MassINC Research Director Ben Forman takes a poetic approach in describing a wish-come-true Gateway Cities vision for the holidays. Click the links while reading through to catch up on previous Gateway Cities Journal editions.
Building Back Better on Main Street
Gateway Cities Journal
Creating a sustainable funding mechanism for organizations that can play vital roles in strengthening commercial areas for the long-term is the kind of forward-thinking policy needed to leverage one-time APRA investments in small business development.
Calling on the Coalition for Gateway Cities
Gateway Cities Journal
As we await the ARPA 1.0 bill, one thing is already crystal clear: Gateway Cities need a broad-based coalition of groups to come together and go to bat for them with ARPA 2.0.
Gateway City representatives introduce vital housing amendments
Gateway Cities Journal
As residential communities home to an outsized share of the state’s population, it is critical that we make the most out of this opportunity and fashion the housing investment in a manner that leads to meaningful improvements in Gateway City housing stock and neighborhoods.
Harnessing the civic energy ARPA has unlocked
Gateway Cities Journal
As they work to apportion the state’s $5 billion ARPA allocation, legislators have conscientiously collected input from thousands of Massachusetts residents. We’ve compiled our thoughts for investing ARPA funds in a manner that recognizes the post-pandemic challenges and opportunities Gateway Cities face.
Back on the Road Again: The Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus Tour
Gateway Cities Journal
What’s really behind the population increase in Gateway Cities?
Gateway Cities Journal
A Make or Break Moment for Gateway City Renewal
Gateway Cities Journal
With all the eye-popping numbers flying around in relation to the stimulus bills, federal budget, and infrastructure deal, you might think our transportation woes are solved.
But down in the trenches, Massachusetts communities still lack many of the basic tools used around the country to control their own destiny.
Gateway Cities battle the digital divide
Gateway Cities Journal
At this point last summer, Gateway City educators were furiously at work trying to ensure that all students would have computers and reliable internet service when school resumed in the fall. Their herculean efforts demonstrated that we can temporarily narrow the divide, but a lot of work remains to find durable solutions to this multifaceted problem.
Advancing low-income fares beyond Boston
The Gateway Cities Journal
Since 2017, the FMCB has been pushing hard on the agency to provide discounts to low-income riders. In one of their final votes, they choose to instruct agency staff to prepare scenarios for a pilot program. On the one hand, this last-ditch effort makes sense. However, from the Gateway City perspective, the board’s actions are disappointing and a bit perplexing.