Gateway Cities Research
The MassINC Policy Center generates research to frame pressing issues, identify actionable solutions, and monitor progress.
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2024 Gateway Cities Housing Monitor
To recover from an affordable housing crisis that has been decades in the making, Massachusetts needs Gateway City housing markets to produce new homes in line with increasing demand.
November 14, 2024
- Over the next ten years, Gateway Cities should aim for the creation of 83,000 additional housing units.
- Meeting the housing production goal requires doubling the pace of housing production compared to the previous 10 years.
- Increasing housing production will require robust state and local partnerships to overcome financial and regulatory barriers.
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District Management for Downtown Vitality
Commercial districts need a high volume of foot traffic to support thriving small businesses. Supplemental district management services can dramatically increase this pedestrian activity.
June 27, 2024
- District management organizations (DMOs) encourage thriving local commercial districts for small businesses to flourish.
- DMOs require an annual operating budget of between $200,000 – $700,000 depending on the district size. Increased state funding could ease the operating gap DMOs typically face.
- Between now and 2030, cohorts of 5 large DMOs could be supported each year starting at $500,000 and peaking at $5.5 million annually. These DMOs could general $13 million annually for local revitalization.
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Community Capital for Small Businesses
A Study of the CDFI and CDC Ecosystem in Massachusetts
June 27, 2024
- Community development finance institutions (CDFIs) disproportionately serve the smallest and youngest businesses and those owned by underrepresented groups.
- Only 23% of CDFIs provide financing to small businesses. Most funding from CDFIs and community development corporations (CDCs) goes to the real estate sector.
- 32 states have CDFI funding programs, providing a model for how MA could establish stable and sustainable lending opportunities for small businesses.
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Accelerating Inclusive Growth in the Pioneer Valley
A Prospectus for Transformative Economic Investment
March 13, 2024
- The Pioneer Valley faces economic challenges including a lack of growing industry clusters and underperforming research and development
- Strong assets in the sectors of food science, advanced materials, and clean energy provide an opportunity for state investments to leverage these assets
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Housing for All
Forward-Looking Strategies for a Growing New Bedford
February 16, 2024
- In New Bedford, rents have risen sharply, and demand has outpaced existing housing units by thousands of units
- Land assembly, prioritizing home ownership, and increasing the number of skilled real estate and construction workers, among other strategies, will help to build on the work New Bedford has done to balance the housing market
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In Pursuit of Greatness
Bold Strategies to Grow a Strong and Diverse Educator Workforce
February 5, 2024
- Despite strong growth in the number of teachers of color hired in Massachusetts, student diversity has increased faster, leading to a larger gap in representation that will continue to grow if left unaddressed
- Closing gaps in college access through Early College programs, adopting multiple approaches to licensure, and launching apprenticeship programs would strengthen pathways for teachers of color
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Empowering Cities to Accelerate Equitable Growth
A State Policy Blueprint for Inclusive Municipal Contracting
July 12, 2022
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Going for Growth
Exploring how efforts to increase digital inclusion can yield large benefits for Gateway Cities, their residents, and similar cities.
December 1, 2020
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From Transactional to Transformative
The Case for Equity in Gateway City Transit-Oriented Development
May 18, 2020
