In this issue....

• Legislative Summary: Inflation Reduction Act

• Weekday Commuter Rail Service Returns to Foxborough Station Sept. 12th

• STEP Funding Available to Small Businesses to Increase Export Sales

• Mass. Housing Partnership to Host Webinars on Multifamily Zoning for MBTA Communities

• MassDOT to Host Virtual Public Information Meeting on Route 20 Improvement Project in Shrewsbury

• Workplace Safety and Education Grant Funding Available to Businesses

• MWRTA Seeking Drivers; $4,000 Signing Bonuses Available

Legislative Summary: Inflation Reduction Act

On August 16th, President Biden signed into law H.R. 5376, titled The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which aims to curtail the national deficit and make investments in addressing climate change, among other provisions. The law institutes a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% fee on stock buybacks, and supports tax compliance enhancements to generate revenue for spending programs that address energy security, climate change, and healthcare.

The law creates several spending and tax credit programs that target investments towards lowering consumer energy costs, increasing and diversifying domestic energy production, decarbonizing sectors of the economy, and investing in Environmental Justice communities. Components of the bill include:

Spending Programs:

• $27 billion clean energy technology accelerator to support deployment of technologies to reduce emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities
• $9 billion in consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, to electrify home appliances and for energy efficient retrofits
• Approx. $9 billion for Federal procurement of American-made clean technologies to create a stable market for clean products
• $6 billion for a new Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program to reduce emissions from industrial emitters
• $3 billion in Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
• $3 billion in Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants
• $3 billion in grants to support the purchase and installation of zero-emission equipment and technology at ports
• $1 billion grant program to make affordable housing more energy efficient
• $2 billion in grants to retool existing auto manufacturing facilities to manufacture clean vehicles, ensuring that auto manufacturing jobs stay in the communities that depend on them
• $2 billion for National Labs to accelerate breakthrough energy research

Tax Credits:

• Approx. $30 billion in production tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals processing
• $10 billion in investment tax credits to build clean technology manufacturing facilities
• 10 years of consumer tax credits to make homes energy efficient, intended to make heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC and water heaters more affordable
• $4,000 consumer tax credit for lower/middle income individuals to buy used-clean vehicles, and up to $7,500 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles

Click here to access the complete text of the legislation. 

Weekday Commuter Rail Service Returns

to Foxborough Station Sept. 12th

The Kraft Group and Patriot Place, in partnership with the Town of Foxborough, the MBTA, and MassDOT, have announced that weekday commuter rail service will return to Foxboro Station on September 12th.

Weekday services are part of a new year-long pilot featuring a commuter-friendly schedule with service to and from Boston and free parking for commuters. The schedule has 11 inbound and 10 outbound trips daily during peak commute times with stops at Back Bay Station, including:

• Inbound trains arriving at South Station at 7:43 AM and 8:43 AM
• Outbound trains departing South Station at 5:20 PM and 6:15 PM

The schedule is available in its entirety online at www.mbta.com/foxboro. As part of the return of service, commuters will be able to park for free at Foxboro Station, saving over $80 per month. Close to Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium, Foxboro Station features 500-plus parking spaces in designated Lot 4C, along with 24-hour onsite security.

For more information about the new weekday service pilot at Foxboro Station, visit www.mbta.com/foxboro.

STEP Funding Available to Small Businesses to Increase Export Sales

The Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) and the Massachusetts Export Center, has announced the Massachusetts State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). MOITI, through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will provide grants to eligible, approved Massachusetts small businesses for the purpose of increasing export sales of their goods and services.

The STEP program is intended to help offset international business development and related costs for small businesses. Eligible businesses may apply for grants ranging from a minimum of $6,000 to a maximum of $15,000 per business to reimburse for costs associated with pre-approved projects, activities or services undertaken during the period October 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2024. Each grant recipient will be required to provide a match to cover at least a portion of the total approved cost for any project, activity or service. New-to-export firms have a minimum of 10% match requirement and all other firms have a minimum of 20% match requirement.

The application period for the Massachusetts STEP Grant Program is now open; the application deadline is Wednesday, September 30th at 5:00 PM. Click here to access additional program and application information.  

