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. 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. 

** 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 advocacy for the Heart-to-Hub express train, freight rail improvement, the Worcester Regional Airport, and WRTA.

 **Workforce Development**

The Chamber hears consistently from its members that 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. Supporting initiatives, such as Chapter 70 Funding Formula adjustments, Vocational Technical Education, and Graduation Standards that ensure students are ready to enter the workforce.

** 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 Worcester and Massachusetts businesses and their employees to thrive. Our efforts focus on streamlining regulatory processes, expanding access to capital, and providing critical technical assistance. Furthermore, we actively fight to lower commercial tax rates and manage overhead costs—including utilities, water, sewer, and rent—to ensure our employers can grow sustainably. 

** 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.

** Housing Development **

The Chamber supports building housing of all types to boost our region’s supply and expand homeownership opportunities in Worcester. To achieve this, we champion vital state incentives and credits, including the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP), the Massachusetts Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder program. Cultivating the right regulatory framework is also essential, which includes supporting inclusionary zoning and promoting condominium and homeownership developments. To ensure these growth opportunities aren’t stifled, the Chamber opposes the proposed rent control ballot question, advocating instead for solutions that actively build new housing.

**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.

**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:

For more information on these issues, contact: Michael Kane, Director of Economic Development & Public Policy Public, at 508.753.2924, ext. 227 or mkane@worcesterchamber.org.