To address the state’s transportation woes, planners and policymakers are evaluating major upgrades to the Commonwealth’s rail network. At the same time, a report from the nonpartisan think tank MassINC argues state leaders must consider new methods of discounting train fares so that low- and moderate-income residents can afford to ride. The new report presents
The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC) awarded $100,000
Boston nonprofit receives Cummings Foundation grant
BOSTON (June 5, 2019) – The Cummings Foundation has selected the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth to be one of 100 nonprofits to receive $100,000 through the Foundation’s 100 for 100k Grant initiative. MassINC was chosen from hundreds of applicants for the designation. The grant will support MassINC’s efforts to maintain the momentum of
Communities are not doing enough to hold their public schools accountable
MassINC report calls for increasing “local accountability” with new school-funding package
Massachusetts’ landmark 1993 education reform act placed more accountability on public schools to improve student outcomes in exchange for a sizeable increase in state funding. Beacon Hill leaders are debating another significant infusion of state resources in Massachusetts’ public schools. Accountability is, once again, at the center of this funding discussion. A series of new
New CommonWealth Hires
Betancourt and Metzger will join Mohl and Executive Editor Michael Jonas at CommonWealth
MassINC’s CommonWealth magazine is hiring two reporters – Sarah Betancourt and Andy Metzger. “At a time when most news outlets are shrinking, these two new hires affirm CommonWealth’s commitment to local journalism,” said Bruce Mohl, the editor of the online magazine. Betancourt is a bilingual journalist (English-Spanish) who has previously been a reporter for the
Study suggests Massachusetts’ “other” housing problem is worsening
Blighted and abandoned housing presents serious challenges for Gateway City neighborhoods
Boston – Skyrocketing costs and lack of affordable homes in Greater Boston’s strong housing market absorb the attention of policymakers and political leaders, yet Massachusetts also has many weak real estate markets, where low home values make it uneconomical to maintain older housing stock. This results in blighted and abandoned property, triggering further disinvestment and
The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors
BOSTON – MassINC is proud to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Michael Hunter , Beth Lindstrom, and Juana Matias. Bringing experience from both the private and public sectors, the new Directors will bring fresh insights to the work of MassINC and CommonWealth magazine. Chairman of the MassINC Board of Directors Greg Torres
Dr. Tracy Corley joins the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth’s (MassINC) Gateway Cities Innovation Institute
Will lead MassINC’s ongoing effort to tap into the promise and potential of transit-oriented development in Gateway Cities
BOSTON – MassINC welcomes Dr. Tracy Corley to the new role of Transit-Oriented Development Fellow. In this position—made possible with generous financial support from the Barr Foundation—Dr. Corley will lead MassINC’s ongoing effort to tap into the promise and potential of transit-oriented development in Gateway Cities. “Over the next several years, the state must make
Aimee Ward Weeden named next COO of MassINC
Appointment ensures a future of strength and stability for the nonprofit
MassINC has named Aimee Ward Weeden as its new Chief Operating Officer! Aimee currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Policy Director for Secretary of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) Jay Ash. She previously served as Vice President of Finance and Operations at MassINC from 2009 to 2013. Weeden will replace former COO Lauren Louison
New MassINC study finds the number of inmates in state and county correctional facilities keeps falling, but correctional budgets are still going up in Massachusetts
New research from the nonpartisan think MassINC shows correctional budgets are still rising even as the number of individuals in state and county correctional facilities falls precipitously. These revealing new figures come as leaders on Beacon Hill look for ways to help agencies cover the costs they will incur in order to comply with legislation
Study reveals large untapped development potential around urban commuter rail stations
Spurring Transit-Oriented Development
A major new study from the nonpartisan think-tank MassINC finds that vacant and underutilized land surrounding 13 Gateway City commuter rail stations could house up to 230,000 residents and 230,000 jobs-double the number of people living and working in these station areas today. Decades of disinvestment have made it difficult for private real estate markets