Strength in Numbers 2020 Edition

Each year, the 495/MetroWest Partnership publishes our Strength in Numbers report, highlighting our region’s advantages and successes. With the impact of COVID-19 causing damage and uncertainty in our nation's economy, this year's report focuses on our region's comparative resiliency in the face of COVID-19.

While every sector will face threats and challenges from the pandemic, our 35 communities are uniquely positioned to weather the storm, given our regional advantages including:

Click here to download the report. For a more detailed dive into demographic and economic trends in our region, be sure to check out our Demographic & Economic Profile of the 495/MetroWest Region 2020, developed in conjunction with the Public Policy Center at UMass Dartmouth.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) currently has a number of air quality grant funding opportunities, available both through DEP and outside organizations. Click on the respective heading for each grant opportunity below to access detailed information and application materials.

The Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) is a MassDEP open enrollment grant program provides incentive funding to public entities to invest in electric vehicles and charging equipment. This grant is eligible to those who acquire, through purchase or lease, light-duty battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), or zero emission electric motorcycles (ZEMs), and to acquire through purchase and install associated Level 2 charging equipment. Applications are eligible for Massachusetts municipalities, state agencies and public universities and colleges. Applications will be considered on a first-come first-serve basis until the program funds are exhausted.

The MassEVIP Multi-Unit Dwelling Charging Incentives is an open grant program which aims to increase the availability of electric vehicle charging stations in the Commonwealth. This grant provides funding to residential property owners or their representatives to implement charging stations on their property. Incentives are capped at $50,000 per street address. Applications are eligible to property owners of MUDs in Massachusetts which include 10 or more units. Applications will be considered on a first-come first-serve basis until the program funds are exhausted.

The MassEVIP Workplace Charging (WPC) Program provides incentive funding to employers in the state to cover a portion of the price of purchasing electric vehicle charging stations. This incentive program aims to increase the availability of access to EV charging stations in the Commonwealth. Applications are eligible to private, public and non-profit employers in the state that have 15 or more employees. Applications will be considered on a first-come first-serve basis until the program funds are exhausted.

A coalition of public health, municipal, regional, state, and academic leaders are pushing for legislation to improve the local public health system in Massachusetts. The group is calling for passage of the Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Every Community Act (SAPHE 2.0), which would "create minimum public health standards for every community, ensure a qualified workforce, incentivize municipalities to share services, create a uniform data collection and reporting system, and dedicate state funding to support local boards of health and health departments."

The bill, HD. 5306, An Act Relative To Accelerating Improvements to the Local and Regional Public Health System to Address Disparities in the Delivery of Public Health Services, would if passed and signed into law:

Click here to access the full text of the proposed legislation. To download an informational brochure prepared by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, click here.

MetroWest Employer Town Hall Series:

Area employers are invited to join the 495/MetroWest Partnership and the MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board for our continuing discussions, occurring every other week, surrounding critical issues business are facing. We will answer questions about the various resources that are available to companies and their workers during these difficult times.

Please join us for a special session of our Employer Town Hall series on Wednesday, October 14th at 1:00 PM as we host a focus group, Navigating Workforce Wellness and Productivity During COVID, to hear from employers about the challenges they're facing in a new workplace environment under the current pandemic. We also want to hear about strategies that businesses are putting in place during these challenging times. Click here to sign up.

Hosts Jason Palitsch (Executive Director, 495/Metro West Partnership) and Greg Bunn (Executive Director, MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board) will be accompanied by Kelly Joseph, Community Health Manager from the Framingham Department of Public Health and Katie Sugarman, Prevention & Outreach Program Manager from the Natick Health Department.

This in an important opportunity to have your voice heard and help determine how public resources are used to help the business community support its workforce and foster productivity as we move forward. Click here to register!

State Senator Becca Rausch, who represents the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Senate, is conducting an online survey of small businesses operating within the district. From the Senator:

495/MetroWest Partnership communities contained within the district are Franklin, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham; small businesses in those communities are invited to take the survey and offer their feedback. Click here to access the online survey.

MetroWest Employer Town Hall Series Special Event: Navigating Workforce Wellness and Productivity During COVID

Wednesday, October 14th, 1:00 PM via Zoom

Featuring:

Thursday, October 15th, 8:30 AM via Zoom

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Wednesday, October 21st, 8:30 AM via Zoom

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Sincerely,

Jason Palitsch

Executive Director

The 495/MetroWest Partnership