Office of New Bostonian’s Announce Grant Opportunities

BOSTON, MA, June 7, 2005 -

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino spoke Wednesday, June 1, 2005, to the members of The Office of New Bostonians, members of the local civic community associations, esteemed guests, sponsors, and members of the local community.

The Office of New Bostonians, directed by Reverend Cheng Imm Tan, is an initiative of Mayor Menino to affirm the contributions of immigrants, - new and old, and to foster and celebrate their diversity as well as to assist immigrants in building the lives they envisioned. “Immigrants make Boston a world class city,” said Reverend Chan as she thanked the audience, media sponsors and Mayor Menino. The Metropolitan, Boston’s newest premier property and home to many new civic associations, graciously provided facilities in their building on Nassau St. in the heart of Chinatown. The Metropolitan will be host to the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center as construction is to be completed mid-summer.

Mayor Menino announced the successful completion of Phase I of the English for New Bostonians initiative and the introduction of Phase II that will reach over 1,000 immigrants involved in the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program over the course of the next 3 years. “The future of our economy and the future of our city depends on our foreign born immigrants,” said Mayor Menino.

Mayor Menino continued to speak about his involvement in the local schools, “These kids value education. They hunger for it.” Reverend Tan announced the protocol for the local organizations to request grants through the Office for New Bostonians. Those interested should contact the office directly for further information.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is currently serving his third term as Mayor of the city of Boston, Massachusetts. During his tenure in the summer of 2004, Mayor Menino brought the Democratic National Convention to Boston. Estimates put the economic contribution of the convention at more than $150 million dollars and its positive effects will be felt for years. As President of the United States Conference of Mayors from 2002-2003, Mayor Menino championed homeland security and housing availability. He held the position of advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation from 1988 to 1997. Mayor Menino served four months as Acting Mayor and nine years as a District City Councilor from Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood prior to being elected as Boston’s Mayor in 1993.

The Metropolitan, managed by Peabody Properties, Inc., is Boston’s newest premier residential tower. The Metropolitan is located in the heart of the city at One Nassau Street near the city’s vibrant theater district and Chinatown. It supports 115 mixed-income affordable homes and over 50,000 square feet of community retail space, office space, a publicly accessible park and valet garage parking. The condominiums double the owner-occupancy rate of Chinatown from 5% to 10%. Each home includes specific refinements, panoramic views, concierge service and available underground parking.

Peabody Properties, Inc., a privately-held corporation owned by Edward A. Fish, manages approximately 8,500 units of residential housing, commercial and industrial property. Peabody Properties has been involved with historical restorations, luxury developments, new construction, condominium management, state and federal assisted multi-family housing complexes and public housing authority. Peabody Properties is recognized as an Accredited Management Organization by the Institute of Real Estate Management and ranked by the Greater Boston Real Estate Journal as the fifth largest property management firm in New England. Their full-service management firm specializes in development, construction, property management, marketing, maintenance, resident services, grant proposal writing and consultation.

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