Commonwealth Conversations: Engage!

Guten Tag from Dresden, Germany

Tim Murray

Lt. Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

View Lt. Governor's Bio

Guten Tag from Dresden, Germany!

As Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), it is a tremendous opportunity to visit another country and promote the great synergies between Massachusetts and Germany.  Like Massachusetts, Germany values a world-class education and its innovation economy is thriving.

This week, I will be visiting Dresden (the capital of Saxony, Germany), Leipzig (the largest city in Saxony), and Berlin (the capital of Germany and one of the largest cities in Europe).  I will be leading a delegation of lieutenant governors with the NLGA.  During the week, I plan to share some highlights along the way as I travel throughout Germany. 

Stay tuned for more!

Protect Massachusetts Military Bases for National Security & Economic Growth

Tim Murray

Lt. Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

View Lt. Governor's Bio

Recent announced proposals by Westover Air Reserve Base and Hanscom Air Force Base reflect a difficult reality that federal budget cuts will have an impact on military bases in Massachusetts and across the country. These proposals were unveiled shortly after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced plans to reduce military spending by approximately $500 billion over the next decade. While these developments highlight the challenges we face ahead in Massachusetts, the military presence in Massachusetts is too important for our national security and economy to be taken for granted.

Lt. Governor Murray tours Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.

As the debate unfolds in Washington D.C. and across the country, it is important for Massachusetts to showcase and support the vital missions of our active military installations. As part of its budget cuts, the Defense Department proposed that Congress establish another Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to consider and implement possible base closures throughout the country. There has been strong, vocal opposition to this proposal, including from our own Congressional delegation, which is working hard with our Administration to protect our bases. We all must, however, be prepared in case this BRAC becomes a reality. 

Massachusetts bases coupled with businesses in the defense and aerospace industries generate more than 120,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. Defense contracts awarded to Massachusetts companies have almost tripled since 2000, because of our state’s strong, innovation-based economy and our world-class education, research and engineering institutions that support it. This is just one example of how important the military and defense industry is to Massachusetts, and we know there is plenty more information to best position and promote each military base to better position, promote, and protect these assets. 

Over the last year, I led a series of strategy meetings with our cabinet secretaries, and private sector groups such as the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative, to gather current data and perspectives, and today, I signed an Executive Order formalizing these ongoing efforts by creating the "Commonwealth’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force.”  In addition to engaging local and regional support to help promote and protect the state’s military bases, the Task Force will develop, coordinate, and implement actions in the areas of workforce training, infrastructure improvements, environmental and utility savings, housing and transportation to support the missions at military bases across the Commonwealth.  Additionally, the Task Force will identify step the state can take to remedy problem areas before preliminary recommendations from the federal government are adopted and missions are implemented.  Lastly, I along with all members of the Task Force will advise the Governor and Executive and Legislative Branch officials regarding the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to close, realign, restructure, streamline, or in any way impact military bases in Massachusetts.

As I move forward with the work of the Task Force, I am also visiting the state’s six major military bases to get a first-hand look at their operations, raise public awareness of their missions, and strengthen local and regional partnerships important for the bases. I began the tour at Barnes Air National Guard Base, an exemplary base that provides 24-hour protection for the northeastern region of the United States. Over the next few months, I will also visit Westover, Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod, the Natick Soldier Systems Center and Fort Devens. Understanding and promoting the strategic location, national security mission, and economic impact of these bases is a true statewide initiative. Our work in this region must extend to other military bases in Massachusetts as we plan for base consolidations nationally. 

In light of federal budget challenges, as the military collectively looks to deliver greater efficiencies and savings, we as a Commonwealth need to put our best foot forward to promote, protect, and even expand missions at each base in Massachusetts. 

 

Massachusetts Shines in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Adam Freudberg

Director of Operations and Policy Advisor in the Office of Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray

Massachusetts is a leader in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, workforce development, and job creation.  By working in partnership with government, academia, and industry, we are leveraging resources in a joint effort to encourage more and more students to study STEM fields to prepare themselves for future careers in Massachusetts’ innovation economy.

In December, I joined a delegation from Massachusetts at a STEM Conference sponsored by the National Governor’s Association.  To kick off the conference, Dane Linn, Director of the Education Division at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, even said:

“Many states can learn from the work Massachusetts has done on STEM.  They have clearly demonstrated an ability to think strategically in the development of the state's STEM agenda both in the short and long term.”

At this conference, the Massachusetts delegation also included the Executive Director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and senior staff from the Museum of Science, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, PTC a technology company and large employer in Metro Boston, and the University of Massachusetts.  The conference was a great opportunity to highlight Massachusetts’ successes in STEM and also share best practices with STEM leaders across the country.  Linn’s recognition of Massachusetts as a STEM leader reflects the strong collaboration the Patrick-Murray Administration have helped to foster in recent years. 

Prior to coming into office with Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray served as mayor of Worcester and on the Worcester School Committee, understanding firsthand the value of education in local, regional and state economies.  As mayor, he oversaw more than a billion dollars in new economic development projects, including projects to enhance STEM related industries in Worcester.

Lt. Governor Murray carried this interest into his new role, and asked that I attend the annual statewide STEM Summit on his behalf in 2007.  At the time, it was clear that Massachusetts was already successful in innovative STEM programming for students and educators; however, Massachusetts lacked in coordination and organized leadership to help accelerate statewide efforts, including funding opportunities.  So, our office began to work with a variety of educators and industry leaders to compile a comprehensive list of all STEM programs, now known as the 1,000 points of STEM.

