Our WorkThe Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development – now MassEcon - is a private, non-profit partnership of business and government dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a competitive business location. We are passionate about the assets of the Commonwealth, and we want to ensure that business stays, grows, and thrives here.

To that end, MassEcon markets Massachusetts by providing information services to companies seeking to expand within or relocate to the Commonwealth. Our Site Finder Service, Research & Information Service, and Ambassadors network offer companies critical decision-support as they evaluate Massachusetts as a place to locate and grow their business. Our job is to provide expanding companies with:

The sites that meet their needs

The research and information to help them make the location decision

The links to resources and people to help close the deal

Finding sites, of course, is not exclusively about real estate. Our expertise, cross-state connections, and depth of experience provides our client companies with high-value information on our regions, our labor force and our business climate – all critical elements of a well-informed location decision. We at MassEcon are committed to telling the Massachusetts story in full, and working with our partners to ensure that the Commonwealth’s economic development efforts are robust and effective.

“MassEcon serves as a key member of our state’s sales force and plays a leadership role in marketing Massachusetts as a competitive business location.” Governor Deval Patrick

Dear Friends:It is our pleasure to report to you on the efforts and accomplishments of MassEcon for 2008, our fifteenth anniversary year.

As we reflect on our formation in 1993, we begin by acknowledging the foresight of our found-ing members in recognizing the unique role a public-private partnership can play in promoting Massachusetts as a place to do business. MassEcon has grown from a consortium of utility companies to become an alliance of multiple industry sectors, trade and industry associations, the public sector, and regional and local economic development organizations – all joined by the vision of the original founders.

This vision is grounded in the belief that an economic development culture must be institution-alized. In this spirit, MassEcon is proud to have worked with five gubernatorial administrations and to have delivered services over a period marked by both extraordinary growth and sober-ing recession. The payoff of increased jobs and investment in the state can only result from a steady, focused effort, and we are grateful to our members for supporting MassEcon over time. Over the fifteen year period, MassEcon’s work, in concert with state and local partners, resulted in over 40,000 jobs being added or retained in the Commonwealth.

During 2008, over 112 companies planning for future growth relied on MassEcon’s services to evaluate the Commonwealth as a location for expansion or relocation. This was a hard year. The recession dampened the expansion plans of many companies, and only five of the 112 companies we served made expansion decisions. Nevertheless, our services form a core part of the economic development arsenal that must be maintained through both fair and foul economic times.

Our progress over the year reflects the efforts of a team that includes public officials, Cham-bers of Commerce, industry and trade associations, the business community, state and local economic development professionals, and our dedicated corps of members. We are fortunate to work with so many capable parties who are engaged in promoting the assets of Massachu-setts.

Looking ahead, as we move toward economic recovery, it is essential that Massachusetts be poised to capture its fair share of growth. Retaining and attracting business requires an organized effort of an informed and creative economic development team. Having worked in partnership with five gubernatorial administrations, MassEcon is proud to bring a consistent, non-partisan voice to the enterprise.

We thank our members and partners for making our work possible. We also thank Michael DiGiano, immediate past Chair, for his superb advocacy and strategic insights, and for laying the foundation for 2008.

Sincerely,

Susan HoustonExecutive Director

Girard SargentChairman

Susan HoustonExecutive Director

Girard SargentChairman

ResultsIn conjunction with state and local partners, MassEcon worked with 112 companies that were considering Massachusetts as an expansion location in 2008. While companies new to Massachusetts are important customers of MassEcon, our resources are firmly committed to supporting existing Massachusetts companies. In fact, 58 percent of MassEcon’s customers during 2008 came from within the Commonwealth.

By the Numbers

“MassEcon has consistently been a solid resource for identifying site options for our clients. Not only do they excel in this area of support, but they understand impor-tant business issues that will impact our clients. Because of the services and staff at MassEcon, we truly enjoy working in Massachusetts.”

