Memo to Legislature on MassTrack Technology Votes for 2007

Today, the Massachusetts High Technology Council released its annual rankings of Massachusetts cities and towns based on each community’s climate for creation, expansion and growth by technology businesses.  The updated rankings and interactive mapping are available on MassTrack (www.masstrack.org), our online assessment resource that gauges state and local support for the technology community’s agenda. 

For more than two decades, the complex and protracted municipal permitting process was identified by technology employers as one of the greatest barriers to growth in the Commonwealth.  The Legislature’s landmark 2006 permitting reform bill creates incentives for communities who decide to opt in to an expedited municipal permitting process.

This year, we have added expedited permitting to this year’s MassTrack criteria giving credit to communities that decide to opt in.  Nine of this year’s top 10 cities and towns are “43D towns” and we see this trend continuing. 

The community information provided through MassTrack brings into focus the competitive priorities of technology employers and employees in 12 core variables, including the density of technology workforce, new housing created, MCAS proficiency, local taxes and environmental permits issued.  MassTrack is a tool for employers interested in selecting future locations as well as positive recognition for cities and towns that are making sound decisions promoting economic development and committing to the future growth of the Massachusetts innovation sector.

Along with our annual MassTrack Community Ranking, we will continue to identify important legislative issues which will be tracked based on votes cast by you and your fellow members.  As we did in the last session, we will identify and promote legislation that will be included in our assessment of overall support for a variety of public policy priorities established by the leadership of the state’s technology community. 

If you would like more information on MassTrack or for a demonstration on how it will work, please contact me or Wyndham Lewis at 781-890-6482.