Good morning,

Ahead of the long weekend commemorating the Swift-Kelce wedding — I mean, our nation's 250th anniversary — here's today's Charles River Regional Chamber newsletter, one day early, including the local fireworks schedule.

By the way, did you know that today — July 2 — is the true Independence Day?  Or that Needham was among the places to declare independence back in June of 1776.

Stay cool and kind.

What's in the box? (Economic Development Bill)

With Beacon Hill continuing its long tradition of legislative procrastination, our eyes are on what will ultimately make it into the semi-annual economic development bill.

The governor first packed the bill with a bag of business goodies back in April. Now it's up to lawmakers to decide what survives, maybe next week, maybe not.

The bill included several practical changes aimed at making Massachusetts a better place to do business:

• Lower the filing fee to start a new business from $500 to $100.
• Expand an energy tax exemption to roughly 20,000 additional small businesses.
• Make it easier to obtain professional licenses for home inspectors, accountants, nurses, social workers, funeral directors, and several other professions.

Beyond those immediate reforms, Healey also proposed longer-term investments:

• $235 million in investments for the defense industry, artificial intelligence, robotics, food science and arts and culture.
• Launching and funding an initiative to attract more international businesses and investment to Massachusetts.
• And one we’re watching closely: The DRIVE Act originally proposed to provide over $400 million (now less) for universities facing federal research cuts but now it will probably less than that
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Finally, one of the bill's most significant provisions would codify a statewide site plan review process. By-right housing developments—including those permitted under the MBTA Communities Act—would move through permitting under clearer, more predictable standards, with a 90-day clock before approval is automatically granted.

To the hope of many housing advocates, lawmakers could also add provisions from the proposed YIGBY ("Yes in God's Backyard") bill, which would allow religious institutions to build affordable housing by right on their properties.

Updated TPS guidance for employers

Attorney General Andrea Campbell is reminding employers that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Haiti and Syria, and related employment authorizations, remain in place until the Supreme Court sends a certified copy of its judgment to the lower court and the White House issues implementation guidance.

Here’s added updated guidance for employers:

• MIRA Coalition breaks it down: employer guidance, employee rights, where to get updates.

• Pathway for Immigrant Workers explores the confusion stemming from the gap in guidance on I-9 forms and employer uncertainty.

• TPS guidance for employers from the state.

Also, we shared this on Tuesday: It explores the positive economic impact of Haitian TPS holders on the U.S. economy.

The question political reporters should be asking

The Globe ran a page-one story yesterday on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's push to unseat two incumbent state senators who opposed her attempt to raise taxes on commercial property.

In one contest, Wu has been campaigning for Latoya Gayle, one of the Democrats challenging Sen. Nicholas Collins, whose district lies exclusively in Boston.

In the other, she’s championing Daniel Lander over Sen. William Brownsberger, who represents a slice of Boston and Cambridge plus all of Watertown and Belmont.

Yesterday’s story wasn’t the first, second or third time the Globe and others have written about the contest from this angle. I doubt it will be the last.

But here’s the question I hope reporters explore prior to the Sept. 1 primary:

Will voters in Watertown and Belmont welcome Boston’s mayor suggesting who they should vote for? Or does that only serve to boost Brownsberger’s chances?

We’ll be hosting a virtual debate between Brownsberger and Lander, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Register.

Meet our 2026 scholarship recipients

Four outstanding recent high school graduates have been selected for Charles River Regional Chamber scholarships.

This year's recipients are Amiyah Richelle Fernandes (Needham High School), Magot Mach (Newton South High School), Yensi Giron (Watertown High School) and Jeffrey Peng (Wellesley High School).

Learn more about our awardees and join me in thanking our amazing scholarship committee.

Friday Thursday grab bag

• The Latino Equity Fund at the Boston Foundation is mobilizing philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders to support the people of Venezuela.  Please consider donating.
  
  
• The cost of owning a home is going up in every way.
  
  
• When schools close, many local kids lose access to free daily meals. The Needham Community Council is looking for local businesses to step up and host summer food drives. To get your business involved, email Maureen Callahan or call 781-444-2415.
  
  
• Some family childcare providers will be able to enroll up to 12 children under a state pilot program if they have an "approved assistant" working with them. The current limit it 10 children. (WBUR)
  
  
• Learn about Newton at Home, a volunteer-powered nonprofit that empowers older adults in Newton to live independently and safely in the homes they love, in Last Minute Production’s One Big Boat podcast.
  
  
• From Taylor Driscoll at Bisnow : “'We Dodged A Bullet': Mass. Multifamily Market Starts To Thaw After Rent Control Ruling”
  
  
• Looking to understand what the state’s new junk fee regulations mean for your business? Our colleagues at the Boston Chamber and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office are hosting a hybrid forum July 9 (1–2 p.m.)  Register
  
  
• Joshua Macht, president at MassLive, wrote a lovely tribute to the Knotty Pine Restaurant in Auburndale, saying it’s “a thumping heartbeat of an ever-resilient American Dream.”

This Charles River dam is on its way down

Photo: Marco Kaltofen/Natick Report

Water levels at the spillway at the South Natick Dam began lowering this week as crews started releasing water in anticipation of the dam’s ultimate removal, reports Bob Brown at the Natick Report.

The dam had been classified by the state as a high-hazard structure. Then, following considerable debate, the Natick Select Board agreed in 2022 to remove the structure and return this stretch of the Charles River to pre-dam levels, restoring the river to a healthier ecological state.

Once removal is complete, water levels in the 16-acre impoundment area will likely fall from 10-12 feet to 2-4 feet, with lower depths during drought times.

Project FAQs.

Needham (Fri.) and Newton (Sat.) fireworks this weekend

Finally, looking to celebrate the nation’s 250th in one of our Charles River Regional Chamber communities? Here’s how:

• Needham:  Fireworks on Friday (July 3) at Memorial Park with the grand parade on Sat. (July 4) at 9 a.m., featuring retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. Details.
• Newton: Kids parade, crafts fair, food vendors, the Winiker Band and other festivities all day Saturday, with fireworks at dusk.  Details.
• Watertown: Celebration was on July 1 at Saltonstall Park, with the big event in town being the 250th anniversary of Treaty Day on July 18.
• Brookline: Does not host a traditional Fourth of July celebration, but Brookline.news points residents to the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
• Wellesley: Hosted it’s celebration in May.

That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know about a viral South Korean app that lets you order food that never arrives — on purpose! We recommend food that actually arrives from a chamber member restaurant.

Happy birthday, America! Mazel tov, Taylor and Travis. And a sad goodbye, Jaylen Brown.

Max Woolf will be here next week.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

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Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.