Will Hearn

Principal, CH2M Hill

Alternative Energy

Biotechnology

Data/Call Centers

Distribution

Diverse Manufacturing

Food Production & Distribution

Information Technology

Medical Devices

Other

Meet the Companies

0 5 10 15 20 25

Connections MassEcon as ConvenerMassEcon offers its members a variety of opportunities to gain additional insights into top-ics of interest and importance to the business community in the Commonwealth. In the past year, these opportunities included hearing speakers such as Dr. Alan Clayton-Matthews of UMass who presented the outlook for the Massachusetts economy; Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, who gave an overview of the newly formed Life Science Center and the role it will play in economic development; and Dr. Barry Bluestone, Director, Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University, who discussed his study Staying Power on the state of the manufacturing industry in the Commonwealth.

Regional and Local PartnershipsMassEcon’s corporate members from the regional and local economic development commu-nity immeasurably add to the ability to promote the assets of all regions of the state. Working together with MassEcon, these organizations are instrumental in educating decision-makers about the benefits of growing businesses in their areas. MassEcon staff, in turn, provides resources to its local and regional partners. This year, MassEcon provided expertise to assist the Boston Redevelopment Authority with its on-line site finding service; showcased Lawrence’s Riverwalk development in collaboration with the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council and local officials from the City of Lawrence; served as panelist and co-sponsor of the Massachusetts Biotech Council’s Bio-ready Community workshops in Andover, Billerica, Chicopee, Fall River, Waltham, Worcester, and Hopkinton; and served as a member of the Worcester Stakeholder forums.

Finally, MassEcon is proud to provide support to a number of regional initiatives. MassEcon staff serves on the boards of the 495/MetroWest Partnership and the New England Economic Partnership; serves on the planning committee of Team New England; and is a regular contributor to the Economic Development Partners’ meetings in the western region. In 2008, MassEcon continued its second year of convening quarterly meetings with its regional economic development partners and the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, providing a forum for communication among peer economic developers.

www.massecon.com MassEcon’s website is an important tool for companies seeking to expand within or relocate to the Commonwealth. Visit www.massecon.com to access MassEcon’s services on-line; to find out about the major regions of the Commonwealth; to link to the many business, industry, and public sector resources for growing companies; and to search the statewide industrial and research park database. Watch for MassEcon’s re-designed website in 2009!

“MassEcon has proven to be extremely effective in bringing together the diverse regions of the state under a unified Team Massachusetts umbrella.”

Allan Blair

President and CEO Economic Develop-ment Council of Western Massachusetts

LEFT:Peter Brown of Campanelli Companies and David Begelfer of NAIOP with Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs at MassEcon’s Holiday Lunch.

MIDDLE:Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray at MassEcon’s Summer Reception.

RIGHT:Karen Sawyer of the City of Methuen, David Tibbetts of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, and Meg Delorier of MassDevelopment at MassEcon’s Summer Reception

ExpertiseEngaging the Private SectorA unique element of MassEcon’s services to support economic development is the ability to rally the resources and expertise of its private sector membership to support the recruitment or retention of a particular company.

Under the Team Massachusetts umbrella, MassEcon members volunteer their time to provide real estate market overviews, site tours, construction cost estimates, residential relocation information, venture capital guidance, and more. This expertise, which MassEcon brings to the state’s economic development sales team, can significantly enhance the customer’s view of Massachusetts as a place to do business.

Governed by a protocol adopted by MassEcon’s Board of Directors, in 2008 MassEcon members volunteered their expertise to 13 companies considering Massachusetts as a place to locate their operations, including Boston Power, highlighted below.

Boston Power, the lithium-battery manufacturer in the MetroWest region, was working closely with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) to establish a pilot facility close to its current headquarters. MassEcon, as part of MOBD’s team, invited member company, Grubb & Ellis, to provide an analysis of the market at a meeting with Boston Power’s executives. After the meeting the company identified its needs: 50,000 square foot facility in the MetroWest area. The project would add 100+ new jobs.

