Eligibility

Who is included in this group?

Anyone who is employed on a full or part-time basis by public or private pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and those who work as or for licensed childcare providers, including center-based and family care providers. This includes all PK-12 and childcare staff, including but not limited to direct employees and contractors in the following categories:

• Educators
• Paraprofessionals/education support professionals
• Childcare educators
• Family childcare assistants
• Childcare program directors
• Childcare center directors
• District and school administrators
• Clerical and administrative staff
• Bus or van drivers
• Custodial staff
• Food service staff
• After-school program staff
• Student teachers, interns, teaching assistants, and aides
• School Safety Officers

It includes people who work in full time, part time, or in-school volunteer roles, or who are employed by another organization to provide education or support in a school or childcare setting (e.g. early intervention providers, student mentors, tutors, arts programs, individuals responsible for educator observations or coaching, etc.).

This group does not include:

• Privately employed babysitters, nannies, and au pairs
• Informal friend, family and neighbor care
• Camp counselors
• Certified, licensed, or retired educators who are not currently employed as an educator.
• Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff, unless the individual is serving as an educator (e.g., educators at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children).
• Department of Early Education and Care staff, unless the individual is employed as a licensor or investigator who is required to conduct on-site visits and inspections.

Moulton, Warren, Markey, and Trahan introduce Legislation to Protect Essex National Heritage Area

Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) re-introduced the Essex National Heritage Area Permanency Act of 2021.

Despite generating more than $150 million in economic impact and supporting thousands of jobs each year, the Essex National Heritage Area will expire on September 30, 2021 if Congress does not extend the Essex National Heritage Area’s ability to receive federal money and raise the total amount of funding for which it is eligible. The bill introduced today would do both.

Annie Harris, the Director of the Essex National Heritage Area said: “This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the designation of the Essex National Heritage Area. A lot has been accomplished but there is much more to be done. The pandemic has shown us how important it is to provide opportunities for all our residents to enjoy the assets available in this area. From identifying places to experience the outdoors to providing on-line materials for remote learning, Essex Heritage has been pleased to serve this region during the pandemic, and we are looking forward to playing an even bigger role as the economy recovers. We are very grateful for the support that the MA delegation is providing.”

The Essex National Heritage Area spans 500 square-miles and connects 34 cities and towns through a region that includes Lawrence, Salem, Lynn, and Gloucester. Since the Essex National Heritage Area’s creation in 1996, Congress has been authorized to invest up to $17 million in the area over the course of the area’s lifespan. The original legislation had a sunset of 2012 for when the Essex Heritage could receive funding.

Congress put caps on spending and an expiration date on National Heritage Areas when it created them in 1996 because the idea that National Heritage Areas would work as designed was unproven. Since then, studies from the National Park Service and several non-government economists have shown overwhelmingly that National Heritage Areas are smart investments. For example, an independent evaluation of Congress’s investment in the Essex National Heritage Area reports that the area supports about 2,000 jobs and generates more than $150 million in local economic activity. That economic activity leads to $14.3 million in tax revenue.

The legislation introduced today would permanently eliminate the sunset provision and also remove the funding cap for the Essex National Heritage Area.

Unlike National Parks, most National Heritage Areas lie within large communities and are managed by independent, local nonprofits that receive some of their funds from the federal government through the National Park Service. Heritage Areas must match the federal funding with local and private funds. Research from the National Park Service indicates every $1.00 Congress invests in a National Heritage Area leads to $5.50 in local economic activity.

The above is a condensed version of the full press release.
Please click here to read the press release in full.

The above press release was submitted to us by the Essex National Heritage Area.

From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 324 with 27 new cases today. 15,632 Lynn residents have recovered and 203 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 16,159. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available at Lynn Tech Fieldhouse for people who live or work in Lynn & Nahant or are Lynn Community Health Center Patients and meet state eligibility requirements (Massachusetts Phase 1 & Phase 2 Step 1, 2 & 3: 60 year of age or older or with two or more chronic health conditions, certain workers, and educators are eligible. Residents age 75+ may be accompanied by one caregiver who can book an appointment themselves.) Please visithttps://www.lchcnet.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling to make an appointment online. Residents without access to the Internet can call 2-1-1 to make an appointment 7 days a week.

Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for the most up to date COVID-19 testing information, as well as more detailed information on the State and City of Lynn’s Reopening Guidelines. We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).