?Lawmakers delay, again, on helping our businesses
?Lawmakers delay, again, on helping our businesses
Santa has a new helper.
It's a fellow named Joe Biden.
Yesterday the president announced a new effort to speed up the movement of hundreds of thousands of containers that are stuck in the port of Los Angeles, creating supply chain concerns for the holidays.
Backups in the port of LA may seem like a remote problem for us in Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley.
It's not. More than a quarter of all American imports come through west coast ports.
And many local merchants are very anxious about having empty shelves.
Fed vax-or-test mandate rules take step forward
Meanwhile, Biden’s vax-or-test mandate for companies with 100 or more employees moved one step closer this week.
OSHA has submitted the initial text of an emergency rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review. The regulations will take effect once the OMB finishes its review and it's published in the federal register. Legal challenges are expected.
A new poll shows that three-quarters of the state's residents support a universal vax mandate, according to the Globe, while vaccine mandates are working.
Lawmakers kick UI relief down the road
You know how pretty much every single week since this summer I’ve been writing about how employers are hoping Beacon Hill will help small businesses shed some of the $7 billion in future unemployment bills that were accumulated during the pandemic?
Do you also recall reading that Gov. Charlie Baker proposed reducing the UI debt by $1 billion using an unexpected $5 billion tax revenue surplus?
One billion wasn't enough, but it was something.
And yet, it's not happening. At least not now, according to the BBJ.
Yesterday the House passed a $303 million budget to cover old expenses, but failed to act on Baker’s request and pleas for help from business groups statewide.
Legislators now say they won't decide how to spend the excess tax revenue or
ARPA money until before Thanksgiving.
That's a shame because delays mean added interest payments on that $7 billion, which also come out of employers' pockets.
More than 30 states have used federal ARPA or CARES Act funding to pay off some of the debt accrued during the pandemic. Massachusetts is not among them.
A double whammy for nonprofits
In addition to not transferring any money to the unemployment trust fund, the House and Senate spending bill didn't address Baker's revived attempt to implement a tax deduction on charitable giving, according to Matt Murphy at State House News.
That charitable tax break was approved by voters in 2000, but was only available for one year before it was suspended by lawmakers. As part of the fiscal year 2022 budget, the Legislature delayed the implementation of the tax break for another year, over Baker’s objection.
Wellesley could be part of offshore wind purchase
Wellesley would be in position to buy clean power generated by the proposed Commonwealth Wind offshore energy development if other utility executives select it to be the state's third offshore wind project, reports Colin A. Young at State House News.
The town’s Municipal Light Plant would be one 20 MLPs in Massachusetts that could to annually purchase up to 146,000 megawatt-hours of the cleaner power generated by the developer's proposed Commonwealth Wind project in addition to renewable energy credits.
The climate law that Gov. Charlie Baker signed earlier this year requires MLPs get 50 percent of their power from "non-carbon emitting" sources by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 under the new law.
Four Watertown bio techs fund STEM program
Four Watertown life science companies — Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics and Landmark Bio— are launching a new effort to fund science, technology, engineering and math programming in the Watertown Public Schools.
They’ve donated $15,000 to underwrite teacher-driven requests for supplemental materials, books, equipment, special events and speakers, student programs and experimental school or district-wide initiatives.
The Watertown STEM Education Fund is part of a collaboration with the Watertown Community Foundation and Life Science Cares Boston.
The fund builds on the foundation’s annual school-based educational grants program. It also allows companies, leaders and employees in the burgeoning Watertown life sciences sector to learn about Watertown Public Schools and forge deeper relationships with the school STEM community.
Watertown is home to 43 life science companies, with more on the way.
Women in biopharma conversation continues
In this week’s BBJ cover story, life sciences reporter Rowan Walrath interviewed seven established and up and coming women in the region’s exploding life sciences sector.
Walrath will pick up on the topic at our virtual chamber event on Oct. 26 when she talks with Kendalle Burlin O’Connell president and COO of MassBio and a BBJ 2019 “40 under 40” honoree.
They’ll also talk about the expansion of life sciences into our western suburbs.
Go here to RSVP .
Newton Farm to go solar
One of my favorite local spots – the Newton Community Farm -- and the City of Newton have been awarded a grant to fund a solar installation on the roof of the barn which will provide 99% of the energy needed for the agricultural operation.
The Mass. Department of Agriculture Resources Climate Smart Agriculture Program will fund 80 percent of the cost of the $49,340 project. Newton will cover the balance.
The farm will also receive funding through the Climate Smart Agriculture Program for new farm equipment and high tunnel extensions.
I've already ordered our grapefruit
The Needham Exchange Club’s annual Holiday Fruit & Chocolate Sale is always a hit in our house.
They skipped last year due to the pandemic but are now talking orders through Nov. 24 for freshly picked Florida oranges, grapefruit, pears, apples, mandarins along with artisan chocolates.
Every dollar raised from this sale benefits the Needham area community, including scholarship programs for students. Order online.
That’s today’s need to knows unless you need to know how your AirPods may one day help your hearing, take your temperature and (my mom would have loved this) tell you to sit up straight.
