In this issue...

• 495 Connector Service Launches Tuesday

• Housing Committee Meeting with Congressman Auchincloss June 17th

• Transportation Committee Meeting June 18th Featuring I-90 Allston Multimodal Update

• Learn How MassHire Metro South/West Can Help Meet Your Hiring Needs

• The 495/MetroWest Partnership Business Resource Guide is Now Live

495 Connector Service Launches Tuesday

Since our founding over twenty years ago, the 495/MetroWest Partnership has advocated for improved transit connectivity to address the lack of north-south linkages along the Route 85 and Interstate 495 corridors.

This Tuesday, May 27th, that dream moves closer to reality!

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority will launch their new 495 Connector service the day after Memorial Day! Connecting eight 495/MetroWest communities along I-495 and Route 85 with all three commuter rail lines serving our region, this new pilot shuttle service will give commuters and residents at the heart of our service area transit options never previously available.

Running between the South Acton MBTA commuter rail station in the north and the Forge Park/ 495 MBTA commuter rail station in the south, the service includes scheduled stops in Hudson, Marlborough, Southborough (MBTA commuter rail station), Hopkinton, and Milford, with riders having the ability to request stops or flag down the shuttle at safe boarding locations. The service connects three commuter rail lines, five MWRTA fixed bus routes, two MWRTA catch connect zones, and eight 495/MetroWest communities. 

Learn more about the service and view the complete schedule at the MWRTA's website.

Housing Committee Meeting with

Congressman Auchincloss June 17th

The Housing Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will hold a special, in-person meeting on Tuesday, June 17th at 11:00 AM in Medfield, featuring U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss. The meeting will feature a roundtable conversation with Congressman Auchincloss focused on repurposing closed or underutilized federal, state, and municipal properties for housing. The roundtable will be followed by a brief walking tour of the Medfield State Hospital campus, which is slated to be redeveloped into a mixed-use campus which will include multifamily housing. Advance registration is required for this event; click here to register. 

Transportation Committee Meeting June 18th

Featuring I-90 Allston Multimodal Update



The Transportation Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will meet virtually on Wednesday, June 18th at 8:30 AM. Participants will hear a presentation from MassDOT regarding the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project. This project will replace the Allston Viaduct of the Massachusetts Turnpike and reduce the footprint of the existing Allston Interchange toll plaza; construction will impact both roadway traffic and rail service between Boston and points west. This meeting will feature an overview presentation by project leadership, as well as an opportunity to ask questions. Click here to register for the meeting. 

Learn How Mass Hire Metro South/West Can

Help Meet Your Hiring Needs

The 495/MetroWest Partnership will host team members of the MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board on Tuesday, June 10th at 8:00 AM. Executive Director Greg Bunn and MassHire Metro South/West staff will provide an overview of how they can help area businesses. Employers will have the opportunity to learn how to utilize MassHire's services to attract and train qualified employees. Click here to register. 

The 495/MetroWest Partnership

Business Resource Guide is Now Live

For business owners searching for assistance, funding, information, or other resources, the world of business support programs can be overwhelming. A vast array of programs by both government and the nonprofit sector are available, albeit with different organizing entities, eligibility requirements, timelines, and processes.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership has created a Business Resource Guide, an extensive list of resources available to you and your business. Resources include financial assistance programing through grants, loans, and tax credits; assistance for businesses pursuing government contracting opportunities; hiring and workplace education programs; and technical assistance. This guide contains resources for both prospective and active businessowners, as well as resources expressly for Minority-owned, Women-owned, Disabled-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQIA+-owned businesses.

Click here to access the 495/MetroWest Partnership Business Resource Guide. This guide is tailored for businesses and business owners in the 495/MetroWest region of Massachusetts, but features both federal and state level resources.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership intends for this guide to be a living document, regularly refreshed and updated to add new programs or remove those which have ended. The document is maintained online as opposed to being in a fixed or printed form. Suggestions of new programs to include or concerns regarding any listed program are welcomed and encouraged; contact Executive Director Jason Palitsch at Jason@495Partnership.org with your comments.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if the 495/MetroWest Partnership can be of any assistance to you:

Jason Palitsch, Executive Director

(774) 760-0495

Jason@495Partnership.org

Thank you for your continued commitment to strengthening our region.