Governor Healey Establishes Competitiveness Council to Grow Economy, Strengthen Business Climate

Governor Healey Establishes Competitiveness Council to Grow Economy, Strengthen Business Climate 

Appoints Harpoon Brewery President & Co-Founder Dan Kenary and Toolbox Holdings Chair Mark Nunnelly as Chairs 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating the Governor’s Advisory Council on Competitiveness to advise her on ways to drive economic growth and strengthen the state’s business climate.  

Governor Healey appointed Dan Kenary, President & Co-Founder of the Harpoon Brewery, and Mark Nunnelly, Chairman of Toolbox Holdings and Foundation and former Managing Director of Bain Capital, as Chairs of the Competitiveness Council.  

The Competitiveness Council will advise the Governor on issues relating to taxation, business incentives, workforce development, support of innovation, business regulation, and other related factors that affect Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness. They will also offer recommendations on potential actions to strengthen the state’s business climate and support growth in existing and emerging industries. They will also assess the impacts of federal policies related to research, education immigration and free trade. 

“Massachusetts is home to the best businesses, schools, health care system and talent in the world, but we can’t take anything for granted,” said Governor Healey. “I’m creating this Competitiveness Council to bring everyone to the table – business, labor, state and local leaders – to advise me on action we can take to grow Massachusetts’ economic leadership and make us more competitive.” 

“Massachusetts has the talent, research institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit to compete with any region in the world,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “This council reflects the Governor’s commitment to growing our economy by listening to the people who know it best—our business leaders, workers, and innovators—and by bringing together voices from across the Commonwealth to ensure Massachusetts remains the best place to start, scale, and succeed.” 

“Massachusetts is known as a hub of innovation, talent and entrepreneurship. By working together, we can build on those strengths, grow our economic competitiveness, and make sure our state is a great place to start and grow a business,” said Dan Kenary, President & Co-Founder of the Harpoon Brewery. “I’m grateful to Governor Healey for appointing me to this important role, and I look forward to getting to work with the Competitiveness Council.” 

“At every step, Massachusetts has always been ready to adapt, change and invest in its future. Governor Healey is continuing this tradition in a world that is changing faster than ever,” said Mark Nunnelly, Chairman of Toolbox Holdings and Foundation and former Managing Director of Bain Capital. “I’m honored to serve as Co-Chair of her Competitiveness Council, which will bring together a talented group of leaders to make sure we are building that strong future and bolstering our economic competitiveness.” 

Since day one, Governor Healey has prioritized making Massachusetts more affordable and growing its economic competitiveness. In her first year in office, she cut taxes for the first in 20 years. Since she took office, more than 90,000 new housing units have been built or are in development to help lower housing costs. She has introduced legislation to save residents and businesses more than $13 billion on energy costs, proposed a $400 million state investment to grow Massachusetts’ research and development sector and create jobs in the face of Trump’s cuts and taken action to limit health care costs. 

Other members of the Competitiveness Council will be: 

• Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, or their designee; 

• Administration and Finance Secretary Matt Gorzkowicz, or their designee; 

• Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, or their designee; 

• 2 members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House; 

• 2 members of the Senate designated by the Senate President; 

• a person designated by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce; 

• a person designated by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; 

• a person designated by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce;  

• a person designated by One SouthCoast Chamber;  

• a person designated by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce;  

• a person designated by the Western Mass Economic Development Council;  

• a person designated by 1Berkshire;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Competitiveness Partnership;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; 

• a person designated by the Mass Business Roundtable;  

• a person designated by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation;  

• a person designated by Associated Industries of Massachusetts;  

• two persons designated by AFL-CIO; 

• a person designated by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts;  

• a person designated by We Are ALX;  

• and such additional members as the Governor may appoint from geographic areas across the state who reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, including representatives from regional chambers of commerce, business trade groups, organized labor, and policy think tanks.