Commission formed to keep young talent in Mass.
PHOTO/EMILY MICUCCI
A commission has been formed to keep college students in the state after graduations like this high school event attended by President Obama.
The state senate unanimously passed a resolve last week aimed at putting young professionals in touch with policymakers to create with solutions to keep more of the state's many college graduates living and working in Massachusetts after they're done with their studies.
While college-rich, Massachusetts for years has trailed states in the south and west in terms of overall population growth, and is facing trends that point to a growing proportion of older residents in the coming years.
Sen. James Welch of West Springfield, sponsor of the resolve (S 2044) creating the commission, said it comes at a "crucial time" since the economy is rebounding and employers are looking for qualified workers to fill jobs. In remarks prior to the resolve's adoption, Welch noted Massachusetts attracts students from all over the nation and world and said it's important to convince more of them to consider all regions of Massachusetts as places where they can put down roots. The goal, he said, is "to prevent the drain of people leaving Massachusetts after they graduate."
The resolve calls for the commission, a combination of public officials, appointees and young professional network representatives, to meet at least quarterly and deliver recommendations to the governor and the Legislature within 18 months of the resolve's signing.
Their specific charge would be to "examine how the commonwealth can better engage, involve and educate young professionals in decisions and policies that affect them and the Commonwealth" and to "examine best practices and policies to retain and attract intellectual capital that will make the commonwealth a desirable place for young professionals to live, work and play."
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