Happy December Everyone!
I hope you all had an excellent Thanksgiving last week. The holiday season is well under way and I even saw there’s snow in the forecast for next week.
Yesterday, I attended an event for Veterans at Springfield College. During the height of the pandemic, the school opened a brand-new center just for Veterans but unfortunately, they were unable to officially open their doors until recently. This event served as their semi-official grand opening, and I was honored to have been invited to speak as Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. I touched on all the good work that the legislature was able to do on behalf of Veterans in the previous session and what we’re hoping to get done in the coming session.
Congratulations to Balise family on opening yet another dealership! Joining their network in the area is their new Kia dealership in West Springfield. Family-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy here in the Pioneer Valley and I was honored to have been invited to the grand opening earlier this week. We all wish the Balise family the best with their new location.
This week I was also able to meet with people from MassHire Holyoke’s Recovery Workforce Pledge. This MassHire regional office is the first in the state to offer services to those in recovery and their success is encouraging other offices to adopt similar programs. I’m looking forward to all the good work that this organization will get done.
In response to both the colder weather finally settling in and an increase in heating costs being felt across the board, the federal government recently announced a $159 million increase in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This reflects a nearly 24% increase from funding in the previous fiscal year. Last year, only one in five eligible households accessed the available funds. If you think you may be eligible and are worried about your heating bills this year, I encourage you to apply. You can do so at https://www.mass.gov/home-energy-assistance-programs or can reach to my office for assistance.
My team held office hours this week on Monday in Westfield from 11:30am to 12:30pm at the COA and in Southampton on Wednesday from 10:00am to 11:00am. Next week, we will be at the Agawam COA on Monday from 11:00am to 12:00pm and in Southwick on Wednesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Please feel free to stop by with any questions, comments, concerns, or just to say hello.
Should you be unable to make our office hours or need assistance sooner than then, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter!
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season,
John Velis