Presentation for Municipal and Economic Development Leaders at Summit in Worcester
WORCESTER, MA – MassEcon Executive Director Susan Houston said yesterday that more than 60 percent of the scores of companies that the nonprofit economic development organization assisted last year were from out of state or beyond U.S. borders, and they were concentrated in the areas of biotechnology and medical devices, diverse manufacturing and technology.
Attracting businesses to Massachusetts was the focus Houston’s remarks at yesterday’s annual Economic Development Summit in Worcester, the second large-scale economic summit that the Baker-Polito Administration convened. This year’s summit featured six key topics following remarks from Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary Jay Ash, and Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus.
At the general session, which attracted more than 500 attendees, speakers not only reflected on the state’s accomplishments but also described the priorities for continued economic development across the Commonwealth.
Houston was a co-panelist with Michael Kennealy, Assistant Secretary for Business Growth, focusing on encouraging business expansion. Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development Deputy Secretary Carolyn Kirk moderated the session for more than 50 municipal and economic development leaders.
“One of our advantages is that Massachusetts is a compact state – everything is within reach,” Houston said. “If you overlay the metropolitan Atlanta region on Massachusetts, it about covers the state. This means that connections between regions can be made rather easily, and our businesses take advantage of that.”
Examples illustrating that selling point are ThermoFisher Scientific which has its headquarters in Waltham and Center of Excellence in Tewksbury, and GE with its headquarters in Boston and Life Sciences Unit in Marlborough.
Houston opened her presentation with a snapshot of the 69 companies to which MassEcon has provided services since January 2017 – their industry sector, their place of origin, and where they are seeking to locate within the Commonwealth. MassEcon’s 25 years of experience, Houston said, has taught the organization the wisdom of marketing communities within a regional context, noting that companies evaluate market areas that often cross municipal boundaries.
“If an asset is within 50 miles of your location, claim it as your own,’” Houston said.
Massachusetts offers tremendous assets for companies looking to start or locate a business and Houston encouraged the audience to connect their locales with the Massachusetts brand.
At the summit, Governor Baker also announced the official opening of the 2018 application round The MassWorks Infrastructure Program.
ABOUT MASSECON
MassEcon champions Massachusetts as the best place to start, grow, or locate a business. Bringing the public and private sectors together, we work to create a supportive culture for business, enhance job growth, promote investment in communities, and spread prosperity throughout the state. MassEcon promotes communities and regions through its ReadyMass 100 portfolio, and events such as the Annual Corporate Welcome Reception, Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards. For more information, please go to www.massecon-staging.mx9m3ye3-liquidwebsites.com.
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