Daily Update 10/08: Investing in Massachusetts Communities

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Today: Thursday, October 08, 2009

Governor Patrick speaks with advocates for people with development disabilities at the State House this morning.

• This morning, Governor Patrick met with advocates for people with developmental disabilities at the State House.
• Later this morning, Governor Patrick sat down with the Governor's Commission on GLBT Youth in the Governor���s Office.
• This afternoon, Governor Patrick hosts the Peabody Little League Champions at the State House.
• This evening, Governor Patrick holds a community meeting with young adults at Northeastern University.

In the Press:

Governor Patrick stands with municipal firefighters in Fall River where he announced the release of federal recovery funds to help communities across the state re-hire these critical public safety personnel.

• Commitment to Public Safety ��� Yesterday, Governor Patrick released $8.1 million in federal stimulus funds to 13 fire departments across the Commonwealth. Standing with firefighters and public safety leaders in Fall River, the Governor said the funds will be used to re-hire firefighters that had lost their jobs due to budget cuts. ���The money will bring back 44 firefighters in Fall River, restore 33 in New Bedford, and return 16 in Worcester, all of whom were laid off after those cities suffered shortfalls in local and state tax revenues. Additional communities will benefit, leading to the total of 127 firefighters across the state getting their jobs back. ���This is the best news I���ve had in seven months,��� said Brian D. Rapoza, a Fall River firefighter laid off in March.���

• Read more in the Boston Globe, the Fall River Herald News, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, the Patriot Ledger, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Associated Press, the Easton Journal and FireFighterHourly.  
  
• Watch the Governor���s announcement on YouTube, WBZ, WCVB and NECN.

• Investing in Massachusetts Communities - With a continued focus on job creation and economic recovery, Governor Patrick unveiled the Administration's latest five-year capital investment plan yesterday, calling for significant investment in the Commonwealth's transportation, education, public safety, housing and environmental infrastructure and assets. "These investments, along with many others in regions across the state, will put people back to work and keep Massachusetts on the road to economic recovery," said Governor Patrick. "The affordable, targeted projects included in this capital plan will help address our short-term challenges and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth." Learn more about how capital investments in Western Massachusetts, Bridgewater, the South Coast, the North Shore, Lowell, and Greater Boston.
  
• Read more about Governor Patrick���s five-year capital investment plan in the State House News Service, the Lowell Sun, the Springfield Republican, the Boston Business Journal, and the Swampscott Reporter.

• Clean Energy Leader - Qteros, a biofuel company located in Marlborough, recently announced that it will build a $3.2 million pilot plant adjacent to Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee and will be in small-scale production by next year. The facility has the potential to create 150 jobs and will have positive environmental benefits. The Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to making Massachusetts a clean energy leader. Read more in the Springfield Republican.

• Improving Customer Service at the RMV - As part of Governor Deval Patrick's reform plan to make transportation agencies more accountable to commuters, the Registry of Motor Vehicles is reinstating courtesy notices for driver's license and MA ID renewals that were discontinued last December. The RMV partnered with a private Massachusetts electronic messaging firm to develop a secure notification service at no cost to the taxpayer that will alert customers a month before their license expires by email, phone or text message. "This exciting reform initiative will greatly expand the RMV's capability to reach out to the Commonwealth's 4.7 million drivers and deliver quality, convenient customer service more efficiently," said Governor Patrick. Learn more here.

• Read more in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the Milford Daily News, and the Fall River Herald News.

This Week:

• On Saturday, Governor Patrick participated in the Topsfield Fair "Governor���s Day" Parade and Opening Ceremony.
      
  • Look at photos of the Governor at the fair and in the parade here.
    
• On Monday, Governor Patrick attended the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association Quarterly Meeting in Salem. 
  
• Monday afternoon, Governor Patrick met with Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Szostak in his office. 
  
• Later Monday afternoon, Governor Patrick attended a legislative leadership meeting in the Governor���s Office at the State House.
  
• Tuesday morning, Governor Patrick offered remarks at the Export-Import Bank Seminar at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. 
  
• Also Tuesday morning, Governor Patrick participated in the New England Ethnic Newswire Newsmaker Series at the State House.
  
• Tuesday afternoon, Governor Patrick met with Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills and small business owners and advocates at the State House. 
  
• Later Tuesday afternoon, Governor Patrick received an honorary degree from the University of Haifa at the State House.
  
• Wednesday morning, Governor Patrick made an economic recovery announcement relative to public safety at the Fall River Fire Headquarters.