NOMINATE YOUR TRANSPORTATION NIGHTMARES

How was your morning commute?  Do you wish there were more reverse commute trains to the region?  Were you stuck at that intersection again, you know the one? Want to see more bicycle and pedestrian options?  Tell us about it!!

Following a successful nomination process in 2004, which identified the 495/MetroWest region's top transportation priorities and resulted in several studies and plans, new transit options, construction projects, and infrastructure improvements in the region, the 495/MetroWest Partnership is again partnering with the MetroWest Daily News to identify the top ten Transportation Nightmares.

Please share you 495/MetroWest 'transportation nightmare' and be part of the Partnership's advocacy for transportation investments in the region.

Read More and Submit Your Transportation Nightmare on or by April 15th!

To follow this initiative on Twitter, use #trnightmares14 and follow @495MWPtnership and @metrowestdaily.

Committee Gets Update on Water Infrastructure Legislation

On April 9, 2014, the Partnership’s Water Resources Committee was provided with a detailed overview of the Drinking Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Legislation (S2021) that was unanimously passed by the state Senate and now awaits action by the House Ways & Means Committee. Senator Jamie Eldridge, the bill’s sponsor, and Representative Carolyn Dykema, who sponsored several similar bills in the House, provided legislative perspectives while discussing the events leading to this pivotal moment for statewide attention on water infrastructure.

Senate Bill 2021 includes Financing and Increased Incentives such as adding $50 Million to the State Revolving Loan Fund Program, Reforms like requiring the Board of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to establish and publish guidelines for best management practices in water management, as well as Technical Assistance, System Performance, Impact Fees, Green Infrastructure, Nitrogen Removal and Other Provisions.

Both legislators chaired the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, which made 23 recommendations toward meeting the financing gap in water and wastewater infrastructure, estimated at $20 Billion over the next 20 years. The legislation currently under consideration seeks to address some of the recommendations.

Since the Commission's report, the Water Infrastructure Alliance was formed to continue the work of interested stakeholders. Led by Jennifer Pederson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association, and Abbie Goodman, Executive Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts, the Alliance is working to create greater public awareness of the water infrastructure financing challenge facing our communities and the Commonwealth and they are in support of the proposed legislation. The Alliance's public outreach effort included updating attendees at the Partnership's Water Resources Committee meeting. Along with Representative Dykema and Senator Eldridge, Ms. Pederson and Ms. Goodman answered several questions from members of the Partnership's Water Resources Committee. Attendees include water professionals from both the public and private sectors, municipal representatives and environmental groups. The presentation and discussion provided a comprehensive review of this highly technical legislation.

The Water Resources Committee is chaired by Martin Pillsbury of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and Gerry Preble of Beals + Thomas, consistent with the Partnership's public and private stakeholders and leadership. The Committee's next meeting is on Wednesday, April 30th, where attendees will hear from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on their Sustainable Water Management Initiative (SWMI), which is currently open to public comment. If you are interested in attending or receiving future Committee notices, please contact the Partnership's Deputy Director, Jessica Strunkin.

 STATE DEVELOPMENTS

State's Manufacturing Academy on April 17: The 
Massachusetts Advanced Manufacturing Regional Partnership Academy (AMRPA) is a collaborative effort of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Executive Office of Education, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the University of Massachusetts aimed at accelerating the adoption of best practices, capacity building and industry engagement in regions throughout the state.  The Academy brings together manufacturers, workforce investment boards and academia to help regions develop sustainable and effective partnerships that respond to industry needs.  The event is at Worcester Technical High School, and more (including event registration) is at http://amrpa.wordpress.com/.Boston.

State's Manufacuring Summit on April 29:  The second annual Advanced Manufacturing Summit brings together hundreds of executives, managers and experts from the manufacturing industry to share best practices and to discuss opportunities and challenges.  The event is at the Worcester DCU Center from 7-3pm, and is online at  http://www.ampitupma.com/summit .

Brownfields Redevelopment Fund Receives Boost: The state's recent supplemental budget included $15 Million for this program, which funds remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties across the state, and as shown by their 2013 annual report, has demonstrated tremendous returns from such public-private collaboration.  Additional funding for a mulit-year recapitalization of the fund is one of the Partnership's priorities, and so we are participating in a statewide coalition for such a solution. 

