MA’s Longest Nurse Strike Hits 9 Months
On December 8, the ongoing nurses strike at Saint Vincent Hospital hit the nine month mark. Beginning in March, this nurses strike has become the longest in Massachusetts history.
Comcast RISE Expands its Reach
The Comcast RISE program has recently expanded its eligibility scope to include all women-owned businesses across the country, regardless of ethnicity. Comcast RISE, a program that provides small businesses support in the form of consulting, media production, technology and financial awards, will be kicking off 2022 with a broader view of inclusion.
Vermont Wagyu: Pure Breed, Pure Deliciousness
Many people in the U.S. primarily know of Wagyu beef as an expensive cut originating in Japan. They may also believe some of the myths about Wagyu, such as that the cows must be fed beer or sake, and get regular massages. Although that might happen in some isolated cases, there are actually no regulations that mandate such matters. The vast majority of Wagyu cows are simply specific breeds with unique fat networks that create the rich, smooth flavor we associate […]
Catalyst, DICES, and Diversity in Clean Energy
Since 2012, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has awarded $7.2 million to 138 new clean technology enterprises and research teams. In late August of 2021, the MassCEC, MassVentures and the InnovateMass program launched a $2.6 million grant package with their Catalyst and Diversity in Cleantech – Early Stages (DICES) programs to support clean energy innovation, specifically from women or minority-owned startups. The programs aim to ensure that early-stage ventures have the necessary resources to advance critical technologies toward sustainable, […]
New grant recognizes challenges for AAPI businesses
The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) provides grants directly to AAPI restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by Covid-19 throughout the United States. This is a new grant opportunity for struggling AAPI restaurants. As restaurants begin to reopen or increase their capacity, unforeseen difficulties, challenges, and costs can accompany this process. National ACE looks forward to helping restaurants make this transition by providing them with additional resources. Grubhub’s $2 million donation […]
Introducing Chinatown’s farmers market
Farming in these days of unpredictable weather is challenging. Running a food business in these days of the Coronavirus pandemic is also challenging. Feeding a family when unemployed could be almost impossible. A recent study by UMass Boston on aging in Boston notes, “Poverty rates are especially high among Asian Americans and Latinos. More than one-third of these residents aged 60 or older live below the poverty level.” Bringing food purveyors, growers, and neighbors together is one way Boston Chinatown […]
Winds of Change, But will it Bring Opportunity to Minorities and Immigrants?
On May 11, the Biden-Harris administration approved the 800-megawatt (MW) Vineyard Wind energy project off the coast of Massachusetts, the first of its kind of this scale. A second 800 MW to serve Massachusetts customers, Mayflower Wind, is advancing through permitting reviews, and four companies are currently preparing bids for a third offshore wind energy project, or projects, totaling an additional 1,600 MW in response to a request for proposals (RFP) from Massachusetts electric utilities. Clearly, a major shift in […]
Social Access Equity Fund: a new philanthropic model in Chinatown
(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) When tragedy strikes on a large scale, we think of large sources of support. For example when an epic weather event strikes, FEMA responds. When the Coronavirus pandemic hit, little help was available for Chinatown or was accessible to business owners here. The government was slow to respond and much of the aid available was hard for this immigrant community to access. Language was only part of the problem. Private benefactors and innovative community partners stepped in to fill […]
SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund applications open May 3rd
(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) On May 3, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) opened applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) beginning at noon. According to their website, for the first 21 days they are prioritizing applications for small businesses “by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.” Socially disadvantaged individuals are defined as “those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their […]
Push for change as construction industry wage theft continues
(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) On April 15, traditionally known as “Tax Day,” members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters gathered to raise awareness on wage theft and tax fraud in the construction industry. While it is not a new issue in the construction industry, “The pandemic has only exacerbated any and all issues that were existing before,” said Noel Xavier, organizer of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC). In the past year, construction industry layoffs were especially […]