 |  |
The Gateway Cities Journal
|  | News and information for leaders who care about Gateway Cities
|  | | |
Ready and willing to grow
The Greater Boston Housing Report Card released last week shows that middle class families are increasingly priced out of Boston by a hostile housing market that vastly favors high-end development. CommonWealth magazine's Paul McMorrow hammered home the point in a Boston Globe op-ed on Tuesday that described a "city with rapidly growing populations of both rich and poor residents, while middle-class families are vanishing."
This development pattern is problematic for the social fabric of the city, but at a regional level, the consequences are even greater. Greater Boston can't generate robust job growth if it can't produce housing that middle-class workers can afford and find desirable. Neither the city nor the suburbs are producing this housing in sufficient quantities.
Pro-growth Gateway Cities hold the promise for addressing the shortage of workforce housing, but in their current condition, rents are too low for developers to finance revitalization projects. Transformative redevelopment is key to making Gateway Cities attractive urban centers where we can grow housing opportunities that appeal to middle-class workers.
The Report Card calls for "keeping pressure on the state and on its local communities to assure sufficient housing at affordable prices." The Gateway Cities are ready and willing to grow. All they need are tools that enable them to build.
- Winthrop Roosevelt
Government Affairs Associate, Gateway Cities Innovation Institute
The Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus visited several of the Commonwealth's Gateway Cities this summer in order to highlight the legislative achievements of the Caucus and to build understanding of the policy issues facing the Gateway Cities. They will be visiting Pittsfield as the last stop on the tour. Find out more and RSVP here.
The Brockton Enterprise endorsed replacing the current two-year Quincy mayoral term with a four-year term in the upcoming November election, and stressed the importance of good voter turnout.
Gateway Cities in Western Massachusetts such as Springfield, Holyoke, and Westfield are seeing major benefits from projects by MassDevelopment, Massachusetts' real estate and finance authority. These projects have been extremely successful in creating a surge of economic development in these cities.
Showcasing the need for state policies built to support transformative redevelopment, the Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that Worcester's CitySquare is still a far-off promise.
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announced a new Manufacturing Roundtable Initiative to support the growth and development of existing manufacturers and attract additional manufacturers to the region.
In a study conducted by the Urban Initiative at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Worcester was found to be a leader in philanthropic donations compared with other Gateway Cities.
GCII's Ian Jakus blogs on a recent report issued by Living Cities on harnessing the economic power of anchor institutions.
EDUCATION
Springfield Technical Community College received two grants totaling $2.6 million from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The grants will allow STCC to offer more adult education courses, including funding for the English for Speakers of Other Languages program, that have been in high demand.
A new program in New Bedford aims to boost middle school students' continuation into high school and foster an environment that values academic learning.
On Friday, the Capeless Elementary School in Pittsfield formally celebrated its new science lab, equipped and furnished entirely through the help of community donations.
COMMUNITIES/PEOPLE
EMItech in Fall River, which develops machines to search for bombs, is up for a $25,000 grant. The Inspiration Grant is sponsored by the Sustainable Valley Technology Group and Rogue Valley Microdevices of Medford, Oregon.
POLITICS
Brockton mayoral candidates have struggled to generate voter interest. With three weeks remaining until election day, Brockton residents interviewed showed little knowledge of issues or interest in the race for mayor.
Lawrence mayor William Lantigua has connected with two women in his re-election campaign who are greatly admired by the city's poor because of their efforts and successes in providing free resources.
CommonWealth's Gabrielle Gurley reports on Congresswoman Nicki Tsongas' endorsement of Lawrence Mayor Lantigua's rival Dan Rivera.
 For a full list of Massachusetts Gateway Cities, click here.
The Gateway Cities Journal is a weekly news publication of MassINC. If you would like to unsubscribe to The Journal but would still like to hear from MassINC, please let us know. If you are not yet on our list and would like to sign up click here. To contribute news or comments, please email Marj Malpiede.
    
|
|
|
MassINC's Gateway Cities Innovation Institute
Tel: (617) 742-6800
Fax: (617) 589-0929
|
|  |
|
STAY CONNECTED WITH MASSINC   
|
