[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6023877,"mediaKeyId","5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109","parentId",5761380,"title","Building trades warn higher‑ed construction slowdown will cost jobs, urge state support for research projects","audioSeconds",269,"startMs",6160060,"endMs",6430010,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109&start=6160&end=6430","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109/thumbnail_6160060.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6023877/Massachusetts/Building-trades-warn-highered-construction-slowdown-will-cost-jobs-urge-state-support-for-research-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6023877-755c68f8bbe40f392a640d8da4670d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186526&Signature=FnXw7-4exuwVwJmTzuJC5YcJwYu0dJJpP96~OUOpdMQIMQcJ5bjDJSVhfQEwiTt3unnyf~jWc7XZTRTWtiD1UhPpovXP7MMmbwwy-w9pc1BMPNjWpesUp4u0G1MjUcFdMGL33lcAEvNqQD57lgbWFYeY4jqTdamdwblUIdJiS3afOpNqmdIwno2tVxewrqn3Ymhd11Fhu-NWlMffQccrV11HAZQKzax0zFvH7vI0X9yY3LQcWTTtAbFhAmCWcTVZn3-FKOA8ACZ9sssmimFYJL~y8pLL8wNbJaDUKYNltI5-jpheRbCu~wBah~lIEBbCsVuzvDnU0cK8eLeqYDx74g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-09-11T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of Massachusetts building trades and the state AFL‑CIO told the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Sept. 11 that declines in higher‑education construction and delays to major research projects are putting construction workers out of work and reducing family incomes.

Frank Callahan (testimony identified him as representing Massachusetts Building Trade Unions) said the trades represent about 75,000 workers who build research labs, campus facilities and associated infrastructure. “Before any of those researchers and professors can go to work, they need a place to go to work. And our members build those places, from the most sophisticated labs to the parking garage to the bathroom,” he said. Callahan added that large, unionized campus projects have in the past supported multi‑year employment and training opportunities for trades workers.

Callahan described recent softening in construction demand in downtown areas and said the sector relies heavily on public construction tied to higher‑education and research projects. He asked legislators to consider the effect on apprenticeships, health coverage and family incomes if projects are delayed or cancelled.

Lindsey Kenny, legislative director for the Massachusetts AFL‑CIO, said colleges and universities generate economic activity beyond campus gates — including public transit ridership and local service jobs — and expressed union support for legislative measures that would sustain research and construction work. Kenny said unions want to partner on workforce training and apprenticeship approaches that connect locally trained workers to campus construction and operations.

Panelists asked that the committee consider the ripple effects on unemployment insurance funds, local businesses and families if university capital spending declines. They urged coordination between higher education and workforce programs so that construction opportunities created by research and capital projects continue to support union apprenticeships, jobs and benefits.

No formal vote or committee action occurred during the Sept. 11 session; witnesses and committee members discussed follow‑up materials and possible further briefings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies - 9-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of Massachusetts building trade unions and the state AFL‑CIO told the committee that a slowdown in construction tied to reduced research and university capital projects is hurting workers, reducing hours and threatening benefits, and they urged legislative support for efforts that preserve these projects.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6023882,"Private and public colleges highlight $71 billion annual impact, workforce pipelines and apprenticeship ties to employers",1732,2288550,4020660,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109&start=2288&end=4020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109/thumbnail_2288550.jpg","/articles/6023882/Massachusetts/Private-and-public-colleges-highlight-71-billion-annual-impact-workforce-pipelines-and-apprenticeship-ties-to-employers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6023882-4be891eb4ec13714edb87186c530958c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186526&Signature=NP0m0JWc0lvKK7qFIVT96zCXzYNjgsn5npt~udwXe2ZVTFqh6W3cIb~bIlZnnP1Gv59L6YrcAVYhhLlhubYQiA96SPb482F7LT95ugJf-VaVx53sHO2J-gxwXMLUTIzX4pzRAnYNPeLTqbo5hdW4ME69BoXxaLZV5~gJmhzgqtUikKH79zxcRc~8OjP4HetltlP~NMPI6hDzRw5xqaV-JPf6J70ZsgEIOo2esZ0hWmpAitADxYvxrUPIffHbU6NC61VgqBwe5l7e7Xnzqz-cdgfNk03hZ4GEuSlHDgmvUaVqgLJDxw7N47TGgN4UfSeuyJbJqDHhxzkO0Dv0mWlp8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders from private and public colleges and universities described Sept. 11 how campuses across Massachusetts support jobs, local economies and workforce pipelines — and urged continued state support as federal research funding and enrollment pressures mount.