The Massachusetts Export Center will offer a free webinar about the Massachusetts STEP program on Wednesday, September 22nd from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The webinar will discuss the parameters of the Massachusetts STEP Grant and walk participants through the application process. The webinar will also provide tips on assessing export readiness and planning international marketing activities in support of the STEP application. Click here for further details and webinar registration.

Mass. Housing Partnership to Host Webinars 

on Multifamily Zoning for MBTA Communities

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) will be holding nine interactive webinars focused on MBTA zoning and how communities can design districts that meet their unique needs, in conjunction with new multifamily zoning requirements for MBTA Communities. "More Than Compliance: Multifamily Districts That Work in Your Community" will focus on subjects that communities should consider when planning multifamily districts. The series will feature experts on a variety of topics ranging from infrastructure basics to community engagement and messaging strategies. Time will be allotted for questions at the end of each session.

This series is part of MHP’s Complete Neighborhoods Initiative, which is supporting the state's efforts to build more multifamily housing near transit, downtowns, jobs and services. All MHP materials related to MBTA zoning compliance can be found online at www.mhp.net/mbtazoning.

The webinar series will be held weekly on nine consecutive Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM beginning September 21st: 

• Sept. 21: The Case for Complete Neighborhoods
• Sept. 28: Water and Wastewater Basics for MBTA Communities
• Oct. 5: Complete Streets for MBTA Communities
• Oct. 12: Housing Suitable for Families with Children
• Oct. 19: Including Affordability in Your MBTA District
• Oct. 26: Exploring Housing in Different Densities (new)
• Nov. 2: Siting Your District (this is for MBTA Adjacent Communities)
• Nov. 9: Community Engagement and Messaging
• Nov. 16: Site Plan Review

Click here for additional information, or to register for the webinar series. There is no cost to attend the webinars. For more information contact MHP Community Assistance Manager, Claire Morton at [email protected]. 

MassDOT to Host Virtual Public Information Meeting

on Route 20 Improvement Project in Shrewsbury

MassDOT will host a Live Virtual Public Information Meeting to present the design for the proposed Route 20 Corridor Improvements project in Shrewsbury. The event will be hosted at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, September 14th.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Route 20 Corridor Improvements project. All views and comments submitted in response to the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

The proposed project between Route 9 and the South Street/Green Street intersection consists of the addition of an eastbound travel lane, left-turn lanes, two roundabouts and a median separating Route 20 eastbound and westbound directions between the two roundabouts. The project will also address the lack of multi-modal transportation options with the addition of 5-foot sidewalks and 10-foot shared use paths with grass buffers throughout the project area.

This is a virtual event; click here to access additional information, including the link to participate in the public meeting.

Workplace Safety and Education Grant

Funding Available to Businesses

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) is now accepting Workplace Safety and Education Grant submissions. Applications are due September 30th. 

Training programs that have been funded in the past often include OHSA 10 or 30, aerial lift, fall protection, crane and rigger, forklift, ergonomics, CPR/AED, injury prevention, fire/electrical, asbestos, defensive and winter driving, lead hazards, toxins and hazards communication, trenching excavation, confined space rescue, and more. Applicants are also encouraged to develop new training specific to the needs of their workforce.

DIA’s Office of Safety is responsible for administering and managing the Workplace Safety Training and Education Grant Program. The goal of the program is to promote safe and healthy conditions in the workplace through training, education, and other preventative programs for employees and employers, as well as organizations operating within the Commonwealth and covered by Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law.

To date, the Department of Industrial Accidents has funded hundreds of programs that have benefited and educated thousands of workers and employers throughout the Commonwealth. A total of $800,000 is budgeted annually for the Workplace Safety and Education Grant Program. 

Grants are awarded to qualified applicants through a competitive selection process. Applications can be submitted to DIA’s Office of Safety seeking up to a maximum of $25,000 per entity, per fiscal year. Interested employers can email [email protected] to receive an application package. Visit mass.gov/DIA to learn more.

MWRTA Seeking Drivers; $4,000 Signing Bonuses Available

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) is currently seeking drivers for both its fixed route and demand response services. Free Class C CDL training is available. For a limited time, a $4,000 sign-on bonus is available. Click here for additional information.