Boston City Council Approves $2.5 Million in Workforce Grants, Codifies Food Justice Office

BOSTON — April 9, 2025 — Boston City Council approves $2.5 million in workforce grants and codifies the Office of Food Justice. The council Wednesday passed 10 grants administered by the Office of Workforce Development, including $1,190,071.64 for adult career services and $410,000 in state VITA funding, with Committee Chair Benjamin J. Weber noting that several grants draw on U.S. Department of Labor funds and carry urgency in the current federal climate. Weber reported that the Boston Tax Help Coalition, supported by these grants, filed more than 12,000 tax returns free of charge last year, saving residents an average of $250 per household and generating over $22 million in refunds. The council also voted 12-0 to codify the Office of Food Justice into city law, with Chair Gabriela Coletta Zapata saying the ordinance "ensures the office's mission is preserved regardless of future changes in leadership." A $350 million bond refinancing authorization cleared the Committee on Ways and Means, with CFO Groffenberger telling the panel the move mirrors a 2020 refinancing that saved the city $10.5 million.