Over the year, other volunteers included Richards Barry Joyce & Partners who provided real estate knowledge to a manufacturing client; Dacon Corporation who provided construction expertise to a biotech company looking to fit up its space; NAI Hunneman who provided real estate services to a bio-tech company; and Coldwell Banker Residential Relocation who provided a client company with cost figures and assistance in the relocation of top employees. MassEcon thanks its members for volunteering their expertise on behalf of economic development.

Bringing a National PerspectiveIn collaboration with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and regional and local stakeholders, MassEcon completed two phases of a three-phase project in marketing the Commonwealth and its key real estate assets. Bringing in the professional expertise of national corporate location advisor, Moran Stahl & Boyer, MassEcon held seven workshops throughout the state to hear from regional leaders on their economic development priorities, to assess the statewide and regional resources for business development, and to provide an analytical framework for connecting real estate to the needs of companies by sector and stage of growth. The work completed in 2008 lays the groundwork for the marketing initiative that will be launched in 2009. Thanks are due to MassEcon’s Location Support committee for provid-ing oversight of this project and to committee chairs, John Ziemba from Bowditch & Dewey and Rob Reilly from Fidelity Investments.

To find out more about this important work, the reports from this project are posted on www.massecon.com/regionalprofiles.asp.

“MassEcon has given our firm a meaningful way to contribute to the Commonwealth’s com-petitive position. We’ve seen first-hand that our expertise is valued by policy makers, and MassEcon has served as the bridge.”

Bob Richards President Richards Barry Joyce & Partners

Meeting the Challenge of the DownturnMassEcon’s 2008 Annual Conference – Changing Times, Changing Strategies: Meeting the Challenge of the Downturn – was held on June 13th to discuss how Massachusetts can best position itself for future growth within the midst of a contracting economy. Moderated by Geoff Howell, Partner, DLA Piper LLP US with panelists Greg Bialecki, then Undersecretary , Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development; Charles Lax, Managing General Partner, GrandBanks Capital; Jack Little, President & CEO, The MathWorks; and John Rhodes, Senior Principal, Moran Stahl & Boyer, the discussion provided perspective on our state’s talent pool, new company formation, our role within the global economy, education, and the resources available within Massachusetts to help encourage growth. The insights offered provided policy makers and attendees with a deeper understanding of how particular industries are meeting the challenge of the downturn and how the state can foster a beneficial environment for investment.

An executive summary of the conference can be found at http://www.massecon.com/docs/Executive_Summary_2008.pdf

Choosing Massachusetts Over its 15 years, MassEcon, in collaboration with state and local partners, is proud to have provided services that enabled the following companies to expand and invest in Massachusetts.

3COM, Marlborough • Abiomed, Danvers • Aerovox Inc, New Bedford • Agar Supply Co., Taunton • American Superconductor Corpora-

tion, Devens • Armatron International, Malden • Autopart International, Norton • Avant Immunotherapeutics, Fall River • Basilea, Andover

• Baystate Chowda Co., Lowell • Bergin/Brunswig, Mansfield • Biomedical Polymers, Gardner • Bionostics, Devens • Bristol-Myers

Squibb, Devens • Burke Medical Equipment, Chicopee • CIL Inc., Lawrence • CARA Donna Provision Company, Braintree • Carolina Lo-

gistics, Taunton • West Boylston • Cleveland Motion Controls (Endine, Inc.), Billerica • C&S Wholesale Grocers, Ayer • Comcast, Plymouth

• Custom Technical Molding, Fitchburg • Destiny Polymers, Springfield • Diamond Water Systems Inc., Holyoke • Durham Manufactur-

ing, Springfield • Eastern Seaboard Packaging, Holliston • EMC Corp., Franklin• Enviroderm Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth • Erie Plastics,

