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Second Annual Employer Forecast
Forum Shows Regional Optimism
Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, the sixteenth President of Framingham State University, addresses the forum.
Partnership Executive Director Paul Matthews facilitating a panel of Barbara Clifford, former President of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, Bonnie Biocchi, President & CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Siobhan Bohnson, President & CEO of the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce, and Susanne Morreale-Leeber, President & CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce.
On the morning of August 28th, over seventy regional leaders attended the 495/MetroWest Employer Forecast Forum, generously hosted by Framingham State University.
This forum marked the release of the results from the second year of the 495/MetroWest Regional Employer Survey that the Partnership launched last summer with Framingham State University and MetroWest495 BIZ. Due to the interest in the findings by the private sector, developers, municipal officials, legisaltors, and others, this year's survey had an even higher response rate and provided greater context on the region's business climate. Overall, the survey had welcome results in showing that 69% of responding employers felt that the economy will improve over the coming year.
For further perspective, attendees at the forum benefited from an overview and analysis of results by Dr. Michael Harrison, Assistant Professor in FSU's Business Department, and a panel of Barbara Clifford, former President of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, Bonnie Biocchi, President & CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Siobhan Bohnson, President & CEO of the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce, and Susanne Morreale-Leeber, President & CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, facilitated by the Partnership's Executive Director Paul Matthews.
Attendees were welcomed by the new President of Framingham State University, Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, who shared his vision for the University and perspective as students were arriving for the new academic year.
For more information on the survey results, Dr. Harrison's analysis, and news articles on the forum, go to www.495partnership.org , and further background in the August edition of MetroWest495 BIZ .
Special thanks to Framingham State for hosting the forum, as well as to FSU and MetroWest495 BIZ / Worcester Business Journal for partnering on the 495/MetroWest regional employer survey, and to the Corridor Nine, Marlborough Regional, MetroWest, Milford Area, and United Chambers of Commerce for their assistance with survey outreach.
MassWorks Groundbreaking in Berlin
From left to right: Secretary Greg Bialecki, Brian Bush of Heritage Properties, David Roedel of Roedel Companies, Rep. Hank Naughton, Senator Jen Flanagan, Berlin Selectman Walter Bickford, Christopher Senie of Senie & Associates, Fred Roedel of Roedel Companies, and Matthew Senie of Senie & Associates
On September 8, 2014, Chris Senie of Senie & Associates welcomed several guests and officials to the site of their Riverbridge Project. He was particularly pleased to welcome Secretary of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED), Greg Bialecki, whose office approved the $1.5 million MassWorks grant for infrastructure improvements to River Road West, including both roadway and pedestrian enhancements, that allow for the planned mixed use development.
The Riverbridge Project is a 26 acre village style development with housing, restaurants, retail and 86 acres of preserved open space. Secretary Bialecki spoke to the project's merits and its consistency with community character, noting the importance of housing and sustainable development to the the Patrick Administration. He was joined by Senator Flanagan and Representative Naughton, who both noted their pleasure to represent the Town of Berlin, which is new to both of their districts.
There was a consistent theme of family and community throughout the groundbreaking event, with the Senie brothers explaining the vision and history of the project, the Roedel brothers discussing their 109-room Homewood Suites by Hilton, Selectman Walter Bickford spoke about the ease of working with the project partners to make sure the planned development fit into the community and even the former property owner from the Risi family was in attendance.
This site of the Riverbridge Project was identified as a local and regional Priority Development Area in the 495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan, released by Secretary Bialecki in 2012. The Plan was the result of work by EOHED with the Partnership and several other partners, and it continues to bring state resources to the 495/MetroWest region.
The Riverbridge Project is yet another successful example of the Compact Plan in action and the Partnership looks forward to its continued development and resulting benefits to the region.
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Special thanks to our state legislators for securing state funding for regional economic development, and the Office of Business Development for their support.
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, a Sanofi Company
NSTAR, a Northeast Utilities Company
Special Thanks to Our Silver Investors:
Framingham State University
NAIOP Massachusetts | Patriot Place
Sam Park & Co. Ltd.
Staples | Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc
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
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