Funding for the fire departments of the cities of Chicopee and Springfield.

Latest step to combat opioid crisis will expand treatment options and help save lives

The Massachusetts Legislature passed sweeping climate legislation to empower the state’s fight against climate change and accelerate progress towards the state’s goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Acting Commissioner Johnston at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced today the release of the Fund Code 348 Multilingual Newcomer and Homeless Support grant, which will direct $75,000 to the Springfield school district to aid in mitigating costs associated with an increase in homeless enrollment of newcomer multilingual learners.

State Senator Adam Gomez joined the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) today to announce a $250,000 grant being awarded to MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board in Springfield as part of the Healy-Driscoll Administration’s GROW Apprenticeship Award.

Life sciences and climatetech among $4 billion in authorizations; support for small businesses, easing the nursing shortage, Everett stadium zoning, and ticket pricing transparency among policies 

Today the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held an informational hearing in Boston aimed at aiding the Committee’s consideration of the Cannabis Control Commission’s enabling statute. This is the second of two hearings the Committee planned to have this fall to address areas of concern where the commission lacks clarity in ultimate authority and accountability for its operations as currently structured under law.  

While celebrating Veterans Day today, State Senator Adam Gomez joined members of the Springfield delegation in voicing support for the proposed adoption of the HERO Act local option, which would double tax exemptions for Springfield veterans.

Last week on Wednesday the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) unanimously (3-0) approved final regulations aimed at increasing efficiencies for patient and consumer cannabis deliveries and the transport of marijuana products used for testing, the expansion of Microbusinesses and Craft Marijuana Cooperatives, and promoting access to care for patients of the Commonwealth’s Medical Use of Marijuana Program.

State Senator Adam Gomez joined Congressman Richard Neal, MassDot officials, and legislative colleagues for a grant announcement for West-East Rail at Union Station in Springfield. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been awarded $36.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program to complete design efforts for the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project.

State Senator Adam Gomez has joined the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to announce a $250,000 tax incentive being awarded to a local life science company, Agilent Technologies, Inc. to go towards the creation of ten new, long-term positions. The award comes as part of a $21.4 million investment in the industry across the state, provided through the MLSC’s Tax Incentive Program, which are expected to create 1,155 new life sciences industry jobs in Massachusetts.  

State Senator Adam Gomez joined the Healey-Driscoll Administration today to announce $1,013,716 in grant funding being awarded to 7 Massachusetts food system enterprises in Hampden County, helping to sustain Massachusetts’ food production and distribution sectors, while at the same time working to ensure that fresh, healthy, local food is available to all residents. This funding is being distributed through the innovative Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program, a competitive grant program managed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and designed to ensure farmers and other local food producers are better connected to a strong and resilient food system. 

This week the Massachusetts Senate passed two bills expanding services that must be covered by health insurers in the state.  

One requires that insurers provide coverage for the treatment of Down syndrome through speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and applied behavior analysis services. The other requires insurers provide coverage for diagnostic examinations for breast cancer.