Massachusetts Treasurer and Democratic candidate for governor Steve Grossman is the epitome of a businessman. He often cites how the family business, Grossman Marketing, has been a Somerville staple for decades. This commercial-mindedness was certainly not lost on those of us who toured Greentown Labs yesterday, as the treasurer strolled in, shook hands matter-of-factly and doled out business cards to all of those in close proximity.

This type of polish can only be attributed to one whose been in both the economic and political arena for the better part of his or her respective career. For Steve Grossman, it’s been one he’s cultivated since 1991 when he kickstarted his political career as Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Before we drink in Greentown Labs’s 33,000 square-foot complex and the various clean tech and green energy startups that call the incubator home, at least for now, Grossman engages with some of the Greentown Labs brass –  Executive Director Emily Reichert, and Executive Vice President Mark Vasu – about Somerville of yore. He praises former mayors, mentions broadly how politics was done and reminisces about good ‘ole days in Union Square.

We turn the small talk into a quick photo opportunity, and we proceed on our tour.

It quickly becomes abundantly clear, though, that Grossman isn’t here to pitch and preach policy to the startup and innovation crowd. Quite on the contrary, in fact. For every startup  he spoke to along the tour, Grossman asked consistently, “What can the commonwealth do… what roadblocks and barriers need to be removed, to help your company grow?”

It’s a side of campaigning we don’t often see, one without shameless self-promotion or obvious gimmicks. Initially thinking that perhaps he’s simply outmatched, overwhelmed and even underprepared to start releasing comprehensive energy and environmental reform – what’s currently on his campaign website now is noticeably scarce in that regard – I realize that he’s simply tapping directly into the source to find out, first-hand, how the power of the governor’s office can foster clean energy and protect the environment while simultaneously expanding the economy.

He touches base with the likes of wind power harnessing company Altaeros and solar powered cell phone charging station solutions company Sol Power LLC, amongst other prospective renewable energy companies and a common denominator begins to emerge amongst them all: There’s a growing schism, a detrimental dichotomy, between the new research- and design-focused startups and older more-established manufacturers.

“If Massachusetts becomes the center of the universe for design and manufacturing, people will come from all over the country, the world, to contract with you,” comments Grossman optimistically to one company.

Now we just have to bridge that gap.

After the tour, we’re ushered into a small conference room where more startup representatives host a roundtable-like discussion with the treasurer. He proceeds to ask each one what Massachusetts can do for them in order to make their business grow.

Each has their own respective issue, no surprise there, but they convey the same themes each of which stems from the aforementioned disconnect between the old and the new.

“We need a higher degree of motivation for being cleaner,” offers one.

“Streamline the process of procurement so vendors can become more easily approved to comply with state regulations,” posits another.

“There’s no incentive to stay in-state when we can just work remotely.” The list goes on and on.

Grossman lists a handful of energy and environmental goals on his campaign website. He wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, he wants to create 50,000 new jobs and 5,000 internships under his watch, and he wants to retain talent.

With every question or concern the startups pose, Grossman responds with an on-the-fly answer, and in that respect, sincerity, some of which could become foundational as his vision continues to take shape.

“What are the beset practices from other New England states?” he asks hypothetically, alluding to the possibility of taking a regional approach. “We don’t do everything perfectly here.”

Hardware-based incubators like Greentown Labs are great for creating contracting partnerships as a resource as a variety of different specialties work underneath the same roof, but turning a great product into a great idea is a convoluted process.

“Maybe it’s a one-stop virtual service center where you can do it all,” he suggests of licensing and compliance.

After that, it’s all about retention. “I’m a big believer in tax credits to create jobs, ” continues the treasurer. “The goal is for companies to live, work, play and stay in Massachusetts.”

On Friday Steve Grossman will participate in a forum on energy, the environment and the innovation economy along with his other Democratic gubernatorial candidates at Faneuil Hall. It’ll be interesting to see how lasting the impact his tour of Greentown Labs made on his prospective policies, while comparing and contrasting them with his constituents.

“I hope that I can put together periodic roundtables like this, no-holds-barred, to learn to do a better job,” he says in closing.

One thing seems for sure: He wants to learn and he wants to be able to cater to those beholden to the innovation economy.

Stay tuned to BostInno for coverage on Steve Grossman, the gubernatorial race and the upcoming forum at Faneuil Hall. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and ideas on all in the comments section below.