NORTH ADAMS – A bill that would establish a state Creative Economy Council was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Wednesday, according to state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams.
House bill No. 4227, An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Creative Economy Council, would create the council within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
"If you look at the history of this state, you can see that we have consistently been a hotbed of Yankee innovation. We can claim the first power transformer created in Pittsfield, the first public school, the first mutual fund, the first viral immunization, and the first use of ether," said Bosley, House chairman of the committee. "By creating this council, we draw attention to our proud history of innovation and our future of creating jobs and enriching lives."
The key points of the bill are as follows:
●The council’s mission is to develop a statewide strategy for the enhancement, encouragement, and growth of the creative economy in the Commonwealth, and to promote through public and private means responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices.
●The council will reflect the depth and breadth of experience and intelligence that we have in the commonwealth, including stakeholders from all the diverse sectors of the creative and innovative economy and key members of state government.
The council will also:
● Research and evaluate studies done in other states to locate and identify best practices that easily transfer to the Commonwealth;
● Build upon the recommendations of the "Innovation Agenda: Growing the Creative Economy in Massachusetts" statewide conference of May 3, 2006, and the Berkshire Creative Economy Report, in order to develop a state wide strategy for enhancement of the creative economy;
● Provide recommendations on restructuring economic programs within state government to enhance our creative economy efforts; and
● Provide strategies and proposed legislation where necessary to provide linkage between programs to enhance the creative economy.
Bosley also added a member from the Berkshire Creative Economy Initiative to the Creative Economy Council.
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Senior Golf Series Returns in September
Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.
It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.
The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.
Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.
Gross and net prices will be available in each division.
The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.
Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.
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