Michael Baldino

This document provides a summary of digital equity planning initiatives undertaken by various municipalities across Massachusetts. It identifies key priorities such as improving affordable and reliable internet access, enhancing digital device access through lending and distribution, and promoting digital literacy and skills training via digital navigator programs and workshops. The plan also emphasizes expanding public Wi-Fi and fostering strategic partnerships to secure funding, aiming to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to technology and resources for all residents.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors is scheduled to discuss several key agenda items. These include the approval of minutes from the January 14, 2026, Executive Committee meeting, reports from the Board Chair and CEO (which will address Open Meeting Law Complaints from December 2025 and January 2026), and several motion items related to grant programs. Specific motion items involve the CHIPS Manufacturing Incentives Capital Grant Program for Analog Devices, Inc. (Project Onyx), the Innovation Institute's Scientific and Technology Research and Development Matching Grant Fund (AMAO), and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing's Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MMAP) involving MassMEP, BIC, and FORGE.

The Executive Committee meeting addressed several key actions. The committee adopted the minutes from the Three Hundred Second Meeting held on November 19, 2025. The Board Chair provided an update, highlighting the ongoing SHIELD initiative and the launch of a new pilot Residential Internship Program for tech sector interns starting in 2026. The CEO update noted the continued progress of the SHIELD initiative, two new Robotics programs under the Mass Leads Act, and the Rural Health Initiative. Major financial approvals included a grant award up to $736,113 through the M2I2 Program to Galy for scaling up cell-cultured cocoa production, and a grant award up to $1,400,112 to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for developing a marine monitoring and modeling platform for shellfish aquaculture. Additionally, grants totaling $677,086.70 for the Boston Housing Authority and $130,630.40 for the Quincy Housing Authority were authorized under the RANGE Program for public space improvements and digital navigation. Finally, the committee authorized an award not to exceed $10.7 million to Hub Technical Services for services associated with the Connected & Online Program, reallocating funds previously designated for Dell Computers.

The Executive Committee meeting agenda includes receiving reports from the Board Chair and the Chief Executive Officer. Key discussion items requiring motions include the Center for Advanced Manufacturing's M2I2 initiative involving the Institute for Cacao and Chocolate Research, a Collaborative Research Matching Grant Program proposal from the Innovation Institute related to Marine Monitoring and Modeling Platform for Massachusetts Shellfish Aquaculture at UMass Dartmouth, and two items for the MassBroadband Institute: the Residential Retrofit Ancillary Grant Program ("RANGE") involving the Boston and Quincy Housing Authorities, and a device services contract with Hub Technical Services for the Connected & Online Program.

The Executive Committee meeting included the introduction of the newly appointed Undersecretary of Business Strategies for the Executive Office of Economic Development and an overview of her background. The Board Chair discussed recent Mass Tech events and provided updates on Governor Healey's priorities, including the SHIELD program and the DRIVE initiative. The CEO provided further details on the SHIELD program. Key actions involved authorizing grant awards totaling $7.5 million under the MassBroadband Institute's Residential Retrofit Grant Program Round V to Aervivo, Inc., Hawk Networks, and Ring Squared for broadband infrastructure deployment. Additionally, a grant award of nearly $1.3 million was authorized to the Boston Housing Authority under the RANGE Program for adoption and accessibility efforts. Finally, grant awards totaling $2.2 million were approved through the Center for Advanced Manufacturing's M2I2 Program to support Highland Park Technologies, Vaxess Technologies, and Nth Cycle for various manufacturing facility and scaling projects.