1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1920 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 232 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Paul W. Mark _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act to provide direct investment for job creation and business expansion in rural communities. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire 1 of 2 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1920 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 232 By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 232) of Paul W. Mark for legislation to provide direct investment for job creation and business expansion in rural communities. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION SEE SENATE, NO. 266 OF 2021-2022.] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act to provide direct investment for job creation and business expansion in rural communities. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection 2in Section 16G:- 3 (o.) The secretary of housing and economic development shall, in consultation with the 4Rural Policy Advisory Commission, establish a rural development initiative to be administered 5by the executive office through a contract with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency 6established by section 2 of chapter 23G. The initiative will provide technical assistance to 7identify and implement strategies that will spur direct investment in rural communities to create 8jobs and expand businesses, identify cross-sector partnerships, accelerate the engagement of 2 of 2 9community members in actionable planning, and implement local economic development 10initiatives.