The giant company General Electric announced Monday that they are investing $50 million for a series of projects in Boston, including spending $25 million in the public schools. The move is part of the company's preparation as they plan to relocate its headquarters to the city.
CEO Jeff Immelt said that included in the $50 million package will be the funding of a career lab "to help prepare students for jobs in advanced manufacturing technology." Another $15 million will be spent on community health centers while $10 million will be used to expand diversity in the fields of science and technology fields and health care.
On the other hand, Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh also rested some "ambitious benchmarks." According to these officials, the company has the ability to partner on projects involving transportation and helping the city's issue wuth income equality.
Boston Herald reported that "the claims underscore the high expectations the elected leaders have for the relocation of the company, which in exchange for nearly $150 million in city and state incentives, brings with it from Connecticut its billions in annual revenue, 800 employees and the touted creation of 4,000 jobs."
Mayor Walsh said that the company has the possibility of attracting other companies to venture in Boston and help the city employ residents from Boston and the neighboring places.
Gov. Baker also pointed out the exponential benefit of the move. "The exponential benefit here will be in the partnerships and the investments they make in a lot of the other institutions that are around here," Baker said.
Meanwhile, while the press conference was conducted on the 33rd floor of 60 State Stree, protestors also gathered outside the building and emphasized the issues involved in luring the company to Boston, including millions of dollars in tax breaks and public incentives used to lure the company to Boston.
"I hate injustice. I hate corporate greed. I hate stupidity," said 70-year-old Susan Strelec, a member of the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants. She said that the city should focus more on improving schools and other facilities before anything else.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
