The Department of Economic Development seeks to promote job creation and long-term economic growth in Massachusetts by attracting new businesses to the Commonwealth, helping existing businesses expand, and assisting emerging firms in obtaining the resources necessary to prosper and grow. The Department's efforts to stimulate the economy are directed toward promoting the Commonwealth as an attractive location for business, industry, tourism, and film.

The Department of Economic Development fulfills its mission through the operation of six units within the Department, including the Office of the Director. The Massachusetts Office of Business Development assists existing businesses in creating and retaining jobs, and attracts new companies by facilitating their relocation to Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism manages a year-round marketing program to promote the Commonwealth as a location for tourism, conventions, travel, and recreational activities. The Massachusetts International Trade Council administers corporate programs to increase international trade and export sales. The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance certifies companies as minority and women-owned enterprises to create eligibility for federal, state, and local economic development programs. The Office of Film and Video Development promotes economic growth by encouraging motion picture and television production in Massachusetts.

In Fiscal Year 2000, the Department will:

• administer the Economic Development Incentive program offering tax incentives to 364 projects in 284 Economic Opportunity Areas;

• oversee the implementation of the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, and the Redevelopment Access to Capital Program, two elements of the new brownfields law. More than $45 million will be available for economic development initiatives that were previously unaffordable due to the prohibitive costs of environmental cleanup, and uncertainty about liability for contamination;

• expand the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership to assist more manufacturers in the Commonwealth and continue administration of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Networks;

• dedicate $7 million to promote Massachusetts internationally and domestically, which will generate $19 billion in spending from more than 28 million visitors;

• enhance tourism services by making improvements to state visitor and information centers, increasing visibility of tourism signage, and providing matching grants to local tourist councils; and

• create a five-year marketing plan that promotes greater coordination within the tourism industry developed by the Advisory Commission on Travel and Tourism.

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 2000 is $32.6 million. This recommendation includes a $2 million increase in the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) account (7007-0900) for improvements to state visitor centers and tourism signage. The recommendation also includes $1.19 million for the Massachusetts manufacturing partnership, a $437,000 increase over Fiscal Year 1999. The Local Tourist Council account (7007-1000) includes a $500,000 increase for matching grants aimed at increasing local tourism. Additionally, the MOTT Grant line item (7007-0950) was merged into the MOTT main administrative account (7007-0900).

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
7007-0100	For the operation of the office of the director of the department of economic development	418,468

MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
7007-0300	For the operation of the Massachusetts office of business development, including the administration of the Massachusetts manufacturing networks program	4,378,713

MASSACHUSETTS MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP
7007-0350	For a state matching grant to the Massachusetts manufacturing partnership	1,218,791

MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
7007-0400	For economic development grants to public or non-public entities, administered by the Massachusetts office of business development; provided, that not less than $440,000 shall be expended for minority economic, community, and business development grants	1,440,000

MASSACHUSETTS BIOMEDICAL INITIATIVES
7007-0500	For a contract with the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives	250,000

DEVENS ENTERPRISE COMMISSION
7007-0515	For the operation of the Devens enterprise commission; provided, that said commission shall collaborate with the department of economic development and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency on a plan to render the commission financially self-sufficient by July 1, 2001; provided further, that said plan shall include a review of the commission`s expenditures and all possible revenue sources, including permitting fees and assessments; and provided further, that said plan shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance not later than October 1, 1999	175,000

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
7007-0800	For the state match for a small business development center; provided, that no funds shall be expended from this item until such time as the United States Small Business Administration has executed a grant or contract with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for the operation of said center; and provided further, that the funds expended from this item shall not exceed 25 per cent of the gross operating cost of said center	896,448

OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM
7007-0900	For the operation of the office of travel and tourism and the office of film and video, including grants to public or non-public entities; provided, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for south coast regional tourism and economic development; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended for the addition or enhancement of informative directional tourism signage and the improvement of eligible tourist information centers as determined by the department of economic development; and provided further, that the office of travel and tourism shall designate one full-time equivalent staff for the advisory commission on travel and tourism	14,073,025
	Massachusetts Tourism Fund 100%

LOCAL TOURIST COUNCILS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
7007-1000	For financial assistance to local tourist councils pursuant to section 14 of chapter 23A of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of said section, not less than $500,000 shall be expended for matching grants to cities, towns, and regional tourism authorities to improve tourism services; and provided further, that in awarding said grants preference shall be given to municipalities that dedicate local hotel and motel tax revenues to the tourism industry	6,816,308
	Massachusetts Tourism Fund 100%

MASSACHUSETTS TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM
7007-1200	For a contract with the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation for the Massachusetts technology collaborative program to create and maintain a more favorable and responsive environment for the formation, growth, attraction, and retention of technology-intensive industry for the commonwealth through the support of activities of clusters of technology-intensive organizations; provided, that any portfolio of such clusters shall include firms and universities concerned with federal technology funding and medical device manufacturing; and provided further, that funds appropriated herein shall be used solely for the purposes of providing technical assistance and proposal support to applicants or prospective applicants	1,200,000

MASSACHUSETTS INTERNATIONAL TRADE COUNCIL
7007-1300	For the operation of the Massachusetts international trade council	1,079,529
	Massachusetts Tourism Fund 100%

OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
7007-1500	For the operation of the state office of minority and women business assistance	649,555

Federal Grant Spending

MASSACHUSETTS FISHERIES INITIATIVE
7007-0002	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Fisheries Initiative	540,000

MASSACHUSETTS MODERNIZATION PARTNERSHIP
7007-0211	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Modernization Partnership	2,356,000

URBAN ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
7007-9007	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Urban Enterprise Program	6,011,387

Trust and Other Spending

9000-0001

FILM OFFICE - PROMOTIONAL EVENTS

15,000

9000-0501

OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM ANNUAL GOVERNOR`S TOURISM CONFERENCE

95,000

9000-1809

INDUSTRY SPECIALIST PROGRAM

6,331

9000-2220

STATE OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

311,732

9000-9008

SEAPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL

1,000