This fall, in partnership with Colette Phillips Communications and Get Konnected! we will publish a list of the Newton-Needham Metro West 50 Most Influential Business People of Color.

 

Our goal is to showcase the individuals and employers who are making a positive contribution to the economic and social fabric of our west suburban businesses and nonprofits.

 

We also want it to be a way to start a conversation about where we fall short and how we can do even better.

 

Nominations opened this morning and will continue through Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.

 

To qualify, nominees must work and/or sit on a board of a business or nonprofit that is physically located in Newton, Needham, Watertown, Waltham, Wellesley, Natick or Framingham. Unlimited nominations welcome.

 

Thanks in advance for your participation. And please help spread the word about this by sharing it with friends, colleagues and customers who may also know some great nominees.

 

 

Newton and Watertown getting Bluebikes

 

Newton, Watertown and three other municipalities will soon become part of the Bluebike bike sharing system. The expansion has been in the works since last fall, and will be funded in part with grant funds from MassDOT, Streetsblog Mass reports.

 

Newton is still evaluating specific station locations, but “most of the stations will be in the northeast section of Newton to provide connectivity to the other Bluebikes stations in Watertown and Cambridge.” According to Nicole Freedman, the city transportation director.

 

Watertown’s five new stations will be installed in August along the Arsenal Street corridor between Watertown Square and the Arsenal mall. (Newton Patch has more.)

 

Today’s PPP beach reads

 

Lenders can begin submitting applications for Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness Aug. 10, the BBJ reports.

 

But the SBA platform’s opening date is subject to extension if legislators make changes to the process that affect the system. And given a plethora of pending possible changes, updates and even the possible new legislation, some experts say there’s no need to rush.

 

One bill in Congress proposes blanket forgiveness for loans of up to $150,000. The American Bankers Association, PayPal and others are lobbying for blanket forgiveness up to $350,000.

 

Here's three more PPP articles to fill up those hours you aren’t spending at Fenway...

House still debating Housing Choice

 

The House worked late into the night debating amendments to the economic development bill, which includes, among other things, a provision that would make it easier for Bay State cities and towns to create diverse housing as well as legalized online gaming (which channels some revenue to help restaurants).

 

They dispensed with around 60 amendments but hundreds remain, with the legislative year still currently scheduled to end Friday. They’ll reconvene at 10 a.m. today.

 

Jon Chesto at the Globe and Shira Schoenberg at CommonWealth have updates to the Housing Choice part of the bill.

 

Covidiot boat grounded

 

Remember that disturbing photo yesterday of the jam packed cruise ship at a Boston Harbor? The state Department of Labor and the Boston Public Health Commission have ordered Bay State Cruise Company to cease operating, according to NBC Boston.

 

Not really accurate

 

A story in the Globe and emails circulating around Newton suggest that the City Council is considering a proposal that “would end single-family only zoning in large swaths of city.”

 

That’s a little misleading.

 

This change wouldn’t "end" single family homes. A better way to describe it is the council is considering a proposal that would "allow multi-family housing.”

 

Susan Albright, the City Council president, said the rezoning would make it easier for homeowners and developers to create a wider range of options, including more two- and three-family homes, and offer lower-cost housing for people who currently can’t afford to live in Newton. Currently, builders in those areas have to seek a special permit from the City Council to build multi-unit housing, writes the Globe’s John Hilliard.

 

OK, I’m off in search of a breeze. I'll report back tomorrow.

 

President, Newton-Needham Regional Chamber

617-244-1688

Your chamber is here when you need us.