THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 Page 7 DEVELOPMENT | FROM PAGE 5 • Increases the state low-income housing tax credit program cap from $20 million to $40 million Employee protections, business growth and equity bonding authorizations • $35 million for a Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) matching grant program to community development financial institutions for small business loans and grants • $27.7 million for a new Employment Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program • $20 million for an MGCC small business grant program • $14 million for travel and tourism grants • $10 million for regional and community assistance planning grants Policy changes • Enables, via local option, the creation of Tourism Destination Marketing Districts (TDMDs) – made up of hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts – for the purpose of generating local revenue dedicated solely for the promotion and marketing of specific regions of the Commonwealth • Amends the statutory definition of wait staff employee to include a person in a quick service restaurant who prepares or serves food or beverages as part of a team of counter staff • Provides that the taking of family or medical leave shall not affect an employee’s right to accrue vacation time, sick leave, bonuses, advancement, seniority, length-of-service credit or other employment benefits, plans or programs • Exempts natural hair braiding from the definition of hairdressing, and exempts natural hair braiding from rules and regulations pertaining to aesthetics, barbering, cosmetology, electrolysis, hairdressing and manicuring • Encourages the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board to use minority investment managers to manage the Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund assets, where appropriate, and to increase the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of Fund investments • Establishes a commission of experts, industry members, academics and elected officials to research and propose policy solutions that ensure the future and sustainability of local journalism in Massachusetts Student protections • Establishes a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights regulating the licensing and operation of student loan servicers by the Commissioner of Banks • Creates a Student Loan Ombudsman within the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of receiving, reviewing and assisting in the resolution of complaints from student loan borrowers; authorizes the Ombudsman to assist with repayment options, applying for federal loan forgiveness programs, ending wage and tax refund garnishments, resolving billing disputes and obtaining loan details Agriculture and rural support bonding authorizations • $20 million for rural community development and infrastructure grants • $2 million for an urban agriculture grant program Policy changes • Expands the Food Policy Council to include an expert in healthy soil practices, codifies the definition of “healthy soils,” gives the Commission for Conservation of Soil and Water the ability to establish a Massachusetts Healthy Soils Program and Fund Technology and innovation bonding authorizations • $52 million for the Technology Research and Development and Innovation Fund • $15 million for lottery IT infrastructure • $10 million for the expansion of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) • $5 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund Policy changes • Creates a special commission on the future of work to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the impact of automation, artificial intelligence, global trade, access to new forms of data and the internet on the workforce, businesses and the economy • Clarifies that car-sharing platforms may obtain insurance coverage from non-admitted carriers and that car-sharing platforms do not need their own insurance-producer or broker licenses to offer or maintain insurance policies for car-sharing vehicles or drivers Other bonding authorizations include: • $102.3 million for local economic development projects • $12.5 million for the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation • $15 million for trial court virtual mediation services You may qualify for Program and be eligible for as much as towards your heating costs (oil, gas, or electric). Household of 1 = $39,105 Household of 2 = $51,137 Household of 3 = $63,169 Household of 4 = $75,201 Cold days are coming. ABCD’s got you covered. WE CAN HELP PAY YOUR HEATING BILLS! • $6 million for Mass Cultural Council grants • $5 million for Mass Cultural Council public school grants • $20 million for Mass Cultural Council cultural facilities grants • $15 million for vocational technical school expansion grants • $15 million for higher education workforce grants Everett resident named to Springfield College Dean's List S PRINGFIELD — Springfield College recently announced that Fabian Correia of Everett was named to the Dean's List for the 2020 fall semester. Correia is majoring in physical education. To be selected for the Dean’s List, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework and must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Mayor announces Sunday Morning Coffee video series T he City of Everett launched a video series hosted by Mayor Carlo DeMaria called “Sunday Morning Coffee,” which began on Sunday, January 17. In the series, DeMaria will update residents on COVID-19 response, vaccination rollouts and other plans to address the critical needs of the city. “This series is an opportunity for our residents to hear directly from me regarding both the challenges and progress of our great city,” said DeMaria. “We all look forward to a time when we can chat over coffee in person safely again, but for now, this is the most responsible way for me to share the city’s news with everyone.” The videos will air on ECTV and will be shared on Everett’s social media platforms each week. Residents can view “Sunday Morning Coffee” on the following platforms: • ECTV • Facebook: Mayor Carlo DeMaria & City of Everett • Instagram: MayorCarloDeMaria & CityofEverettMA • Twitter: Mayor_DeMaria Everett residents achieve Fitchburg State Dean’s List F ITCHBURG – Fitchburg State University recently announced that Everett residents Amanda Byrnes, Schekina Pericles and Veronica Worthington made the Dean’s List for the 2020 fall semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must be attending the university full-time and have a grade point average of 3.20 or better. APPLY TODAY! Last day to apply is April 30, 2021 Residents of 178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA — 617.357.6012 Residents of 18 Dartmouth Street, Malden, MA — 781.322.6284
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