Economic Development

Massachusetts must remain a place where businesses can start, grow, and create good-paying jobs while ensuring workers have the skills and opportunities necessary to succeed in a changing economy. Our economic development strategy should strengthen the connection between education, workforce training, employers, and regional economic needs. I have filed legislation on the following priorities. 

Strengthen vocational and technical education. I support expanding access to high-quality vocational-technical education and ensuring that students have more pathways to good-paying, in-demand careers. Massachusetts should invest in expanding Chapter 74 programs, modernizing vocational school facilities and equipment, and increasing state support for vocational-technical school construction to reduce the burden on local communities. We should also make it easier for schools to establish and expand programs that respond to regional workforce needs, increase awareness of vocational opportunities among students, and ensure that comprehensive high schools can offer vocational programs when existing regional schools do not have enough capacity to meet student demand. These investments will give more students access to hands-on education while strengthening our workforce and preparing the next generation for careers in the trades and other high-demand fields.

Make Massachusetts easier to do business in and support our downtowns. I support making Massachusetts a better place to start, grow, and maintain a small business while strengthening the downtowns and commercial districts that are at the heart of our communities. We should streamline the process of doing business with the Commonwealth by creating a one-stop resource for business registration, licensing, taxes, and regulatory requirements, while making it easier for Massachusetts businesses to compete for state contracts. We should also encourage consumers, businesses, and institutions to buy locally by connecting Massachusetts suppliers with purchasers and promoting products made here in the Commonwealth. At the same time, we should invest in revitalizing downtowns and Main Streets, provide greater technical and financial assistance to local business districts, and ensure that small and locally owned businesses have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. We should also allow restaurants to be able to serve alcohol earlier on Sundays if they would like. These efforts will help keep more jobs and economic activity in Massachusetts, strengthen our local communities, and support a more competitive and resilient economy.

Support workers at every level of government. Municipal employees deserve the same basic wage protections as other workers. Massachusetts should eliminate the municipal exemption from the state minimum wage and ensure that public employees cannot legally be paid below the statewide minimum.

Give communities additional economic development tools. Cities and towns should have greater flexibility to address large vacant commercial properties that can undermine surrounding economic activity. Communities should have the option to impose a local assessment on vacant shopping malls and use the resulting revenue to support municipal services, infrastructure, and local economic development.

  Successes 

During the 2025–2026 legislative session, the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive economic development bill to strengthen Massachusetts’ economy, support businesses and workers, address the housing crisis, invest in emerging industries, and help communities across the Commonwealth grow and thrive. Some of the major successes included:

• Expanded tools to address the housing crisis by encouraging commercial-to-residential conversions, allowing housing development on qualifying land owned by religious institutions, and improving consistency in local planning and permitting.

• Strengthened tenant and fair housing protections by allowing municipalities to establish a tenant right of first refusal for multifamily properties and strengthening oversight of the real estate profession.

• Protected Massachusetts from federal funding uncertainty by supporting hospitals, community health centers, colleges and universities, critical infrastructure, and other priorities affected by reductions or delays in federal funding.

• Reduced the cost of starting and operating a small business by significantly lowering LLC formation fees and creating a graduated annual fee structure to provide greater relief to startups and operating businesses.

• Established Massachusetts’ first comprehensive micromobility safety framework by creating standards for motorized bicycles and other devices, including age, helmet, equipment, battery safety, and operating requirements.

• Strengthened Massachusetts’ film, television, and digital gaming industries by improving the film tax credit and creating a new incentive to attract digital game development.

• Strengthened Massachusetts’ defense and national security economy by investing in the SHIELD initiative and supporting the development of cutting-edge national security technologies.

• Supported restaurants and the hospitality industry by allowing restaurants to begin serving alcoholic beverages earlier on Sunday mornings.

• Invested in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to strengthen Massachusetts’ position as a national leader in innovation.

• Supported downtown revitalization and economic development through investments in infrastructure, public spaces, placemaking, and the redevelopment of underutilized properties.

• Expanded support for advanced manufacturing and robotics to help businesses grow, commercialize new technologies, and create jobs in emerging industries.

• Invested in arts, culture, and the creative economy by supporting public spaces, historic districts, performance venues, public art, and other cultural assets.

• Expanded supportive housing opportunities for veterans and invested in projects designed to better serve veterans across the Commonwealth.

• Supported agriculture, food science, and AgTech innovation through investments in sustainable food systems and emerging agricultural businesses.