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More than a year ago, news that Hasbro was considering a corporate move to Boston from its longtime home in Rhode Island riveted those at the intersection of politics and business, and intensified a scramble to bring the toymaker across the border.
Days after the Boston Business Journal scooped Hasbro’s potential plans, Yvonne Hao, Gov. Maura Healey’s economic development secretary at the time, introduced Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks via email to Healey.
Massachusetts was “ready to talk and will do everything we can on our side!” Hao wrote, adding that “[in] the meantime, I’ve been continuing to hone my Boggle and Scrabble!”
Hao and other state officials also fielded inquiries from companies already here and looking to take advantage of a potential new tenant. Wayfair’s general counsel reached out, wanting to “replant the seed” that they had surplus space in the Back Bay they could sublease or transfer to Hasbro, while a Cronin Development executive pitched 24 Drydock, located next to a U.S. battleship, as a new home for the maker of the Battleship game.
Hasbro is ending up in Boston’s Seaport, but on Summer Street, promising to bring 700 jobs, including 56 high-earning executives, by the end of 2026, while the state pledged a $14 million tax break.
Emails and documents released through a public records request offer a behind-the-scenes look at the quest to land the company, which was called “Project Brainstorm.” (Before you ask, they redacted Healey’s email address before sending the records to us.)
The documents show initial discussions had a higher amount – $16 million – and hint at the possibility of even more employees. Michael Benak, a partner at McCarter English who handled lease negotiations and tax break talks, said in a June 2025 email that “folks at the company, and me, believe it will be closer to 800, but they are a conservative company and do not want to represent 800 if it is ultimately less.”
Talks between Hasbro and state officials quickly accelerated last August, as they finalized the application for the tax break. In its filings, the company, headquartered in Rhode Island since its 1923 founding, called the move a “once in a century opportunity” despite Boston’s expensive real estate and labor market.
“The support of the Commonwealth will help to mitigate some of the costs the Company expects to expend in the short term, particularly as we fit out our new space and adjust compensation packages as necessary to compete for top talent,” the executive wrote in the application.
Officials in the state’s Office of Business Development, and sometimes the economic development secretary, generate code names when chasing a company. In Hasbro's case, "Brainstorm" refers to a powerful card in the Magic: The Gathering Game.
Jay Ash, Gov. Charlie Baker’s economic development chief, led the effort to lure General Electric from Connecticut, which was called “Project Plum,” and tongue-in-cheekly, “Project Project.”
“Folks in the business community want to keep things discrete,” Ash said.
In order to maintain a list that the secretary could review, there are often code names instead of company names, in case the list is left in a trash can, and “so you all couldn’t figure out what it is we’re talking about,” he told me.
As a public records enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for topics to request. The governor’s office may be considered exempt, but cabinet secretariats are not. Let me know if you have any suggestions: [email protected].
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HAPPENING TODAY
11:00 | Gov. Maura Healey continues the series of regional public safety roundtables she started in late September with an event in Lynn. Topics of discussion include the results of the 2025 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, governor's office said. | Lynn Police Department, 300 Washington St., Lynn
12:00 | Massachusetts Municipal Association holds a members-only webinar about the Peace Office Standards and Training Commission. There will be a panel discussion with POST Commission Executive Director Enrique Zuniga, Eric Atstupenas of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and Norwood Police Chief Christopher Padden. | Register
1:15 | The 55 Bus Route Coalition holds a ride-along and rally, as senior and local officials ride the MBTA #55 bus from Fenway to Arlington Street. They'll then gather at MBTA headquarters (10 Park Plaza) at 2:15 p.m. to call for extended hours and a return to the Park Street route. The MBTA cut the bus route in 2020 during the pandemic. | Queensberry Street at Jersey Street stop near 115 Jersey St., Boston
1:00 | Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Economic Opportunity Center at Curtis Apartments Phase II. | 69 Tacoma Street, Worcester
I asked Rep. Ayanna Pressley renewed chatter in her district that she is considering running for U.S. Senate against Ed Markey
— Gintautas Dumcius (@gintautasd.bsky.social) 2025-10-01T16:57:58.068Z
FROM BEACON HILL
PUBLIC SAFETY CUTS: Gov. Maura Healey criticized the Trump administration’s cuts to federal public safety grants, as some states are suing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to stop the reductions. – Boston Globe
O’BRIEN RETURNS: Shannon O’Brien returned to chairing the Cannabis Control Commission after a two-year legal battle with Treasurer Deb Goldberg. O’Brien said she has an “even deeper sense of purpose and gratitude” upon her return. – Boston Business Journal
NEWS NEXT DOOR
PENCE IN DORCHESTER: Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the EMK Institute in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, saying federal law is explicit about no law enforcement role for the U.S. military as President Trump seeks to send troops into cities. – MassLive
FISCAL ALLIANCE POLL: Rep. Seth Moulton has a lead over incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, in a poll from the Fiscal Alliance Foundation. The poll also found Gov. Maura Healey has a 58% approval rating. – Boston Herald
BOSTON BUSINESS: Some members of Boston’s business community who supported Josh Kraft in the mayoral race are feeling uneasy after Mayor Michlle Wu’s blowout victory. – Bloomberg
ANOTHER ICE SUIT: Immigration and tax advocates filed a lawsuit to stop the IRS and the Social Security Administration from sharing taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. – GBH News
LONGEVITY PAY NIXED: Jack Spillane tells the story of how the practice of longevity pay for New Bedford’s elected officials stopped after 35 years of payouts. – New Bedford Light
LEGITIMACY QUESTIONED: The legitimacy of some Plymouth elected officials and committee appointees is now in question after a “systemic failure” that the town clerk says can be fixed through new software. – Plymouth Independent
SHUTDOWN EFFECT: Social Security checks will still go out, but federal workers are furloughed and applications for Medicaid benefits could be delayed, Rep. Jim McGovern and other lawmakers warned. – Greenfield Recorder
NEW CAMPUS ADDITION: UMass Boston is planning a new building dedicated to its nursing school, which is currently spread across the campus. – Dorchester Reporter
NORTHAMPTON CANDIDATES: Candidates for municipal seats in Northampton focused on housing and climate change as top issues ahead of the November election. – Daily Hampshire Gazette
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Economic Development DirectorManager of Financial Assessments, City of Haverhill
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