Rebuilding our Economy 
 
“Economic growth isn’t enough.  We need to create jobs.” - Rep. Atkins 
     
The economic downturn touched everyone.  Too many hardworking, educated Massachusetts residents are underemployed or out of work altogether. 
 
“It is troubling to listen to constituents’ stories of searching for decent jobs,” said Rep. Atkins. 
 
Car payments, mortgages and college tuition bills don’t stop just because your job does. 
 
Rep. Atkins is working hard every day in the State House to jump start job growth. 
 
“As House Chair of the Science and Technology Caucus, I’ve worked with a coalition of leaders in both the public and private sector to create a strong economic stimulus bill,” said Rep. Atkins.  “Our economic stimulus bill addresses everything from unemployment insurance reform to tax incentives for high-tech growth to job training programs.” 
 
Rep. Atkins voted for the Massachusetts House- and Senate-passed economic stimulus bill, which drew largely from the Science and Technology Caucus’ recommendations. 
 
This business-friendly bill provides $100 million to encourage economic expansion and job growth in Massachusetts’ emerging technologies, including biotechnology, defense and homeland security, information technology, plastics and polymers, advanced materials, and medical devices and development.  Over the next decade, technology industries will add thousands of jobs and produce huge amounts of additional tax revenue for the state. 
 
“Our economy’s continued recovery will be a direct result of our investment in education and our commitment to being at the forefront of technology,” said Rep. Atkins.  “I am dedicated to using my position as House Chair of the Science and Technology Caucus to support emerging technologies and fight for the education funding needed to ensure Massachusetts will continue to have a first-rate workforce prepared to drive the new economy.” 
 
Economic expansion and job growth will happen with hard work and good legislation.

  
Atkins Voted for the $100.9 Million Economic Stimulus Bill 
- $20 million in matching funds to higher education institutions and nonprofit research institutions doing cutting edge high-tech projects. 
- $21 million to Workforce Training Fund for employer-specific training initiatives.
- $6 million for targeted workforce training and development. 
- $2 million to small businesses and entrepreneurs for technical assistance, skills building and growth. 
- $2.5 million to Pipeline Fund to improve course offerings to students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to encourage students to enter these fields. 
-  $25 million to support emerging technology industries such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and medical devices. 
- $15 million to the John Adams Institute, which promotes a climate for economic growth in Massachusetts with particular attention to underserved regions. 
- $5 million to fund the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation.  MTDC provides start-up capital to new science and technology companies. 
- Research and Development Tax Credit – the bill changes the definition of a research and development company to include firms that are devoting 2/3 of expenditures to research and development, but aren’t yet making money on their efforts.