As I mentioned a few months ago, Governor Patrick and I are particularly interested in job creation strategies that have the best chance to create better economic opportunities for all Massachusetts residents, especially for the lower income and middle income people whom this Great Recession has been so very hard on.
We have been working in several areas that seem to us to be most likely to create such opportunities., One is improving our delivery of education and workforce development programs for what we refer to as “middle skill” jobs (jobs whose skill set require more than a basic high school education, but not a four-year college degree). Another is supporting and promoting advanced manufacturing in Massachusetts, which continues to provide a lot of good middle skill jobs for Massachusetts residents. A third approach is targeting public investments towards our “Gateway Cities”, 24 mid-size Massachusetts cities that have incomes and educational attainment rates below the state average. A list of those cities is here. A little history on the idea of focusing on these cities is here, including deserved credit to MassInc for starting the conversation in 2007.
In particular, we have been interested in supporting Gateway Cities that have made really aspirational, but practical, plans for their communities that create job and housing opportunities. A couple of good examples are City Square in Worcester and Hamilton Canal in Lowell. We have played a big role in helping each of these cities implement their great visions for where they would like to go.
What are you seeing and hearing out there? Are there urban communities (whether or not one of the 24) that you think have done a good job in moving ahead, even during these difficult past five years? Are there urban communities that are developing or implementing local visions that excite or inspire you? What does the state need to do to help?
goldsteingonewild says
Hi Greg, good stuff.
I’d contend few urban teens know about the “middle skill jobs.” (Same with their teachers and counselors).
There’s the obvious — What they are. What they pay. Physical location. Etc.
But more importantly, there’s the real life version. Do I need a car? Can I coast with a C average at Brighton High and get one of these jobs? How hard it is to get admitted to good programs like YearUp? Do these programs graduate many minorities, or realistically, is this a long shot? If my extended family is mostly poor people, can I actually get these jobs without any “connections” or network?
To my knowledge, there’s no EFFECTIVE place/mechanism for realistic-and-informed career counseling about middle skills jobs (though I’d be delighted to learn otherwise).
Therefore the job opportunities you help create are unlikely to flow to these people….will help the 50th percentile more than the 15th.
greg-bialecki says
This is a serious issue. In order to address it, we are trying to (a) organize all of the public, non-profit and for-profit providers of education and workforce development services within each region of the state, (b) ask them to work together collaboratively to develop “career pathways” that explain how to get the education/training needed to be qualified for various occupations, and (c) get the word out about what these opportunities are. That is admittedly a lot of work. But we have started with some good demonstration projects.
I also agree with you that we have to be tough on measuring success…are we reaching the 15th percentile, as you say.
bostonshepherd says
Seriously, Greg? Workforce development programs, “support and promoting” advanced manufacturing, and “investment” in Gateway cities?
The governor, you, and your collective staffs need to sit down and figure out what policies actually CREATE jobs. The triad you present are, at best, marginally effective, and more likely, worthless.
Job training might be worthwhile if there were an expanding base of jobs in which to deploy these newly trained folks, but the program itself does nothing to increase employment.
Same thing with Gateway City investment. Certainly, everyone can applaud the City Square project. But its drivers are mainly relocation of existing jobs by UNUM and St. Vincent’s, not “public-private partnership” or state and federal funding. Total new employment as a result of this $563 million project? 50 new jobs at UNUM and 26 at St. Vincent’s. Is this really the way to spend $100 million in state revenue?
Let me suggest you speak with 20 of the country’s leading advanced manufacturers and ask them to list the top 3 state economic characteristics they consider when looking to expand. Then implement policies which will attract those types of employers to MA. Job training and Gateway City investment will not be on that list.
Ask GE Aviation what it would take to relocate their turbine parts manufacturing facilities from Hookset, NH and Rutland, VT. Ask Boeing what it would take to get a sub-assembly facility here. Ask BMW, Mercedes, and Hyundai how and why they chose AL and SC to build their US plants. And don’t forget to ask Fidelity why they relocated all those employees to TX, NH, and RI.
It may also be helpful to give Tad Curtis of the TX Economic Development office in Austin, TX, a call, and pick his brain…his number is (512) 936-0047. Maybe we can emulate some of their success.
If it weren’t for the medical, biotech, and pharma industries, and maybe some software, MA would likely have no growth.
I would be happy to help you in any way possible. I’m not working at the moment.
greg-bialecki says
I talk all the time with Massachusetts manufacturers, including GE in Lynn, as you might expect. The number one concern expressed is lack of qualified job applicants. There is plenty of work right now in Massachusetts in advanced manufacturing.
