The economic downturn that resulted from the global pandemic caused untold harm to workers, businesses and the regional economy. To date, tens of billions of dollars have been spent by the federal and state governments in Massachusetts to confront some of the negative impact, and more needs to be done. At the same time, shifts in the economy and the future of work could benefit the Berkshires, as long as we act now to prepare. I was recently appointed chair of a new Special Senate Committee on Reimagining Massachusetts in a post-COVID environment. The new committee is a signal that we do not want to merely ârecoverâ from the pandemic, we need to emerge from the pandemic âstronger.â