Policy Center
Research, events, and articles from the MassINC Policy Center, including the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute.
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Gateway Cities Journal: Can the Tech Ecosystem Reach Gateway Cities?
New collaboration between the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute and The Engine Accelerator explores emerging industries.
October 25, 2024
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The Massachusetts School Centered Neighborhood Development Playbook
Neighborhood vitality and public school performance are closely linked, yet education improvement efforts are generally siloed from planning, housing, and community development.
October 9, 2024
- Growing education reform movements and an influx of housing resources provide a window to embrace coordinated planning efforts at the neighborhood level
- The funding of backbone organizations and the implementation of the Community School model are both effective ways to work across silos and create mixed-income neighborhoods and schools
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Gateway Cities Journal: A Toast to Brockton Beer
Brockton Beer closed its doors for the final time this past Saturday. Losing this Black-owned business in the heart of a revitalizing downtown is painful.
October 8, 2024
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Gateway Cities Journal: Historic tax credit increase is a big win for Gateway City housing production
The Gateway Cities Journal
August 20, 2024
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Gateway Cities Journal: Gateway Cities need actionable strategies to expand access to ESOL services
The Gateway Cities Journal
July 26, 2024
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Massachusetts Needs an Actionable Strategy to Expand ESOL Services
Adults with limited English skills comprise one-tenth of the commonwealth’s workforce. This makes English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) services key to the Massachusetts economy.
July 24, 2024
- State and federal funding for ESOL services isn’t keeping pace in MA.
- There are just 5.4 vocational ESOL opportunities per 1,000 work-age LEP adults in MA, a third of the state’s capacity to provide ESOL instruction.
- Increasing English proficiency among working-age LEP adults in MA would generate $3 billion in additional annual earnings.
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MassINC Announces New Slate of Accomplished Civic Leaders to Join Board of Directors
New members bring diverse perspectives to 25-member board
July 15, 2024
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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.
