On Wednesday, November 22nd, the Senate Republican Caucus released a letter calling on the Conference Committee to report in part on a number of important items that need to be addressed
RE: Fiscal Year 2023 Closeout Supplemental Budget.
Read the letter in detail below:
Mass
Cultural Council announced the FY'24 recipients of the Festivals & Projects grant program. In total, Mass Cultural Council granted $1,850,000 to 740 cultural projects and
festivals statewide. The
grants are $2,500 each and go to organizations to support their public
activities that incorporate the arts, humanities, or sciences.
Please join me in congratulating the Festivals & Projects Recipients
receiving grants in our District.
Mass Cultural Council announced the recipients of the Mass Cultural Council’s FY24 Cultural Investment Portfolio (CIP) and Gateway grant programs. In total, $6,988,800 has been granted to 338 cultural nonprofits this year through these two programs.
The CIP and Gateway provide general operating grants to
nonprofit organizations that enrich Massachusetts’ cultural life. The Portfolio
works to strengthen a creative and cultural sector that generates $1.2 billion
in economic activity, creates thousands of jobs, and delivers programs to more
than 20 million a year.
Please join me in congratulating the CIP and Gateway Grant Recipients
in our District.
On behalf of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), see below communication:
Resources for Constituents Given the Recent Storms and Catastrophic Flash Flooding that have Impacted Areas Throughout the Commonwealth.
The mission of OCABR is to protect and empower consumers through education and advocacy. Our office oversees the state’s Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) program as well as several consumer
divisions, including the Division of Insurance.
It’s our hope that your constituents will not find themselves in situations where they will need to access these resources; however, OCABR would like to ensure that your offices are aware of them in case they do. Links below to some of our resources that may help and inform constituents should they need to navigate insurance claims and property repairs following a severe flood or storm.
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Division of Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions Following a Disaster: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-following-a-disaster
Guide to Disaster and Emergency Insurance Preparations: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/guide-to-disaster-and-emergency-insurance-preparations
Is My Flood Damage Covered? https://www.mass.gov/info-details/is-my-flood-damage-covered
Division of Insurance Hotline: (617) 521-7794, (8:45am – 5:00pm)
Home Repairs & Contractors
For most home repairs, contractors are required to be registered Home Improvement Contractors. It’s critical that homeowners look up a contractor’s registration and any complaints filed against
their license before hiring them. In the event something goes wrong, and the homeowner needs to seek relief from the State’s Guaranty Fund, HIC registration is required.
Homeowner's guide to hiring a home improvement contractor: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-a-home-improvement-contractor
Check a contractor's registration: HIC Registration
Lookup https://services.oca.state.ma.us/hic/licenseelist.aspx
OCABR Hotline: (617) 973-8787 (9:00am - 4:30pm)
Auto Repairs
Recognizing that some vehicles may become submerged during a flash flooding emergency and constituents may need to seek repairs, the following is a link to help them select a reliable repair shop and understand their rights:
Massachusetts Consumer Guide – Mechanics of Auto Repair https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-consumer-guide-mechanics-of-auto-repair