We are having our first annual statewide Massachusetts advanced manufacturing summit on September 13. Please join us and learn more about it.
lynne says
This is a person you will never please even if you proved beyond a shadow of a doubt 110% success.
As someone living in a gateway city that is taking full advantage of the state’s initiatives, as well as some of the things going on with our University (the nanotech center, etc)…we have seen some companies expand/relocate here, and I think we’re poised for more of that as the nanotech program comes online.
What we need to start doing is realize the gateway cities are REGIONAL economic powers. Until recently, places like Lowell were not being thought of that way. Maybe Worcester was, but it’s a larger area. Redevelopment of high end manufacturing (like the nanotech sector), will provide jobs not JUST for people who live in Lowell, but all the way out past the immediate surrounding cities and towns as well.
Now, if only we could get a real handle on the creative job so I can get a good position in my field (web/graphics) without the commute. 🙂
centralmassdad says
But glorified “job retraining” is a useless waste of money.
One would think that Lowell could be a good place for this kind of thing, if only it had spare commercial/industrial space, and maybe a nearby college with a focus on engineering and technology.
greg-bialecki says
We very much agree with you about having the right perspective.
Sadly, we have gotten so used to the gateway cities being economically underperforming that some people only have the goal of getting them to be somewhat less underperforming.
We agree with you that the right perspective is to envision the gateway cities as being regional centers of economic activity. What would that look like and how would we get there?
Worcester is on its way there and so is Lowell. In both cases, UMass is a huge part of the story.
whosmindingdemint says
.
bostonshepherd says
Whereas you do not. Your head would explode.
merrimackguy says
in the Eagle Tribune. Spotlights how the city has not spent any money on capital since 2004 except some new cruisers for cops.
Most of the public infrastructure is a mess, firehouse roofs leaking, DPW shops condemned, etc. Only time anything gets fixed is when the state pays for it.
As most know state provides 75% of Lawrence’s budget and has taken over the schools.
Any thoughts that putting Lawrence in a “Gateway Cities” program is just a waste of time? How many jobs do you think you could create there? Enough for it to go from highest unemployment rate in MA to what? Note that its unemployment has been dropping- because of people leaving the workforce.
So what do you plan to do? Any thoughts that it’s a problem that Lawrence’s population is growing? Why are people moving there? The jobs? The quality of life? The scenery?
Any thoughts that it order to “fix” the schools that the state needed to remove all elected representation and then systematically removed all collectively bargained rights of teachers?
I know the most about Lawrence because I live right next door. I know all the Gateway cities have similar problems. Don’t you think that it’s time to re-think the whole approach, or is this just a public charade to keep things going until after the November election when you will go harvesting all your urban votes?
seascraper says
A majority of Boston’s land is now in the hands of low-productivity non-profits such as hospitals, universities, and community service organizations.
The state should encourage cities to get out of the business of ethnic politics, handing out a few scrap jobs to blacks and latinos as security guards while Elizabeth Warren drives in from her mansion to these tax-exempt buildings.
A flat commercial/residential real estate tax would bring productive business back into the cities and get that property back on the tax rolls.
mike_cote says
Oh My!
What would Grover Norquist think? Did you run this by Gestapo Headquarters first? I thought not.
I would at least check with Stephen Murphy on the PILOT program (Payment in Lieu of Taxes).
Also note, just like Romney, all of these non-profits are paying what is required of them by law (i.e. nothing).
roarkarchitect says
How about a webpage under http://www.mass.gov that lists all of the corporations (that are incorporated in Massachusetts) what they make and their websites if they have them ?
This is a bit of technical thing, it’s really easy but it helps local businesses with their website ranking and it will help customers find them.
I’ve noticed lots of other states have done this for their manufacturing companies.
When manufacturing companies have more sales – they hire more people.
greg-bialecki says
We worked with Associated Industries of Massachusetts to create http://www.buymass.org, a local directory of what Massachusetts manufacturers have to offer. Is this the kind of opportunity you were talking about?
roarkarchitect says
I’m not a member of AIM – so I knew nothing about this.
It also seems to be opened to firms that are not members of AIM.
Thanks.
lynne says
Around here the biggies are Middlesex Community College, and also Greater Lowell Technical HS, both of which apparently are doing well in attracting students. I think to some extent, gateway cities with local community colleges (and tech high schools) are going to have an advantage. The community college initiatives from the administration seem to be working pretty well. I’ve even seen Middlesex CC advertising on TV! In a world of overpriced online private educational nearly-fraudulent education, the CC’s have got to keep their footprint visible, IMHO, and I don’t grudge them doing some local advertising on cable TV (which can be somewhat affordable).
