Governor Healey Modernizes Seaport Economic Council to Strengthen Massachusetts’ Maritime Economy

Governor Healey Modernizes Seaport Economic Council to Strengthen Massachusetts’ Maritime Economy 

Executive order updates Council mission and membership; new members announced alongside more than $16 million in Seaport Economic Council grants 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Maura Healey announced a series of actions to strengthen Massachusetts’ maritime economy and support the long-term vitality of the state’s waterfronts and harbors. Governor Healey signed an Executive Order reconstituting the Seaport Economic Council, updating the Council’s mission and membership to better support economic growth, coastal resilience and working waterfronts across the state’s 78 coastal communities. During a meeting of the Council at the Menino Convention Center during the New England Boat Show in Boston today, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Chair of the Council, also swore in new Council members and celebrated $16.7 million in FY26 Seaport Economic Council grant recommendations. 

The 2024 Mass Leads Act included a $100 million reauthorization of the Seaport Economic Council. Together, these actions reinforce the Administration’s commitment to a strong, resilient blue economy that supports local jobs, tourism and ecosystem health while positioning Massachusetts to meet its climate resiliency goals. From commercial fishing and marine transportation to port infrastructure, coastal tourism, and emerging maritime industries, these investments help modernize supply chains, strengthen local economies, and ensure coastal communities are prepared for the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. 

“Massachusetts is a maritime state, and our ports, harbors and working waterfronts are essential to our economy and our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we’re taking action to ensure the Seaport Economic Council is positioned to meet today’s challenges—supporting good jobs, modernizing coastal infrastructure and helping our coastal communities grow while planning for climate resilience and long-term sustainability.” 

“Coastal communities are on the front lines of economic opportunity and climate change,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Chair of the Seaport Economic Council. “By updating the Council’s mission and bringing in new voices from across the maritime economy, we’re strengthening our partnership with local leaders and ensuring state investments reflect the real needs of our ports, waterfronts, and coastal towns.” 

“The reconstituted Council brings together the right mix of local, industry, and technical expertise to help us make smart, coordinated investments,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Vice Chair of the Seaport Economic Council. “This structure allows us to better align state programs, capital funding, and regulations with the economic realities of coastal communities and the businesses that rely on our maritime infrastructure.” 

Updated Council Membership 

The Executive Order adds new positions to the Council and streamlines membership to ensure focused, sector-specific expertise that reflects key pillars of the maritime economy, including recreational boating, tourism, fisheries, and transportation.  

Under the Executive Order, the reconstituted Council will advise the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on strategies to coordinate coastal planning and investment, stimulate sustainable economic development and job creation, protect and enhance coastal assets, and better align state programs, regulations, and capital investments with the needs of coastal communities. The Council’s work will also integrate climate resilience and sea-level-rise planning into every investment decision. 

The Council members are: 

• Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Chair 

• Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Vice Chair 

• David Perry, Designee of the Secretary of Transportation 

• Alison Brizius, Designee of the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs 

• Bran Shim, Designee of the Secretary of Administration & Finance 

• Lauren Gleason, Designee of the Massport CEO 

• Rebecca Tomasovic, Designee of the Mayor of Boston 

• Paul Lundberg, Mayor of Gloucester 

• Randall Lyons, Recreational Boating Trade Association 

• Katy Acheson, Coastal Tourism Trade Association 

• Jonathan Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford 

• Dominick Pangallo, Mayor of Salem 

• Paul Coogan, Mayor of Fall River 

• Edward Barrett, Fisheries Trade Association 

• Elizabeth B. Simmons, Maritime Transportation Trade Association  

FY26 Seaport Economic Council Grant Recommendations 

In addition to the Executive Order and new membership, the Administration announced FY26 Seaport Economic Council grant recommendations for 21 projects totaling $16,711,204. These investments support communities across the Massachusetts coast through maritime economic development planning projects, port and terminal infrastructure improvements, and enhancements to recreational boating and coastal tourism assets that strengthen local economies. The funding also advances critical dredging design and permitting work to improve navigation, public safety, and long-term coastal resilience. 

The funded projects include:  

• Barnstable: Hyannis Inner Harbor Infrastructure Improvements, $379,000 

• Beverly: Commercial Fishing Hoist Pier Reconstruction, $550,000 

• Boston: Boston Harbor Shipyard Pier 1 Rehabilitation (East Boston Waterfront), $2,400,000 

• Chatham: Boathouse Repurpose: Lifesaving to Learning, $857,049 

• Dennis: Sesuit Harbor Improvements, $1,500,000 

• Fairhaven: Union Wharf Bulkhead Upgrade (NE Wall – Phase 6), $1,000,000 

• Fall River Redevelopment Authority: Northfield Point Improvement Project (City Pier), $964,925 

• Falmouth: Marina Park Upgrades, $160,000 

• Gloucester: St. Peter’s Landing and Marina Improvement Project, $2,600,000 

• Hull: Pemberton Pier Commuter Float Replacement Project, $278,400 

• Manchester-by-the-Sea: Fisherman’s Facility Floating Dock & Pier Repairs, $452,300 

• Newburyport: Boardwalk Rehabilitation Project, $1,492,500 

• Plymouth: Plymouth Town Wharf Improvements, $1,500,000 

• Quincy: Town River Marina Dock Replacement, $200,000 

• Rockport: Old Harbor Dredge Design and Permitting, $250,000 

• Salem Harbor Port Authority: Ferry Terminal Building Design Phase Project, $1,405,670 

• Swansea: Cole River Dredge Design and Permitting, $88,000 

• Truro: Pamet Harbor 10-Year Comprehensive Dredging Permit, $111,500 

• Wareham: Wareham Harbor Plan Update, $112,000 

• Wellfleet: Harbor Maintenance Dredging Permitting Project, $168,960 

• Weymouth: Back River Dredge Permitting and Design, $240,000 

About the Seaport Economic Council The Seaport Economic Council advances the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s support for all 78 of Massachusetts’ coastal communities and residents across the state by leveraging unique economic assets to drive sustainable regional growth. The Council’s capital grant program supports working waterfronts, local tourism, coastal resiliency, and maritime innovation, from the North Shore to Cape Cod and the South Coast. Since August 2015, the Seaport Economic Council has invested more than $116 million in the state's coastal communities.