Executive Order  No. 487: Creating the Governor's Development Cabinet

WHEREAS, Massachusetts remains in a period of economic challenges - stagnant job growth, a lack of affordable housing, a need to advance the skills of our workforce, inconsistent economic development policies, and undesirable or uneven rates of economic growth in certain areas of the Commonwealth;

WHEREAS, our success in advancing an agenda of promoting economic growth, business development, job growth and infrastructure projects will depend, to a substantial degree, upon the extent to which we advance and implement a comprehensive and coordinated economic development strategy;

WHEREAS, critical elements of such a strategy must include the aggressive and coordinated exploitation of the full measure of existing programs and resources of the Commonwealth's economic development agencies and the development of new initiatives that harness market forces and leverage the maximum participation of diverse federal, state and private resources;

WHEREAS, a key element of implementing such a strategy is implementing an effective means by which the Commonwealth can provide for the full and effective coordination of effort between and among executive agencies engaged in economic development and growth activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, hereby order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established the Governor's Development Cabinet ("the Cabinet").

Section 2. The Governor shall serve as Chair of the Cabinet. The Cabinet shall also include the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, the Director of the Development Cabinet ("Director"), and such other members as the Governor may, from time to time, designate.

Section 3. All members of the Cabinet shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Cabinet will meet at such times and places as the Governor or, upon his direction, the Director shall determine. The Governor shall preside over the meetings of the Cabinet, provided that in his absence the Lieutenant Governor, and in his absence the Director, shall preside.

Section 4. The Cabinet shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) to coordinate the economic development policy-making process;

(b) to ensure coordination between and among state agencies on priority economic development projects;

(c) to provide advice on economic development policy to the Governor;

(d) to ensure that economic development policy decisions, projects, and programs are consistent with the stated goals of the Administration; and

(e) to monitor implementation of the Governor's economic development agenda.

Section 5. The Cabinet will be staffed by a Director, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Director shall work with the Cabinet and take such actions as may be necessary and appropriate to discharge the Cabinet's responsibilities. The Director shall have such other staff and other assistance as the Governor shall determine and as may be necessary to carry out the Director's duties.

Section 6. The Cabinet may function through established or ad hoc committees, task forces or interagency working groups. In addition, all state agencies and departments in the Executive Branch, whether or not represented on the Cabinet, may be called upon to facilitate and implement the Cabinet's economic development policy agenda and objectives. All such agencies and departments shall cooperate with the Cabinet and shall provide such assistance, information, and advice to the Cabinet as permitted by law.

Section 7. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 19th day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and thirty-one.

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth