Maura Healey, Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In an interview with Invest:, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey highlighted her administration’s tax cuts and housing initiatives aimed at boosting the state’s business competitiveness. She also emphasized investments in workforce development and infrastructure, alongside plans to position Massachusetts as a leader in life sciences and climate technology.
What makes Massachusetts a great place to live and do business?
Massachusetts is the best place in the world to live. We’re ranked No. 1 in education, healthcare, innovation, and as the best place to live if you’re a woman or raising a family. A lot of that is because we’re one of the oldest places in the country — the birthplace of democracy, where the American experiment began. We’ve been innovating for centuries, constantly reimagining ourselves.
We’ve also built a knowledge-based economy. A couple of this year’s Nobel Prize winners came from here, which is a testament to the ecosystem we’ve developed with our great colleges and universities, research institutions, and healthcare facilities. Our entrepreneurial spirit, combined with our focus on quality of life, really sets us apart. Massachusetts was the first state to provide universal healthcare, and we’ve led the way in protecting individual freedoms — like marriage equality and reproductive rights. These are things that attract people to live, study, and do business here.
What initiatives is your administration focusing on to make Massachusetts more competitive for businesses?
When I took office, one of my main goals was to make Massachusetts more competitive. In my first year, we passed a billion dollars in tax cuts — the first in over 20 years — and passed the $5 billion Affordable Homes Act to spur housing production and lower costs. Housing is a huge issue for businesses because they need to recruit and retain workers, so this bill is critical for making Massachusetts more attractive to employers.
We also made community college free. This is a big deal because all employers need a pipeline of skilled workers. We’ve aligned education from K-12 through community college to meet workforce needs in areas like life sciences, clean energy, and robotics. This helps residents get into good-paying jobs and makes Massachusetts even more appealing to businesses looking for talent.
Beyond housing and education, we’re investing heavily in transportation infrastructure to reduce commute times, which is crucial for employers. Childcare is another priority — Massachusetts is the only state that continued grants to child care providers at the same level that the federal government did during COVID. Employers need to know their workers have access to affordable childcare so they can go to work, and this makes us even more competitive.
How will transit-oriented development and the MBTA Communities Act impact housing affordability and transportation use?
It’s absolutely essential for our growth. Unlocking housing is critical for both our residents and the business community. One key step we’ve taken is implementing the MBTA Communities Act. So far, 78 communities have committed to housing production, and 33 are now eligible for the MBTA Catalyst Fund, which provides financial support for planning these projects. With the Affordable Homes Act injecting $5 billion into housing, we’re sparking new production, which is crucial for retaining and attracting talent. We want people who grow up here, come to school here, or start businesses here to stay, and affordable housing is a big part of that.
Employers are excited about these initiatives too. Housing, along with improved transportation infrastructure, helps make Massachusetts more competitive, ensuring people can live and work here without being priced out. We’ve worked closely with the business community on this because it’s key to our economic future.
What are your administration’s goals for the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026?
I’m really looking forward to the 250th anniversary. Massachusetts is where it all began — the shots heard around the world in Concord and Lexington. We’ll kick off those celebrations next spring and plan to involve communities all over the state. It’s a chance to show off our history and heritage, but it’s also a huge economic opportunity, especially for tourism. A lot of eyes will be on Massachusetts.
It’s also a moment to look ahead. We’re already planning for the next 250 years with our economic development bill. We’re reauthorizing the Life Sciences Act to keep Massachusetts a global leader in that field. We’re also aiming to become the global hub for climate technology — right now, 28 of the Top 100 climate tech companies are based here. And we’re focused on applied AI, which we believe will help us solve problems like curing diseases and addressing climate change. So, while we’ll be celebrating our past, we’re also setting the stage for our future.
