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Gaskin: Life science jobs could elevate Boston’s future

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Gaskin: Life science jobs could elevate Boston’s future


I was excited to learn of Mayor Michelle Wu’s $4.7 million in funding to help Boston’s life science workforce and Governor Maura Healey’s $1 billion Mass Leads Act request to support the life science and climate tech industries. I was especially interested in larger funding rounds for biomanufacturing, early-stage drug and device makers, and increased workforce training and internships to bring more blue-collar workers and students without college degrees into the life science workforce.

Trinh Nguyen, Wu’s Chief of Worker Empowerment, is leading the effort to ensure these are effective public, private partnership that create jobs for those living in the Roxbury and Dorchester area. These are often six-figure jobs that could bring real economic development and wealth creation to the area.

I have been a strong supporter of advanced manufacturing in urban areas for years, even though experts told me it is impossible because Massachusetts is a high-cost manufacturing state and thus not competitive with low-cost manufacturing states. They didn’t understand advanced manufacturing and the price elasticity of biomanufacturing or building robotics and clean-tech products.

I was equally excited when Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and Wu announced a MassWorks award for Nubian Square Ascends, a $111 million project to build a 200,000 sq. ft. development in Roxbury. Nubian Square Ascends is expected to create or sustain approximately 900 jobs and will include contracting opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned businesses during all phases of construction. My City at Peace and HYM Investment Group proposes to build 700,000 square feet of life science space on Parcel 3 in Roxbury.

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This is all good news considering urban manufacturing’s demonstrated impact in other cities across the country. Richard Taylor, the developer of Nubian Ascends once said that you can’t create wealth when everyone is running around with an EBT card. That hit me. Grove Hall is one of the poorest sections of Boston based on census track data. The business mix includes non-profits, storefront churches, bodegas, convenience stores, barber shops, beauty salons, and quick service restaurants. These businesses have not provided a clear path to the middle class for many owners or employees.

Nubian Square Ascends, and the new Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (BFCIT) campus being built adjacent to it are joining forces to establish the Nubian Ascends Life Science Job Training Center, which will house the college’s Biotech Manufacturing Training labs. The Training Center will provide new pathways for economic development in the heart of Boston. This job training hub could also anchor an ecosystem for advanced manufacturing, with a special emphasis on the biotech and clean tech sectors — two of the state’s high-growth areas. The advanced manufacturing program will run out of BFCIT and a co-location facility at the Dearborn STEM high school and could service students attending other high schools in the area or Roxbury Community College. Currently, Boston is the only region in the state that does not have a well-funded, state-supported advanced manufacturing program.

This will change because manufacturing jobs do not require an expensive or extensive post-secondary education. These jobs exist in Boston’s core and provide a clear path to the middle class for those unemployed, underemployed workers, veterans, and or union workers looking to upgrade their skills, and those with employment challenges such as CORIs. These two Nubian Square developments and their job training focus areas could change that.

There is a need to tighten the linkage between white-collar innovation jobs and blue-collar manufacturing jobs. There is no reason for us to continue to export jobs to other states and lose the jobs, revenue, and corresponding taxes. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that is what we are doing. As pharma companies increase their R&D investment in the state, we continue to lose the corresponding pharmaceutical manufacturing jobs.

According to MassBio, there has been a record-setting flow of investment into Massachusetts, and now, there’s demand for new factories to make those medicines — and the workforce to go with them.

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Leveraging the Nubian Ascends and BFCIT partnership could play a central role in Greater Boston’s workforce development strategy, complementing the existing strategy to place workers in culinary, hospitality, and healthcare jobs.

The state leads in biotech, but not in biomanufacturing. The six largest employer states in the drugs and pharmaceuticals manufacturing segment are California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Some argue that Massachusetts cannot be a leader in manufacturing because of high energy, labor, and real estate costs. But California, New York, and New Jersey are not known for being low-cost manufacturing states.

Advanced manufacturing uses knowledge workers more than traditional “laborers.” Those involved in precision manufacturing should be thought of as artisans, making value-added parts that have high margins and are price-inelastic. Manufacturers of these parts can absorb Massachusetts’ higher manufacturing costs while remaining competitive, profitable, and growing. In addition, these jobs can’t easily be offshored.

Based on advanced manufacturing concepts, biomanufacturing includes “bio-ink” 3-D bioprinting and Biofabrication. The clinical biomanufacturing applications market is segmented into skin printing, bone and cartilage printing, blood vessel printing, and other clinical applications. Other applications include the printing of organs. A bladder was 3D printed and successfully transplanted into a human. The potential positive impact of 3D-printed organs is the ability to customize organs for the recipient. This capability would complement the state’s healthcare leadership e.g. the Longwood Medical area. Young Black and brown students, as well as adults from Roxbury and Dorchester, could be learning biomanufacturing skills. We would expect such a training facility to draw students from both the North and South shores, as well as west of the city.

