Boston, October 16, 2025
News Summary
Governor Maura Healey is forming an Advisory Council on Competitiveness to enhance Massachusetts’ economic appeal. The council aims to address key issues affecting job growth and business operations in the state, including taxes, regulations, and workforce development. Co-chaired by business leaders, the council will analyze the motivations behind relocating to or leaving Massachusetts, working towards making the state more attractive for living and doing business. This initiative comes amidst ongoing economic challenges and is expected to play a role in Healey’s reelection campaign.
Boston
Governor Maura Healey Establishes Advisory Council on Competitiveness to Enhance Massachusetts’ Economic Appeal
Governor Maura Healey is forming an “Advisory Council on Competitiveness” to recommend improvements for making Massachusetts more attractive for living and doing business. The council was announced by Healey on Wednesday and is intended to identify practical steps to retain and attract employers, workers and talent in the state.
Key details and leadership
The council will be co-chaired by Dan Kenary, co-founder of Harpoon Brewery, and Mark Nunnelly, former managing director at Bain Capital. Membership will include approximately 20 individuals mainly drawn from state chambers of commerce and other business organizations. The council will also feature three of Healey’s Cabinet secretaries and four appointees from the Legislature. The exact membership is still being finalized; the first meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Purpose and scope
The council plans to analyze various issues such as taxes, regulations, business incentives, and workforce development. It will also investigate motivations for relocating to or leaving Massachusetts. Discussion outcomes may lead to regulatory changes or proposed legislation, although no timeline for recommendations has been set. Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley will support the council, aiming for a broader discussion on state competitiveness.
Context and economic challenges
The initiative comes at a time when Massachusetts is facing challenges including lagging job growth post-COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s academic and research sectors are under pressure due to federal funding cuts and other related threats. High costs in housing, energy, and health care are major concerns voiced by the business community.
Healey, a Democrat, is nearing a reelection campaign, with three Republican challengers already announced. The state’s competitiveness is anticipated to be a pivotal issue in the upcoming election as Healey seeks a second term. Kenary expressed that the council’s formation isn’t specifically motivated by the upcoming campaign, emphasizing a long-term need to promote business in the state. He recently transitioned from being the CEO of Barrel One Collective to a more accessible role, which prompted his interest in co-chairing the council.
Leadership perspectives and representation
Nunnelly highlighted that discussions on competitiveness had started before Healey’s governorship in January 2023. Nunnelly acknowledged the complexity of the challenges and emphasized the need to position the state for future economic stability. Kenary noted a sense of urgency for addressing these issues to ensure continued economic viability.
The council’s composition aims to reflect Massachusetts’ socioeconomic diversity and will include members from the legislature, trade groups, labor unions, and economic advocacy groups. The council seeks to enhance Massachusetts’ reputation as a strong business and talent hub by addressing critical economic aspects collaboratively.
State actions and investments
Healey’s administration has focused on constructing over 90,000 new housing units and implementing significant legislation aimed at reducing energy costs for residents. A $400 million investment plan has been introduced to boost Massachusetts’ research and development sector following federal cutbacks. Those actions are presented as complementary to the council’s work and intended to address some of the structural issues the council will examine.
Next steps
The administration is finalizing membership and has not scheduled the first meeting. The council will gather input from business groups, labor representatives and lawmakers, and will provide recommendations that could translate into administrative changes or legislative proposals. No specific deadline has been set for when recommendations will be delivered to the governor or the Legislature.
FAQ
Q: What is the council being formed to do?
A: Governor Maura Healey is forming an “Advisory Council on Competitiveness” to recommend improvements for making Massachusetts more attractive for living and doing business.
Q: When was the council announced?
A: The council was announced by Healey on Wednesday.
Q: Who will lead the council?
A: The council will be co-chaired by Dan Kenary, co-founder of Harpoon Brewery, and Mark Nunnelly, former managing director at Bain Capital.
Q: How large will the council be and who will be included?
A: Membership will include approximately 20 individuals mainly drawn from state chambers of commerce and other business organizations.
Q: Will government officials be on the council?
A: The council will also feature three of Healey’s Cabinet secretaries and four appointees from the Legislature.
Q: Has the council set a meeting schedule yet?
A: The exact membership is still being finalized; the first meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Q: What issues will the council examine?
A: The council plans to analyze various issues such as taxes, regulations, business incentives, and workforce development.
Q: Will the council look at why people and businesses move?
A: It will also investigate motivations for relocating to or leaving Massachusetts.
Q: What economic problems is the council responding to?
A: The initiative comes at a time when Massachusetts is facing challenges including lagging job growth post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Are there concerns about research funding and costs?
A: The state’s academic and research sectors are under pressure due to federal funding cuts and other related threats.
Q: What cost pressures are noted by the business community?
A: High costs in housing, energy, and health care are major concerns voiced by the business community.
Q: Is the council related to the governor’s reelection?
A: Healey, a Democrat, is nearing a reelection campaign, with three Republican challengers already announced.
Q: Will the council’s work matter for the election?
A: The state’s competitiveness is anticipated to be a pivotal issue in the upcoming election as Healey seeks a second term.
Q: Did the co-chairs comment on the timing?
A: Kenary expressed that the council’s formation isn’t specifically motivated by the upcoming campaign, emphasizing a long-term need to promote business in the state.
Q: What motivated Dan Kenary to take the role?
A: He recently transitioned from being the CEO of Barrel One Collective to a more accessible role, which prompted his interest in co-chairing the council.
Q: What might the council’s recommendations produce?
A: Discussion outcomes may lead to regulatory changes or proposed legislation, although no timeline for recommendations has been set.
Q: Who will support the council administratively?
A: Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley will support the council, aiming for a broader discussion on state competitiveness.
Q: Did discussions on competitiveness start recently?
A: Nunnelly highlighted that discussions on competitiveness had started before Healey’s governorship in January 2023.
Q: How does the council aim to represent the state?
A: The council’s composition aims to reflect Massachusetts’ socioeconomic diversity and will include members from the legislature, trade groups, labor unions, and economic advocacy groups.
Q: What housing and energy actions has the administration taken?
A: Healey’s administration has focused on constructing over 90,000 new housing units and implementing significant legislation aimed at reducing energy costs for residents.
Q: Is there funding proposed for research and development?
A: A $400 million investment plan has been introduced to boost Massachusetts’ research and development sector following federal cutbacks.
Q: What is the council’s ultimate objective?
A: The council seeks to enhance Massachusetts’ reputation as a strong business and talent hub by addressing critical economic aspects collaboratively.
Quick reference table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Council name | Advisory Council on Competitiveness |
| Announced | Announced by Healey on Wednesday |
| Co-chairs | Dan Kenary; Mark Nunnelly |
| Membership | Approximately 20 individuals; three Cabinet secretaries; four legislative appointees |
| Primary issues to study | Taxes, regulations, business incentives, workforce development, relocation motivations |
| State challenges prompting council | Lagging job growth post-COVID-19 pandemic; federal funding cuts affecting research; high costs in housing, energy, and health care |
| Related state actions | Over 90,000 new housing units planned; legislation aimed at reducing energy costs; $400 million R&D investment plan |
| Next steps | Membership finalization and scheduling of first meeting (timeline not yet set) |
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Additional Resources
- Boston Globe
- Wikipedia: Massachusetts
- WWLP News
- Google Search: Governor Maura Healey Competitiveness Council
- Boston Agent Magazine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Massachusetts
- Hoodline
- Google News: Massachusetts Competitiveness Council
- State Affairs
- Canary Media
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