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08/18/2021

Massachusetts Marine Trades Association Workforce Solutions Amendment Passes in the 2022 State Budget

For Immediate Release

Last week Governor Baker signed the 2022 state budget, which included $150,000 in funding for workforce development and career technical education initiatives within the recreational boating industry. This funding will continue the progress the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) has made to meet the workforce challenges within the industry.

The funds were introduced via Budget Amendments sponsored in the House by Representative William Straus of the 10th Bristol District and in the Senate by Senator Patrick O’Connor of the Plymouth & Norfolk District, joined in leadership by Representative Susan Gifford and Senator Joseph Boncore, the four Co-Chairs of the 60-plus member Legislative Boating Caucus.

Co-Sponsors in the Senate included:

Senators Boncore, Collins, Crighton, Cronin, Cyr, DiZoglio, Feeney, Keenan, Montigny, Moore, Moran, Tarr, Timilty and Velis

Co-Sponsors in the House included:

Representatives Madaro, Vargas, Cabral, Oakley, Ayers, Hendricks, Markey, Robertson, Vieira, Fernandes, Philips, Barrows, Kane, Kelcourse, Giannino, Meschino, Santiago, McGonagle Jr., Ferguson, Diggs, Sabadosa, Muratore, Day, Elugardo, Haddad, Schmid, III, Tucker, McMurtry, Capano, Xiarhos, Gifford, Chan, Gouveia and Whelan

The MMTA would like to express our appreciation to Representatives Straus and Gifford and Senators O’Connor and Boncore for their leadership on this budgetary funding. We would also like to thank the 14 co-sponsors in the Senate and the 34 co-sponsors in the House for their support for this very important amendment for the recreational boating industry in Massachusetts. As well, we would also like to thank the six members of the 2022 budget Conference Committee: Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Representative Todd Smola, Senator Michael Rodrigues, Senator Cindy Friedman, and Senator Patrick O’Connor. Last but certainly not least, thank you to Governor Baker for signing the final budget for the state and supporting workforce solutions within our industry.

The recreational boating industry in Massachusetts has an economic impact of $4.4 billion dollars and employs over 20,000 men and women in Massachusetts. The industry is currently facing a substantial workforce shortage both in Massachusetts and on a national level. Here in Massachusetts, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of jobs currently available. We have the jobs/careers. We just need the people to fill them. This amendment will go a long way in helping to continue MMTA’s efforts on the workforce front here in Massachusetts.

Established in 1964, the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) is the non-profit statewide, representative body for approximately 1,000 marine trades businesses in the Commonwealth that employ approximately 20,000 men and women. The mission of the Association is to further the interests of the marine trades and the boating public through the promotion of boating, participation in legislation and professional improvement programs.

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