February 7, 2005

HEALEY TAPPED TO LEAD REGIONAL COMPETITVE COUNCILS

Councils award regional grants to enhance job growth and attract businesses

WORCESTER – Governor Mitt Romney today named Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey as Co-Chair of the state’s six Regional Competitiveness Councils (RCC), which coordinate and provide recommendations for economic development initiatives across the state.

“These councils have an active role in improving regional competitiveness and driving economic development throughout the Commonwealth,” said Healey. “During my travels across the state, I have worked with many communities assessing the needs of our cities and towns to create more jobs and generate business development.”

Healey awarded new matching grants worth more than $150,000 to help three councils from the Central, Berkshire and Pioneer Valley regions implement pro-growth programs. In 2004, over 20 initiatives were undertaken including research on regional economic development strengths, workforce development activities and infrastructure projects.

Building upon the solid foundation the regional councils have established to identify economic growth and development opportunities, Healey highlighted over a dozen new priorities for the upcoming year.

Since their inception in February 2003, the councils’ accomplishments include efforts to retain and expand Hanscom Air Force Base, securing $15 million in National

Science Foundation funding for a nanotechnology center at UMass-Lowell, completing the Route 146/Interstate 290 interchange in Worcester, and writing the 2004 Plan for Progress in the Pioneer Valley – an in-depth analysis of the region’s vision for economic prosperity.

“One of our goals for 2005 will be to assess the economic impact of infrastructure projects to each region,” said Ranch Kimball, Secretary of Economic Development. “We will also focus on industry clusters that drive economic growth and job creation throughout the regions.”

Eric H. Schultz, Central Massachusetts co-chair and President and CEO of Worcester-based Fallon Community Health Plan, received a $43,000 matching grant to survey the career and location interests of college seniors in the region and identify job opportunities to increase retention of recent graduates.

“Regional economic planning is crucial in creating priorities that are shared by each region of the state and the Romney Administration,” said Schultz.

The councils, established by Romney, are made up of business, community and educational leaders representing the following regions of the state: Berkshires, Cape and Islands, Central, Northeast, Pioneer Valley and the Southeast.

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