Lt. Governor Murray then recommended to Governor Patrick that he create a council to focus on STEM.  In October 2009, Governor Patrick then signed an Executive Order in October 2009, creating the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, designating Lt. Governor Murray as chairman.  Since the establishment of the Council, Lt. Governor Murray has built a strong partnership with educators, non-profit and private sector industry leaders, and government agencies to improve coordination and planning. 

Massachusetts released its first statewide STEM Plan in 2010, and most recently selected six statewide STEM programs to focus on enhancing and funding which will benefit all regions of the Commonwealth.  The STEM Advisory Council is currently implementing programs needed to reach four main goals defined in the Plan: 1) Expand community engagement; 2) Strategically improve academic coherence; 3) Enhance successful options for educator development; and 4) Expand opportunities with our partners in business and non-profits.

With the leadership of Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray, STEM Advisory Council members, educators and industry leaders, we can and will make positive changes to encourage and educate more students, teachers, and parents on the value of studying STEM education.

Did you know?

• Growth in STEM jobs has been three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs over the last 10 years.  (U.S. Department of Commerce) 
• Throughout the next decade, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent, compared to 9.8-percent growth for other occupations.  (U.S. Department of Commerce) 
• In comparison to their non-STEM counterparts, STEM workers earn 26 percent more on average and are less likely to experience joblessness.  The average annual wage for all STEM occupations was $77,880 in May 2009, significantly above the U.S. average of $43,460 for non-STEM occupations.  (NGA) 
• In 2010, the unemployment rate for STEM workers was 5.3 percent; for all other occupations, it was 10 percent.  (NGA) 
• Only about a third of bachelor’s degrees earned in the United States are in a STEM field, compared with approximately 53 percent of first university degrees earned in China, and 63 percent of those earned in Japan.  (U.S. Department of Commerce) 

 More about the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

 

2011 BIO Convention | Day Two

 Governor Patrick celebrating Vertex Pharmaceuticals' expansion earlier this month. (Holland Hinman/Governor's Office)

Governor Patrick today continued participating in the 2011 International BIO Convention, promoting Massachusetts' life sciences leadership and our strengths in the innovation economy. 

After a breakfast with international corporate leaders and a roundtable discussion on collaboration with Israel this morning, Governor Patrick joined Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson to announce the creation of the Massachusetts Israel Innovation Partnership. 

Under the new Partnership, Massachusetts and Israel will invest $2 million to encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship between Massachusetts’ and Israel’s life sciences, clean energy and technology sectors. Today's announcement builds directly on work done in Israel during the Innovation Economy Partnership mission to Israel and the United Kingdom earlier this year. Click here to learn more about the Partnership.

Speaking before the entire Convention at the plenary session this afternoon with Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Governor Patrick looked ahead to the 2012 BIO Convention. He discussed how bringing the Convention back to Massachusetts is a sign of our commitment to the life sciences industry and an important contribution to the Massachusetts economy, emploring delegates to "Come early, stay late, bring your credit card, and, more importantly, your ideas."

Read yesterday's blog post to catch up on the first day of the BIO Conference. Here are some quick facts about the life sciences industry in Massachusetts:

• The Life Sciences Initiative is a ten year, $1 billion investment in the life sciences industry. So far the state has invested about $200 million of public resources, which has generated almost a billion dollars in new private investment and thousands of jobs. 
• Massachusetts has the greatest concentration of biotechnology researchers in the United States – twice that of the next closest state.  
• The Commonwealth hosts some of the biggest, most successful life sciences and pharmaceutical firms in the world. Governor Patrick recently attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for Vertex and Pfizer. Both companies are planning major expansions in Massachusetts. 
• Visit the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for more details and follow @MassGovernor on Twitter for the updates from the Convention floor.

 

 

2011 BIO Convention | Day One

 Governor Patrick joins Pfizer in Massachusetts earlier this month. (Holland Hinman/Governor's Office)

Governor Patrick today arrived at the 2011 BIO International Convention in Washington, DC. BIO is a worldwide conference bringing together leaders in the life sciences industries, government and academia. 

The Governor is meeting with business leaders and corporate executives on the Convention floor before formally opening the Massachusetts Pavilion for this year's Convention later this afternoon. 

This is Governor Patrick's fourth Bio Convention. Each Convention is an opportunity to promote Massachusetts' "natural resources" - our long tradition of innovation and our highly skilled workforce - that make us uniquely well-suited to host industries like the life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.  

• In 2012, the BIO Convention will be returning to Massachusetts. 
• In 2008 Governor Patrick was honored as "Governor of the Year" at the BIO Convention. 
• In 2007 Governor Patrick announced the Life Sciences Initiative at the BIO Convention. 

 Here some quick facts about the life sciences industry in Massachusetts:

• The Life Sciences Initiative is a ten year, $1 billion investment in the life sciences industry. So far the state has invested about $200 million of public resources, which has generated almost a billion dollars in new private investment and thousands of jobs. 
• Massachusetts has the greatest concentration of biotechnology researchers in the United States – twice that of the next closest state.  
• The Commonwealth hosts some of the biggest, most successful life sciences and pharmaceutical firms in the world. Governor Patrick recently attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for Vertex and Pfizer. Both companies are planning major expansions in Massachusetts. 
• Visit the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for more details and follow @MassGovernor on Twitter for the updates from the Convention floor.