State Officials: Reform Economic Development Incentives
Brandon Butler
State officials at a Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
Evergreen Solar's closure of its Devens manufacturing plant after receiving more than $50 million in state aid shows the need to reform state economic development incentives, some state legislators said at a breakfast in Westborough.
State Rep. Harold Naughton, D-Clinton, said the state needs more stringent "claw back" provisions to be able to collect money that is given out to businesses if they don't live up to requirements when receiving state funds.
Naughton was part of a panel of state legislators that spoke at a Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday morning in Westborough.
Naughton said Evergreen received about $56 million in state aid, but the total cost of that investment to taxpayers will only end up being about $18 million.
Other state officials were not as quick to call for reforming the system. State Sen. Harriet Chandler, D-Worcester, said incentives are important for attracting and retaining businesses.
"I think we just have to be more careful," she said. "Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water."
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