It is estimated that $100 billion in capital expenditure investments will be required to bring approximately 45 gigawatts of offshore wind online in New England by 2050.

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The amount that is forecast to be spent on climate change will create significant opportunities in clean tech and workers for those opportunities could be trained in this new development.

Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to take advantage of it. We need to embrace the advanced manufacturing industry, tighten the relationships between white-collar and blue-collar industry workers, and open up a pathway to the middle-class.

 Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.



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Boston, MA

Proposed “perfect” Red Sox trade sees Boston deal Jarren Duran, prospects for $15.5 million two-time All-Star ace

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Proposed “perfect” Red Sox trade sees Boston deal Jarren Duran, prospects for .5 million two-time All-Star ace


The Boston Red Sox found their ace in Garrett Crochet this year, after trading for him around this time last year. Now, they’ve made some moves to finally get him some support in the rotation, but none of those moves are truly a No. 2 to back him up.

Fansided’s Cody Williams believes he has the perfect trade for a name that’s been floated around as an option: Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Freddy Peralta. 

“While Boston has long looked like an obvious suitor for Peralta, the trade assets haven’t necessarily lined up perfectly for both them and Milwaukee…Now, the Brewers still aren’t in need of outfield help, so to speak, but there is certainly room to upgrade over the likes of Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell or Blake Perkins, which Duran or Abreu would allow them to do. Furthermore, in typical fashion for Milwaukee, they could flip an asset they’re unlikely to be able to pay in Peralta for immediate major-league upgrades with plenty of club control at low cost and prospects that could help keep the ball rolling under Pat Murphy,” Williams wrote. 

MORE: Cubs predicted to trade for $3.75 million 150 SO ace to create 1-2 punch with Shota Imanaga

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The trade would look like this: 

Red Sox get: RHP Freddy Peralta

Brewers get: OF Jarren Duran, SS Franklin Arias (No. 1 Prospect), RHP Juan Valera (No. 12 Prospect) 

MORE: Mariners predicted to trade for $5.75 million All-Star, Gold Glove as amazing replacement for Jorge Polanco

Peralta posted a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA, 204 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.075 over 176 innings pitched last season. Combine him with Crochet, and the Sox have a World Series-contending-level rotation. 

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The only problem with this is it’s basically a one-year rental. Peralta’s contract is up after this year, and he’s projected to get a five-year, $152 million deal. 

The Sox have shown they don’t believe in giving long-term contracts out to players over 30, and Peralta will be 30 in the upcoming season. Hopefully, the Sox make an exception, get uncomfortable like they said they would, and pursue this trade.

MORE MLB NEWS

Braves predicted to be top trade candidate for $325 million two-time World Series MVP, five-time All-Star as massive upgrade over Mauricio Dubon

Red Sox predicted to be top landing spot for $116.5 million three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, would be massive upgrade from David Hamilton

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Phillies predicted to be top trade candidate for $7.7 million All-Star MVP, would replace Nick Castellanos



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BU spoils Northeastern final game at Matthews Arena

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BU spoils Northeastern final game at Matthews Arena


BOSTON – Before the lights went out at Matthews Arena for the last time, they shined brightly on Boston University center Brandon Svoboda.

The sophomore from Pittsburgh scored two goals including the game-winner at 18:21 of the third to lift the Terriers to a 4-3 victory over Northeastern, on Saturday night. Svoboda’s fourth of the season was the final goal scored at Northeastern’s historic Matthews Arena.

The Terriers’ victory over the Huskies was the last sporting event played inside Matthews Arena, which officially opened its doors as Boston Arena in April of 1910.

“I got a lucky bounce and I capitalized on it and put it in the back of the net,” said Svoboda. “Playing the last game ever in this building is pretty special and what was it, 1910 this place was built so it was pretty special being the last team playing in this building.

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“We are a young group and we are figuring it out so it was obviously a big deal to get a W in the last game in this arena.”

BU improved to 9-8-1 and 6-3-0 in Hockey East going into the semester break while the No. 11 Huskies fell to 10-6-0 and 5-4-0 in the conference.

“It was just a big win for us going into the semester break,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo. “The first half has not been ideal for us so to finish it that way, to come back in the third period to win a hockey game in this environment, where this is their last home game here and they wanted to win and we found a way to pull it off.”

Northeastern purchased the structure in 1979 and renamed it Matthews Arena three years later. The demolition of the old barn nestled between Mass. Ave and Gainsborough Street will begin in January and the new arena is scheduled to go online in September of 2028.

