Gardner News
GARDNER U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey toured the PACC vaccination clinic on May 6 and stopped by the Gardner Ale House to highlight relief funding from the American Rescue Plan, which has bolstered the state’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re proud that Massachusetts is in the top 2 of all 50 states in terms of shots in arms so far,” said Markey after receiving an update on the clinic’s efforts from Mayor Michael Nicholson. “We know that it’s a race against time, and notwithstanding how well this Gardner facility is doing, we know that there’s still a lot more work to do because of the unfortunately high percentage of individuals who still have a hesitancy, a reluctance, to get the vaccination. Or, they’re in difficult-to-reach parts of communities, so we’re very heartened to hear the plans which the community has to reach out to (them).”
The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration has awarded $1.1 million to Central Massachusetts municipalities and nonprofits as part of a new Regional Pilot Project Grant Program aimed at helping bolster economic recovery by supporting uniquely regional challenges, according to a Thursday announcement.
Nine grants were awarded to Central Massachusetts, ranging from $36,750 awarded to the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, Inc. to $250,000 awarded for the Town of Ashland.
Each project varies widely. The Town of Webster, for example, received $40,000 to create a Webster/Dudley Entrepreneur Support Micro-Grant program to provide small funding opportunities to between six and 10 local entrepreneurs.
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in turn, received $180,000 to support an incubator and accelerator ecosystem named the Massachusetts Startup Consortium, aimed at supporting collaborative regional marketing, incubator space and other programs for the business community.