Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
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| Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development |
| Native name | EOHHED |
| Formed | 2008 |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Chief1 name | Yvonne Hao |
| Chief1 position | Secretary of Housing and Economic Development |
Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development is a cabinet-level state cabinet agency in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts charged with coordinating housing policy, economic development, and workforce initiatives across state agencies. The office interfaces with municipal authorities in Boston, Massachusetts, regional planning bodies such as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and federal entities including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Department of Commerce. It engages with private sector partners like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Raytheon Technologies, and nonprofit organizations such as Preservation Massachusetts to implement programs affecting housing, business growth, and job creation.
Overview
The office serves as the principal coordinating body between the Governor of Massachusetts's administration and agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health on initiatives that intersect with housing and economic opportunity. It advances statewide plans that connect to regional economic development strategies like those pursued by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, while collaborating with federal partners such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Small Business Administration. The office also interfaces with philanthropic entities such as the Boston Foundation and workforce intermediaries like CommonWealth Kitchen.
Organization and Leadership
Leadership comprises a cabinet secretary appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts and confirmed by the Massachusetts Governor's Council, collaborating with deputy secretaries, agency heads, and commissioners. Key leadership roles include liaisons to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the Massachusetts Senate, and regional economic development councils such as Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. The office coordinates with chief executives of quasi-public entities including MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and consults with academic stakeholders at Boston University, Tufts University, and Northeastern University.
Agencies and Programs
Affiliated agencies and programs under the office encompass a mix of housing, finance, workforce, and business development entities: MassHousing, Department of Housing and Community Development (Massachusetts), MassDevelopment, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. Workforce and training programs coordinate with Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, and regional training providers like Bunker Hill Community College. The office administers financing tools such as low-income housing tax credit allocations tied to the Internal Revenue Service provisions and collaborates with banks including Eastern Bank and Bank of America for loan programs. It also manages place-based initiatives in partnership with municipal agencies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Somerville, Massachusetts, and Worcester, Massachusetts.
Policy Initiatives and Strategic Goals
Strategic goals align with statewide priorities set by the Governor of Massachusetts and legislative frameworks enacted by the Massachusetts General Court, addressing housing affordability, transit-oriented development, and industry cluster growth in sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Policy initiatives include zoning reform collaboration with the Massachusetts Appeals Court for implementation guidance, preservation incentives informed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and climate resilience measures coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The office supports workforce pipelines connected to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the New England Clean Energy Council to promote innovation in coordination with research institutions such as University of Massachusetts Amherst and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Budget and Funding
Funding streams derive from the state budget enacted by the Massachusetts General Court and executive budget proposals from the Governor of Massachusetts, supplemented by federal grants from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration (United States Department of Commerce). Capital finance leverages bonding authority authorized by the Massachusetts State Treasurer and quasi-public revenue mechanisms managed by MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The office administers tax incentive programs that interact with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax policy set by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and it coordinates philanthropic and private investment via partners like the Kresge Foundation and venture entities in Kendall Square.
History and Notable Actions
The office evolved from earlier executive structures consolidating housing and economic functions to create a unified policy apparatus under successive governors including Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, and Maura Healey. Notable actions include coordinating recovery and redevelopment efforts after major events affecting housing and business continuity in municipalities such as Chelsea, Massachusetts and Revere, Massachusetts, implementing state-level housing production targets endorsed by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, and advancing life sciences cluster investments that involved the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. The office has played roles in transit-supportive housing projects linked to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority expansions, negotiated public-private partnerships with developers like Skanska and John Hancock Financial, and supported emergency rental assistance programs modeled after federal initiatives from the United States Congress.