Get into Government Contracting! MEET THE PTACs on 8/6!

Massachusetts District Office - July 2020 The federal government contracts with small businesses to buy products and services.  The SBA works with federal agencies in order to award 23 percent of prime government contract dollars to eligible small businesses. It also offers counseling and help to small business contractors.  >learn more New updates were announced recently for the Woman Owned Small Business and HUBZone certification programs - and we want you to know the Massachusetts District Office and resource partners are available to answer any of your questions and support you in seeking government contracts.   We're inviting you to join us for a series of events to help you find out if government contracting is a viable business development activity for your small business.  Thursday, August 6th at 4 pm   SBA MA Deputy District Director Peter Kontakos and Lead Business Opportunity Specialist Nadine Boone will be joined by representatives from the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers to help you get connected with FREE one-on-one government contracting counseling.  REGISTER https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-procurement-technical-assistance-centers-ptac-tickets-115343258792? Friday, August 7th at 10 am Join Sandra Ledbetter, Government Sales Advisor at MA Small Business Development Center and Nadine Boone, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist for an overview on how to do business with the federal government. SBA Certifications to be discussed: Women–Owned Small Business Service Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Business 8(a) Business Development Program/Small Disadvantaged Business HUB Zone Program REGISTER https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opening-doors-to-federal-government-contracting-tickets-114473934620? SBA Massachusetts District Office 10 Causeway Street, RM265 Boston, MA, 02222  Phone: (617) 565-5590 www.sba.gov/ma

All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance

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In the News: new solar farm coming; beer distribution deal not moving at State House

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town’s fifth solar farm is projected to go live next summer. 

A 6-megawatt solar farm on Spring Street operated by Nexamp will produce enough energy to power 800 Franklin households and could potentially cut about $180 a year from the average Franklin resident’s electricity bill, said Town Administrator Jaime Hellen.  

“The big factor is that this is an opportunity for people to assess the amount of energy they’re using day to day,” said Hellen. He said if the average household pays $100 a month on electricity, it could potentially save about $15 a month, which equals to about $180 per year. 

Subscribers to the solar farm will receive credits on their National Grid electric bill for the energy produced by their solar farm share. Through an agreement with the town, Hellen said Nexamp is providing those credits at a 15% discount rate to Franklin residents. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200804/franklin-plans-fifth-solar-farm-which-could-power-800-homes?rssfeed=true 

Note: Franklin residents will also get the benefits of Municipal Aggregation this fall and only need to opt out of the agreement if they already have a solar or other private supply agreement.

The deal for Municipal aggregation was confirmed at the February 12, 2020 Town Council meeting. 

• Audio segment on municipal aggregation   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HVJSJ7GX
• My notes from the 2/12/20 meeting  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/town-council-meeting-feb-12-2020-recap.html

solar farm installation at St Mary's in 2013

Beer distribution deal not moving

"It seemed like a slam-dunk. 

After years of bitter fighting, craft brewers and beer wholesalers came together at the end of July to announce that they had struck a deal that would allow smaller breweries to more easily end their relationship with a distributor if they felt their brand wasn’t being properly marketed. 

The sticking point for a decade — how small must a brewery be to be covered by the change — was resolved by setting the threshold at 250,000 barrels. The limit covered every brewery in Massachusetts except Boston Beer Company, brewer of Sam Adams. 

Everyone was happy, or so it seemed. The agreement was announced over a weekend, and on July 23 the Senate voted unanimously to accept the deal and send the bill to the House. And it hasn’t advanced since. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200804/craft-brewer-distribution-deal-stalls-in-house?rssfeed=true

Empowering military consumers – all year long

Empowering military consumers – all year long Joint blog by the Department of Defense (DoD), the FTC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Now that Military Consumer Month has come to a close, it's time to think about how we can support service members all year long. Seven years ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched Military Consumer Protection Day to highlight fraud affecting service members.  Since then, the observance has grown into a national, year-round campaign. Militaryconsumer.gov provides service members and their families with resources from partner agencies like Department of Defense (DoD), the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to boost their financial readiness. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/08/empowering-military-consumers-all-year-long This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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FM #322 EDC MAPC Market Study - 7/30/20 (audio)

FM #322 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 322 in the series.

This session shares a key segment of the Franklin, MA Economic Development Subcommittee meeting held on Thursday, July 30, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Chair Melanie Hamblen opens the meeting at 6:01 PM. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides a brief update on Reopening Phase 3. Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning and Community Development provides a recap of presentation and discussion on the Market Study prepared by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Raul Gonzalez, Senior Planner presented the study the day before at the Town Council meeting.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to the individual documents referenced.

This meeting segment runs just about 90 minutes, so let’s listen to the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting of July 30.

Audio file: https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-322-edc-mapc-market-study-7-30-20

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Town Council agenda
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/07/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-july-29.html

Market Study Report
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/town-franklin-market-study

Market Study presentation
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/mapc_franklin_market_analysis_102219.pdf

My notes from the Town Council meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/07/town-council-recap-reluctantly-approves.html

Audio segment from the Town Council meeting on MAPC Market Study
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-319-town-council-mapc-market-study.html

My notes from the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/economic-development-subcommittee-recap.html

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #322 EDC MAPC Market Study - 7/30/30 (audio)

THE BLACK BOX - Outdoor Concert Setting (YouTube)

"Drone footage of THE BLACK BOX outdoor concert series courtesy of John Fitzgerald at Peek Aerials. 

THE BLACK BOX's Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Dean Bank."

Video link = https://youtu.be/VMFanDJy76w

Two updates on the climate "Roadmap bill"

350 Mass' email newsletter has this update to summarize legislative action on the Roadmap bill.

"Friends, 

On Friday night at 9 PM the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed The 2050 Roadmap bill. Introduced by Rep Meschino, this bill updates the Global Warming Solutions Act and commits the state to create a roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. 

This bill is the House’s response to the Senate Climate package passed in January of 2020. Both houses passing overarching climate policy demonstrates the power of grassroots organizing and coalition building. 

In this legislative session that began January 2019, 350 Mass and our partners in the Mass Power Forward coalition and beyond have been advocating for a commitment to 100% renewable energy, environmental justice, and equitable investment in green infrastructure. 

Bills with strong provisions, explicit 100% renewable goals, and a shorter time-line among other desirable provisions were not allowed to pass through committees. However, the Roadmap bill, with a focus on planning, was allowed to come to the floor. When it did, 350 Mass and our allies pushed for improving amendments, several of which passed. 

For all its shortcomings, the Roadmap Bill does provide a foundation for future efforts. And it is a step forward for a Legislature that has not passed significant climate protection laws for years— we can thank our representatives who have tirelessly championed our bills, and we must continue to push for policies that go further."

Continue reading the newsletter online
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=bdf4df04ee1ca59ba335a7699&id=6731641fd7

Subscribe to get your own copy of the newsletter here  https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/get_involved

Two updates on the climate "Roadmap bill"

Commonwealth Magazine also summarizes what is in the Roadmap bill:

"ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN the last day of the 2019-2020 legislative session, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a Roadmap Bill, helping to lay the foundation for a slightly more ambitious – and much better planned – decarbonization of the economy. Crucially, the final bill also included an amendment around environmental justice, which would codify into law protections for low-income communities and communities of color which face disproportionate burdens of pollution due to decades of environmental racism and the systematic undervaluing of black, indigenous, immigrant, and poor lives. 

Both the roadmap bill in general and the environmental justice component specifically deserve our praise and gratitude, particularly when the House could have used the guise of the pandemic to swear off climate action. Following the Senate’s “Next Generation” climate bill passed earlier this year, it is clear that both House and Senate leadership have over the course of this session tried to answer the question of how to respond to climate change with an authentic, thoughtful response."

Continue reading the article online 
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/lessons-learned-from-the-push-for-climate-action/?

Senate President Spilka, State and Local Leaders Announce COVID-19 testing in South Framingham

On Monday, August 3, 2020, Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) joined state and local leaders to announce the creation of a free COVID-19 testing site in South Framingham, an area that has experienced rising coronavirus case rates in recent weeks. The site, part of the state-wide Stop the Spread network, is designed to expand testing coverage to communities of color and immigrant populations who are currently at high risk of infection.

"Framingham is a large, diverse city that is as vulnerable to a rise in cases of COVID-19 as any other area of the state, and I felt very strongly that its residents have access to testing," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I'd like to thank the Administration, Mayor Spicer and Fallon Ambulance Service for working together to make this testing site a reality."

"I am grateful to DPH, Dr. Wong, and all those who worked to make this testing site happen," said Representative Maria D. Robinson (D-Framingham). "With Framingham as the heart of Metrowest and home to many essential workers, it is absolutely necessary that our residents can get tested here in the city."

"I am grateful to everyone who worked together to make this possible," said Representative Jack P. Lewis (D-Framingham). "Special thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka and Dr. Sam Wong for their steadfast advocacy."

"Testing with quick reporting of results and contact tracing is essential to keep the coronavirus under control in our communities," said Representative Carmine L. Gentile (D-Sudbury).  "This free testing site will help us prevent another surge in Framingham and MetroWest and I am very thankful to see its opening!"

Greater support for the Framingham area was necessary to address a rise in cases and a lack of testing access for residents who work as frontline workers. Located at Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School, the site will be open from 2:00 to 6:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, beginning August 5 and running until August 14. The site will be drive-through, with parking available, and no appointments necessary. To expand access to testing more broadly, including to low-income and essential workers who are on the frontlines of the pandemic, testing will be open to all and free of charge. The site will also feature interpretation services.

"The "Stop the Spread" initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities that are above the state average in total cases and positive test rate and have experienced a decline in testing levels since April," said COVID-19 Command Center Director and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. "We monitor trends in each city and town and Framingham's 14-day average positive test rate has increased over the last two weeks. We appreciate the City of Framingham's collaboration to get this testing site launched quickly for the benefit of its residents."

"From the Governor's office to Senate President Spilka to Framingham's Legislative delegation, this has been a team effort. I appreciate the leadership and support in making free COVID-19 testing a possibility in Framingham," said City of Framingham Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer. "The City has begun to see a slight uptick in our cases, and the new free testing will remove barriers and encourage more residents to be tested."

"This free COVID-19 testing comes at a good time," said Dr. Samuel Wong, director of the Framingham Public Health Department. "As Mayor Spicer mentioned, Framingham's cases have begun to increase slightly, and by having free testing, open to all without an appointment, people can take action and further protect others."

"Fallon Ambulance is proud to partner with the Commonwealth of MA and the City of Framingham in the Stop the Spread campaign," said Patrick "Sean" Tyler, president and CEO of Fallon Ambulance Service. "Providing easy access to molecular, RT-PCR COVID19 tests is a key strategy to stopping the spread. We are proud to support the community and do our part in stopping the spread."

This action is the latest in a series of state-wide initiatives to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The site represents one more step taken by civic and medical leaders in the Commonwealth to serve the needs of all residents through the duration of this public health crisis.

For more information on the specifics of the testing site, please call 508-532-5470.