At the end of 2022, the Roundtable released a policy framework “A Talent Agenda to Drive Massachusetts’ Competitiveness” focused on talent in three pillars: (1) talent recruitment and retention; (2) talent development; and (3) talent diversity. This Talent Agenda, which is the foundation of the Roundtable’s public policy work, was developed based on the insights, ideas and perspective of members through surveys, interviews, one-on-one conversations, and group convenings.

Over the past three months, the Roundtable has been active and engaged with the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the legislature, and external partners. We have used the Talent Agenda to frame conversations around the types of policy priorities and investments that help attract, retain, develop and diversify our Commonwealth’s talent pool and pipeline to meet the needs of the current and future economy. We invite you to explore highlights of our advocacy for our priorities in the first quarter of the year below.

Early Childhood Legislation

In January, the Roundtable and the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education worked with Representative Peisch to file H.1935, An Act to encourage employer supported childcare. This legislation was developed after undertaking a landscape analysis of models for employer supported childcare across the country which found numerous examples of successful public-private partnerships. H.1935 has two provisions: (1) create an Early Education and Care Public-Private Partnership Trust Fund, modeled on successful examples from around the country, to encourage and help employers support the childcare needs of their employees; and (2) create a special commission to study and make recommendations on employer-supported child care benefits, including evaluating the use of an employer tax credit to encourage early education care supports for employees.

Healey–Driscoll Administration FY24 Budget and Tax Relief Package

In late February and early March, Governor Healey released her proposed tax relief package and FY24 Budget which kicked off the state budget process. The tax relief package focuses on affordability, equity, and competitiveness by providing relief for the cost of childcare and dependent care, housing, as well as addressing taxes that make Massachusetts an outlier compared to other states. The Governor’s FY24 budget proposal includes investments in several Roundtable priority areas as outlined in the Talent Agenda, including workforce development, housing, early childhood education, transportation, infrastructure, clean energy and more. The Governor’s press release outlining both proposals can be reviewed here.

The day after the budget was filed, the Roundtable hosted Secretary for Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz at a briefing with over 40 Roundtable members where the Secretary shared details of the Governor’s tax relief and budget proposal. At the meeting, the Secretary committed to an ongoing partnership and dialogue with the Roundtable and its members on these important issues.

Testimony

Throughout March, the Roundtable has been active in submitting testimony on four priority areas specifically referenced in the Talent Agenda: education; housing; tax policy; and workforce development. The testimony summarized below is framed around the competitiveness message, highlighting the strong foundation of the state’s economy but warning of headwinds including the high costs of living and doing business combined with alarming and persistent outmigration trends.

  • Education: On March 13th, President and CEO JD Chesloff was invited to testify at an invitation-only Ways and Means Budget hearing relating to provisions of the FY24 budget pertaining to education. In his testimony, JD highlighted why investments in early education are so important to the state’s competitiveness. You can read the testimony here.
  • Housing: On March 27th, the Roundtable submitted testimony to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on H.43, An Act to create the executive office of housing and livable communities and to rename the executive office of economic development. This legislation is the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposal to create a standalone housing secretariat, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. In the testimony, the Roundtable supported the intentional focus on housing, noting it is a good first step in addressing the state’s housing crisis. You can read the testimony here.
  • Tax Relief: On March 28th, the Roundtable submitted testimony to the Joint Committee on Revenue on H.42, An Act creating tax relief for affordability, competitiveness and equity. In the testimony, the Roundtable discussed how tax policy should be a key consideration in the state’s short- and long-term competitiveness strategy to improve the state’s attractiveness for both employers and employees. The Roundtable urged the Committee to give due consideration to the proposals in H.42 as a starting point and consider additional relief measures. You can read the testimony here.
  • Workforce and Economic Development: On March 31st, the Roundtable submitted testimony for the Ways and Means Budget hearing relating to the provisions in the FY24 budget pertaining to workforce and economic development. In the testimony, the Roundtable highlighted how the challenges of today and tomorrow will take creative solutions, state investments, private/public partnerships, and a collective will to ensure that Massachusetts continues to have the diverse talent pipeline that employers throughout the Commonwealth need to grow and thrive. You can read the testimony here.

Coalitions and Initiatives

The Roundtable works collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver key initiatives to strengthen Massachusetts’ competitiveness and long-term economic prosperity. To further this work, the Roundtable is engaged in a variety of initiatives and coalitions, and recent highlights are outlined below. The Roundtable’s work with these coalitions during the first three months of 2023 has been guided directly by the Talent Agenda’s pillars of talent recruitment and retention; talent development; and talent diversity.

  • Massachusetts Alliance for Early College is a cross-sector coalition focused on dramatically increasing the number of students with access to high-quality Early College in Massachusetts. This goal is aligned with the second pillar of the Roundtable’s Talent Agenda, focusing on developing untapped talent and strengthening the pipeline of future talent throughout the state. You can learn more about the Alliance here. In January, the Roundtable joined over 200 leaders in signing a letter to the Healey-Driscoll Administration to request an increase in state funding for the state’s early college program in the FY24 state budget which you can read here.
  • The Student Pathways to Success Coalition is dedicated to empowering students from under-resourced communities and building a diverse, highly skilled workforce that will drive continued growth in the Massachusetts economy. The coalition has filed numerous bills this session aimed to increase the number the of high-quality college and career pathway programs that are designed to narrow equity gaps and provide more students with opportunities for improved economic mobility. You can learn more about the coalition here.
  • The Workforce Solutions Group is a statewide advocacy coalition comprised of business, labor, non-profits and workforce development organizations that advocates for “an effective training and education system that increases workers’ skills, advances families to self-sufficiency and promotes job creation and economic growth. As co-chair of the Workforce Solutions Group, EVP Tonja Mettlach has been meeting with legislators around workforce budget priorities and legislation related to improving the workforce system’s data infrastructure.
  • The MA Apprenticeship Network, created in 2022 in partnership with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Accenture, convenes employers and other key stakeholders committed to hiring 1,000 apprentices in 5 years. In March, the Roundtable joined the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Accenture, Secretary Jones, and employers, partners and apprentices to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the MA Apprenticeship Network. In its first year, the Network championed 142 apprenticeships with 6 employers, with 4 more employers starting in 2023. Of importance, 73% of the apprentices identified as a person of color and 65% are women, demonstrating the value of apprenticeships in creating diverse talent pipelines for employers across industry and region. To learn more about the network click here.
  • JD Chesloff was selected for another two-year term on the Health Policy Commission’s Advisory Council for 2023-2024. The HPC Advisory Council includes over 30 members across industries statewide, and includes fellow Roundtable members Michael Caljouw from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Juan Fernando Lopera of Roundtable member Beth Israel Lahey Health. The Council hosted its first meeting in February, which highlighted the urgency of investing in the healthcare workforce, a shared priority at the Roundtable. The Roundtable also attended the HPC’s March Event: “Building a Robust Health Care Workforce in Massachusetts” and JD looks forward to highlighting Roundtable priorities in workforce, behavioral health, and equity through his participation on the Council.