Rob McCarron, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (ACAM), said ACAM’s members — 58 private, nonprofit colleges and universities — have an annual economic impact of about $71.1 billion and employ nearly 100,000 residents. “These institutions are the driving force in each region's ability to contribute to the Commonwealth's overall position as leader in health care, life science, technology, arts, education, and the humanities,” McCarron told the committee.

Campus leaders gave institution‑level examples: Marissa Kelly, president of Suffolk University, described community‑facing programs such as law school clinics providing millions in pro bono legal services and dual‑enrollment and entrepreneurship programs that feed local small businesses. Joanna Olin, vice president for government relations at Smith College, highlighted Smith’s geothermal capital project and more than $600 million annual regional contribution.

Matt Vanderheiden, director of MIT’s Koch Institute, discussed company creation tied to university research, saying the institute’s laboratories have spun out 126 companies that have created an estimated 12,000 jobs and that Kendall Square draws a large share of biopharma venture investment. Jared O’Claire of Northeastern emphasized cooperative education and employer partnerships that place students in paid work: “If you want to stay in the state of Massachusetts, you earn and learn and stay,” he said, noting Northeastern’s co‑op placements and workforce programs.

Several witnesses described apprenticeship and short‑course models aligned to employer needs. Northeastern, Bridgewater State and others highlighted registered apprenticeships and industry‑aligned certificate programs in life sciences, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Bristol Community College said its MassReconnect and MassEducate participation increased enrollment sharply and expanded early‑college credits for local students.

Panelists said higher education’s economic contributions extend beyond research: campuses anchor public transit ridership, support small businesses and provide direct community services. They urged coordinated state support for workforce pathways, data on placement and wage outcomes, and inclusion of private institutions in competitive funding opportunities when appropriate.

Committee members asked for more granular, institution‑level data in advance of future hearings; witnesses offered to provide follow‑up materials.","Representatives from 58 private institutions, Suffolk, Smith, Clark, MIT, Northeastern and state universities told the committee that higher education is a major economic engine for Massachusetts, supporting jobs, startups and workforce programs such as co‑ops and apprenticeships.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6023887,"UMass chancellors warn of shrinking PhD pipeline in computer science amid funding uncertainty",1143,710730,1854460,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109&start=710&end=1854","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109/thumbnail_710730.jpg","/articles/6023887/Massachusetts/UMass-chancellors-warn-of-shrinking-PhD-pipeline-in-computer-science-amid-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6023887-e796e7c93d05f85d7971be74a207d176/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186526&Signature=h232GcQtL4MAsnXv4oFuvjRefizhn~jHuxZFya5lW-p-VEC61Nn2jAUqmUXXBviyVaanQfy5vCmDgt17NooGMrNVSQRDnl846CiQmUYxocHOEZbcy1vw8~FdkVCawik-OV83u-fS3WRX5Pj-kv~OlkUkDi3Olu1wjrm75888tZXRQFmCUhUoET5IhkAbX12e-iK6Tf1D4qg-MU0zLivA38SiEiLjUYCJ0BivMwgtmqcpoWhXcY2Giw6OykYsQtZhY0w4yOzQ2U7y-c~TYjTEQYw39wJqcQTpO-PPTTvnLHrwmvy6oAoAVQhg03z3uexyDRL8qluWAq6iLwaQiNeuBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","University leaders told the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Sept. 11 that funding instability has forced sharp reductions in graduate admissions at UMass, particularly in computer science and other STEM fields, and warned that gaps in the graduate pipeline could take years to repair.

Javier Reyes, chancellor of UMass Amherst, said the flagship campus planned a graduate class of “between 80 and 100 students” but withdrew offers because it could not ensure sufficient grant funding to place those students in labs. “We ended up admitting a class of 13 graduate students who will get PhDs,” Reyes said. He explained that doctoral students typically spend their first 15 months in coursework and rotations and need placement in labs once they pass qualifying exams.

Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School, emphasized the multiplier effect of principal investigators: “A principal investigator … on average, hires 7 to 10 people in the lab. So if we have 300 people in our research enterprise who essentially do that, it's 2,100 to 3,000 jobs.”

Committee members asked for data to track where students who decline UMass offers go; Reyes said some are going to universities in Europe, China and India and that UMass is working with organizations that track international student movements.

Reyes and Collins characterized the admissions reductions as largely financial decisions tied to uncertainty in federal award disbursements and to the slowdown in new grant awards. Reyes gave a specific figure for the drop in PhD computer science admissions: “our computer science PhD … dropped by 64.4% this year.”

