The Commonwealth has announced a new hiring and training employer grant program, “HireNow,” which is designed to help employers quickly hire and train new workers. The new program provides eligible employers with a $4,000 per-employee grant, which can be used to cover training costs or as a signing bonus for new employees. 

 

The program is open to all Massachusetts employers, including both for-profit and non-profit entities (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). 

 

HireNow aims to address hiring challenges faced by employers that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfilled job postings have increased 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 200,000 open jobs available across the Commonwealth. The HireNow program will be supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

 

Any Massachusetts employer who is in good standing with Department of Unemployment Assistance and Department of Revenue obligations and is not de-barred by the state is eligible (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Applications must be submitted by the employer, not an education or training partner.

To apply, employers must pre-register online at Mass.Gov/HireNow. Following the employee’s hire and 60-day retention period, employers will submit a final application for funding. The Commonwealth will also approve the planned use of the funds (training costs, signing bonus, etc.) when approving the application. Hires must be made after March 23rd, 2022, be retained for a minimum of 60 days, and be placed in jobs that are at least 30 hours per week. New hires need to be Massachusetts residents employed in Massachusetts. 

 

There are also limits on compensation:

Employers will be funded up to $4,000 for each eligible employee hired, with a limit of $400,000 per employer. Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to access complete program and application information. 

This Monday, March 28th at 9:00 AM, the 495/MetroWest Partnership and the Middlesex 3 Coalition will co-host a presentation regarding the Commonwealth’s Draft Guidance for Multi-family Zoning Requirements for MBTA Communities. The presentation will feature Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, along with staff from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP). This event will be hosted virtually via Zoom; click here to register.

Enacted as part of the economic development bill in January 2021, state law now requires that any MBTA Community shall have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right. In December, DHCD released draft guidelines for MBTA Communities regarding these new multi-family zoning requirements. Click here to access the full text of the Draft Guidance. “MBTA Community” is defined in M.G.L. c. 161A, sec. 1; click here to access a map of MBTA Communities. For additional information regarding the Multi-family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities, click here.

DHCD is accepting public comment on the compliance guidance through March 31st.

This presentation is open to all stakeholders of the 495/MetroWest Partnership or the Middlesex 3 Coalition, and will be followed by a Question & Answer period. Click here to register for the event.

Earlier this week, Governor Baker filed “An Act Relative to Massachusetts’s Transportation Resources and Climate” (MassTRAC), a $9.7 billion infrastructure bond bill. This bill, H. 4561, is intended to support investments in transportation and environmental infrastructure, as well as provide required state matching funds to compete for, unlock, and leverage federal formula and discretionary investments provided by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) enacted in November 2021.

The legislation includes $6.2 billion to support core federal formula programs for highway, transit, and environmental projects. The funding authorized under BIL provides the Commonwealth with an opportunity to increase investments in roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure, with a focus on climate change mitigation, resiliency, equity, and safety for all users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians.

Provisions of this bill would enable MassDOT and the MBTA to use certain project procurement and delivery tools that could speed the implementation of BIL funded projects, as well as regular project delivery. MassDOT and the MBTA would be authorized to pilot the A + B procurement method to allow the time to complete a project to be considered in bid evaluation and award. Additionally, Private Development Mitigation/Transit Oriented Development authorization would allow MassDOT and the MBTA to enter into development agreements that include transportation and other public benefits without having to separately bid for those elements.

The bill would provide additional authorization to support cities and towns in promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety, and improving community public spaces through several existing grant programs. Some of these programs include the Complete Streets Funding Program, Municipal Small Bridge, Municipal Pavement, and Shared Streets and Spaces Program.

Highlights of the $9.7 billion MassTRAC bill:

The bill must now be taken up by the Legislature. Click here to access the full text of the legislation as filed. Note that inclusion in a bond bill, when signed into law, does not mean an item or project is imminently due to be funded, only that the administration has the authorization necessary to borrow the funds and utilize those funds for the designated purpose. 

Next week, the MassHire Metro South/West Career Center, the Town of Acton, Middlesex Community College, and Minuteman Technical Institute will co-host a Manufacturing Summit, aimed at addressing the current labor shortage. Employers, education providers, training providers, workforce programs, municipalities, and community organizations will meet to discuss and develop solutions to current workforce challenges.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 30th, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at Minuteman Technical Institute (758 Marrett Road in Lexington). Registration information and additional details can be found on the event flyer, available at this link. Panelists will include State Representative Dan Sena (D-Acton); Daniel Rediger, Head of Naval Operations, Roll-Royce Naval Marine; Julie Pierce-Onos, Economic Development Director, Town of Acton; and Meghan Burke, Director of School Employment Programs, MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board. This "Town Hall" style event will be in-person with social distancing protocols closely followed.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater Framingham Community Church (GFCC) has partnered with organizations such as Health Resources in Action to increase vaccination rates among communities of color, through the dissemination of culturally appropriate materials.  

 

Through these efforts, GFCC has filmed both Portuguese and Spanish informational videos in which individual community members answer commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Links to these videos can be found on GFCC’s YouTube channel. 

To view all upcoming events or view recordings of past virtual events, visit the "Events & Committee Meetings" section of our website 495Partnership.org.