See you tomorrow.
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
It's a fellow named Joe Biden.
Yesterday the president announced a new effort to speed up the movement of hundreds of thousands of containers that are stuck in the port of Los Angeles, creating supply chain concerns for the holidays.
Backups in the port of LA may seem like a remote problem for us in Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley.
It's not. More than a quarter of all American imports come through west coast ports.
And many local merchants are very anxious about having empty shelves.
Fed vax-or-test mandate rules take step forward
Meanwhile, Biden’s vax-or-test mandate for companies with 100 or more employees moved one step closer this week.
OSHA has submitted the initial text of an emergency rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review. The regulations will take effect once the OMB finishes its review and it's published in the federal register. Legal challenges are expected.
A new poll shows that three-quarters of the state's residents support a universal vax mandate, according to the Globe, while vaccine mandates are working.
Lawmakers kick UI relief down the road
You know how pretty much every single week since this summer I’ve been writing about how employers are hoping Beacon Hill will help small businesses shed some of the $7 billion in future unemployment bills that were accumulated during the pandemic?
Do you also recall reading that Gov. Charlie Baker proposed reducing the UI debt by $1 billion using an unexpected $5 billion tax revenue surplus?
One billion wasn't enough, but it was something.
And yet, it's not happening. At least not now, according to the BBJ.
Yesterday the House passed a $303 million budget to cover old expenses, but failed to act on Baker’s request and pleas for help from business groups statewide.
Legislators now say they won't decide how to spend the excess tax revenue or
ARPA money until before Thanksgiving.
That's a shame because delays mean added interest payments on that $7 billion, which also come out of employers' pockets.
More than 30 states have used federal ARPA or CARES Act funding to pay off some of the debt accrued during the pandemic. Massachusetts is not among them.
A double whammy for nonprofits
In addition to not transferring any money to the unemployment trust fund, the House and Senate spending bill didn't address Baker's revived attempt to implement a tax deduction on charitable giving, according to Matt Murphy at State House News.
That charitable tax break was approved by voters in 2000, but was only available for one year before it was suspended by lawmakers. As part of the fiscal year 2022 budget, the Legislature delayed the implementation of the tax break for another year, over Baker’s objection.
Wellesley could be part of offshore wind purchase
Wellesley would be in position to buy clean power generated by the proposed Commonwealth Wind offshore energy development if other utility executives select it to be the state's third offshore wind project, reports Colin A. Young at State House News.
The town’s Municipal Light Plant would be one 20 MLPs in Massachusetts that could to annually purchase up to 146,000 megawatt-hours of the cleaner power generated by the developer's proposed Commonwealth Wind project in addition to renewable energy credits.
The climate law that Gov. Charlie Baker signed earlier this year requires MLPs get 50 percent of their power from "non-carbon emitting" sources by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 under the new law.
Four Watertown bio techs fund STEM program
Four Watertown life science companies — Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics and Landmark Bio— are launching a new effort to fund science, technology, engineering and math programming in the Watertown Public Schools.
They’ve donated $15,000 to underwrite teacher-driven requests for supplemental materials, books, equipment, special events and speakers, student programs and experimental school or district-wide initiatives.
The Watertown STEM Education Fund is part of a collaboration with the Watertown Community Foundation and Life Science Cares Boston.
The fund builds on the foundation’s annual school-based educational grants program. It also allows companies, leaders and employees in the burgeoning Watertown life sciences sector to learn about Watertown Public Schools and forge deeper relationships with the school STEM community.
Watertown is home to 43 life science companies, with more on the way.
Women in biopharma conversation continues
In this week’s BBJ cover story, life sciences reporter Rowan Walrath interviewed seven established and up and coming women in the region’s exploding life sciences sector.
Walrath will pick up on the topic at our virtual chamber event on Oct. 26 when she talks with Kendalle Burlin O’Connell president and COO of MassBio and a BBJ 2019 “40 under 40” honoree.
They’ll also talk about the expansion of life sciences into our western suburbs.
Go here to RSVP .
Newton Farm to go solar
One of my favorite local spots – the Newton Community Farm -- and the City of Newton have been awarded a grant to fund a solar installation on the roof of the barn which will provide 99% of the energy needed for the agricultural operation.
The Mass. Department of Agriculture Resources Climate Smart Agriculture Program will fund 80 percent of the cost of the $49,340 project. Newton will cover the balance.
The farm will also receive funding through the Climate Smart Agriculture Program for new farm equipment and high tunnel extensions.
I've already ordered our grapefruit
The Needham Exchange Club’s annual Holiday Fruit & Chocolate Sale is always a hit in our house.
They skipped last year due to the pandemic but are now talking orders through Nov. 24 for freshly picked Florida oranges, grapefruit, pears, apples, mandarins along with artisan chocolates.
Every dollar raised from this sale benefits the Needham area community, including scholarship programs for students. Order online.
That’s today’s need to knows unless you need to know how your AirPods may one day help your hearing, take your temperature and (my mom would have loved this) tell you to sit up straight.
See you tomorrow.
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
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