Issue Position: Economic Growth/Jobs

Issue Position

According to the MetroWest Economic Research Center, the 13 communities in MetroWest and Greater Marlboro generate nearly 182,000 jobs and an $11.8 billion payroll. Our region, with Framingham at the center, is literally the crossroads of the Commonwealth in terms of generating the jobs and creating the workforce that are essential to a successful 21st century economy. Massachusetts currently ranks #1 in education, #2 in access to capital and #3 in technology. I will work to enhance the role Framingham plays in sustaining that ranking and I will support continued growth in high wage jobs for our workers in the life sciences, health care, building trades, information technology, services and the creative enterprises and the arts.

The MetroWest Economic Research Council (MERC) reports that the MetroWest area has the second largest economy in the State with relatively strong job retention/creation compared to other areas. MERC points out one segment of the jobs sector that is under represented relative to the rest of Massachusetts: arts and hospitality (restaurants, hotels, theaters, museums and other cultural venues).

Since we grow our economy best in areas that we have the greatest differential/potential, focusing our efforts on expanding this sector makes economic sense.

Our currently underperforming urban/village areas (Downtown, Saxonville and Nobscot) are perfect places to foster this growth by creating economic zones that have built-in incentives for these types of businesses. This should achieve several important objectives:

Growing the economy and creating jobs that currently don't exist here.
Revitalize underperforming areas of town- reversing the current urban blight
Remaking the urban/village centers as attractive places for young professionals
Creating competition for properties raises real estate values in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Our legislators can help make this a reality in several critical areas:

Helping the town by working with the State administration and Federal government to free up waterfront land owned by CSX for use by the town to create the right mix of private development and public investment.
Supporting the commitment and programs currently proposed by the Board of Selectmen to stabilize neighborhoods and create the right conditions for revitalization.
Demanding respect and fairness in programs and grants for the important role Framingham and the MetroWest has in keeping the Commonwealth on the leading edge, economically, educationally and technically.

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