Gov. Baker Says MassDevelopment Will Revitalize State Pier

MassDevelopment is now in charge of State Pier in New Bedford, taking it over from the Department of Conservation and Recreation a few weeks ago. In an appearance in New Bedford earlier this week, Governor Charlie Baker says MassDevelopment was the right choice to take it over because they've had experience dealing with similar projects.

"MassDevelopment has tremendous capacity to bring in outsiders, and work with their own staff to do the kind of analysis that we think this requires," Baker said.

The governor pointed to the success MassDevelopment had in revitalizing Jodrey State Pier in Gloucester, and the work they've done with Fort Devens in the Worcester area.

"One of the things they're good at is figuring out how to put certain sites to work," he said.

Baker praised MassDevelopment's ability to bring in the best minds, while he thinks former pier managers DCR didn't always think outside the box.

"I think in this particular case, our view was that DCR simply doesn't have the expertise or the in-house talent, or hasn't worked witha lot of the exterior help that you would bring into this type of a task," he said. "And this is the kind of project that MassDevelopment is good at."

MassDevelopment recently voted out President and CEO Marty Jones, and the Board of Directors is currently searching for her replacement.