FEMA Awards Funds to Mass For COVID Outreach

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BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.7 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting to operate a public information clearinghouse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1,663,104 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting to run a contact center for Massachusetts residents to get accurate, up-to-date information relevant to a wide-range of COVID-19 related topics between July 2022 and May 2023.

These topics included pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions such as distancing, hygiene, masking, vaccination, pre-exposure prophylaxis, isolation and quarantine requirements, and support.

"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments – as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities – for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nation’s ongoing recovery."

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

So far, FEMA has provided more than $2.6 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

 


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Greylock Federal Joining Credit Union Collaborative

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union is moving some of its back-office operations to a collaborative network but says customers shouldn't see any difference. 
 
This is expected to affect a percentage of employees over the next two years. 
 
"This is a group of credit unions sharing operational resources," said President and CEO John Bissell on Tuesday, adding these include informational technology, areas of lending and quality that are more "business to business" aspects of the credit union's operations. 
 
Greylock will join with three other credit unions in what is called a credit union service organization, or CUSO, which will allow more resources for collaboration and problem-solving. 
 
"I expect that number will grow in the years to come and this CUSO has been operating for 10 years," Bissell said. "We could see it growing to eight."
 
It doesn't mean the credit union is closing or merging with any other entity, he stressed.
 
"The intention is that we want to stay independent," he continued, and by sharing some costs, "over the years, we can invest more into enhancing the member experience. ...
 
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