Massachusetts

Moody’s, Fitch, S&P affirm Commonwealth’s ‘AA’ credit rating with stable outlook following Governor’s FY10 budget solutions

BOSTON – Thursday, November 05, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Commonwealth's bond ratings have been affirmed by the three major rating agencies, all of whom cited the Governor’s responsible and proactive stewardship of the Commonwealth’s finances during the current economic downturn as a leading credit strength.

Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's all affirmed the Commonwealth's credit ratings at AA, Aa2, and AA with a stable outlook.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Paul Kirk today announced that three Massachusetts organizations will receive a total of $230 million under the 2009 round of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund which aims to expand the capacity of financial institutions to provide capital, credit and financial services to underserved populations and communities in Massachusetts and throughout the nation.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Paul Kirk today announced that six Massachusetts communities and companies will receive a total of $35,778,357 in Recovery Act funding for investments in Smart Grid technologies. The funding aims to ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

“These investments will make our electricity delivery system more efficient, give us more control over power surges and reduce the amount of energy we use,” said Sen. Kerry. “I’m grateful that the Obama Administration recognizes the benefits of investing in these projects.”    » read more »

Signs Executive Order opening federal program to 209 communities across Massachusetts

BOSTON – Friday, October 16, 2009 - As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed an Executive Order that will open the state’s Recovery Zone Bond Program. The Recovery Zone Bonds, authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, support both public and private development efforts by offering favorable borrowing rates for projects within areas designated as “Recovery Zones”.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District) announced that Nuestras Raíces, Inc. in Holyoke will receive $540,000 in grant funds over the next 3 years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services.    » read more »

U.S. Treasury’s tax credit exchange funds to restart 10 projects, create jobs

BOSTON – October 15, 2009 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will utilize $50.3 million in federal recovery funds to create hundreds of jobs and revive affordable housing developments stalled throughout the Commonwealth due to the lack of equity available in low-income housing tax credit markets.    » read more »

Advocates in the public and private sector, legislators, and educators to advise on statewide agenda for STEM education

BOSTON – Wednesday, October 14, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and other elected officials and community leaders to sign an executive order establishing the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Advisory Council.

The new council will serve as a central advisory body, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders involved with STEM planning and programming, with the goal of increasing student interest in, and preparation for, careers in STEM.    » read more »

Funds to boost comprehensive homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing efforts

BOSTON – Thursday, October 08, 2009 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will steer $17.9 million in federal recovery funds to community-based nonprofits throughout the Commonwealth to address the needs of families and individuals who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming so. A full list of awards is attached.    » read more »

Governor sets aside $20 million in ARRA funds to keep firefighters employed

FALL RIVER – October 7, 2009 – Moving to help municipal fire departments impacted by budget cuts that have forced layoffs and vacancies resulting from attrition, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced he will release $8.1 million in federal stimulus funds to 13 municipal fire departments in the Commonwealth. The funds will be used to rehire 127 firefighters who were laid off because of budget reductions.    » read more »

BOSTON – Monday, October 05, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has granted the Commonwealth’s request for federal disaster relief in 12 Massachusetts counties that suffered agricultural production losses due to this summer’s abnormally cool and rainy weather.    » read more »

Process to identify potential solutions already underway, will update FY’10 revenue estimates by October 15th

BOSTON – Friday, October 2, 2009 – Responding to a Department of Revenue (DOR) report that September state revenue collections fell $243 million below budget estimates, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that his cabinet has already begun to identify potential emergency cuts to the Fiscal Year 2010 budget and will begin the process of adjusting tax revenue estimates for the remainder of the fiscal year. Year-to-date revenues are $212 million below benchmark.    » read more »

Governor, public health officials take part in administration’s statewide flu summit

WORCESTER – September 30, 2009 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state has placed its first order for H1N1 vaccine with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to their vital public health role, the initial small shipment, set to arrive next week, will be used for health care workers only.

Additional vaccine shipments will arrive weekly through the end of the flu season and, in about six to eight weeks, the Commonwealth will have enough vaccine in the state to make available to the general public.    » read more »

Patrick-Murray Administration maintains commitment to health care reform in face of unprecedented budget challenges

BOSTON – Monday, August 31, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Patrick today announced that the Patrick-Murray Administration has successfully developed a plan to provide comprehensive health insurance to the 31,000 legal immigrants who were previously enrolled in Commonwealth Care and scheduled to lose their coverage because of budget reductions.

"We must maintain our commitment to the promise of health care reform in Massachusetts," said Governor Patrick. "This innovative solution ensures hard-working individuals and families have access to the care they need."    » read more »

WORCESTER – August 20, 2009 – The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced that the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) has been awarded a $500,000 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) grant to assist veterans in training and employment in green industry professions. This grant was one of only 17 awarded nationwide, totaling more than $7.5 million dollars, to provide approximately 3,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are administered by DOL’s Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP).    » read more »

On-time balanced budget includes $147 million in line-item vetoes to help protect investments in Education, Health Care, Life Sciences

BOSTON – Monday, June 29, 2009 – Amid the worst global economic decline since the Great Depression, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today signed into law a $27.046 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2010 that preserves the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to education and health care, and makes targeted investments in workforce training, life sciences and other key areas that will strengthen the Commonwealth’s economic foundation as it emerges from the downturn.    » read more »