Governor Maura Healey today urged the business community to work with state government during 2025 to implement aggressively new initiatives on economic development, housing and transportation.

At the same time, the governor expressed concern about the potential implementation of tariffs on Massachusetts’ key trading partners in Canada and Mexico. She told more than 500 business leaders at the AIM Executive Forum that 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods could increase energy prices by $200 million for Massachusetts businesses and residents.

“I’m really worried about the talk of tariffs,” said Governor Healey, who wanted that the levies could also hamstring efforts by Massachusetts to accelerate housing construction.

“It’s terrible for our country. It’s terrible for the Massachusetts economy.”

The governor said she is prepared to work with the new Trump Administration but intends to remain focused on issues that matter to Massachusetts employers.

“We’re not going to be distracted,” she said.

The governor’s speech marked the third consecutive year that she has chosen AIM to outline her economic priorities for the year ahead. Accompanying the governor were Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and members of the cabinet, who spoke with AIM members throughout the morning about important issues facing Massachusetts employers.

Leslie Storms, US President for Orthopaedics at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, introduced the governor. The company employs 9,000 people at nine sites throughout Massachusetts.

“Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll are committed to making Massachusetts competitive for business and affordable for the people who live here by prioritizing issues such as housing, transportation, job training and child care,” she said.

Brooke Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIM, noted that AIM shares with Governor Healey a commitment to affordability, competitiveness and equity as pillars of economic success.

The good news is that business and government – working together – made significant progress last year toward making the commonwealth both competitive and affordable.

“AIM worked closely with the Governor and the Legislature to reduce the short-term capital gains tax rate, and to make the commonwealth a leader in wage equity and transparency.  AIM supported the multi-billion housing bond bill, the comprehensive energy siting bill, and  the economic-development bill, also known as the MA Leads Act, that invests $3.9 billion to ensure that Massachusetts builds on its strengths in life sciences and clean technology for the next decade,” Thomson said.