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TONIGHT TO EXPLAIN HOW WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS STANDS TO BENEFIT.
A LOT OF STATE INVESTMENT GOES
INTO BOSTON, BUT THIS NEW
INITIATIVE WILL MAKE SURE THE
REST OF THE STATE IS GIVEN DUE
ATTENTION.
A NEW POLITICAL FORCE CALLED THE
GATEWAY CITIES INNOVATION
INSTITUTE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AT
THE STATE HOUSE. THE GROUP'S
GOAL WILL BE TO REVITALIZE A
NETWORK OF 24 MIDSIZE CITIES
ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING
SPRINGFIELD, PITTSFIELD, HOLYOKE
AND CHICOPEE.
: WELL WE'VE SEEN ALREADY
THROUGH LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES
THAT GATEWAY CITIES HAVE THAT
THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.
THIS INSTITUTE IS ABOUT
PROVIDING CAPACITY TO HELP
GATEWAY CITIES GET THE BEST
IDEAS OUT THERE AND MOVE THEM
FORWARD.
THE INSTITUTE WAS CREATED TO
ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE
AMOUNT OF STATE INVESTMENT IN
BOSTON COMPARED TO THE REST OF
THE STATE.
FOR TOO LONG OUR STATE POLICIES,
ESPECIALLY AROUND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, BUT AROUND
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE,
TRANSPORTATION, HAVE BEEN TOO
FOCUSED JUST ON SOLUTIONS FOR
BOSTON .WHAT WE NEED TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF IS MAKING SURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR
GATEWAY CITIES, THOSE 24
REGIONAL, ECONOMIC DRIVERS HAVE
THE TOOLS AND THE STRATEGIES
THEY NEED IN PLACE. WITH A
UNIFIED VOICE, ADVOCATES AIM TO
RAISE THE POLITICAL PROFILE OF
GATEWAY CITIES ON BEACON HILL.
THE PATRICK ADMINISTRATION HAS
ALREADY COMMITTED TO INVESTING
IN MIDSIZE TOWNS THROUGH
EDUCATION AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
RESOURCES GET TO EVERY ONE OF
CITIES ON BEACON HILL. THE
PATRICK ADMINISTRATION HAS
ALREADY COMMITTED TO INVESTING
IN MIDSIZE TOWNS THROUGH
EDUCATION AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
RESOURCES GET TO EVERY ONE OF
THESE COMMUNITIES, THOSE ARE
HUMAN RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES, FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES, GATEWAY
CITIES ARE HOME TO 15 PERCENT OF
THE STATE'S POPULATION, YET
ACCOUNT FOR 45 PERCENT OF THE
STATE'S WELFARE CASES AND 50
PERCENT OF THE STATE'S JAILED