Our Inaugural Annual Report, and Our Good News from 2022

A Message From Our President And Ceo

It is my great pleasure to present the 2022 Annual Report of the Western Mass Economic Development Council (EDC). This is the first of its kind. I hope it updates our members and the community at large on the impactful work the EDC has done over the last year and provides a window to our continued growth and strengthening of the organization.

Despite difficult economic times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, I am very proud that 2022 was a highly productive year for the EDC. We grew our membership to over 90 businesses and institutions by welcoming 10 new business leaders across industries to the EDC business table. We successfully partnered with a statewide coalition to pass legislation that will help bridge the economic cliff individuals face when they try to enter the workforce and/or take a job promotion. We have formally launched our Anchor Collaborative, which aims to create a more equitable economy, and we have significantly grown our role as the regional convener on all issues related to the Western Mass economy.

We’re financially healthy and have diversified our revenue streams, as was called for in the 2014 Strategic Plan. Further, we thoughtfully positioned ourselves to serve as a fiscal agent for numerous organizations in 2022, which resulted in strengthening our current partnerships. This renewed vigor made many things possible, such as:

• Leading the charge and organizing a series of community grants allowing cities and towns to invest in their business corridors.

• Building Back Better from Covid.

• Securing grant funding from the Center for Advanced Manufacturing to Advance Welding so they could buy equipment and expand into Springfield.

• Welcoming new relationships with community leaders and organizations that have a wider impact in Western Mass communities, not only diversifying our reach but truly impacting the economic health of our region and its constituents.

The year 2022 reaffirmed my belief that a rising tide lifts all boats.

This year also brought an innovative opportunity to best serve and prepare for a changing economy. We realigned our relationship with Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) and renewed our commitment to entrepreneurship and growing startup businesses in the region. This move resulted in the launch of the Western Mass Founders Network, which supports seasoned entrepreneurial founders to scale at a statewide, national, or global level.

Our Anchor Ready Accelerator program aims to prepare and scale our trade-focused enterprises to best serve our anchor institutions and diversify the regional supply chain, and a future partnership looks to grow companies in the clean-tech sector, giving Western Mass a competitive advantage in this arena.

The significant announcement of state funding for the soonto-be state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Springfield Union Station also came in 2022. The EDC is proud to have been at the table during the inception of this major project in 2019, serving, too, as an integral player in getting the project off the ground. The Cybersecurity Center will bring much opportunity to Western Mass, which I believe will further diversify occupation access, advance necessary IT, and cybersecurity skills among workers, and provide a service to our members and beyond for improved cybersecurity support. This project will bring more investment to the region and construction opportunities in 2023.

When I think of the positive impact the EDC has achieved over the years, and especially in 2022, I must recognize the commitment the EDC staff has invested during their time with the organization. We couldn’t have done this work without our dedicated team. Thank you to my chief of staff, Xiomara Albán DeLobato; Karen Tetreault, our senior executive assistant; Anne Kandilis, director of Springfield WORKS; Hope Ross Gibaldi, executive director of Valley Venture Mentors; and Anne DeWolf, director of operations; and the entire operations team: Carrie Dzialo, Aurora Pierangelo, and Steve Wolf. I also recognize my municipal colleagues and EDC members who represent their esteemed companies and institutions and serve on our various committees and initiatives that drive our work—the EDC members who served with me on numerous committees for the Healey-Driscoll transition teams speak to the influence and reputation of the EDC across the commonwealth. Our members are the reason we can accomplish this important work for the place we all call home.

I thank every EDC member and community leader for your ongoing support and commitment to the success of the EDC. I'd also like to thank the board for the opportunity to serve the EDC as president and CEO and to represent the EDC membership and the business community of Western Massachusetts.

We had a very busy and fulfilling year and look forward to even more success in 2023.

Rick Sullivan PRESIDENT & CEO