Yesterday, Brockton Mayor Jim Harrington and I hosted the highly-anticipated Gateway Cities Tour in Brockton to discuss ways that federal, state, and local leaders can continue their partnership towards revitalizing the 11 Gateway Cities throughout the Commonwealth.

Earlier this year, MassINC – a public policy think tank promoting the growth and vitality of the
middle class – released a comprehensive report entitled “Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities: Lessons Learned and an Agenda for Renewal” that illustrated the challenges facing Brockton and similar cities are not unique to a specific city or region. Rather, these challenges are facing a number of cities – dubbed Gateway Cities – because of their common industrial past, their location outside Greater Boston, and their ongoing struggle to re-invent themselves.

The event – attended by my colleagues on the legislature’s Gateway Cities Caucus, fellow state and city officials, and Brockton business leaders – was part of an ongoing effort to a draft a legislative agenda that reflects the collective priorities of each of the 11 Gateway Cities – Brockton, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield and Worcester.

For the past few months, members of the legislature, mayors and economic development officials representing each of the Gateway Cities have been working tirelessly to create plans that would allow for targeted investments in downtown areas of these cities, and to look at a number of state policies -- such as housing, public education, transportation, and economic development – that are essential components of revitalizing and re-inventing these cities.

During the Gateway Cities Caucus’ visit to Brockton, local and state officials, as well as local business leaders and stakeholders, had the opportunity to tour downtown Brockton to see the progress that continues to be made in the City, and then – at a roundtable forum held at the Brockton Public Library – discussed how state and local leaders can better collaborate on Gateway Cities priorities moving forward. Focus during this time was devoted to discussing various issues
including: historic tax credits, the challenges of revitalizing downtown areas, and targeted assistance to the Gateway Cities from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program.

Between now and the first of the year, I will be working with my colleagues on the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus to finalize our legislative agenda for next year. If you have any recommendations to the agenda, or would like to become involved in this initiative, please contact my State House office at 617-722-2575.