Economic Development Newsletter

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2018

After a brief hiatus, the Economic Development Newsletter is back. We plan to release newsletters at least once per quarter, and more often as needed (in the event of a special announcement). We hope that you find the newsletter to be informative. If you have an interest in any particular topics or issues, please do not hesitate to let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

CITY MANAGER, EILEEN M. DONOGHUE

On April 24, 2018 the City of Lowell swore in new City Manager Eileen M. Donoghue. One of City Manager Donoghue’s primary focuses is economic development. Please see the following letter from Manager Donoghue to Lowell’s business community:

Click Here to Read

Lowell City Council

Mayor William Samaras

Karen Cirillo

David Conway

Rodney M. Elliott

Edward J. Kennedy

John J. Leahy

Rita Mercier

James L. Milinazzo

Vesna Nuon

Eileen M. Donoghue

City Manager

Diane Tradd

Assistant City Manager/DPD Director

Andrew Shapiro, AICP

Director of Economic Development

Lowell Welcomes NextShift Robotics

NextShift Robotics , a provider of robotics systems for e-commerce order fulfillment and cellular manufacturing recently moved to Cross River Center at 1001 Pawtucket Boulevard. The robots that the company develops optimize workflow and support the promise of "immediate" delivery that consumers have come to expect from e-commerce. The City is proud to attract companies such as NextShift, that are working on cutting edge technological innovations.

State Senator Eileen M. Donoghue (now City Manager, second from right) and Mayor William Samaras (right) welcome the NextShift Robotics team, led by Co-Founder and CEO Mary Ellen Sparrow (second from left, in front).

Lowell Celebrates National Small Business Week

April 29th through May 5, 2018 is National Small Business Week . During the 1st and 2nd week of May, 2018, the City of Lowell will recognize the City’s remarkable small business owners and entrepreneurs, and raise awareness of the role that the small business community plays in the local, regional, and national economies. Click below to see the full schedule of planned events.

Small Business Week Events

New Downtown Lowell Restaurants & Eateries

The City is excited that the restaurants and eateries listed below recently opened their doors in Downtown Lowell:

Warp and Weft - Fresh twists on traditional cuisine from across the world
Lowell Burger Company - Locally sourced, craft burgers and hand crafted cocktails
Crepes and the City - Breakfast, sweet, and savory crepes
Sweet Journey - Bubble tea and signature desserts

Coming Soon:

Purple Carrot Bread Company: Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening is Wednesday, May 2nd at 11am at 107 Merrimack Street!

Be sure to check out Like Lowell's Restaurant Guide to learn more about these and other great restaurants in the City.

Also, we would like to welcome Bambu to Lowell. Bambu offers a unique modern day Vietnamese dessert (Chè), deliciously addicting boba teas, must-try Viet espressos and coffees, and exotic fruit smoothies. Bambu is located at 199 Plain Street in the Target Plaza.

Mayor William Samaras (right) poses at the ribbon cutting for Bambu.

Local Firms Recognized as Top Places to Work in MA

In November 2017, the Boston Globe announced Enterprise Bank as the #1 place to work in the state among large companies (250-999 employees). Kronos was named the third best place to work among the state's largest companies (1000+ employees). The Boston Business Journal recently also named Kronos as a 2018 Best Places to Work Honoree.

Congratulations to both of these companies for receiving these accolades! We are proud to have them in Lowell!

Director of Economic Development:

Andrew Shapiro

In November 2017 the City welcomed Andrew Shapiro as its new Director of Economic Development. Andrew comes to Lowell by way of Salem, MA, where for over four years he served as the City's Economic Development Planner.

Andrew is excited to now be working for the City of Lowell where he hopes to continue the great progress that has recently been made in terms of economic growth. The Economic Development Office goals for 2018 and beyond include:

Continued support of existing and incoming businesses by directing them to technical assistance and financial resources, as well as identifying available spaces for startup or expansion.
Filling vacant retail storefronts and commercial offices.
Attracting new retailers, restaurants, and commercial companies.
Working with stakeholder partners to advance economic, workforce, and community development initiatives.

If you have any questions or would just like to say hello, feel free to contact him at [email protected] or 978-674-1432.

Hamilton Canal Innovation District Newsletter

Now that construction season is in full swing, sign up for the Hamilton Canal Innovation District Newsletter to stay informed about all construction updates: