June 17, 2003

ROMNEY UNVEILS MARKETING EFFORT FOR BIZ EXPANSION

Kicks off multi-million dollar “Massachusetts, It’s all Here” campaign

CAMBRIDGE – As part of the effort to rev up the Massachusetts economy, Governor Mitt Romney today kicked off a multi-million dollar integrated marketing campaign to attract new jobs and businesses to the Bay State.

“Massachusetts is one of the most attractive states in the nation in which to do business because of our tremendous resources. We have a highly educated workforce, some of the world’s finest health care institutions and top-of-the-line infrastructure,” said Romney. “Now, we need to do a better job of getting the word out.”

He added, “I’ve got news for North Carolina and other states that are actively competing against us: With literally thousands of jobs at stake, we are not going to sit by idly.”

The campaign is designed to attract fast-growing industries to the state, such as biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, new security/defense and plastics. For each of these sectors, the state will identify companies, both within and outside the state, planning to build or lease facilities in the near future and encourage them to come to Massachusetts.

Specific components of the campaign include the development of marketing materials, print ads in statewide and national publications and a coordinated effort to make it easier for businesses to build facilities here.

The state’s Department of Economic Development has committed $250,000 to this effort, with the remainder being financed by MassDevelopment and individual companies in the private sector.

“I urge all businesses in the state to become an active participant in this effort and contribute to the Commonwealth’s success,” said Romney. “Next week, at the Bio 2003 show, I will personally meet with a number of biopharmaceutical companies who are on the verge of expansion and convince them that Massachusetts is the place to be.”

Some of the benefits of doing business in the Commonwealth that Romney will highlight include significant tax benefits, such as single sales factor, investment tax credits, and research and development tax credits, and access to a highly skilled, educated and productive workforce.

In addition, the state will also identify a number of sites that are pre-screened for

development. This will enable companies to build on these sites without having to go through the local permitting process.

Said Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey: “One of the obstacles to economic growth in Massachusetts has been the process by which companies apply for and receive business permits. The state’s often unwieldy and lengthy permitting process is part of a heavy-handed regulatory environment that, in the past, has stifled business expansion and productivity.”

Contributors to the integrated campaign include: Beal Companies, Drug Discovery Conference, Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MAED), Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Massachusetts Economic Development Council, National Grid, Nstar, O’Connell Companies, Spaulding and Slye, Western Mass Electric and Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC).

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