The Hamilton Canal district has slowed down a bit in the bad economy. It was humming away at its beginning, but I think there’s a funding issue for the next phase (as far as I remember) – for the rehab of the Freudenburg building. I know money is tight but loans and investment from the private sector and banks are harder to come by. There needs to be an easier way to speed HCD and projects like it along in the uncertain economy, since it doesn’t appear we’re going to be getting out of it entirely any time soon…the cities and the contracted redevelopment firms need a little boost IMHO.
lynne says
Talk about education…should be “online private nearly-fraudulent education”…where’s the damn “edit” button??
Anyway, I am very unhappy with the way the private colleges are doing online education…making job training promises they can’t keep and dumping these young people in a ton of debt. I don’t doubt online educational programs can be great, but there’s an awful lot of crap out there…and seemingly, no real regulation.
greg-bialecki says
Should be good news about the Freudenburg building pretty soon.
joelwool says
A couple of thoughts here: A clear and comprehensive guide for municipalities to engage in energy programming – i.e. creating local brands while earning support from existing statewide programs and subsidies – could be instrumental in reducing utility costs and job creation statewide. Revising MA energy efficiency policies to better serve low-to-moderate income populations – especially in regards to public education, hiring practices and data reporting – would benefit all people. Comprehensive community planning that features input from residents, local biz, and innovators gives the best picture of what will or won’t work. Gateway Cities are both prime targets for and examples of all of the above.
Organizations such as Metropolitan Area Planning Council are increasingly recommending that towns and cities develop local brands for green/energy programming – Salem and Lowell are pretty good examples of this, although both of these Gateway Cities have several distinct brands. In Salem, an “EEKO” (Energy Efficiency Knock-out) Team has performed public education and community barnraising (weatherization); a part-time energy mgr. position is funded on efficiency/performance savings. In Lowell, branded programs have successfully engaged community in residential weatherization, preservation of downtown historic district & more. Lowell’s also done a 5-star job in getting resident input: for one, city website is incredibly transparent; I’m happy to give many specific examples of why and how they are excelling.
I hope to see similar intensive planning processes carried out in Salem and Holyoke, where coal plants, one on its way out and one likely to meet the same fate shortly, must be redeveloped with good tax base + support for workers. The new task force appointed (by the gov.) to oversee Salem’s redevelopment has NO PUBLIC SEAT – huge problem in my mind. In Somerset, within breathing distance of New Bedford and Fall River, new owners of a former coal plant are mulling over some incredible water innovation ideas.
The state’s current energy efficiency programs are not serving all communities either in terms of access to weatherization programs and creation of local jobs… I’ll stop now, because this comment is getting quite long, but it’s been interesting to see how the state’s Energy Efficiency Advisory Council does and does not take on demands of advocates for hard-to-reach/hard-to-serve communities. Also… there is a new pilot “efficient neighborhoods +” program for gateway cities on the way…
liveandletlive says
with a stop in Palmer, of course! This will connect the towns and give the unemployed greater mobility. Trying to manage automobile ownership even with a job is costly, and impossible when one has been unemployed for an extended period of time. This will help people have access to opportunities in other gateway cities that may have the job they are qualified for. It will also help people in rural areas who would like to and could work in the city if they could do it without a car. It will ease the burden on our roads. The traffic is obnoxious, and slow. Yesterday, it took me 20 minutes to drive less than a mile from Rte 5 at Bliss Rd to the on-ramp for 91N in Springfield at one 1:00 in the afternoon. I was wondering what the hold up was and when I got to the on ramp, there was no hold-up, just the series of 4 or 5 stoplights causing the delay. Who needs that, really. We need commuter options in the Western part of the state, please. That will help stimulate the economy here.
greg-bialecki says
The long-awaited start of reconstruction of Union Station in Springfield seems like a positive step in this direction, do you agree?
liveandletlive says
but I feel like it is going to take a half a century to get the East West system upgraded and serving communities. I’m not likely to be here in a half century. I guess I’m going to have to resign myself to the fact that it is something I will never see or use. I wish it didn’t have to take so long, but I am glad it is being considered for the future.
Christopher says
…I don’t see the same line stopping in Pittsfield and Palmer. Palmer would be on a Worcester Line extension to Springfield while Pittsfield would be the terminus of an extended Fitchburg Line. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s the geography assuming we maintain a Boston-centric system.
liveandletlive says
Amtrak makes stops from Boston through to Pittsfield, but not enough stops. Some would have to be added to make it a solution for more people. But it would be great to have multiple lines!