Gov. Maura Healey announces economic development bill as businesses, residents pour out of Massachusetts

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Apr 16, 2026

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BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey has introduced a new economic development bill she says focuses on creating jobs, lowering costs, and attracting global investment, as both residents and businesses continue to flee the state due to soaring energy costs and other costly state taxes and policies.

Called the Mass Win Act, the bill would utilize $305 million in capital authorizations organized around what Healey’s office calls the “five core pillars focused on driving innovation, reducing barriers to growth, expanding access to opportunity, supporting business development, and strengthening the state’s long-term economic foundations.” Healey’s office also says the legislation will strengthen the state’s competitiveness by lowering costs for businesses.

“We’ve had some wins in just the past few months when we’ve seen dozens of companies move here, invest here, create jobs here. Over the past six months, we’ve added thousands of jobs to Massachusetts, and Massachusetts’ growth has outpaced the United States in job growth,” Healey told reporters at a Thursday press conference announcing the economic development plan, before going on to pin the Bay State’s economic challenges on President Trump.

“We also face some headwinds. The fact is that Donald Trump is making things worse with his tariffs and a war that’s driving up the cost of gas, energy, and so much of our supply chain. But we can’t wait for the federal government to act or to get its act together, frankly. And that’s why we’re taking action ourselves,” she said.

Blaming Trump, specifically his economic agenda and global tariffs, has become a familiar tactic for Healey, especially when it comes to soaring energy prices and the vast outmigration of residents and businesses from Massachusetts. Experts cite the state’s high taxes on both residents and businesses, the highest energy prices in the United States, and stringent policies related to fulfilling the NetZero by 2050 climate mandate.

The Herald asked Healey if the state’s climate policies, like the NetZero mandate, are a contributing factor to the high number of businesses moving operations out of Massachusetts.

“I think what’s exciting about Massachusetts is that so many companies have come and made investments here because they’re companies that are really interested in working on energy issues, including clean energy. And it’s exciting to see that growth,” Healey said, going on to claim the two are unrelated.

“Energy costs a lot of money. And I think all of us know that. And so any way we can bring more energy in is so important. And I know that companies are invested in doing that here in Massachusetts. So I don’t see those things as tied together at all,” she said.

The legislation includes a $50 million seed investment meant to attract global capital into Massachusetts-based companies, while also providing $20 million for site development and critical infrastructure to attract international companies to the state. Healey’s office says it will also lower fees starting a new business from $500 to $100, will give 20,000 additional businesses access to the Small Business Energy Tax Exemption, authorize discounted utility rates for large employers relocating to Massachusetts, and promise a “more consistent and predictable” building code appeals process.

Healey’s plan also includes a $10 million annual internship tax credit program with the goal of expanding early career opportunities and helping connect Massachusetts-educated talent to in-state employers.

The bill also includes other investments, including $100 million, $75 million to expand the application of artificial intelligence across key industries and to invest in emerging technologies like quantum computing, $25 million is for Massachusetts’ robotics cluster, and $25 million provides capital support for companies expanding or constructing facilities in the state.

Meanwhile, businesses have been moving out of Massachusetts over the past several months, including some that had been staples of the state’s economy. In January, the reigning Massachusetts “Manufacturer of the Year,” Curia Global, shut down operations at its Burlington facility. Other notable departures include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Panera Bread, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Zipcar, SynQor, Analogic Corp. and more. Most recently, earlier this month, Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced the elimination of 247 jobs from its Cambridge location.

Worse yet, Massachusetts continues to lose young adults, particularly between the ages of 24 and 44, which has the highest rate of outmigration in the state, and represents the prime working age for adults.

The governor could not answer how much money would be bonded out by the bill.

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