Healey-Driscoll Administration Early Education
and Child Care Listening Session
The Healey-Driscoll administration has announced a series of upcoming listening sessions across Massachusetts (in-person and virtually) to inform the Early Education and Child Care Task Force’s recommendations and broader strategy to ensure accessible and affordable high-quality child care for all families. These listening sessions will take place throughout July and early August.
Below is the registration information for the employers-only listening session on early education and child care. As a respected authority on this topic, your presence at this conversation would be a tremendous value-add to their strategic insights moving forward. It is important they hear from everyone – large and small businesses, across all industries, and all regions of the state. We realize summer months can be busy so thank you very much in advance for doing what you can to attend this session.
What to expect: The session will take place over zoom next Wednesday July 24th from 4-5:30pm. Secretary Hao will kick off the session with an overview of the child care taskforce. From there they will have a series of questions they’ll go through and end the session with open comments and discussion.
Register Here
After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting (and an option to add to their calendar directly).
Message from the
The Department of Transitional Assistance
Massachusetts has a new program called Summer EBT to help low-income families buy food when school is out for summer break. The state anticipates about 600,000 students and families will be eligible for this program.
The vast majority of participants will be using their current EBT card to purchase food. Some participants who are not currently DTA clients will be issued a special Summer EBT card (pictured below).
This email is to advise you that if you see one of these new cards, it is legitimate.
You can learn more about the new program by visiting mass.gov/SummerEBT
Sales Tax Holiday Weekend is set for
August 10 & 11, 2024
This year’s Annual Sales Tax Holiday will be held on the weekend of August 10th and 11th. The sales tax exemption applies for those two days to any retail purchase made in Massachusetts, both in-store and online, of $2,500 or less, with certain exceptions.
While the rules of the holiday weekend remain the same as in recent years, members are encouraged to closely review these helpful FAQs from the MA Department of Revenue (DOR). For more information, the specific rules governing the Sales Tax Holiday can be found in the DOR regulation, 830 CMR 64H.1.8: Sales Tax Holiday.
And the award for Retailer of the Year goes to….
Click here to submit your nomination!
RAMAEs honor small and large retailers, rookies and veterans, identifying hidden gems from all corners of the Commonwealth.
As an expert, you can help us identify businesses who deserve to be recognized for going above and beyond to make the retail and dining experience memorable. There is no limit to the number of businesses you can nominate. So nominate your business and all those you love as well.
There are so many incredible retail stores and restaurants in MA who could be deserving of this recognition. Help us find our 2024 winners! For more information, click here.