Westborough • Eisai Industries, Andover • Evergreen Solar, Devens • Fabrico, Oxford • Gem Group, Lawrence • Georgia Pacific, Bellingham

• Hans Kissle, Inc, Haverhill • Harris Rebar Boston, Inc., Rochester • Hatfield Quality Meats, Springfield • Heat Trace Products, Leomin-

ster • IDE, Randolph • IPG Photonics Corp., Oxford • Jabil Circuits, Lowell/Tewksbury • Jordan’s Furniture, Taunton • Kraft Foods, Haverhill

• Lifeline, Inc., Framingham • Mack Technologies, Westford • Magellan Areospace, Haverhill • Majilite Corporation, Dracut • Markham

Metals, Wilmington • Merck, Boston • Natco Corporation, New Bedford • Novartis, Cambridge • Nuvera, Billerica • Oracle Corp., Burlington

• Organon, Cambridge • Organogenesis, Canton • Paratek, Boston • Parcel Direct (Quad Graphics, Inc.), Northborough • Performance

Food Group, Springfield • Plastipak, East Longmeadow • Precise Technology, Holden • Pressure BioSciences, South Easton • Progenika

Biopharma, Boston • Ryerson Tull, Devens • Sabian Cymbals, Marshfield • Samsonite, Mansfield • Schwarzkopf Technologies, Franklin •

Senior Whole Health, Cambridge • Setra Systems, Boxborough • Sherwood Brands, New Bedford • Silver Line Building Products Corp.,

Fall River • Sleepy’s, Franklin • Softub, Inc., New Bedford • Solectria, Woburn • State Coat Front Company, Boston • Straumann, Andover •

Strictly By the Book, Fall River • Solectron Corporation, Westborough • Spherics, Mansfield • Sun Microsystems, Burlington • Team Plas-

tics, Leominster • Temptronic Corporation, Sharon • Tissue Science Laboratories, Andover • Titleist & Footjoy, New Bedford • TranXeno-

Gen, • Shrewsbury • Universal Technical Institute, Norwood • Western Mass Precision Instruments, • West Springfield • V&S Galvanizing,

Taunton • Vianix, Fall River • Westvaco, Worcester • Weyerhaeuser Company, Freetown • W.G. Fry Corp., West Springfield • WRH Industries,

Fall River • Yankee Candle, South Hadley...and others

“Massachusetts and California both have a great workforce, but in Massachusetts our talent stays and grows with us.”

Jack Little President and CEO The Mathworks

Marketing Massachusetts Telling the Story, Rewarding ExcellenceOn November 25, 2008, MassEcon presented the Fifth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards, a unique statewide event honoring growing businesses from each of the Commonwealth’s five regions. Nearly 500 business and government leaders gathered at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel to recognize companies making significant contributions to the Massachusetts economy. The program opened with an address by Governor Deval Patrick, and was ably moderated by Master of Ceremonies Anthony Everett, co-anchor of WCVB TV’s Chronicle.

Statewide Champion Award The Kraft Group Statewide Strategic Asset Award Massport

Gold Silver Solutia Western Massachusetts Liberty Mutual Western MassachusettsEvergreen Solar Central Massachusetts Sepracor Central MassachusettsElectrochem Southeastern Massachusetts Organogenesis Southeastern Massachusetts Shire Human Genetic Therapies Greater Boston Brigham & Women’s Hospital Greater BostonAspect Software Northeastern Massachusetts Spire Corporation Northeastern Massachusetts

Bronze Companies to Watch Court Square Group Western Massachusetts Excelsior Printing North AdamsLonza Biologics Central Massachusetts FloDesign WilbrahamFive Star Surgical Southeastern Massachusetts GreatPoint Energy SomersetCSN Stores Greater Boston Ophir Optics Northeastern Massachusetts

