The manufacturing industry has five asks for the Legislature: expand vocational schools, fund the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, align state and federal tax codes, increase capital grants, and scale programs that are already working well.
“The ongoing headwinds manufacturers have faced over the past several years created many challenges, but the economy has moved on, and we’ve shifted into a period of accelerated innovation and achievement. Our state has already adopted the initiatives to be a leader in this great period of growth. Now, give the manufacturers the resources to help achieve this,” Leslie Greis, co-chair of Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ manufacturing committee, said.
Industry representatives filled a State House briefing room to standing room capacity Wednesday — the same day the House will take up a catch-all end-of-session economic development bill (H 5562) with 688 amendments pending to be debated in the afternoon and likely into the evening.
Co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus Rep. Jeff Roy told manufacturers that the $425 million bond package addresses their priorities.
The bill “prioritizes regional competitiveness, housing and advanced technology, the legislation bolsters manufacturing and production through targeted capital authorization, supply chain support, and streamline regulatory permitting — all the things Leslie was asking us to do. So stick with us this afternoon,” he said.
Roy highlighted provisions in the bill to direct $100 million to the defense sector, specifically targeting infrastructure research and supply chain development in national security; $25 million for emerging technology and robotics; $25 million for applied artificial intelligence and quantum computing; $25 million in capital support for companies that are expanding or considering advanced manufacturing technologies.
Roy and Sen. Paul Feeney, the other caucus co-chair, said they stand against the narrative that manufacturing jobs are all leaving Massachusetts. They said investing in industries like clean energy and AI allow the sector to adapt and grow.
“I get sometimes a little bit too crazy about it when I’m talking about it, because people say to me, ‘Feeney, you have this idea, this vision that doesn’t exist anymore.’ It exists in every single one of you,” he said. “It exists in the work that you do in our communities.”
Sam Drysdale is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at sdrysdale@statehousenews.com.
