Randall Lyons, MMTA Release — FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS — Last week Governor Baker signed the 2023 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 successful initiatives and progress that the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) has made over the last five plus years 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 Paul Feeney, the four Co-Chairs of the 60-plus member Legislative Boating Caucus.

Co-Sponsors in the Senate included:
Senators DiZoglio, Gobi, Lovely, Montigny, Moran, Moore, Pacheco, Tarr, Timilty and Velis

Co-Sponsors in the House included:
Representatives Barrows, Cabral, Capano, Chan, Cutler, Elugardo, Ferguson, Fernandes, Giannino, Haddad, Haggerty, Hendricks, Jones, Jr., Kane, Kelcourse, Madaro, Meschino, Muratore, Peake, Philips, Robertson, Sabadosa, Tucker, Viera, Whelan & Xiarhos

The MMTA would like to express our appreciation to Representatives Straus and Gifford and Senators O’Connor and Feeney for their leadership on this budgetary funding. We would also like to thank the 10 co-sponsors in the Senate and the 26 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 2023 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 approximately $4.4 billion dollars and employs over 20,000 men and women in the state. 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 continuing to help with the MMTA’s efforts on workforce solutions here in Massachusetts.

ABOUT THE MMTA
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. WWW.BOATMA.COM