BOSTON – Tuesday, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash announced input and listening sessions in six cities across Massachusetts. The listening sessions will provide to provide businesses and constituents an opportunity to help shape the Commonwealth’s economic development plan.
“Economic development relies on businesses across Massachusetts hiring new workers and offering raises to experienced hands,” said Ash. “The best way to find out what they need is to ask them, and listen to their responses. Any economic development plan we write will be grounded in robust public engagement and debate in order to address the core needs of our businesses.”
Massachusetts law requires the secretary of Housing and Economic Development to draft a comprehensive economic development plan within the first year of a new gubernatorial administration. Ash has committed to grounding the Baker administration’s economic development strategy in public dialogue, and in regional opportunities. These regional listening sessions begin a six-month economic development planning process, and serve as a first step in drafting the statutorily-required plan.
“Working to engage with the regions across Massachusetts offers Housing and Economic Development valuable insight into regional strengths, needs, and priorities,” said Deputy Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Carolyn Kirk. “Figuring out the best way to augment those strengths and build on existing potential will ensure that our plan helps entrepreneurs, small businesses, and job seekers.”
“The regional directors in the Massachusetts Office of Business Development provide an essential communications line between local businesses and state-wide economic development policy,” said Assistant Secretary of Business Development Nam Pham. “Bringing communities and state officials together during the planning process for our economic development plan will help us effectively target regions and sectors across the Commonwealth.”
The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development will hold a listening session in Springfield on Thursday, June 25, from 12:30–2:30 p.m. at the UMass Center at Tower Square on 1500 Main Street. The executive office welcomes public participation in this session. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/1cw4TL4.
