UMass Donahue Institute

05/14/2026

Are you a small business owner in Boston? Help out the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (and us) by filling out the survey!

We're partnering with UMass Donahue Institute to conduct a survey focused on better understanding the property needs for small business owners.

This survey addresses questions such as:
➡️ What types of property are you looking for?
➡️ How prepared are you to own your own property?
➡️ What barriers do you face to realizing your dream?

Learn more and complete the survey at boston.gov/commericial-property-survey

04/08/2026

We engaged community interviews and focus groups to explore how Whittier Tech and NECC might create a shared campus. Our report proposed a model in which they maintain their unique identities while sharing resources. https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/a-new-vision-for-career-and-technical-education-in-massachusetts/

A new vision for career and technical education in Massachusetts is taking shape and Whittier is helping lead the way.

Superintendent Maureen Lynch recently co-authored an article in CommonWealth Beacon outlining how stronger collaboration between K–12 and higher education can expand access and better prepare students for high-demand careers.

For Whittier students, this work means more opportunities to earn college credits, industry credentials, and real-world experience.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2s4a9u8d

04/02/2026

Report: Research & Development Ecosystem is the Engine of the State Economy A new study by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute provides a first-of-its-kind analysis of the commonwealth’s research & development ecosystem, which includes jobs in scientific research and development acti...

03/26/2026

If you also follow the institute on X/Twitter, we’re moving! To stay updated on our latest research and organizational news, please follow us on our new platform at Bluesky:

We are a public service, research, and economic development arm of the University of Massachusetts. Our mission is to foster healthy communities and support economies that alleviate poverty and promote opportunity.

03/12/2026

Join us and our partners, Way Finders and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to discuss moving forward to tackle the housing issues in Hampden County.

Join a free learning and dining opportunity on Wednesday, March 18!
Hampden County Housing Conversation | Forum & Dinner

- DYK? Hampden County needs just shy of 13K (12,991) new housing units to meet the current demand.
- Even with current construction trends and projected declines in population, by 2035 the need for new housing units will remain stubbornly high at more than 10K (10,618).

Explore these and other key findings from our 2025 regional housing study. And be a part of shaping the housing solution for our communities. Held at Holyoke Community College from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Presented by Way Finders, UMass Donahue Institute and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Thank you to Greenfield Northampton Cooperative Bank and Keiter for their generous support of the forum.

Learn more and register: https://www.wayfinders.org/event/hampden-county-housing-forum/

02/25/2026

ICYMI: When recreational ma*****na was legalized in Massachusetts, making the industry equitable was front and center. More than seven years later, however—as a ballot measure to kill recreational ma*****na works its way toward voters in November—these progressive reforms have not led to the economic justice many had hoped for. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/17/metro/social-equity-cannabis-challenges-massachusetts/?p1=BGSearch_Overlay_Results
Our 2022 report on communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition. https://bit.ly/3MN9y2Q

About 15 percent of pot businesses are owned by people in the state’s primary equity programs, the Globe found.