start of the pandemic.

Instead, Democratic leaders have had the opposite challenge – how to allocate billions in unbudgeted revenues.

After agreeing in January to an estimate of $30.12 billion in taxes, Michlewitz and Rodrigues agreed in the budget filed Thursday to increase the tax revenue projections for fiscal 2022 to $34.35 billion, a whopping $4.23 billion increase.

The new projection reflects what House and Senate budget official described as an increase of $362 million, or about 1 percent, above preliminary tax estimates for fiscal 2021 of roughly $34 billion. The Department of Revenue has not yet released final tax revenue figures for fiscal 2021, but lawmakers are expecting a sizable surplus to spend after leaders verbally rejected Baker’s call for a two-month sales tax holiday.

The new flexibility in the fiscal 2022 budget allowed negotiators to fund accounts across the board at the higher level of what was recommended by either the House or Senate, adding roughly $300 million in additional spending added to the $47.7 billion budgets passed by both branches this spring.

That step led to larger bottom lines for higher education, nursing homes, local health departments, mental health programs and early educator salaries.

The conference committee also agreed to boost funding for some accounts beyond what had been proposed previously, including an additional $17 million for the Workforce Competitive Trust Fund, $18 million for career-technical institutes, and $9.5 million for one-stop career centers.

House Speaker Ron Mariano’s initiative to incentivize training for jobs in the offshore wind industry also got included with a boost from $10 million to $13 million, and a new cyber security consortium will work community colleges and state universities to create careers opportunities in cyber security.

Additionally, the compromise bill, according to officials, would cancel a planned withdrawal of at least $1.5 billion from the state’s “rainy day” fund, and projects a deposit into the reserve account of more than $1.1 billion in capital gains taxes that would drive the balance of the emergency fund to $5.8 billion by the end of fiscal year 2022.

Other highlights of the compromise budget include one-time raises for sheriffs of about $20,000, the extension of an historic rehabilitation tax credit, a new tax credit for the hiring of disabled workers and the conversion of a child care tax deduction into a refundable credit that would allow more low-income families to qualify.

The final compromise also dropped a provision described in a letter last week by 40 House lawmakers as an “anti-worker” measure added to the Senate budget that would have reversed the state’s law requiring triple damages in wage and hour lawsuits.

Berkshire Bank at 175 Years is Still Driven by Purpose in the Community

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When you think about banks, many people don’t realize the connections banks like Berkshire have to their local communities. Established 175 years ago in Pittsfield, MA, Berkshire has maintained its presence as a community bank for people of all backgrounds. While communities may have changed over the years, the purpose-driven mission of Berkshire has grown stronger.

“At Berkshire, we want everyone to have access to a bank, including those who have been traditionally underserved and underbanked,” said Paul Kelly, Regional President of Berkshire Bank. “Community banks, like Berkshire, have important roles in addressing disparities in the community and fueling economic activity.”

“Consumers and businesses from underrepresented and under-resourced communities have been hit particularly hard by the COVID 19 health crisis and because many lack a primary banking relationship, they frequently must resort to expensive payday lenders and check cashing services for assistance,” stated Kelly.

That’s where a bank like Berkshire has been able to step in and assist the community. Recently, Berkshire Bank launched a product called My Freedom Checking. This product, according to a press release, has no charges for overdrafts or monthly maintenance fees. In addition, it offers free Mobile Banking with Mobile Deposit and access to Berkshire Bank’s Greenpath Financial Wellness programs along with several other benefits that make banking easier and more accessible. The account recently received national certification from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund through its BankOn program recognizing the account for its transparency, accessibility and affordability.

While demographics vary across communities, underbanked individuals face many barriers to a traditional banking relationship. Many feel they don’t have enough money to keep an account with a traditional financial institution, while some don’t trust banks. Others find it inconvenient to use a bank because of their location or hours.

“Because of these barriers, many underbanked individuals and small businesses turn to money order, check cashing, and payday loan companies – expensive options that aren’t an ideal substitute for real banking services,” said Kelly.

Berkshire’s MyFreedom checking account is just one of the products offered to residents in the North Central Chamber community. They also have a new socially responsible check cashing service to help customers, non-customers, and the underbanked, called MyCheck. This service offers anyone the ability to cash checks for a fraction of local check-cashing costs at any one of its branches or at a Berkshire Bank MyTeller location, an ATM with person-to-person interaction.

