News

As originally appearing in The Boston Business Journal

By: Doug Banks, Boston Business Journal

Good morning, Boston, and congratulations, Simone Biles. Also, thank you to everyone who shared your tuna recipes with me — I am definitely going to try a few of them. Now, lest I digress, here are the five most important things you need to know to start your day.

Big money, big asks

Massachusetts lawmakers have no shortage of options when it comes to spending more than $4.8 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Steph Solis reports on who’s in line and what they’re asking for.

More masks recommended

Most of Greater Boston is now under a federal advisory that urges people to wear masks indoors, including those who are vaccinated against Covid-19, Grant Welker reports.

A Kenmore lawsuit

An affiliate of The Related Cos. is suing Boston University over the school’s alleged failure to pay more than $8 million under a lease agreement for a Kenmore Square property, Greg Ryan reports.

This year’s Power 50 will focus on “The Movement Makers” — the leaders helping our community continue to grow as a place for equity, inclusion and diverse points of view. Nominate someone today who represents a positive and equitable future for Boston.

On the waterfront

Several of Boston’s mayoral candidates spoke at a forum late last week, where they all agreed the waterfront should be more accessible to the city residents and visitors, Hannah Green reports.

The old college try

State colleges that lack the name recognition of flagship universities are in a precarious position after years of falling state support. A new Brookings report has identified schools in 34 states and Puerto Rico that could benefit from additional federal aid based on their community needs and demographics — UMass Lowell was among them. Speaking of higher ed, Northeastern University is the latest local school to require workers to be vaccinated.

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GOVERNMENT & REGULATIONS
Gallego, business leaders call on Congress to make ‘bold investments’ in electric vehicles

What else you need to know

By the numbers

$574 million — venture investment captured by Boston-area biotechs during the month of July, according to BostInno.
150 — days the nurses have been striking at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, the state’s second-longest nursing strike in history.
$110,000 — starting salary for entry-level employees of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., a 30% raise from the previous starting salary of $85,000.
7.5 million — number of people poised to lose federal unemployment benefits one month from now.
This day in history

On this day in 1923, former Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge — “Silent Cal” — was sworn in as president of the United States.

Who’s opening?

Bill’s Bar, which calls itself Lansdowne Street’s longest-running venue, reopens today after its long Covid hibernation.

What I’m watching

Barry, on HBO Max

What I’m reading

Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann

What’s on my playlist

Bad Habits (acoustic version), by Ed Sheeran

New England (Women) of The Year

The New England Council has been presenting its New Englander of the Year awards since 1964. In all of that time — more than a half century — it has never honored a slate of all women.

This year, that changes.

Yesterday, the council released its New Englanders of the Year, and two of the three are CEOs whose names will be familiar to those in the Boston business community: Sandra L. Fenwick, CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital from 2013 until earlier this year, and Reshma Kewalramani, CEO and president of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. The third honoree is U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

And while I’m name-dropping, the co-chairs of the dinner this year are Becca Gould, senior vice president of public affairs at American Tower Corp., and Dennis Leonard, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Massachusetts.

For those of you unfamiliar with the council dinner, before Covid it would present its awards at an in-person event that would draw upwards of 1,500 to 1,700 people. Last year, like all events, it was virtual (you can watch it here). This year, it will be again. The program is scheduled to be streamed online on Monday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m.

With the Delta variant causing hand-wringing in HR offices and headaches for CEOs trying to decide when to bring people back to the office, it makes sense not to have 1,000 or more people gathered in a ballroom. Over the past decade or so, I think I’ve missed only one or two of the council’s annual dinners. And with last year and this year being virtual, I see no reason to miss this one either.

You can read more about the honorees here.

PARTING SHOT

This robot can place 100,000 dominoes in just 24 hours — and it all began with a Roomba.