$177 Million Military Bond Bill Signed into Law:  This bond bill was developed by Governor Patrick's Military Affairs and Security Strategy Task Force, in which the Partnership participates, to support state military facilities such as our own Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center.

Sandbox Summit on June 9 & 10:  The state's Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development is working with the MA Technology Collaborative, the Merrimack Valley Sandbox, and the Deshpande Foundation at UMass Lowell on this event focused on "Entrepeneurship for All". Further information is online at http://merrimackvalleysandbox.org/sandbox-summit-2014/

SPEAKER DELEO WELCOMES PARTNERSHIP TO  THE STATE HOUSE 

Speaker of the House DeLeo addresses attendees at the Partnership's State House Day

On Tuesday, April 1st, the Partnership held our annual State House Day program to bring together regional leaders, legislative leadership, and our legislative delegation and staff members.

This year, through the hard work of Chairman David Linsky and his office, the program was held in the members' area of the House of Representatives, which is customarily closed to the public.  As a result, attendees were able to see firsthand the history of the State House, and even toured the House floor with Chairman Linsky and Representative Chris Walsh.

In addition, attendees heard from Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, who talked about the proposed anti-domestic violence legislation, the state budget process, business issues such as the minimum wage and unemployment insurance reform, and his commitment to advancing another economic development package.  In that discussion, he singled out the Partnership as a success story of public private collaboration around economic development, and as the model for other organizations across the state.

The MetroWest Caucus CoChairs also addressed attendees, with State Senator Karen Spilka sharing the delegation's many accomplishments in recent years on behalf of the region, while reminding attendees that a continued commitment to working together is needed to stay on the cutting edge.  State Representative John Fernandes provided his perspective on the continued need for the Partnership's leadership by noting our ongoing work and expertise on behalf of Milford, Franklin, and Bellingham in response to a proposed stormwater runoff pilot program, which could be expanded beyond those communities. 

The Partnership is extremely appreciative of all who attended from the region and the delegation, as well as the committed support of Speaker DeLeo.  Special thanks are due to our event sponsors - Beals + Thomas and Dean College. 

GROW IN 495/METROWEST RESOURCES RELEASED

ON REGIONAL ECONOMY

On Feb. 11, the Partnership  held a forum to announce a new initiative, Grow in 495/MetroWest.  The forum also offered a briefing on the Corporate Site Selection Process, and an opportunity to release resources on the regional economy and commercial real estate market.

Grow in 495/MetroWest is a reflection of the Partnership’s commitment to provide regional resources for municipalities to engage in economic development, and to provide technical assistance to employers and outside companies with their expansion and location needs.  As part of this initiative, the forum featured the release of such resources on the regional economy and the commercial real estate market, as well as a detailed briefing on the corporate site selection process.  

These private sector experts shared an overview of the site selection process, explained the critical factors behind such decisions, and led a discussion among attendees as to how to most effectively impact such real estate location decisions.  “Regional groups like the 495/MetroWest Partnership are key,” commented Brian Cohen, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services for Transwestern/RBJ.  “Communities have to market their strengths as part of a region to the site selector community.”   Chris Steele, COO & President North America for Investment Consulting Associates, pointed out, “No one factor drives such location decisions, but perception is reality, so municipalities are best positioned when they can move quickly to present themselves when they get the opportunity.”

At the forum, attendees also received the Partnership’s latest economic report, Strength in Numbers, for incorporation into their economic development and marketing initiatives, since it showed: 

• 1 in every 12 jobs in Massachusetts is located in the 495/MetroWest region;
• $19 billion annual payroll, or 1 in every 10 payroll dollars in the Commonwealth;
• 55.8% of the 495/MetroWest region’s population has earned bachelor’s degree or higher; and
• The 495/MetroWest region’s unemployment rate has been consistently lower than both the state’s and nation’s.

The Partnership worked with Transwestern/RBJ to release a commercial real estate analysis of the 495/MetroWest region, which noted that our region:

• Enjoys a combination of cost advantages and superior transportation connections unique within Eastern Massachusetts;
• Has 29.8 Million square feet of office, laboratory, flex, warehouse, and manufacturing space across 324 properties;
• Has grown its office space by 12% over the last fifteen years to nearly 16 Million square feet; and
• Has pricing advantages, such as averaging a 34% discount to adjacent submarkets closer to Boston’s core.

