Veteran Financial Education Funding Applications Open

12:23PM / Saturday, May 11, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — In collaboration with the Division of Banks (DOB) and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), the State Treasurer's Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) announced a new round of funding for Operation Money Wise. This grant program offers funding to veteran-serving non-profit organizations, public agencies, and higher education institutions to host financial programming that serves the Military, Veteran, Family, and Survivor Community (MVFSC).

Veteran-serving organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in funding, which must be used before March 31, 2025. Applications close on May 31st, 2024 at 5 p.m.?Follow this link to learn more and apply.

To date, Operation Money Wise has served over 6,648 members of the military community. A total of $262,977 has been awarded to 55 grantees in six grant rounds. The funding allows organizations to use their knowledge and expertise to design or enhance a program that would best serve their community. Many of these workshops will include strategy sessions on basic budgeting, managing debt, preparing for retirement, and making decisions with money.

"We are proud to help those who serve our country achieve financial stability for themselves and their families," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. "Operation Money Wise will continue to support organizations that uplift and financially empower our veteran community across Massachusetts."

Previous programs include one-day seminars or multiple sessions hosted by local colleges and financial institutions. Topics featured in past programs include career-training, information tailored to Gold Star Families, the National Guard Reintegration Yellow Ribbon Program, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

Funding is possible through a Division of Banks settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices.

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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources

10:54AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures.

Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).

The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including:

All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;
All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and
All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County.

To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.

In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated.

"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season."

As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration.

The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:

Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing
Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live
Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents
Create year-round housing for artists
Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment
Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing
Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots
Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence