Wicked Local Newton – Incomplete assignment: 20 years of school reform in Bay State
Two decades after a sweeping law ushered in MCAS exams, charter schools and other major changes in the classroom, state leaders and experts say Massachusetts still has more homework to do on education reform.

Nonprofit think tank MassINC is kicking off a project on closing the achievement gap in older, so-called Gateway cities and ensuring students can compete in the highly skilled Bay State economy, said research director Ben Forman.

Springfield Republican – Gateway Cities $1.7 billion investment proposal could drive projects in Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield and Westfield

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, run by MassINC, on Thursday released a proposal for a $1.7 billion public investment in the 24 cities deemed by the legislature as “Gateway Cities.”

Lowell Sun – $1.7B eyed for Gateway Cities over next decade
Cities like Lowell that were once the cornerstones of the state economy are now getting renewed attention as lawmakers look to revive these once-vibrant communities.

Boston-based MassINC, the organization responsible for research that explores the future of Massachusetts’ 24 so-called Gateway Cities, is pushing for a collaborative effort to reverse the trend of job growth and development centered around Boston.

Gateway Cities proposes to invest in Westfield
City officials are assessing a Gateway Cities program which would aid older industrial cities with redevelopment and new economic investment.
The program, Transformation Redevelopment, a strategic state policy for Gateway City growth and renewal, is being developed through the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute as a vehicle to stimulate public-private investment and overcome the lack of investment enthusiasm in the current financial climate.

Lowell Sun – State investment called key to supporting Gateway Cities development

State officials say the success of Gateway Cities is key to strengthening Massachusetts’ economy, but doing business in these underperforming areas often makes little financial sense.

Wicked Local Fall River – OUR VIEW: A costly mistake in Somerset
THUMBS UP to MassINC Gateway Cities Institute, which released a new report Thursday, calling for a $1.7 billion strategic state investment over 10 years to economic development in the commonwealth’s 24 Gateway Cities, including Fall River.

Sentinel and Enterprise – Proponents of Gateway Cities say development could improve economy
State officials say the success of Gateway Cities is key to strengthening Massachusetts’ economy, but doing business in these underperforming areas often makes little financial sense.

In some cases, developers are unable to recover the cost of developing properties due to low rents and sale prices, according to a new report from MassINC, which has dedicated itself to strengthening Gateway Cities.

Taunton Daily Gazette – PARTY LINES: MassINC calls for investment in Gateway Cities

A MassINC report released this past week calls for $1.7 billion in public investments in Gateway Cities, such as Taunton, over the next decade.

Sentinel and Enterprise – Sharing visions of tomorrow for Mass. mill cities

For old industrial centers like Fitchburg, Leominster and Lowell, it was a day of possibility.

Lowell site factors in Gateway Cities focus

The city of Lowell played a major role Thursday morning as lawmakers and economic-development policy experts met to discuss a new report issued by MassINC that calls for injecting $1.7 billion into the state’s 24 Gateway Cities.

Ben Foreman, executive director of MassINC’s Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, told breakfast attendees that “projects like Worcester’s CitySquare and Lowell’s Hamilton Canal District should serve as a rallying cry that we can do better and we can do more.”

MassINC urges public funds to spur private investment in Gateway Cities

MassINC is calling for a 10-year infusion of $1.7 million in public money to jump-start private investment in the state’s 24 Gateway Cities in a process it calls “transformative redevelopment.”

MassINC’s Gateway Cities Innovation Institute estimates that public investment on that order would stimulate nearly $7 billion in private investment and create about 80,000 jobs.

Gateway Cities report proposes $1.7 billion public investment in underperforming cities – including Springfield and Holyoke

An institute dedicated to strengthening Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities is proposing a $1.7 billion public investment in those cities, which include Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield and Westfield.

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, run by MassINC, unveiled the proposal Thursday at a legislative breakfast.

MassINC calls for investment in redevelopment of Gateway Cities

A $1.7 billion strategic investment by the state over 10 years would dramatically boost the economic climates of two-dozen small and midsize Gateway Cities such as Taunton and Fall River, according to a report MassINC released Thursday.

“This is a big idea, a bold idea,” said MassINC Gateway Cities Institute director Benjamin Forman, who presented the research Thursday at the Hampshire House to members of the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus.

MassINC Calls for $1.7 Billion for Redevelopment of Gateway Cities

A new report is calling for major investment into redeveloping the real estate market in Massachusetts’ so-called “Gateway Cities.”

Boston-based policy institute MassINC released a report Thursday calling for $1.7 billion to strategically revitalize former manufacturing centers like New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester.

Brockton could benefit from investment program for gateway cities

Over the years, the city has tried different strategies to revitalize its downtown area: a new courthouse, thriving health center, vacant buildings renovated as condos.

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute – whose mission is to serve a committed group of gateway city leaders, a program of MassINC – released a study on how a development strategy called “transformative investment” could jump-start building in regional economic centers, drawing private investment with enough impact to transform communities.

Report calls for $1.7 billion investment in Mass. cities

A state investment of $1.7 billion over the next decade would lift the economies and redevelopment of struggling urban centers outside of Boston, creating jobs and stimulating private investment, according to a new report from MassINC.

The report, published by MassINC and the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, calls for the state to commit $125 million a year for the next 10 years to a redevelopment fund that would provide the seed money and leverage private investment for downtown renewal projects in urban centers around the state.

Gateway Cities like Lowell eyed for $1.7B economic boost

WBUR Poll: Brown Would Be In Strong Position For Special Election

A WBUR poll of 500 registered voters (PDFs – topline, crosstabs) finds U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is in a strong position should there be a special election to fill U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s seat.

The poll, conducted by the MassINC Polling Group on Monday and Tuesday, finds voters view Brown favorably, despite the fact that in November they chose to elect Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren in his stead. Fifty-eight percent of those polled say they have a favorable view of Brown, compared with 28 percent who view him unfavorably. Rounded off, 12 percent say they are undecided, and 1 percent say they have never heard of him.

My Fox Boston – Poll shows Brown leads as potential Kerry replacement

A WBUR/MassINC Poll released Thursday shows current outgoing Mass. Senator Scott Brown is in good position to win a potential special election to replace Sen. John Kerry.

National Review – Stage Is Set for a Scott Brown Comeback – If He Wants One

WBUR poll of 500 registered voters finds U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is in a strong position should there be a special election to fill U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s seat.

MassINC pollster Steve Koczela looked at how well Brown would fare against four current or former Democratic members of Congress.

Politico – Mass. poll: Scott Brown for John Kerry’s seat

Outgoing Sen. Scott Brown might not be out of Washington for long.

The Massachusetts Republican would be in a strong position to win a special election to fill the seat of Sen. John Kerry if the latter is appointed secretary of state,  according to a WBUR/MassInc. poll  released Thursday.

CNN – Poll: Brown in good position to win ticket back to Senate

Outgoing Republican Sen. Scott Brown may not be gone from Capitol Hill for long, according to a new poll of Massachusetts voters.

The Atlantic – The Decline of the ‘Great Equalizer’

Massachusetts, home to America’s best schools and best-educated workforce, has seen income inequality soar. Why? The poor are losing an academic arms race with the rich.

As those who can afford to do so head for the clusters, inequality grows. Across the state, communities are becoming more homogenous by income group, said Ben Forman, research director at think tank MassInc.

Wicked Local Melrose – Sen. Katherine Clark: Building a modern, sustainable transportation system

Massachusetts needs a public transportation system that is sustainable for the long-term with sufficient capital to keep fares reasonable, expand routes, modernize our infrastructure, and improve services.

MassINC, a non-partisan research organization, has concluded that Massachusetts is at a “crossroads” in how we operate and finance our transportation network and that the “rationale for investing in public transit as a regional economic development strategy is exceptionally strong.”

Boston Globe – Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse’s too-sudden shift on casinos

ALEX B. Morse’s election as mayor of Holyoke last year was bigger than any single issue, but his opposition to a casino in the city was a major factor.

Moreover, Morse’s shift was head-spinningly abrupt. As recently as October, he wrote in a commentary in CommonWealth Magazine that “a casino in Holyoke would not aid in our economic rebirth, but would ultimately undermine the effort.”

Northampton Daily Hampshire Gazette – Alex Morse explains decision to consider Holyoke casino

Over cries of “liar” and “sellout,” Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse officially opened his city to the possibility of a resort casino Monday.

Morse’s reversal was particularly surprising given his opposition to casinos in the past. In January, he rejected a proposal by Hard Rock International Co. to build a casino in Holyoke. And in October he penned a piece in CommonWealth Magazine about his opposition to casino gaming, writing, “a casino in Holyoke would not aid our economic rebirth, but would ultimately undermine that effort. ”

WGBY – Connecting Point 11/26/12

MassINC’s Research Director and Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, Benamin Forman, on WGBY’s Connecting Point.

Boston Magazine – Youngest Mayor in Massachusetts Becomes Youngest Flip-Flopping Mayor in Massachusetts

Alex Morse, the anti-casino mayor of Holyoke, announced today that he suddenly embraces casinos.

How much did Morse dislike casinos? Enough to publish an editorial in October’s edition of Commonwealth Magazine railing against them.

Boston Globe Blogs – Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse backs new casino proposal in reversal of anti-casino stand

In a surprising reversal of his steadfast anti-casino position, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse plans to announce Monday that he is supporting a proposal to develop a gambling resort off Route 91 in his economically struggling city, potentially realigning the competition for the sole resort casino license in Western Massachusetts.

Morse remained opposed as recently as this fall. In a commentary published in October by CommonWealth Magazine, Morse argued “a casino in Holyoke would not aid in our economic rebirth, but would ultimately undermine the effort.”

Masslive.com – Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse to announce casino resort plan for Mountain Park with Eric Suher

In a stunning reversal, Mayor Alex B. Morse will announce Monday he is mounting a bid to bring a casino gambling resort to Mount Tom in partnership with Holyoke native and entertainment mogul Eric Suher.

That includes Morse participating in a point/counterpoint set of commentaries on the CommonWealth Magazine website to which MassLive.com linked on Oct. 11 in whichMorse wrote against a casino and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno wrote in favor.