AmbassadorsThe Massachusetts Ambassadors is a network of senior executives throughout Massachusetts who share a common interest in enhancing the state’s ability to retain and attract business. Throughout the year, Ambassadors volunteer to get the word out about the assets of the Commonwealth. At the CoreNet Global conferences in San Diego and Orlando, for example, which draw national site selection consultants and corporate real estate executives from through-out the country, Ambassador company Northeast Utilities sponsored the Team New England VIP receptions for nearly 80 guests. Executives from Google, Genetech, Northrup Grumman, Nokia, Siemens, Cisco Systems, MasterCard International, Diebold, and Coca-Cola were on hand to learn about the assets of Massachusetts and the New England region. During 2008, executives from Bose, Boston Centerless, Nypro, Rogers Foam Corporation, GrandBanks Capital, and Co-Bio Consulting joined the Ambassadors network.

“With the number of Nobel laureates, patents, expansions and start-up companies on a per capita basis, Massachusetts is a land of opportunity”

Charley Lax Managing General Partner GrandBanks Capital

MassEcon, through its 501c3 affiliate, the Massachusetts Economic Development Foundation, continued to serve as a partner with the Department of Business and Technology, MassDevelopment, and the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment in marketing Massachusetts through the Massachusetts It’s All Here campaign. Funds for the campaign, contributed by both the public and private sectors, supported a range of activities in 2008 including a Massachusetts presence at BIO2008 in San Diego, the largest international trade event for the biotechnology industry.

In taking the Massachusetts story on the road, MassEcon, in collaboration with the Business Resource Team , co-spon-sored and staffed the Massachusetts booth in San Diego at BIO 2008, joined the Team New England delegation that attended Society of Industrial Realtors conference in Minneapolis, and co-sponsored and promoted Massachusetts at the CoreNet Global conferences attended by over 1000 national site selection consultants and corporate real estate executives in Orlando and San Diego.

Augmenting MasssEcon’s customized Site Finder Service, www.MassachusettsSiteFinder.com helps local and out of-state companies find suitable building and land for their expansion needs. This on-line economic development service, which is supported by an appropriation from the Commonwealth, was created through a partnership between MassEcon and the state’s Department of Business and Technology. The service is one of several business assistance tools to help create and retain jobs in Massachusetts. The site, which at year-end listed 1800 properties from throughout the state, also links to information often requested by businesses such as state incentive programs, regional information, demographics, industry information, and more. Watch for upgrades of this site in 2009.

Black:75% blackGreen:302-3 process uncoated302-1 process coated380 solid uncoated382 solid coated

At the Fifth Annual Economic Impact Awards Luncheon are:

TOP LEFT: Governor Deval Patrick delivering keynote remarks.

TOP RIGHT:Jonathan Kraft, President & COO of The Kraft Group with then Undersecretary of Housing & Economic Development Greg Bialecki.

BOTTOM LEFT:Robert Kraft, Founder, Chairman & CEO of The Kraft Group; Governor Deval Patrick; and Robert Smyth, President of Citizens Bank Massachusetts.

‘93

MassEcon is launched as the state’s first public- private partnership to promote Massachusetts as a place to do business.

‘96

MassEcon, in a joint venture with the Massachusetts chapter of NAIOP, publishes the first Massachusetts Industrial and Research Park Directory.

‘97

MassEcon establishes the Research & Information Service, designed to provide companies with the information they need to evaluate the Commonwealth as a place to locate their business. MassEcon initiates a co-operative advertising program with statewide and regional economic development groups.

Mi l e s t o n e s | 15 Years Helping MassacHusetts grow

‘94

MassEcon launches the statewide Site Finder Service.

‘98MassEcon is designated by the Governor’s Council on Economic Growth & Technology to revive the Massachusetts Ambassadors program.

Senate President Therese Murray speaks at MassEcon’s 2007 Summer Reception

Bob Culver, President and CEO of MassDevelopment, addresses MassEcon at its 2004 Holiday Lunch

Yang Jiechi, China’s Ambassador to the United States, speaks at the First Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards Luncheon

‘99 MassEcon launches In Brief, the monthly news-letter showcasing company expansions, product launches, and attributes of the state.

