Do you think Springfield’s gotten so far out of the woods that it’s worthy of teaching a lesson or two? The Pioneer Institute does.
On Thursday, February 8, the Boston think tank is hosting "Revitalizing Middle Cities: New Ideas and Policy Tools to Improve the Business Climate," a morning-long, two-part, interactive panel discussion featuring our fair city. State Senator Jack Hart of Boston will open the event.
The Pioneer Institute has developed its own definition of a "middle city." In a description about an institute study (PDF) on 12 cities’ online permitting and licensing resources, the Pioneer Institute’s Middle Cities Initiative is described as an effort to integrate these cities—Brockton, Chicopee, Fall River, Fitchburg, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Leominster, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester—into the state, national and global economy. (In the study, Springfield received a B overall.) An October 2006 report (PDF) on leadership from the institute captures some of the vision behind the middle city revitalization goals.
A footnote further explains that a typical middle city, in the eyes of the Pioneer Institute, has a population greater than 40,000; has a per-capita income less than $20,000 per year; has a per-capita property value below $80,000; and is greater than 30 minutes commuting distance from Boston.
Definitions aside, the February 8 event is aimed at community economic development practitioners, policy makers, entrepreneurs, individual and institutional investors, and the institute lays out its mission for the panels:
– Get acquainted with innovative policy tools such as linking local aid to performance benchmarks;
– Consider Springfield’s experience and how other cities could benefit from its lessons;
– Analyze successful business creation patterns and development practices in Massachusetts urban communities;
– Discuss municipal economic development policies that could strengthen the Middle Cities’ economies.
Set to take place from 7:30 to 11:30 am, the first of two panels, "Revitalizing Weak Market Cities: Lessons from Springfield" is planned to include HAP, Inc. executive director Peter Gagliardi, Springfield Chief Development Officer David Panagore, and Springfield Police Commissioner Edward Flynn. The panel will "review Springfield’s reform efforts and consider its lessons for other Middle Cities."
The second panel, with representatives from Brockton and Lowell, will "present a variety of effective local practices for grass-roots business creation." Brockton Mayor James Harrington, Lowell Development and Financial Corporation executive director James Cook, and State Rep. David Torrisi are all expected to attend. The LDFC is a lending agency providing below-market and secondary financing for commercial, industrial and residential (PDF) developments; it administers a retail incentive program, and collaborates with the city and other agencies to support homeownership and the development of affordable housing.
Register online for the panel discussions by February 2. And while you’re at it, buy a 10-pack of "Maybe our city really is beautiful" pins to wear and give away to promote more positive thinking. It’s also sold in a 100-pack if you’re feeling really optimistic.
