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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 594 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 498
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Margaret R. Scarsdale
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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 support rural job creation and business expansion.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex1/10/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/14/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 594 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 498
By Representative Scarsdale of Pepperell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 498) of
Margaret R. Scarsdale, Natalie M. Blais and Lindsay N. Sabadosa that the Secretary of
Economic Development establish a rural development initiative to support rural job creation and
business expansion. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 404 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to support rural job creation and business expansion.
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 economic development shall, in consultation with the Rural Policy
4Advisory Commission, establish a rural development initiative to be administered by the
5executive 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.