Invest in our citizens
Martha Coakley
I'm running for governor because I believe we have an opportunity right now to build an economy on our terms, not Wall Street's, that's prosperous and fair and gives everyone a fair shot.
There are still too many people struggling to make ends meet, too many neighborhoods, whether in Worcester or in North Adams, where I grew up, that haven't seen an economic recovery.
My comprehensive and forward-looking economic development plan will create a strong economy where there is equal opportunity by fostering economic prosperity and job growth in all our regions, improving infrastructure, training our workers and encouraging innovation.
My plan will invest in our greatest strength: our people. We will give all of our children access to early education, so that the 2,700 children in Central Massachusetts placed on a waitlist last year are not denied the chance to get a head start on learning.
My plan will also implement full-need financial aid at our community colleges, including Quinsigamond and Mount Wachusett, so that our young people are not denied a higher education and a pathway to careers because of cost.
We'll make sure our schools are teaching to each child, not the test, and providing quality science, technology, engineering and math education, along with arts and music too. Just this summer, I visited Girls, Inc. in Worcester, where young girls were learning computer science and coding, the skills needed to compete in the 21st-century economy. Those are the opportunities that all of our children deserve.
State government must serve as a partner to our business community and give them the tools they need to succeed. I am committed to investing in transportation infrastructure to connect our workers with jobs, keeping utility and healthcare costs low and forging public-private partnerships to accelerate economic growth.
We will create incentives for companies that grow jobs, hire the long-term unemployed, or offer specialized training for adult workers. To capitalize on each region's strengths, my plan encourages business growth of every sector and size. For Central Massachusetts, that means making strategic investments that put people back to work, including promoting manufacturing programs in our schools, cutting the regulatory red tape that hinders small businesses, and rolling out the red carpet for those looking to start and grow their business here in the commonwealth.
To create real regional economic growth, we must empower different regions to pursue effective development strategies. I will make $500 million in funding available over 10 years to support regional development proposals focused on job growth, workforce development and business competitiveness. I've talked to mayors who are excited about partnering with the next governor.
We have the opportunity to fully realize the potential of our new innovation economy. We must make sure that we continue to lead the world in emerging industries such as big data, e-health, digital marketing and robotics by supporting talent retention, workforce development, and investments in research and development.
I understand the importance of investing in our cities and towns outside Boston and Cambridge in growing an economy that works for our people and every region, and I'm excited to get started.
Martha Coakley is the Democratic Party's candidate for governor of Massachusetts. The party's candidate for lieutenant governor is Stephen Kerrigan.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments