Oct. 9, 2026

Good Morning,

Max Woolf here.

Higher education and Massachusetts are practically synonymous.

Yet just how much our colleges and universities underpin the state's economy often goes underappreciated.

Together, they generate more than $70 billion in economic activity annually, support nearly half a million jobs, and train the workforce that keeps our businesses running.

But the industry is facing challenges on nearly every front: a shrinking pool of college-age students, federal funding cuts, restrictions on international students, rising costs and the rapid adoption of AI.

That's why we've made higher ed the focus of our Fall Business Breakfast, Nov. 13, at the Newton Marriott.

Our panel features UMass Amherst Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, MassBay Community College President David Podell and Lasell University President Eric Turner, with more to be announced.

The Boston Globe's Hilary Burns, who covers this beat as sharply as anyone, will moderate.

What happens to higher ed next will shape what happens to Massachusetts next.

Get your tickets.

On the road with Secretary Paley

Since taking over as Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development last September, Eric Paley has had big shoes to fill in succeeding powerhouse Yvonne Hao as the state’s top economic development official.

But the former entrepreneur and venture capitalist has hit the ground running, making a point of getting out of Boston to see firsthand what is driving local economies.

On Tuesday, we were lucky enough to show him ours.

Over coffee at Luna’s Cakes & Coffee in Newton Centre, Paley heard from local restaurateurs about what’s squeezing them these days.

We then headed to Bigbelly Solar in Needham. There, (photo above) he joined our Presidents’ Circle to hear concerns about the state’s economy from some of our region’s top CEOs. And Paley shared his perspective on why Massachusetts businesses can’t afford to fall behind as AI reshapes the workplace.

His final stop was The Village Bank’s new Wellesley branch and retail pop-up (photo below). There, Paley saw one example of how chamber members are finding new ways to collaborate, while also sitting down with economic development staff from all five of our communities.

Paley made sure his local counterparts understood the connection between growth and opportunity, emphasizing that communities need to remain open to growth if we want to make room for a new business, tax base, strong schools and young professionals.

He also warned that those who talk about “preserving community character” won’t achieve that by letting their community stagnate.

Thank you, Secretary Paley, for spending the afternoon with us.

Brookline Select Board ready to lead on Centre Street lots

Almost all of our communities have considered turning municipal parking lots in their village centers into something more, recognizing that acres of asphalt may not be the highest and best use in a town center.

Newton did it at Austin Street. And Watertown is debating making that leap, with its city council expected to decide on a path forward by the end of the year.

Now the Brookline Select Board, with a refreshed pro-growth roster, appears ready to do the same.

Their focus is on the Centre Street municipal parking lots in the heart of Coolidge Corner. The preferred concept would consolidate parking into a garage and make room for new housing, commercial space and a public plaza.

Last week, the Select Board agreed to move that vision into its next phase, with feasibility work, developer outreach and additional public engagement leading toward an RFP next year. See the timeline

Just as importantly, the Select Board wants a tighter process this time around. Rather than create another committee to balance competing demands around parking, housing, open space and development, members signaled that the board itself should lead those decisions.

“I think the Select Board is the right place to be making that call,” said member Michael Rubenstein.

We’re encouraged to see the Select Board taking ownership. Done right, redevelopment could add housing, foot traffic and new energy to Brookline’s largest commercial center.  Done wrong, the loss of parking and construction disruptions could harm the businesses that make Coolidge Corner the special place it is.

A lifeline we wish small businesses didn't need

During the pandemic, Congress expanded access to a streamlined bankruptcy process to help small businesses struggling with lockdowns and economic uncertainty.

That relief was temporary, but the financial pressures facing small businesses have hardly disappeared.  

Now Congress has voted to permanently restore expanded access to Subchapter V bankruptcy, which allows struggling businesses to reorganize their debts through this faster and less expensive process.

The legislation would raise the eligibility threshold from roughly $3.4 million in debt to $7.5 million, restoring a pandemic-era provision that expired in 2024, reports Andy Medici of the BBJ.

Legal services executive Jonathan Carson lauded the change, calling Subchapter V a "widely used strategic tool for distressed small businesses" whose accessibility has been unnecessarily limited.

The bill now awaits the president's signature.

Friday grab bag

• Kay Masterson, co-owner of Johnny’s Luncheonette and Cabot’s was among four local leaders honored with Green Newton’s Louise Bruyn Environmental Leadership Award last week. Masterson was recognized for bringing sustainable practices — including local sourcing, composting, waste reduction and reusable takeout containers — to her businesses. (Fig City News)
• Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) hosts its annual Youth Media screening at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. The lineup features three new films written and produced by BIG Media Apprentices. Details.
  
• After 37 years feeding Needham, longtime Chinese restaurant Mandarin Cuisine on Highland Avenue will close Oct. 31. Owner Joan has indicated that the restaurant will transition to new ownership, raising the possibility of a new chapter for the local favorite. (MassLive)
  
• Design professionals and students have until Oct. 19 to enter Newton's ADU design competition. The city is also looking for architects, contractors, lenders, modular builders and other ADU pros to exhibit at its ADU Resource Fair on Dec. 8, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Newton Free Library.
  
• The Needham Housing Coalition hosts "ADUs 2.0," a panel and Q&A on Needham's ADU bylaw, the building process and free state resources, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. at the Needham Public Library. Speakers include residents who’ve built ADUs, the town's building commissioner, designers and builders. The Charles River Regional Chamber is a proud co-sponsor.
  
• The City of Newton hosts a community meeting on Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at the Cooper Center and on Zoom to share conceptual designs for potential changes to the Washington Street Pilot. Drop-in sessions will follow in November.
  
• Behind two of Brookline's most notable restaurants is one husband-and-wife team. Celina Colby of Brookline.News shares the story of La Morra and Punch Bowl and their owners, Josh and Jen Ziskin.
  
• Brookline is looking to join Boston, Cambridge and Somerville in allowing parking fines above $50, particularly for double parking and other safety-oriented violations. A warrant article heading to fall Town Meeting would ask the town to petition the Legislature to exceed the current cap.
  
• Watertown City Council President Mark Sideris joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and state Sen. Will Brownsberger at a rally this week opposing proposed closures of U.S. Postal Service branches in Watertown Sq. and Allston. (Watertown News)
  
• Brookline’s First Light, a holiday shopping celebration in Coolidge Corner, returns Dec. 3 from 4–6 p.m., bringing some festive cheer to the neighborhood’s shops and businesses. Brookline businesses interested in participating should let us know.
  
• Spark Newton is supporting a live mural painting of Charles River nature scenes by Newton artist Gregg Bernstein on the Newton Centre Pilot Plaza on Oct. 10 and 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wayland takes the helm of NBCUniversal Local 

Congratulations to Chris Wayland, who is moving from running NBCUniversal’s Boston portfolio (NBC10 Boston, Telemundo Boston and NBC Sports Boston) to overseeing 50 of the company’s local, regional and national media properties (NBCUniversal Local).

Wayland, who sits on our chamber’s board, succeeds retiring NBCUniversal Local President Valari Staab, according to Variety. 

We’re grateful to Wayland for all he’s done for our chamber and communities

Why can’t we have a nice celebration like this? 

State and municipal officials gathered last week to break ground on a project at Salem State that will include 473 new homes, including affordable units and housing for older adults. Proceeds will support Salem State's campus and students.

The project is part of the State Land for Homes initiative, which puts state-owned land to work to help create more housing and lower costs across Massachusetts.

Yes, that's the same program the Healey administration wants to employ on the MassBay Community College campus in Wellesley. It would allow a developer to build 180 homes on the parking lot. It would also place a permanent conservation restriction on about 40 acres of forest and provide capital for needed campus improvements.

The big difference: the Town of Wellesley is suing, while Salem embraced the program and has started building.

In just over a year, State Land for Homes has advanced plans for more than 5,600 homes on nearly 700 acres in 33 communities.

No other community has yet taken the Commonwealth to court over this program.

That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know that we did indeed go to the moon.

Enjoy the long weekend.  This newsletter will return on Wednesday.

Max Woolf (he, him)

Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager

Charles River Regional Chamber

617-431-6101

I also value your feedback

Greg Reibman contributed to this edition.