Healey overhauling state economic development plan

A woman wearing a green jacket speaks at a podium. A man in a gray suit is behind her.

Photo | Courtesy of State House News Service Gov. Maura Healey and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz

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By Alison Kuznitz | State House News Service

State officials next week plan to jump-start the process for creating the administration's economic development plan, a framework that all new governors must produce during their first year in office.

Gov. Maura Healey, who has focused early in her tenure on boosting the state's competitive edge, has tasked the Executive Office of Economic Development to formulate the sweeping policy, the Cambridge Democrat told life sciences leaders Tuesday at MassBio's annual State of Possible Conference.

Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao will seek feedback from the business community, elected officials, and "key" stakeholders, Healey said.

"Tell us about the barriers that you face, and let's figure out a plan forward," Healey said. "Let's figure out the industries, the spaces, the places where we're going to lean in through government investment, through public-private partnership, and really go."

The plan needs to undergo a legislative hearing and be published online by Dec. 31. An Economic Development Planning Council -- comprised of administration officials, political appointees and business representatives -- will take shape in the coming weeks, a Healey spokesperson said.

"The sooner we can operationalize and get going on this, the better," Healey said. "And that's why, when you get a call from our office, we really mean it, and we want to work very quickly to turn this around."

Former Gov. Charlie Baker dubbed his administration's initial economic development plan, released in 2015, "Opportunities for All: The Baker-Polito Strategy and Plan for Making Massachusetts Great Everywhere." In 2019, Baker followed up with a plan called "Partnerships for Growth: A plan to enable the Commonwealth’s regions to build, connect and lead." It was rooted in pillars tied to increasing housing production, supporting vibrant communities, strengthening Massachusetts' economic competitiveness and creating "stronger pathways for workers."