1996
MassINC is founded by Tripp Jones and Michael Gritton.
First issue of CommonWealth published.
CommonWealth visits Heritage Road – a quintessential middle-class neighborhood.
First research report: State of the American Dream in New England.
1997
Report: Closing the Gap: Raising Skills to Raise Wages.
First major MassINC event: Are Schools Improving?
MassINC launches its first web site.
1998
Reports:
Lessons Learned: 25 Years of State Economic Policy.
The Road Ahead: Emerging Threats to Workers, Families, and the Massachusetts Economy.
First edition of the Campaign Issues Briefing Book for Candidates and Voters released.
The CommonWealth Forums begin.
1999
Reports:
Prisons and Sentencing in Massachusetts.
The Changing Workforce.
Event:
Conflict or Consensus? The Renewed Debate Over Land Use Planning in Massachusetts.
2000
Reports:
Opportunity Knocks: Training the Commonwealth’s Workers for the New Economy.
New Skills for a New Economy.
Event:
Making the Grade.
Offices: MassINC moves to 18 Tremont Street, Boston.
2001
MassINC turns 5!
CommonWealth 5th Anniversary Issue published – A visit back to Heritage Road.
MassINC launches 02133 Web site – the precursor to IssueSource.
Start of the New Skills for a New Economy Awareness and Action Campaign.
MassINC begins its Citizen’ Circle program.
2002
Reports:
From Cell to Street.
The State of the American Dream in Massachusetts.
Events:
Politics Unusual – MassINC’s 5th Birthday.
East Meets West: Bridging the Politics, Economies and Histories of Eastern and Western Massachusetts.
CommonWealth Education Reform Extra.
The Rennie Center launches.
2003
Ian Bowles is named President of MassINC. John Schneider is named Vice President.
Debut of In the CommonWealth – Boston Globe Ideas section.
Reports:
The Pursuit of Happiness.
MASS.migration.
Event: A Decade of Learning: Education Reform in Massachusetts. Governor Mitt Romney participates.
2004
CommonWealth Health Care Extra.
Reports:
The Graying of Massachusetts.
MASS.commuting.
RealTalk debuts.
Commonwealth Humanities Lecture debuts.
100th Citizens’ Circle.
CommonWealth Online Exclusive: Beyond Red & Blue.
2005
The CommonWealth Forums: A New Prescription: Cost, Value and Competition In Health Care Reform.
Reports:
The Massachusetts Nonprofit Sector.
The Changing Face of Massachusetts.
A Generation in Transition.
First MassINC foreign language publication: Changing Face executive summary appears as Spanish insert in El Planeta.
2006
MassINC turns 10!
CommonWealth Growth and Development Extra.
Reports:
Paying for College: The Rising Cost of Higher Education.
Mass Economy: The Labor Supply and Our Economic Future.
2007
Former Boston Globe investigative reporter, Bruce Mohl, is named Editor of CommonWealth.
Reports:
Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities: Lessons Learned and an Agenda for Renewal.
Mass Jobs: Meeting the Challenges of a Shifting Economy.
Greg Torres is named new President of MassINC.
Going for Growth policy brief series begins.
2008
CommonWealth Education Reform Extra.
Reports:
Point of Reckoning: Two Decades of State Budget Trends.
Great Expectations: A Survey of Young Adults in Massachusetts.
Capital Gains: Avoiding Harm to the State Budget.
The Gateways Cities Initiative is launched.
2009
Family Financial Skills Initiative debuts.
Event:
Family Financial Skills: New Thinking in Today's "Do-it-Yourself" Financial Environment.
Reports:
Incomplete Grade: Massachusetts Education Reform at 15.
Building for the Future: Foundations for a Springfield Comprehensive Growth Strategy.
2010
MassINC Polling Group is launched, Steven Koczela named President.
CommonWealth Energy and Environment Extra.
MassINC launches new Web site. CommonWealth now offered as on-line magazine as well as print publication.
An Associate Board made up of accomplished young leaders from across the state is formed.
Events:
Next Stop: A National Summit on the Future of Transit, featuring general managers from 5 of the nation's largest transit systems.
MassINC and CommonWealth host the year's first gubernatorial debate, focused on Cape Wind and green energy.
Reports:
Planning for College: A Consumer Approach to the Higher Education Marketplace
Going for Growth: Promoting Access to Wealth Building Financial Services in Massachusetts Gateway Cities
Next Stop, Massachusetts: Strategies to Build the Bay State's Transportation Future and Keep our Economy Moving
2011
MassINC turns 15!
CommonWealth publishes 15th anniversary issue focused on the state of journalism.
CommonWealth publishes American Dream special issue.
Events:
Serious Fun: A Political Party celebrated 15 years of MassINC and CommonWealth magazine with politicians, pundits and the press.
Global Payments: The next chapter in health care reform?
The 80 Percent Challenge: What Massachusetts must do to meet targets and make headway on climate change
Moving Forward with Funding: New Strategies to Support Transportation and Balanced Regional Economic Growth
Reports:
Recapturing the American Dream: Meeting the Challenges of the Bay State's Lost Decade
Creative Places: Public Perceptions of Arts, Culture, and Economic Development in Gateway Cities
MassINC's Middle Class Index
Moving Forward with Funding: New Strategies to Support Transportation and Balanced Regional Economic Growth
Going for Growth: New Education-Housing Partnerships to Stabilize Families and Boost Student Achievement
The 80 Percent Challenge: A Survey of Climate Change Opinion and Action in Massachusetts