Berkshire Bank’s My Banker is another unique service for greater Worcester residents that can offer personalized banking services without maintaining a high balance at the bank. In addition, local My Bankers like Erin Thomason and Linda Petrarca can provide free financial counseling services to help customers navigate their financial lives. Recently the bank collaborated with the Worcester Public Library to develop and offer a financial literacy program to community residents who may not have access to this type of resource.

“With services like these and our MyBanker staff, we are working to bring more equitable banking services to all communities in the Worcester region, close the wealth gap, and get individuals into mainstream banking,” said Kelly.

Berkshire Bank plans to continue to support the local North Central Chamber community and the Greater Worcester communities through various means, including the above-enhanced banking solutions and financial literacy programs. For more on the services in this story or to learn about Berkshire Bank’s philanthropic programs, visit berkshirebank.com.

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Selected as Finalist for National Chamber of the Year Honor

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The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was named a finalist for the prestigious 2021 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Alexandria, VA -based Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber is one of four finalists in its category – along with chambers in Cumming, GA; Leesburg, VA; and Tuscaloosa, AL.

The award is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association of more than 9,000 professionals from 1,600 chambers of commerce.

The Chamber of the Year award recognizes the leadership role chambers have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic development and quality of life.

“This year’s finalists are among the most impactful organizations within the industry,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Following a tumultuous year, these chambers emerged as community champions, providing catalytic leadership to address their region’s greatest challenges and opportunities for prosperity.”

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced by ACCE on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

“We are tremendously honored to be named a finalist for this national award. This is a collective achievement and a tribute to the innovation and passion of our members and the many business leaders that support our mission and  work so hard to build a stronger economy and quality of life in the communities that we call home here in North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “I want to thank our staff, board leaders and all of our members for their support and commitment to the important work we do collaboratively to advance North Central Massachusetts.”

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award first must qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds around membership performance and financial management.

Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey. Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from  finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals. To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.

Reconnect with Your Clients By Email

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Is your email inbox flooded with messages from big brands, with every message starting off with “In these uncertain times” and ending with “We’re all in this together”? You’re not alone. It seems like every brand wants to reach out to its customers in these (sorry) uncertain times.

But there’s no need to fall into the trap of being predictable and sounding like all the corporate robots filling your inbox. We believe it’s possible to connect to your clients and customers in a meaningful way that’s relational and personal. Take a look at some of our tips for reconnecting with your clients via email, even if you temporarily can’t communicate face to face.

  1. Be Transparent and Helpful

You probably don’t have all the answers to clients’ questions right now. But the more transparent you are, the more likely your customers are to stay connected with your brand. Let them know how your business is affected by the current situation, for starters. But many clients want to know more.

Reach out to tell your customers what you’re doing to protect them, whether it’s by sanitizing your physical location or adding extra online security to protect their data when your employees are working from home. Many customers want to know how you’re supporting your staff during this time, and others want to know what your plans are going forward. If you’ve changed the hours of your customer service center or you’ve opened new web pages to help customers out, let them know. When you’re transparent and clear via email, your clients will know you’re still there for them.

  1. Focus on Your Current and Recent Clients

Too many companies are digging too deep into their databases to connect with customers they haven’t had any contact within years. This isn’t the time for that deep dive, which is likely to alienate people and make them think you’re just trying to exploit them. Instead, connect with the customers and clients you have active relationships with, focusing on how you can help meet their current and future needs. Those are the clients who will be most receptive and appreciative to your updates.

  1. Strike the Right Tone

You undoubtedly have already established a clear voice when you reach out to customers. Now is the time to take a careful second look at that voice, especially if you tend to add a flash of sarcasm or flippancy to your communications with customers. If your emails make customers feel as if you aren’t taking their concerns and worries seriously, your efforts to reach out could have the opposite effect than the one you’re hoping for.

It’s also not the time to push people to buy things in an overt way, especially when many of your clients or customers may be taking second looks at their own budgets. If you send the inadvertent message that you’re taking advantage of the current situation, you won’t win friends. As you strive to strike a tone that’s supportive without being jarring, you should also avoid making political statements or promises you don’t know if you can keep (such as opening dates).

