As we gather this Thanksgiving, joined by family and close friends, we are reminded of Boston’s special place in the origins of the holiday and the lessons and traditions that enrich our lives to this day.

 

Consider that those first European settlers at Plymouth, just 40 miles from central Boston, were able to celebrate that historic harvest thanks to the support and generosity of the region’s Native community. And it was Boston author Sarah Josepha Hale’s tireless campaign for a National Day of Thanks that inspired President Lincoln to issue his famous 1863 declaration to a starkly divided nation:

 

“I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving.”

 

Lincoln’s words resonate especially strongly today, following an exhausting and divisive election season. Whatever our partisan differences, Bostonians and New Englanders – and the NECA Boston and IBEW industry, in particular – all share reasons to be thankful and to celebrate rich blessings within our homes, businesses, industry, cities/towns and country.

 

This Thanksgiving, as we reflect on the year, let’s recognize the vital role Boston’s electrical contractors play in lighting the way forward for our industry and the communities we serve and call home. Your work is helping Boston, and the greater Commonwealth grow and adapt in resilient, sustainable ways, driving several positive developments for the electrical industry and opening new opportunities for contractors. Reasons to be thankful include:

 

  • Infrastructure Growth: Boston’s infrastructure investments, especially in institutional, public transit upgrades, and building electrification, have created a steady demand for skilled electrical contractors.
  • Clean Energy: Massachusetts is among the leaders in the push for clean energy and we will work with lawmakers to continue to incentivize clean energy construction practices, create green jobs, and prioritize the transition to solar power, wind energy, and EV infrastructure. We are proud of the clean energy pre-apprenticeship program underway.
  • Federal and State Funding: NECA and IBEW are actively securing grants at the state and federal level to support our workforce development, clean energy training and MWBE resources. Both state and federal legislation has allocated billions to Massachusetts, with significant funding going toward grid upgrades, energy-efficient building systems, and other electrical projects.

In closing, we hope the coming holiday gives you time to reconnect with family, reflect on our blessings, and look to the future renewed, whatever the challenges ahead. Just as Boston helped to enshrine our most treasured Thanksgiving traditions, may we each find gratitude in our work, families, and the bright future we’re creating together. Happy Thanksgiving!