Witnesses urged rapid state consideration of bridge funding so admitted students and research groups are not left without lab placements; they said a delay of months — described by one witness as “six months” — could materially affect whether faculty retain labs and whether students can be trained to completion.

The committee did not vote on any action during the hearing; staff requested additional, institution‑level data on graduate admissions, placements and pending award disbursements.","University of Massachusetts officials told the committee that financial constraints have forced steep reductions in PhD admissions—citing a 64% drop in computer science PhD admissions this year at UMass—and that loss of graduate cohorts risks long delays in rebuilding research capacity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6023891,"UMass leaders say federal grant slowdowns threaten research enterprise, endorse state DRIVE proposal",590,235484,826370,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109&start=235&end=826","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761380-041d5c6a8a05af3ccc360001bddec109/thumbnail_235484.jpg","/articles/6023891/Massachusetts/UMass-leaders-say-federal-grant-slowdowns-threaten-research-enterprise-endorse-state-DRIVE-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6023891-75815a6c2858fe262c443f2945a6c681/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186526&Signature=Lr9j2~24B7whj9jcS7ngFeM8~KDHSO1H7Ff2TWdRW1DyRVxZD6LNgz1xIz~8rm5evGEKOxMHvB4s-1fVTkIsyUtHgdG2MesY-KVLy2TAWw1tTxIjRCBK2geNxjVZTnr3Kmf3HN1q867DIjC8Wiz-C9P1~gws80vr6ucrjbR3MTzMSex1HPDFYUWN5nLn4ZxTdcTr3At73qM4-b-pEeJPVjC-BPAE-FhKlSW5NBA8Eo3TKNRk8aKk4u~mAQCLTtRa0ebI5N87rFBsdSYbmQB4vJGgCk7YSHILjeiSteS4jvGYfgOSILsiZOI3~WyuNefLAROLURyaqQIaa3wBQmYjjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State university leaders testified Sept. 11 before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies that recent federal cancellations and slowdowns of research grants have damaged the Commonwealth’s university research enterprise and that the governor’s DRIVE initiative could help bridge the gap.

Neff Walker, senior vice president for academic affairs for the UMass president’s office, told the committee that UMass had seen “$12,600,000 in grants terminated, $3,300,000 in grants suspended for a combined loss of $16,000,000,” and described a broader slowdown in new awards. “Without action, Massachusetts risks losing some of its top talent, its competitive edge, and its leadership role in so many industries,” Walker said.

The testimony explained why university officials support Governor Healy’s DRIVE initiative, a bill that had been referred to the committee. Javier Reyes, chancellor of UMass Amherst, said the DRIVE proposal “will invest in UMass and our private counterparts in Massachusetts so we do not lose our national leadership position.” Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School, said DRIVE funding would “help us to retain world‑class talent, sustain momentum, preserve and create jobs” across the state’s life‑sciences ecosystem.

UMass officials described concrete near‑term impacts: reduced research awards year‑to‑date and personnel decisions taken this spring, including furloughs and layoffs at some campuses. Collins said researchers are being actively recruited by foreign institutions that can offer more stable funding, adding that some top students and postdoctoral researchers have received offers abroad. Reyes and Collins emphasized that rebuilding research groups and faculty clusters takes years and requires planning grants, start‑up funds and graduate student support.

Committee chairs and members asked for additional, more granular data on federal awards, local economic impacts and the degree to which state bridge funding would preserve jobs and research capacity. No formal committee action was recorded at the hearing; witnesses and committee members said DRIVE had been filed and referred to the committee and that additional hearings were expected.

The discussion highlighted two distinct needs: (1) immediate bridge funding — described by witnesses as necessary to prevent an abrupt loss of researchers and graduate students — and (2) longer‑term actions to sustain Massachusetts’s research ecosystem if federal awards remain constrained. UMass officials asked the committee for timely consideration, saying delays of months would be consequential for hiring and graduate enrollment.

The committee did not take a vote at the Sept. 11 hearing; witnesses offered to provide follow‑up data and to return for further briefings as DRIVE and related proposals move through the legislative process.","University of Massachusetts officials told the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Sept. 11 that recent federal cancellations and delays to research awards have reduced funding, prompted layoffs and risked losing talent — and they urged state consideration of the governor's DRIVE initiative as bridge support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Building trades warn higher‑ed construction slowdown will cost jobs, urge state support for research projects

Private and public colleges highlight $71 billion annual impact, workforce pipelines and apprenticeship ties to employers

UMass chancellors warn of shrinking PhD pipeline in computer science amid funding uncertainty

UMass leaders say federal grant slowdowns threaten research enterprise, endorse state DRIVE proposal