During a crisis, you have an opportunity to define who you are through your communications with your clients and customers. Honest, transparent communication via email can help you maintain the relationships that will be crucial again in the near future.

Mass VaxMillions Registration Details Announced Registration Begins July 1

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The Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts State Lottery announced registration details for the Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway, which will begin on July 1.

Massachusetts residents ages 12 and up and who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing are eligible to enter the giveaway.  Residents ages 18 and older who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing will have the opportunity to enter to win one of five, $1 million cash prizes. Residents between 12-17 years of age who are fully vaccinated prior to each drawing may enter for the chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants.

Beginning Thursday, July 1, eligible residents will be able to enter the giveaway at VaxMillionsGiveaway.com.  For residents who do not have access to the internet or require assistance, a call center will be available to assist with registration beginning July 1. The call center can be reached by calling 2-1-1 during the below hours:

  • Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM-6:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
  • Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

Live call center workers will be available in English and Spanish, and 100 additional languages will be available through translators.

VaxMillions Giveaway Drawings will be held once a week for five weeks beginning Monday, July 26 and continuing every Monday through August 23. The first drawing for the giveaway will occur on Monday, July 26, with registration for that week’s drawing closing on Thursday, July 22. Winners will be announced later in the week following each drawing.

Residents are reminded that they have time to get fully vaccinated in order to enter the drawings. An entry before one of the weekly entry deadlines makes you eligible for all of the weekly drawings that take place after you register. 

The full schedule of drawing and announcement dates is below. Residents are reminded that some COVID-19 vaccines require two doses, and they must receive all doses before entering the drawing. 

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Residents must be fully vaccinated before registering, but if they are not vaccinated by the registration date for a certain drawing, they will still have the opportunity to complete vaccination and register for subsequent drawings. Residents will only have to enter once to qualify for all drawings occurring after the date of their registration.

Massachusetts residents 18 years of age and older who have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, will have a chance to win one of five, $1 million cash prizes. 

Massachusetts residents between 12 and 17 years of age who have received two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will have a chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants via a 529 College Savings Plan managed by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA). Funds in a 529 plan can be applied to cover tuition, room and board, and related expenses at any college, university, or technical or trade school or other post-secondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Winners with a qualifying disability may elect instead to receive an equivalent financial contribution to a special needs trust or federally qualified ABLE account to cover qualified expenses.

The Commonwealth launched the Massachusetts VaxMillions giveaway as one of many strategies to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and encourage residents to get vaccinated to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.

Only lawful, permanent residents of Massachusetts who are fully vaccinated can enter the drawings. Residents must have received their vaccine doses within Massachusetts. Residents must be fully vaccinated prior to submitting their entry. 

There are over 900 vaccination locations across the Commonwealth, with appointments and walk ins widely available. Residents seeking a vaccine can visit mass.gov/COVIDVaccine to find a vaccine location that is convenient for them.

For more information on the Mass VaxMillions Giveaway, visit VaxMillionsGiveaway.com.

Residents can email support@vaxmillionsgiveaway.mass.gov to report any instances of fraud or suspicious activity associated with the VaxMillions Giveaway Promotion.

Baker-Polito Administration Files Plan to Invest $2.9 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funding to Support Economic Recovery, Communities Hit Hardest by Pandemic

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 The Baker-Polito Administration today will re-file its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. The Administration called on the Legislature to act quickly on the $2.9 billion plan 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 Charlie Baker today is re-filing the proposal after signing “An Act Relative to Transferring Federal Funds to the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund,” which was on the Governor’s desk.

“We are eager to work with the Legislature to put these funds to work and our $2.9 billion proposal will immediately aid those hardest hit by COVID-19 like communities of color and lower-wage workers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This plan addresses homeownership gaps in communities of color, connects workers with in demand job-training, boosts addiction treatment services and invests in local infrastructure. It’s crucial that the Legislature act quickly and not hold up these important investments. Communities of color, the hardest hit areas of the Commonwealth, should not have to wait to have their tax dollars be put to work.”