“Having a new facility is definitely a big selling point,” said NU coach Jerry Keefe. “It is going to have all the amenities you need to develop players and I think this generation of recruits like the shiny and the new.”

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The first Beanpot Tournament was played at Boston Arena in 1952, so it seemed appropriate that Northeastern would play its final game against a neighboring Beanpot opponent. BU played its home games at Boston Arena from 1918 to 1971 before moving into its new facility on Babcock Street.

Pandolfo enjoyed many Matthews moments both on the ice and behind the bench. Pandolfo also played in the final Beanpot game at the old Boston Garden.

“I always enjoyed playing here that’s for sure,” Pandolfo said. “It was a fun place to play and I always enjoyed it and I enjoyed coaching there. It is a great environment and a special old building.

“That’s the biggest attachment for me and that I just enjoyed it. My grandfather played at Northeastern, my mom’s dad and that makes it special as well. It was also Boston University’s home rink as well for a long time and that is a big reason we are here closing it out with Northeastern.”

The Huskies had some extra zip in their blades that created several scoring opportunities, all of which deftly handled by BU netminder Mikhail Yegorov.

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NU went up 1-0 on a power play goal by freshman center Jacob Mathieu at 11:28 of the first. Mathieu found an opening outside the BU crease and redirected Giacomo Martino’s wrister from the left circle for his fifth of the season.

NU went up 2-0 at 14:36 when junior center Tyler Fukakusa finished a two-on-one break with his second goal of the season. BU got on the board when Svoboda netted a power play goal at 17:40, his third of the season.

“We were playing fine but we just made some mistakes so to get out of that first period 2-1 was important no question about that,” said Pandolfo.

BU tied the game 2-2 on sophomore center Sacha Boisvert’s second of the season at 13:38 of the second. NU went up 3-2 when sophomore left wing Joe Connor beat the buzzer at 19:59 with his sixth of the season. NU tied the game 3-3 on Kamil Bednarik tally at 18:02 of the third. Svoboda would score 19 seconds later to complete the comeback.

“You give up a late goal at the end of the second period after a power play, that can really hurt you,” said Pandolfo. “But our guys were determined to come back.”

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Boston city councilor pushes for state audit of federal grant funds after misuse by city program

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Boston city councilor pushes for state audit of federal grant funds after misuse by city program


Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn requested that the state auditor’s office conduct a formal audit of the nearly $560 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds the city received from the federal government, in light of misspending by a city program.

Flynn sent a letter to State Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Friday requesting an audit of the federal grant funds the city received through the ARPA legislation of 2021 that was issued as a COVID-19 pandemic-relief measure.

The councilor said Boston received nearly $560 million in federal funds for pandemic recovery. The money was committed by the end of 2024, and must be spent by the end of next year, he said.

“In May of this year, it was reported that the City of Boston’s Three Squares Main Streets program allegedly misspent ARPA funds in the amount of $32,000,” Flynn wrote in the letter. “Irresponsible funding and spending leads to inflated costs and missed opportunities to improve our communities.

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“It is critical that the City of Boston spends taxpayer dollars responsibly to regain our credibility and show respect to the residents,” he added.

Flynn wrote that he chose to pursue a state audit due to the City Council’s failure to hold oversight hearings, and ensure that “Boston is in compliance with spending regulations.”

Auditor DiZoglio’s office said Friday that it had received Flynn’s letter and that the councilor’s request requires a majority vote from the City Council and approval from the mayor to permit the auditor’s office to conduct a municipal audit.

“Our General Counsel will be sending Councilor Flynn the legal process required, under the law, to engage the Office of State Auditor with respect to a municipal audit,” DiZoglio spokesperson Andrew Carden said in a statement.

“Unlike the Office of Inspector General, which has the full legal authority to audit and investigate municipal government entities without a request or permission from a city or town, the Office of State Auditor, while mandated to audit state government entities, is actually legally required to obtain permission from a municipality, via both a majority vote from the City Council and approval by the Mayor, to be permitted to conduct a municipal audit,” Carden added.

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Flynn told the Herald he wouldn’t hold his breath for approval from his colleagues on the City Council, which is largely allied with Mayor Michelle Wu.

“Since the City Council failed to hold the necessary oversight hearings to determine how we spend federal funds, an outside audit is essential to ensure appropriate spending, demonstrate transparency and accountability,” Flynn said. “The Boston City Council will not support an independent audit of our financial records to ensure we are complying with federal spending laws.”

Mayor Wu’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether the Wu administration would support Flynn’s request for a state audit.



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