Economic Development
-
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
-
MassINC Matters: The May/June Round-Up
The latest from our research, journalism, and polling
July 2, 2024
-
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.
-
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.
-
Gateway Cities Journal: Like the Celtics, Gateway City legislators are working to finish strong
The Gateway Cities Journal
June 11, 2024
-
Gateway Cities Journal: Summer preview—a sales tax holiday worth celebrating
The Gateway Cities Journal
May 24, 2024
-
Andre Leroux offers testimony to Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
On H.4459– An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership
May 24, 2024
-
Gateway Cities Journal: First take—Gov. Healey’s economic development bill
The Gateway Cities Journal
March 15, 2024