“Massachusetts’ economic recovery is off to a good start but it’s crucial that we address the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic by taking action to invest these federal relief dollars in priorities like housing, economic development, job training, and addiction treatment,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to move quickly in putting these relief dollars to work on behalf of our communities.”

The proposal filed today is the same proposal filed by Governor Baker earlier this month with the Legislature, with an additional $100 million for marine port development to support economic growth.

The Administration’s plan to invest $2.9 billion in federal dollars in these disproportionately impacted communities complements a proposal filed last week for the Commonwealth’s surplus state tax revenue. With May revenues approximately $4 billion over benchmark, the Administration’s proposal for a 2-month Sales Tax Holiday would provide relief for small businesses and residents, especially lower-wage workers who are most impacted by the sales tax.

The $2.915 billion is part of a total of approximately $5.3 billion in direct aid to the Commonwealth from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These discretionary funds are intended to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses, and address unequal public health and economic challenges in Massachusetts cities and towns throughout the pandemic. ARPA is also providing a total of $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities throughout Massachusetts, as well as substantial funding for key priorities including a total of $1.1 billion for transit. With a focus on increasing capacity for child care and supporting parents as they return to work, the Administration is also proposing to distribute approximately $760 million in additional federal funding to child care providers in Massachusetts over the coming years, and looks forward to working with key stakeholders on the usages of these funds.

The remaining $2 billion in direct federal aid would stay in the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Administration looks forward to working closely with the Legislature to allocate these resources in a fiscally responsible and compliant manner.  

In addition to this discretionary funding, an additional $35.2 billion in other ARPA funding has been directed to the Commonwealth to support additional areas of recovery including direct aid to municipalities, transportation, and child care. This includes approximately $3.4 billion in direct aid to cities, towns, and counties throughout Massachusetts. The plan therefore includes language allowing a local match for numerous programs to better leverage municipal support, optimize the usage of all available revenue, and maximize the impact of this one-time federal funding. 

Highlights of the plan include:

Housing

  • $300 million to support expanded homeownership opportunities, focused on first-time homebuyers who are residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
  • $200 million to support housing production through MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder Program and similar efforts, which aim to help communities of color build wealth by promoting home ownership among residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
  • $200 million to fund rental housing production and provide increased housing options to workers and residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
  • $300 million to finance the statewide production of senior and veteran housing. These new housing options would contain a supportive services component, and would be combined with other resources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, rental payments, and, in the case of veteran housing, VA health care. 

Economic Development

  • $100 million for Downtown Development to concentrate economic growth activities, resources, and investments within local neighborhood areas in municipalities disproportionally impacted by COVID;
  • $250 million to support investments and regional collaboration aimed at invigorating downtowns throughout Massachusetts. These resources would provide grant funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities for a range of projects;
  • $100 million to support cultural facilities and tourism assets throughout Massachusetts;

Workforce Development

  • $240 million to fund a suite of job training programs and address skills gaps, to better position residents who want to be hired into jobs that businesses need filled. Areas of investment include:
    • $150 million for workforce credentials for entry and mid-level wages;
    • $35 million to fund English for Speakers of Other Languages programs and Adult Basic Education;
    • $25 million for work readiness and essential skills programs.

Health Care

  • $50 million for fiscally stressed hospitals in disproportionately impacted municipalities as these hospitals have supported their communities significantly during the pandemic despite interruptions to their revenue streams;
  • $175 million for addiction treatment and related behavioral health services.

Infrastructure Investment

  • $400 million to fund grants for water and sewer infrastructure;
  • $300 million to improve culverts, dams, and other environmental infrastructure;
  • $100 million to enhance and modernize state park facilities;
  • $100 million to close the digital divide and increase broadband internet access, helping to promote workforce development and economic growth.
  • $100 million for marine port development.

4 Reasons to Care About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Diversity is a growing topic inside businesses big and small, especially those with a human resources department. But what about the small local businesses that make up the majority of our Chamber membership?

The Chamber is always searching for new ways to boost inclusiveness in the workforce. We’ve researched 4 reasons that your small business should also care about diversity, equity and inclusion. And we even have some conversation starters you can swipe.

If you’re looking to promote greater equity, inclusion and diversity in your own workplace, consider our 4 key reasons for making these principles a top priority.