In addition to these regional resources for use in economic development initiatives, as part of Grow in 495/MetroWest, the Partnership has developed a new means of providing technical assistance to employers and outside companies with their expansion and location needs.  A new component of the Partnership’s website at http://www.495partnership.org/growin495mw provides employers with an online form to request assistance with their expansion and location needs, in order to connect them with available state, local, and regional assistance. 
 

STATE RECOGNIZES 495/METROWEST CREATIVE

ECONOMY NETWORK 

On March 12th, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki announced the formation of the 495/MetroWest Creative Economy Network, generously hosted by the The Center for Arts in Natick.

This effort is part of the state's Creative Industries Initiative , which is focused on eight critical employment clusters - Marketing, Architecture, Visual Arts + Craft, Design, Film + Media, Digital Games, Music + Entertainment, and Publishing.  To form our 
Creative Economy Network, the Partnership and the MetroWest Tourism and Visitors Bureau served as lead organizations in the application, with sixteen network partners thus far:

Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce
CommCreative
Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce
Dean College
Town of Framingham
Framingham Downtown Renaissance
Framingham State University
Town of Franklin
City of Marlborough
Marlborough Economic Development Corporation
Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce
MetroWest Chamber of Commerce
Town of Natick
Natick Center Associates
Partners for a Skilled Workforce
Hopkinton Center for the Arts

If you would like to learn more about the 495/MetroWest Creative Economy Network and how to participate, we are meeting on the morning of April 15th to be briefed by Helena Fruscio, the state’s Creative Economy Industry Director.

To join us or participate in our creative economy network please email [email protected] .

CONGRATULATIONS TO...

The Town of Westford:  Per a formal request from the Town, at their March meeting the Partnership's Board of Directors voted unanimously to include the Town of Westford in the Partnership's service area.  The Partnership is thrilled to welcome Westford as our 34th community!

 Not Following the Partnership Yet? Why Not??

Stay up-to-date on the Partnership’s work and events by following us on social media.  The Partnership has a Twitter account, LinkedIn Group and a Facebook page for you to follow, join or friend as a way to keep up with our various activities on behalf of the 495/MetroWest region.  No longer will you have to wait for our e-newsletter for the latest updates on the Partnership’s efforts; connect to one or all of our social media outlets today!

Thanks to our Bronze Investors:

Atlantic Management

Avidia Bank

Beals+Thomas

Building Initiatives LLC

Capaccio Environmental Engineering

Capital Group Properties

Clarke Distribution Corp.

Commonwealth Creative Associates

Customers Bank

Dean College

GateHouse Media

Green International Affiliates, Inc.

GZA GeoEnvironmental

The Gutierrez Company

Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare

HNTB

J.M. Coull Inc.

Marlborough Hospital

MassBay Community College

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority

Middlesex Savings Bank

Milford Regional Medical Ctr.

Mirick O'Connell

National Development

Patridge Snow & Hahn, LLP

Red Hat

Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC

St. Mary's Credit Union

Serlin Haley LLP

Small Water Systems Services, LLC

Woodard & Curran

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

Verizon

Special Thanks to Our Platinum Investors:

Bowditch & Dewey LLP

Carruth Capital LLC              EMC²              IBM

Special Thanks to Our Gold Investors:

Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co. PC

Bose Corporation      Cisco Systems      

Day Pitney LLP              Genzyme Corp.

NSTAR, a Northeast Utilities Company

Special Thanks to Our Silver Investors:  

Framingham State University 

NAIOP Massachusetts              Patriot Place

Sam Park & Co. Ltd. 

Staples                  Sunovion

   TJX Companies         TransAction Associates

495/MetroWest Partnership

Private Sector CoChair                             Scott Weiss, The Gutierrez Company

Public Sector CoChair                                Joseph Nolan, Town of Wayland

Private Sector ViceChair                            Kathleen Freeman, Northeast Utilities

Public Sector ViceChair                            Henry Fitzgerald, Town of Shrewsbury

Treasurer                                                        Marc Verreault, Carruth Capital

Clerk                                                                Peter Martin, Bowditch & Dewey

Paul Matthews, Executive Director

Jessica Strunkin, Deputy Director