Development

Zoning Board Approves Plans to Turn Former Tufts Building Into Biotech Space

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Plans to turn the former Tufts Health Plan building into biotech lab and office space was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project that will renovate and add on to the former Tufts Health Care building on Mt. Auburn Street on Wednesday night. The new owners, Spear Street Capital, wants to turn the area into life science office and lab space. Plans include renovating the interior of the main building, adding a small building on the back and renovating on the property near Grove Street.

Business

Tufts Health Plan’s Merger Approved, New Organization Moving Out of Town

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Watertown-based Tufts Health Plan received approval to merge with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, with the merged organization moving out of Town. Plans for the merger first came out in late-May, with the new health services organization moving to the former Reebok headquarters in Canton. Tufts’ main offices has been located in Watertown in the former Western Electric Co. since 1997. Harvard Pilgrim is currently headquartered in Wellesley. The merger officially occurred on Jan.

Development

Find Out What’s Happening with the Tufts Building at a Community Meeting

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An online community meeting to discuss the plans for the Tufts Health Plan property will be held on Dec. 21. The developers who are renovating the facility sent out the following information:

Tufts Health Plan recently sold 705 Mt. Auburn Street and 64 Grove Street to 705 Mount Auburn LLC and 64 Grove LLC. Accordingly, the new project team would like to invite you to attend a virtual meeting on Monday, December 21st at 6:30pm to formally introduce itself and present its improvement plans.

Around Town

Two Local Leaders on Chamber’s Panel for Most Influential Business People of Color

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The leader of a Watertown-based theatre company and a vice president at Tufts Health Plan will be a panelists for the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber’s 50 Most Influential Business People of Color event. Michael Bobbitt, who took over as artistic director at NewRep in August 2019, will be one of five people on the panel at the event that will take place virtually on Nov. 12. He will be joined by Juan Lopera, vice president of marketing and Rhode Island Medicare at Tufts Health Plan, headquartered on Mt. Auburn Street.

Business

Tufts Health Plan Leaving Town, Real Estate Investor Taking Over Building

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Tufts Health Plan will leave its offices on Mt. Auburn Street after swapping it with Spear Street Capital for a property in Canton. Shown here, runner gather for the Watertown Police Department’s Finish Strong Road Race. Tufts Health Plan will be swapping its Watertown headquarters for a location in Canton after it merges with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and the building on Mt. Auburn Street will be acquired by a real estate investor.

Business

Watertown-based Company Named Best Place to Work for Those with Disabilities

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The following information was provided by Tufts Health Plan:

Tufts Health Plan been rated a Best Place to Work by Disability: IN on its 2019 Disability Equality Index. This is the second year in a row Tufts Health Plan has been named to the list, with a score of 100 percent. “We aim to create a work environment that is inclusive, where people feel they are respected, their voices are heard, and they are given their best chance to succeed,” said Lydia Greene, Tufts Health Plan’s chief human resource officer. “Being named a Best Place to Work by Disability:IN is a wonderful honor, but it’s more than that.  In a competitive recruiting environment, we need to attract and retain talent of all backgrounds and abilities. We often hear from candidates, current and even former employees, that our inclusive work environment is a major reason why people choose to work with us.

Charity

Tufts Health Plan Grants $25K to Local Groups, Including One Sending Care Packages to Troops

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Tufts Health Care Foundation provided the following information:

Five community organizations will receive grants as a result of a new program engaging Tufts Health Plan employees in grantmaking. Each of the company’s five business resource groups (BRGs) recommended an organization for a grant up to $5,000 from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. 

“The Tufts Health Plan BRGs were established to create opportunities for education, mentoring and leadership, to support diverse communities through volunteering, and to foster a culture of respect and inclusion,” said Tufts Health Plan President and CEO Tom Croswell. “These grants are the result of a new collaboration between the Foundation and the BRGs that grew out of our desire to strengthen community connections.”

“The organizations recommended by the BRGs are aligned with their missions and present opportunities for the Foundation to support work important to employees,” said Phillip Gonzalez, the Foundation’s senior program officer. “Each business resource group took a unique approach and identified a process and focus for their community investments. They learned how difficult, and rewarding, these decisions can be.”

The organizations receiving the first-ever grants for this program include:

BAGLY, Inc. (Boston Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Youth) Boston, Mass. 

Recommended by Prism, the LGBTQ and allies BRG
To support Health Education and Risk Reduction Team (HEARRT), a program that educates and trains LGBTQ+ youth about mental and physical health.

Business

Tufts Health Plan Employees Traveled Across New England for 10th Annual Volunteer Day

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Tufts Health Plan employees are traveling across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island on June 19, 2018, during the company’s tenth annual Volunteer Day, to serve local nonprofits in projects ranging from food preparation to yard work. “Our employees are extraordinary, and they demonstrate their commitment to our community and our members each and every day,” said Tom Croswell, Tufts Health Plan president and CEO. “Seeing more than 750 employees giving back reflects our values and makes me proud. I am thankful for each and every employee who is out in the community today.” Now in its tenth year, Volunteer Day builds on the work Tufts Health Plan does throughout the year.