Promoting diversity help business leaders achieve a greater sense of empathy towards their employees and clients, but it can also allow organizations to gain a significant advantage over their competitors.

  1. Expanding Your Workforce

When employers keep an open mind during the recruitment process, they’re far more likely to attract more qualified employees to their business. Talent spans across all genders, races and ethnicities, and only employers who make an effort to seek out underrepresented groups will have the opportunity to strengthen their existing workforce. Your current employees are also likely to feed off of the innovative ideas that their diverse coworkers offer, which can help boost creativity throughout your organization as a whole.

  1. Improving Your Reputation

According to research, about 67 percent of job candidates factor diversity into their career decisions. If you establish yourself as an organization that cares about diversity, equity and inclusion, job seekers will notice. This positive association that others attach to your company helps improve your business’s reputation as a whole. Likewise, organizations are more likely to retain existing employees if they make a point of promoting diversity. This is because employees tend to identify more strongly with a company if it reflects their personal beliefs.

  1. Build Trust Among Customers

Your customers see your employees before they ever see the owner, and employees are often the first people your clients interact with. If your workforce lacks diversity, your clients may be wary of putting their trust in your business, especially if they belong to an underserved population. When your employees represent the widest array of races, ethnicities and sexual orientations, the widest array of clients will also feel included. By incorporating diversity into your workforce, you’ll also be better able to understand and cater to the needs of your client base.

  1. Boost Productivity

Diversity, equity and inclusion isn’t just about improving the way others perceive your business. These tenants also play a critical role in your company’s output. Studies have shown that diverse groups tend to perform better as a whole than homogeneous groups. This is because members of diverse groups bring a wide variety of talents, skills, opinions and perspectives to the table. When these abilities are combined, employees have the opportunity to come up with innovative solutions to problems and work through these issues at a faster rate.

Help Your Small Business Grow by Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Your small business can benefit in a multitude of ways by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. From improving your overall reputation to expanding your workforce, you can strengthen nearly every aspect of your business by incorporating these principles into your company’s mission. At the end of the day, you’ll have happier employees and clients when you make inclusion a priority in your workplace.

Legislature Passes Bill to Fund Government Through July

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Article Source: State House News Service

Author: Matt Murphy

 

Now guaranteed to miss the deadline to have a annual budget in place by July 1, the Legislature passed a temporary budget on Monday that would keep government programs funded through July while negotiations on an annual spending plan continue. The new fiscal year starts on Thursday, but budget talks between the House and Senate over competing $47.7 billion annual budgets (H 4001 / S 2465) remain behind closed doors and ongoing. Even if a deal were to be struck before the start of fiscal 2022, the Senate adjourned Monday with plans not to meet again until Thursday. The House and Senate both enacted a $5.41 billion interim budget filed by Gov. Charlie Baker last week to keep government funded through July. Baker had asked that the Legislature approve the interim budget, which would be voided upon passage of a general appropriations bill, no later than June 29 to ensure that the state can meet its financial obligations. Sen. Cindy Friedman, the vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, called passage of the interim budget “standard procedure” while the six-member conference committee works to “finalize” a fiscal 2022 budget. “The interim budget will provide $5.41 billion to cover the bills and services estimated for the first month of the year, and will allow us to finish our thoughtful and collaborative work with our House colleagues on the final full-year budget,” Friedman said. The filing and passage of one or more interim budgets is not unusual on Beacon Hill, where legislative negotiators frequently take their private talks over the state’s annual budget beyond the July start of the new fiscal year. After a pandemic-interrupted year that saw the Legislature wait until the winter to tackle an annual appropriations bill, this year’s budget is back on its more traditional cycle. House and Senate negotiating teams, led by Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, were named on June 7 and met for the first time a day later to begin hashing out a compromise budget. If and when they do strike a deal and the full House and Senate pass a final fiscal year 2022 budget, Baker would still be afforded 10 days to review the bill. With tax collections soaring to close out fiscal 2021 and debate over how to spend an expected surplus, Democratic leaders have suggested they may also take a fresh look at projected tax collections for next year. The conference committee is also negotiating multiple policy proposals baked into the spending bill, including the looming expiration of and proposed reforms to the state’s film tax credit program and Senate-backed fee increases on rides booked through transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft.