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By John Smolak, Esq., Smolak & Vaughan LLP, and Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, HBRAMA
O
n June 25, 2015, Secretary
of Housing and Economic
Development, Jay Ash, kicked
off the Commonwealth’s economic
development
planning
efforts
by
conducting six simultaneous “listening
sessions” designed to obtain input in
connection with the formulation of
the Baker Administration’s Economic
Development Plan. The sessions, which
were held in Worcester, Quincy, Lynn, West Barnstable, Lowell,
and Springfield, were focused on six key areas, including:
(a) Preparing Communities for Success (Specific topics of
discussion include: Zoning, Infrastructure, Grants, Loans,
Technical Assistance); (b) Fostering a Culture of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (Specific topics of discussion included: Higher
Ed as regional anchors and alignment of MA assets to support
start-ups and the innovation economy); (c) Sector Strategies
(Specific topics of discussion included: Sectors that are
High Growth, Emerging, and Mature; Small Businesses); (d)
Competitiveness and Regulations (Specific topics of discussion
included: Regulatory reform; opportunities and challenges of doing
business in MA; what currently makes MA competitive; how can
MA be more competitive regionally, nationally and internationally);
(e) Talent Retention and Workforce Development (Specific topics
of discussion included: Closing the skills gap and matching
employer demands to workforce skills, especially in critical
middle-skills positions; Matching workforce development
strategies to employer needs at the regional level; Retaining young,
highly-skilled college graduates); and, (e) Housing Development
(Specific topics of discussion included: Ensuring an adequate
supply of new housing that meets market demands; Linking
housing development strategies to job growth strategies, and to
regional and demographic demand drivers; Cutting the cost of
subsidized housing development by reducing transaction times;
Attracting new private investment to publicly-held real estate.
Massachusetts law requires the Secretary of Housing and
Economic Development to draft a comprehensive economic
development plan within the first year of a new gubernatorial
administration. According to a press release issued by EOHED,
“Secretary Ash has committed to grounding the Baker-Polito
Administration’s economic development strategy in public
dialogue, and in regional opportunities. These regional listening
sessions begin a six-month economic development planning
process, and serve as a first step in drafting the statutorily-
required plan.” “Working to engage with the regions across
Massachusetts offers Housing and Economic Development
valuable insight into regional strengths, needs, and priorities,”
said Deputy Secretary of Housing and Economic Development
Carolyn Kirk. “Figuring out the best way to augment those
strengths and build on existing potential will ensure that our
plan helps entrepreneurs, small businesses, and job seekers.”
The HBRAMA was fortunate to be able to participate in many of
these regional sessions so that the voice of our Association can
be heard. Special thanks to the following members for taking
the time to participate in the Regional Listening Sessions: Liz
Kovach, Mike Duffany, Chris Duren, Jeff Rhuda, Dale Halchak,
Felicia Elias, Ben Fierro, Gary Campbell, Jeff Brem and John
Smolak as a moderator of the housing panel.
Of significance was the Secretary’s inclusion of housing as a
key component of the Baker-Polito Administration’s economic
development plan. Questions posed by the Administration
included: (a) whether access to housing which workers can
afford is a concern for the broader business community; (b)
what has your municipality, or the broader region, done to
quantify the demographic trends driving housing demand,
and match housing development strategy to demand drivers;
(c) how, and where, is your region planning for growth? Are
there examples of successful recent housing developments your
communities would highlight, and seek to replicate?; (d) can
you identify promising practices for implementing regional
development planning at the local level?; and, (5) What are
the greatest factors inhibiting housing growth in your region?
Are these factors grounded in market forces, local or regional
capacity, regulations, or a shortage of resources?
From the questions posed and input solicited, it is clear that
the Administration’s concerns lie with the ability to create
an adequate supply of housing for all income levels that
municipalities need to be more proactive in developing housing
that is geared toward both demographic trends, and the desire
for more regional planning efforts for housing production.
Regional cooperation. It is also clear that the Administration
is concerned about the factors inhibiting housing growth. As
the year comes to a close, we can anticipate the development of
a housing plan as a major component of the Commonwealth’s
Economic Development Plan.
Secretary Ash Kicks Off Economic Development
Planning With Regional Listening Sessions
By John Smolak
