The Gateway Cities Journal

News and information for leaders who care about Gateway Cities

The Gateway Cities Journal is a biweekly news publication from MassINC’s Gateway Cities Innovation Institute. To subscribe, click here. To contribute news or comments, please email MassINC.

Recent Issues of the Gateway Cities Journal:

The Gateway Cities Journal

First take: Gov. Healey’s economic development bill

The Gateway Cities Journal

There’s a lot to like in Governor Healey’s economic development bill. The wide-ranging law includes several smart provisions on issues that matter to Gateway Cities, most notably, small business and inclusive entrepreneurship. But there are also some missing components, and big existential questions about our Commonwealth’s priorities and needs that merit reflection, as the bill

New Bedford’s leadership on housing is a model for Gateway Cities

The Gateway Cities Journal

A new analysis of local and regional housing needs by New Bedford’s Regeneration Project marks an inflection point in the statewide housing crisis. Produced by MassINC, this in-depth report provides insight into rapidly escalating housing costs, and actions that private and public sector leaders in Greater New Bedford can take to get to the root

It’s cold outside, but things are heating up fast on Beacon Hill

The Gateway Cities Journal

The legislature is back for the final six months of the 2023-2024 session, and the FY 2025 budget process is in full swing. On Wednesday, Gov. Healey presented her second budget. While managing through the first difficult fiscal year in a long time, the administration’s blueprint makes bold investments in Gateway Cities. Here’s a quick

Sec. Augustus hits stride with new plans and policies to combat the housing crisis

The Gateway Cities Journal

With housing front and center for state leaders in 2024, MassINC’s policy team hosted Housing Sec. Ed Augustus for a virtual discussion with Gateway City leaders. Participants included 15 mayors and managers along with 60 senior municipal staff representing 23 municipalities. Highlights of the discussion: “Do more, quicker.” Augustus said Gov. Healey charged his team

GC Journal: Gov, Legislature deliver big for Gateway Cities

The Gateway Cities Journal

Wednesday, Governor Healey signed into law a tax cut package negotiated by the House and Senate that includes some big wins for Gateway City residents, businesses, and investors. Most notably, An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity (H.4104) includes a longstanding MassINC policy recommendation to scale up the wildly successful Housing Development

Beacon Hill Roars Back to Life

The Gateway Cities Journal

Summer recess is a distant memory as Beacon Hill roars back to life. Monday featured two prime-time hearings with major implications for Gateway Cities. Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson appeared before the education committee to testify in support of legislation to remedy inequitable flaws in school construction funding. Filed by Lynn Rep. Dan Cahill and Sen. Brendan Crighton,

Celebrating summer in the city

Last weekend the Latin American Festival returned to Worcester Common for its 31st annual run. The event is a bookend of sorts, as Worcester started the summer by hosting the largest and oldest Albanian Festival in America. These revelries are by no means unique to New England’s second-largest city. Summer in the Gateway Cities stands out for its full blossom

Secretary Hao Meets with Gateway City Leaders

The Gateway Cities Journal

Last week, MassINC hosted a wide-ranging virtual conversation with Yvonne Hao, the Secretary of Economic Development, together with mayors and senior staff from Gateway Cities across the state. Given the critical importance of sustaining the very positive collaborative working relationship that Gateway City leaders established with the Patrick Administration and built upon through the Baker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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