Massachusetts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2009
Contact: paul@jobsfornewenglandnow.org
(617) 750-6290
Pro-Business Groups and Local Businesses Launch “Jobs for Massachusetts Now”
Local organization will work with larger New England group to promote job growth and economic development in the region
BOSTON, MA – Mixed signals about the economy continue to concern economic analysts. Several businesses and pro-business groups want to help improve the business climate in Massachusetts by launching Jobs for Massachusetts Now. The mission of the organization is to make job retention and job creation a top priority in Massachusetts, and to encourage policymakers to make decisions that make Massachusetts more attractive for business growth.
“The current economic crisis has taken a major toll on businesses throughout our state and throughout all of New England, yet we still have not seen enough effort from our state and local policymakers to help make our area a more competitive and ripe region for business development,” said Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts (RAM), one of the groups joining the effort. Hurst added, “We have come together to encourage policymakers to make decisions that will help businesses recover during this fragile time and hopefully get more Massachusetts residents off the unemployment line.”
Jobs for Massachusetts Now is the second state project created by a larger organization, Jobs for New England Now, which brings together business leaders, pro-business groups, and non-profit organizations from across New England to seek more business friendly policies in the region. Among some of the larger groups participating in the Massachusetts project in addition to RAM, include: Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), South Shore Chamber of Commerce, Metro South Chamber of Commerce, and NFIB Massachusetts.
John Regan, Executive Vice President of AIM, and a member of the new coalition said, “Many business leaders believe that a stronger chorus of voices is needed to let state legislators and state officials know that every move they make impacts local businesses and in turn, affects business owners’ ability to provide jobs. That is why we decided to join this organization.”
Stephen Bull, Co-Chairman of Jobs for New England Now, and President of the Greater Danbury (Connecticut) Chamber of Commerce praised the launch, “We are pleased to welcome the second project of Jobs for New England Now from Massachusetts. Since we began this organization just five months ago we have taken an active role in educating Connecticut policymakers and residents about how we can make the region more attractive to companies that provide jobs to our residents, and I know it will be the same in the Commonwealth.”
Moving forward, the project will have an active online presence at both www.jobsformassachusettsnow.org and the larger group’s website at www.jobsfornewenglandnow.org. Both websites house studies, opinion pieces, recent news and blog commentary from coalition members, and other academic experts. Additionally, members of Jobs for Massachusetts Now will work throughout the region in a variety of ways to promote pro-business policies that will help spur job growth and maintain existing job opportunities throughout the region.
A full list of coalition members is available at the organization website.
To schedule an interview with Paul Moran, Executive Director of Jobs for New England Now, please email: paul@jobsfornewenglandnow.org or call (617) 750-6290
About Jobs for Massachusetts Now:
Jobs for Massachusetts Now is a project of Jobs for New England Now. The organization is comprised of businesses, pro-business groups and non-profits determined to make job creation and job retention Massachusetts’ top priority. The organization believes that now is the time for urgent action to reverse that downward trend, and aims to persuade policymakers that pro-business measures will lead to greater investment and the creation of more jobs.
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