Policy & Advocacy

Advocating on Your Behalf

The Chamber has a pulse on what’s happening at Worcester’s City Hall, Beacon Hill in Boston, and Capitol Hill on behalf of your business. Our advocacy efforts are ongoing as we advocate for business-friendly policies that encourage economic development, ensure a stellar workforce, and create a climate conducive to growth. In this work, we support businesses of all sizes, across all industries and we recognize the needs of these businesses vary. Whether it’s workforce development, tax competitiveness, health care reform, or economic development, the Chamber is engaged at every step of the legislative process to ensure your voice is heard.

We have our sights set on your bottom line and the Chamber regularly takes on public policy initiatives that have an impact on businesses and the cost of doing business.

Issues and topics on which the Chamber advocates for its members include:

** Narrowing the Dual Tax Gap**

In the cities and towns where our members own and operate their businesses, the Chamber is a staunch advocate for the reduction in the gap between the residential and commercial property tax rates. We believe that reducing the gap and navigating a pathway to a single-tax rate is crucial to promoting tax fairness within municipalities. By spreading the tax burden across their populations, cities and towns can encourage more business investment bringing more jobs, tax dollars, and community involvement. In Worcester, which has the 7^th highest commercial tax rate in the Commonwealth, we continue to advocate on behalf of small businesses to narrow the tax gap. Not only would this ease the burden for businesses in the area, but it would attract more business to the city, which would increase Worcester’s tax base in the long run. Below are some of our priority policy items within Taxes:

1.) Navigating to a Single Tax Rate

2.) Expanding the Tax Base

3.) Small Business Support

4.) Promoting Economic Development

** Infrastructure Investment**

Having a flexible infrastructure network that is friendly to the expansion and growth of businesses is crucial to support the development of Central Massachusetts. Moreover, the Chamber continues to advocate for and partner with our local delegation in our region’s efforts to boost the transportation needs in Worcester and Central Massachusetts, such as the continued advocation for the Heart-to-Hub express train. Below are some of our priority policy items with Infrastructure:

1.) National Grid (Electricity Rates/Electrical Vaults)

2.) Rail Transportation

a.) Passenger (Heart-to-Hub/Commuter Rail)

b.) Freight (Rail Improvements)

3.) Massport (Worcester Regional Airport)

4.) WRTA (Fare-Free)

5.) App-based drivers

 **Workforce Development**

The Chamber hears consistently from its members there is an increasing need for a qualified and educated workforce to fill positions within their operations. A skilled and diverse workforce is essential for driving innovation and competitiveness in today’s economy. We are eager to engage in conversations about workforce development strategies to address the needs of employers and workers alike including training programs, apprenticeships, and talent retention initiatives. Below are some of our priority policy items with Workforce Development:

1.) Education

2.) Chapter 70 Funding Formula Adjustment

3.) Career Technical Education Funding

4.) MCAS Support

5.) Apprenticeship Program Expansion

6.) Jobs

7.)MassHire Funding

8.) YouthWorks Funding

9.) Food Hub Development

10.)Accessible and Affordable Early Education and Care

** Small Business Support**

Small Businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, and their success is integral to the vitality of our community. We are committed to advocating for policies and resources that empower small businesses to thrive, from streamlining regulatory processes to expanding access to capital and technical assistance. Below are some of our priority policy items to Support Small Businesses:

1.) Water & Sewer Rates

2.) Utility Costs

3.) Commercial Rent

4.) Commercial Tax Rates

** Energy and Environmental Stewardship**

The Chamber supports the development of a clean-energy future for Worcester to battle climate change and meet the Commonwealth’s 2050 net-zero goals. However, as the Commonwealth seeks to meet these goals, energy policies that seek to be implemented must not overburden businesses and residents. Also, the Chamber promotes sustainable and green practices with the community through the Worcester Green Corps, an organization operating out of the Chamber. In Worcester, the organization cleans, greens, and beautifies Worcester’s streets and parks, and provides educational programs and job opportunities for youth development. Below are some priority policy items within Energy and Environmental Stewardship

1.) Specialized Energy Code

2.) MassSave

3.) Clean Energy Development

4.) Worcester Green Corps

** Housing Development **

In Worcester and our region, the Chamber supports the creation of housing of all types to boost the region’s housing stock and to create more homeownership opportunities. Worcester has a high rental rate and is home to the third-worst real estate market for renters, due to the city having low vacancy rates, and a high median rent. We have been raising this issue as a top concern since 2019 with our “Housing for All” Housing study, as the cost of housing affects the business and workforce that lives here. Below are some of our priority policy items with Housing:

1.) Affordable Homes Act

2.) MassHousing’s Commonwealth Builders

3.) Condominium Development

4.) Homeownership

**Creating Plans for Future Economic Development **

The Chamber has been instrumental in the economic development of Worcester over the past 150 years and has been an advocate for smart growth opportunities that will benefit Worcester and the region. As the City and region continue to grow in population, we must offer economic opportunities for the population that calls Central Massachusetts home. Further, the Chamber has provided studies on Central Massachusetts’ economic opportunities within advanced manufacturing, biotech, and housing. The region can compete in these industries and attract businesses to become a leader in the Commonwealth and the Country. Below are some of our priority projects we support within Economic Development.

1.) Greendale Revitalization Initiative

2.) Worcester Downtown

3.) West Side Artery

4.) Polar Park

5.) The Reactory

6.) An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts’ Economic Leadership

7.) Economic and Community Development Bill

**Establishing Worcester as an International Biotech Hub**

Worcester is emerging as a powerhouse in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical science spaces by housing global companies like AbbVie and Wuxi Biologics along with small start-ups that have great upside potential. Worcester’s wide array of colleges and universities provide a renewable supply of educated workers for the industry. In addition to this, incubators in the city such as Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) and UMass Chan Medical School help companies grow and succeed in the city. The Chamber has long been a supporter of this sector by helping grow the MBI in its early years and supporting measures like The Reactory that add lab space to meet the demand for additional companies looking to grow in Worcester. Below are some projects that we support in this sector:

1.) MBI’s incubating work

2.) The Reactory

3.) Completion of WuXi Biologic’s construction

For more information on these issues or to bring an issue to the attention of the Chamber’s public policy committee, contact: Michael Kane, public policy associate, at 508.753.2924, ext. 227 or mkane@worcesterchamber.org.