PAST ACTION: CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR ABOUT sector priorities in the economic development bill
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THIS ACTION HAS ENDED. CONTINUE READING FOR AN ARCHIVE OF THE CALL TO ADVOCATE.
On July 8th, the Senate released their Economic Development Bond Bill (Mass Leads Act, S.2856).
Their $2.444 billion economic development plan prioritizes investments in life sciences, climatetech, and other industries - including the creative sector. The Senate’s Economic Development Bond Bill includes $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund.
Thanks to leadership from members of the Senate, there are two amendments filed that, if adopted, would include Creative Sector Legislative Agenda priorities.
Senator Cronin (D-Lunenburg) filed Amendment #114, “Downtown Vitality,” to include the Downtown Vitality Act in the Senate’s Economic Development Bond Bill. H.228/S.130, An Act to promote downtown vitality, is a legislative priority in this session’s Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Downtown Vitality Act would establish a fund to allocate 1% of revenues from online sales originating in Massachusetts to support staffing and operations of cultural districts, business improvement districts, main street associations, and parking benefit districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income communities. The Downtown Vitality Act received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. Two weeks ago, Rep. Tony Cabral worked to include his Downtown Vitality amendment in the House’s Economic Development Bond Bill. The Downtown Vitality amendment was not adopted in the final House bill.
7/11 UPDATE: AMENDMENT #146 WAS WITHDRAWN. NO FURTHER ADVOCACY IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
Sen. Oliveira (D-Ludlow) filed Amendment #146, “Cultural Equity in Tourism Promotion,” to include the Cultural Equity in Tourism Act in the Bond Bill. Amendment #146 is modeled after H.3244/S.2194, An Act creating a program to increase cultural equity in tourism promotion. Amendment #146 would establish a grant program within the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations and prioritize amplifying the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures.
7/11 UPDATE: AMENDMENT #269 WAS WITHDRAWN. NO FURTHER ADVOCACY IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
Senator Miranda (D-Boston) filed Amendment #269, “Stabilizing Space for the Creative Economy,” to include the Creative Space Preservation Act in the final economic development package. H.3241/S.530, An Act to preserve space for the creative economy, or the “Creative Space Preservation Act,” is one of five bills included in the 2023-2024 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. This amendment would create a defined property restriction for creative maker space and performance or exhibition space. It would also allow cities and towns to establish trust funds to hold assets and property for the creation and preservation of creative spaces, giving them more tools to keep artists in their communities. The Creative Space Preservation Act was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development earlier this year. Rep. Dan Cahill worked to include his Creative Space Preservation amendment in the House’s Economic Development Bond Bill. The amendment was not adopted in the final House bill.
TAKE ACTION ON THE SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOND BILL
The Senate is debating their Economic Development Bond Bill during formal session this Thursday. Just as we did for the House Bill, we need to contact state senators and ask them to co-sponsor Amendments #114 and #146.
HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR AMENDMENTS #114 and #146:
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1) Elected offices receive a lot of communications every day. Keep your call brief, pleasant, and respectful.2) Leave a message if you get a voicemail - staff always check messages!
3) If you are asked a question but don’t know the answer, that’s okay! Ask for their email and you can follow up afterward. Contact Team MASSCreative so we can help you find the answers you need.
Script:
Hello, Senator X. My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent in your district. I live at [ADDRESS].
I am calling today to urge you to co-sponsor three amendments to the Senate’s Economic Development Bond Bill that will support the creative sector: Amendment #114, filed by Sen. Cronin and Amendment #146 filed by Sen. Oliveira.
Amendment #114 will create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts.
Amendment #146 will establish a grant program to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations and prioritize amplifying the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures.Other things to include:
Share a sentence about your relationship to the creative sector.
Share a sentence about the role of arts and culture in your community.
Share with them how these bills would support your community.
Thank them for their time. If you want them to respond, repeat your name, phone number, and email address. -
Personalized emails are the ones that stand out. When you write to your state senator and their staff, consider making adjustments to this template so they’re hearing your voice.
Dear Sen. X,
Include a greeting. State your address and that you are a constituent.
State why you are contacting them:
I am writing today to urge you to co-sponsor three amendments to the Senate’s Economic Development Bond Bill that would support the creative sector: Amendment #114, filed by Sen. Cronin and Amendment #146 filed by Sen. Oliveira.
Amendment #114 will create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts.
Amendment #146 will establish a grant program to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations and prioritize amplifying the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures.
Include your name, address, and phone number (optional) in your signature. -
We get it - sometimes you just don't have the time to write out a personalized message, but still want to advocate. You can send a quick note of support to your state senator using the tool below.
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Advocacy and organizing are about building community. When you take action on an issue, it’s meaningful, but when you get three folks in your network to join you in advocacy - that’s a movement.
Think of three people you know who live in Massachusetts and want to do something about preventing cultural displacement and improving downtown vibrancy. These are the folks you can organize into arts advocates.
Use this email template to share our advocacy campaign today.
Dear [Friend],
As you know, I care deeply about the creative community in Massachusetts and I want to share an opportunity to take action to advocate for increased state support. This week, the Senate is debating its Economic Development Bond Bill. This proposal includes important investments for the creative sector such as $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund.
I’m joining MASSCreative and advocates across the Commonwealth in urging the Senate to include three amendments that would give cultural organizations more resources for promotion and marketing, create a funding source for cultural districts to enhance the vibrancy of our downtowns, and help prevent further cultural displacement.
Amendment #114, filed by Sen. Cronin, would include the Downtown Vitality Act to establish a fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts. Amendment #146 will establish a grant program to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations and prioritize amplifying the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures.These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts. They were proposed as bills in the 2023-2024 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda, had public hearings, and are endorsed by more than 300 individuals and cultural organizations.
Will you join us by contacting your state senator and asking them to co-sponsor Amendments #114 and #146.
