Republican: Greater Springfield Outlook luncheon brings laughs, hope for economic recovery
The Republican’s coverage of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Outlook 2013 luncheon included commentary from Dan Hodge, director of the Economic and Public Policy Research group at the UMass Donahue Institute, who was among the event’s featured speakers.
Five hundred seventy-five people attended the luncheon, where Washington political columnist, Mark Shields shared anecdotes from time spent in the trenches of the Washington press corps, before Hodge and U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-Springfield) lead a discussion of the Massachusetts economy and the impact that sequestration could have on the Commonwealth’s continued recovery.
Hodge believes sequestration will hurt job growth in the near term but was optimistic that there will be at least some economic growth. The Donahue Institute found that 40 percent of all companies plan to add staff in the next three years. In terms of fostering growth in the greater Springfield region, leaders need to get workers trained for high-tech manufacturing jobs and attract more people with bachelor's degrees.
Read article: Greater Springfield Outlook luncheon brings laughs, hope for economic recovery
February 25, 2013
