Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 19, 2024 UW-Madison announces 2024 spring graduates A total of 8,586 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 10-11, including Everett resident Gulinazi Julati, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Science, Computer Sciences. Keynote speaker and Badger hockey legend Meghan $15M | FROM PAGE 7 incentivize these startups to stay in Massachusetts and continue to build their companies, the legislation provides $200 million for the Clean Energy Investment Fund to facilitate research and development, commercialization and deployment of climate technologies. It adds a further $200 million for the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund to support the growth of the offshore wind industry. Additional incentives include a climate tech tax credit, a climate tech jobs credit and a climate tech research credit. Duggan shared lessons learned during her ascent to Olympic gold. “Failure is not final unless you choose not to learn from it,” Duggan said. “Since some measure of failure is inevitable in each of the journeys you’re about to take, I hope you react by learning what you’re willing Regional equity The legislation reflects the different needs of different communities and ensures none of the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns are left behind. This will partly be accomplished through statewide targeted infrastructure improvements. The bill authorizes $400 million for MassWorks public infrastructure projects that spur economic development and help support job creation, $100 million for the Rural Development Fund to provide financial assistance for infrastructure and community planning efforts in rural communities, $100 million for local economic development to do to find your own version of success.” Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin praised graduates for succeeding academically and being deeply engaged in solving problems in the world, in the proud tradition of the Wisconsin Idea. “You and I can’t know today what grants for economic development in cities and towns, $90 million to support the redevelopment of underutilized, blighted or abandoned buildings and $10 million for the Broadband Incentive Fund for the capital maintenance of the MassBroadband 123 middle mile network. In addition to infrastructure, the legislation recognizes the importance of local cultural and economic sites. It provides $150 million for capital grants for public libraries, $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund, $40 million for Destination Development grants to support capital improvements of tourism assets, $15 million for a capiquestions each of you will ask in your lives and careers,” she said. “But I can tell you this: The questions that challenge what we are certain we already know to be true are often the ones that drive extraordinary innovation.” Student speaker Gracie Nelson, senior class presital grant program to support the Commonwealth’s agriculture, commercial fishing and cranberry growing industries and $8 million for historical preservation grants through the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Accelerating AI & advanced manufacturing development To position Massachusetts as a leader of the future economy, the bill includes provisions to further develop the rapidly growing AI industry as well as high-tech advanced manufacturing jobs. The bill contains $115 million for the Massachusetts Tech Hub to establish key industry consortia across the Commonwealth, $100 million for the Applied AI Hub program to facilitate the application of AI, $99 million for flexible grants to support advanced manufacturing initiatives and $25 million for capital grants to advance research, commercialization and training in robotics. Retaining talented college graduates Outmigration is notably prevalent among students who graduate from Massachusetts colleges. To keep them and their talent in the state, the legislation includes $85 million for the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA) to improve access to affordable higher education opportunities. Additional talent-retention provisions promote internships for students and recent graduates through the employer internship tax credit and allow foreign-licensed physicians to apply for a limited license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth with a pathway to a full unrestricted license. The program would enable their talents to be used to fill the state’s physician shortage. Supporting small businesses With nearly 50 per cent of Massachusetts workers employed by companies with less than 500 employees, small businesses are a key part of the Commonwealth’s economy. The Senate’s legdent, reminded graduates that in the past four years they had lived through COVID dorms, eight Taylor Swift albums and three Badger football coaches. She emphasized that “it is not our resumes or the titles we hold that define us, but the depth of our humanity.” islation recognizes this, providing $25 million through MassVentures for small business technology grants to help early-stage companies commercialize new technologies, $35 million for grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to help disadvantaged and underserved businesses and $10 million for BizM-Power matching grants to small businesses with capital needs. To assist small businesses in rural areas and areas impacted by pollution, the bill authorizes $3 million for grants to improve the readiness of sites for economic development projects and $30 million for the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to support the remediation of land impacted by environmental contamination. During debate, the Senate adopted several amendments, notably: • To increase the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include 18-year-olds. The initiative, which is known as “Raise the Age,” is proven to decrease crime and improve public safety by allowing emerging adults who are 18 years old – the typical age of a senior in high school – to be tried as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes. • To allow local communities to opt in and allow bars and restaurants in the community to responsibly offer happy hour drink discounts • To admit Massachusetts in the national nurse licensure compact, helping to address the critical workforce challenge facing the health care sector • To enhance local public health infrastructure and service delivery • To allow local breweries and distilleries to sell their products alongside local wineries at farmers markets • To increase opportunities for a more diverse public sector teaching force • To provide consumers more rights to seek repair of their cell phones without having to seek service from the original manufacturer
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