Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

This is a state audit of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a public economic-development organization focused on technology, broadband, e-health, clean energy, and regional growth.

“The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC) goal is to enhance the state’s economic competitiveness, strengthen its high-tech industry clusters, and harness local, clean energy resources.”

The audit checked whether federal stimulus funds were spent properly, tracked correctly, reported correctly, and awarded to others according to the rules.

“The objectives of our audit were to review and evaluate MTC's controls over ARRA expenditures to determine whether ARRA funds were expended for their intended purposes and in compliance with the grant, MTC complied with ARRA accounting and reporting requirements, MTC identified and reported the number of jobs created/retained with ARRA funds, and funds were awarded to subrecipients in compliance with ARRA requirements.”

This matters because MTC received a large amount of federal stimulus money meant for public projects, including broadband access and health information technology.

“During the audit period, MTC was awarded federal stimulus funds totaling $79,638,121.”

For residents, the funded work included expanding broadband in western Massachusetts and supporting electronic health records for medical providers.

“This network will connect 123 communities in western Massachusetts.”

The auditor concluded that, for the areas tested, MTC spent the money for the right purposes and followed the applicable rules.

“Based on our review we have concluded that, for the period November 1, 2009 through March 31, 2011, MTC used ARRA funds for the intended purposes; maintained adequate management controls; and complied with applicable laws, rules, and regulations for the areas tested.”

The report does not list required corrective actions; it says the audit found no material weaknesses in the tested areas.

“Our tests in the above-mentioned areas disclosed no material weaknesses.”

The report is significant because it found that, among the items reviewed, a public agency handling nearly $80 million in stimulus awards had adequate controls and no major weaknesses.

“As of March 31, 2011, MTC had expended $5,656,834, or 7%, of the total federal stimulus funds awarded, as detailed in the following chart.”

ARRA means federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the audit focused on how MTC received and spent those funds.

“In accordance with Chapter 11, Section 12, of the Massachusetts General Laws, we have conducted an audit of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received and expended at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) for the period November 1, 2009 through March 31, 2011.”