DEDICATED TO Driving the economy

VITAL. GAME-CHANGING. POWERFUL. INFLUENTIAL. RELENTLESS. That is the work of the Western Mass Economic Development Council.

We are committed to supporting and growing the region’s economy not just for our 90+ members who are industry leaders, economic engines, and market drivers but for everyone. Hundreds of entrepreneurs and innovators across the Valley. Thousands of dedicated workers. And individuals and families who add to the fabric of a vibrant economy.

We are on the job for them. We know that as our workforce grows and diversifies, and as smaller businesses scale into larger enterprises and achieve, we all win. So, our work spans all industries, draws on countless relationships and affiliates, shapes programs, services, and public policy, and affects everyone in our midst.

We are mindful to look through the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) lens, so that women-, minority-, and veteran-owned, and LGBTQ+ businesses also have ample access to financing, capital, and supply chains as well as equal access to growth.

At the EDC, we drive the economy in the hope that no one takes the back seat.

FORECASTING RESILIENCY IN A POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY

Certainly, work looked different in 2022 than it did two years ago.

More people are working from home across all industries and sectors, from healthcare to government to financial services. More students in higher education are learning from home. And there is more emphasis and appreciation for work-life balance.

As the importance of home is heightened, to us, that’s a beautiful reason to broadcast to businesses and workers from afar that Western Mass is a great place to live. We have so much to offer.

The cost of living is less expensive here than in the eastern part of the state. Greenspace is part of our DNA. You can own your own home, raise a family, and do that much more inexpensively than many other places. The arts are entwined in our culture. There are fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation and the appreciation of nature. There are also jobs available for folks in all industries—education, healthcare, financial services, social services, advanced manufacturing, the arts and culture, food and beverage, and more.

To raise awareness about the region’s gifts, the EDC has a multi-faceted growth strategy in process for Western Mass. We are working closely with our local chambers, convention and visitors bureau, and business leaders to promote the region and its assets to draw more people to live and work here and are dedicated to raising up our local companies, our workforce, and innovators. The support and innovative services the EDC offers, including participation in the Western Mass Anchor Collaborative for our large companies that provide comprehensive, systemic, and locally-led solutions to certain regional business and workforce challenges, are big draws.

(See page 23 to learn more.)

“Western Mass is a good place to do business,” Sullivan says. “We say that when people are asking themselves where they want to live, they should put Western Mass at the top of the list.”

Developing Services To Attract More Independent Thinkers

Western Mass is home to many nonconforming, hardworking, proud, and independent innovators and leaders who are as creative as they are open-minded. Because we know that even these unconventional business leaders and entrepreneurs need support, we have a wide scope of services.

One resource that sets us apart from any other organization is our assist in site searches for companies seeking to locate—or relocate—here. Leaders reach out to us with specifications: They want to be within five miles of the Mass Pike or I91, have 500,000 square feet of space with loading docks and train access, for instance.

We take the details and send them out to our list of commercial brokers and developers who, combined, represent over 90 percent of the commercial real estate in the region. We also collaborate with municipal, county, and chamber economic development officials have knowledge of available real estate in their communities. The team facilitates interviews, arranges meetings, provides additional support for relocation and direct forms of connection to workforce development agencies, and access to grant opportunities and incentives. It’s free to request this service, and free to be on the recipient list, too.

Anne DeWolf, our director of operations, manages about 40 rolling, active inquiries that are on our radar each year. In 2022, there were 20 new site search requests.

The EDC also acts as a clearing house for companies looking at growth, whether that be companies already in the region that want to expand or new ones moving into Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden county. We help them collect relevant data they need to make decisions. They might ask about school systems, community culture, the cost of utilities, and taxes. We get the answers.

We can even convene state and local government agencies to offer tax or workforce credits or other robust relocation incentives.

Other

core services we provide help businesses:

Obtain capital access. Our members and partners assist in securing financial resources, grants, micro-loans, venture funding and incentive programs.

Network with peers. We can convene industry-specific groups and strategic alliances to give businesses new opportunities.

Expand their markets. We reach out to governmental agencies, academic resources, and international trade assistance programs to provide resources.

Develop the workforce. EDC has a variety of recruiting and training opportunities, internship programs, and grants to solve staffing issues.

Access research and intellectual capital. Our academic partners in the 29 colleges and universities in the region’s Knowledge Corridor offer intensive resources and training and make our workforce one of the best-educated in the world.

SOLIDIFYING A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING

Western Mass is an incredibly diverse region, from the geographic landscapes to the many cultures and ethnicities represented across the counties. Living in an ever-changing world, in an ever-changing economy, requires deep understanding of the communities and people we serve.

In 2022, we embarked on a DEIB journey with Leading Culture Solutions, Inc. to begin this essential work that puts people at the center of all we do. This journey included staff surveys, community focus groups, team workshops on prioritized topics such as implicit bias, intersectionality, microaggressions, effective allyship, and strategic road mapping and planning. Investing in DEIB development is critical to the success and the future of the EDC. It positions us and our members to better serve and understand an evolving economy and its industries, resulting in the development of new innovative practices and programs that encourage economic growth and equity.

“Our commitment to DEIB goes beyond our board and staff. We have actively engaged other stakeholders to help us become a stronger, more inclusive organization going forward. We are weaving DEIB into all that we do at the EDC,” says Rick Sullivan, EDC president and CEO.

This DEIB commitment will help our members and affiliates support initiatives and public policy that promotes inclusive hiring practices, understanding the importance of diversifying our local supply chains, and supporting place-based investments as a few examples, such as Big Y’s excellent example—opening its massive $46 million warehouse in Springfield and creating 100+ jobs in the process, in one of the region’s most diverse and largest cities.

We are working to create unified and equitable vitality in our regional economy.