‘00

MassEcon’s services result in 32 companies committing to expand in Massachusetts with an associated 4500 jobs.

‘07

MassEcon unveils the Bio-Ready property section of www.Massa-chusettsSitefinder.com

‘08

MassEcon thanks those who have served as Chairs over its 15 years:Don Walsh NSTAR Paula Bishop Bay State Gas Eric Cody Massachusetts Electric Lawrence Reilly Massachusetts Electric Nancy Sala National Grid Kevin Quinn DACON Corporation Michael DiGiano NAI Hunneman Girard Sargent Citizens Bank

‘01 MassEcon convenes the First Statewide Regions and Indus-try Clusters Forum, a confer-ence opened by the Governor, and which provides a frame-work for keeping expanding businesses in Massachusetts.

Tom King, President and CEO of National Grid USA, speaks at MassEcon’s 2007 Holiday Lunch

‘02

MassEcon launches the Quick Consult program bringing the expertise of its membership to address economic development issues faced by cities and towns.

‘06

MassEcon launches www.MassachusettsSitefinder.com ‘04

MassEcon hosts the First Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards event

StaffSusan HoustonExecutive Director

Douglas KehlhemDirector of Corporate Site Location

John DiNapoliDirector of Business Services

Rob AndersonProject Manager

Joseph GiovinoEconomic Development Associate

Officers and DirectorsOFFICERS

ChairGirard SargentCitizens Bank

Vice ChairRobert BrustlinVanasse Hangen Brustlin

TreasurerSusan FentonNational Grid USA

ClerkDavid TibbettsMerrimack Valley Economic Development Council

DIRECTORS

Carol AdeyCoreNet Global New England

Ned BartlettBowditch & Dewey

David BegelferNAIOP

Jack BurnsCresa Partners

Robert Culver MassDevelopment

Michael DiGianoNAI Hunneman

Tyler FairbankEOS Ventures

William HinesJobs for Pittsfield

Francesca MalteseThe O’Connell Companies

Fred Mulligan Cutler Associates

Joseph O’Leary Sovereign Bank

Rodney PowellWestern Massachusetts Electric Company

Robert ReillyFidelity Investments 2008

Members

495/MetroWest Partnership

AECOM

Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts

Berkshire Economic Development Corporation

Bohler Engineering

Boston Redevelopment Authority

Bowditch & Dewey

BSC Group

Campanelli Companies

Choose Worcester

Citizens Bank

Coldwell Banker Residential Relocation

Core Investments

CoreNet Global, New England Chapter

Cresa Partners

Cutler Associates

Dacon Corporation

DLA Piper LLP US

Duff & Phelps

Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts

Fidelity Investments

Fuss & O’Neill

Government Relations Group

Grubb & Ellis

GVA Williams

Hinckley Allen Snyder

Holland & Knight

Jacobs Carter Burgess

Jobs for Pittsfield

Jones Lang LaSalle

KPMG

Lincoln Property Company

Marlborough 2010

Massachusetts Railroad Association

MassDevelopment

MassMEP

Massport

Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council

MetroSouth Regional Collaborative

Mira Development

NAI Hunneman

NAIOP, National Association of Industrial & Office Properties

National Grid

New England Expansion Strategies

New Landmark Group

North Central Massachusetts Economic Development Council

North Shore Chamber of Commerce

O’Connell Companies

Ozzy Properties

Quincy 2000 Collaborative

Richards Barry Joyce & Partners

SMMA

SouthCoast Development Partnership

South Shore Chamber of Commerce

Sovereign Bank

Spagnolo Gisness & Associates

Steffian Bradley Architects

Taunton Development Corporation

TranSystems

Unitil

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin

Western Massachusetts Electric Company

892 Worcester Street Wellesley, MA 02482781-489-6262 www.masssecon.com

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