INFRASTRUCTURE

Subcommittee

Chair, Craig Reed, Chief Financial Officer, All State Materials Group

The Infrastructure Committee acts as a catalyst and influencer to support infrastructure projects and focus areas that will help support regional economic opportunity, growth, and resilience. The group also advocates for the continued development of roads, bridges, and additional infrastructure monies from the federal government with the intention to be inclusive of rural and urban regional development, such as broadband expansion and public transportation enhancements.

Legislative Subcommittee

Co-Chair, David Chase, Vice President, Commercial Lending, Freedom Credit Union

The Legislative Subcommittee has a lens on the larger issues that impact economic development and growth, such as advancements in transportation, economic bond bills, workforce, public health, and education. A key ingredient for success is to closely collaborate with local chambers to help amplify their voices on small business-related issues.

New Industry Sectors Subcommittee

Chair, John Cook, PhD, President, Springfield Technical Community College

One key focus for the New Industry Sectors Subcommittee is further advocating for the development of the new cybersecurity center that will be located in Springfield’s Union Station and to have regional and statewide influence on advancement. This group will leverage our local colleges and universities and strengthen relationships by laying out a B2B model for universities and local companies. Clean technology has tremendous opportunity to develop in Western Mass as a hub for clean tech, accessible to individuals across the Commonwealth, and by growing minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.

Strategic Planning Subcommittee

Co-Chairs, Tricia Canavan, CEO, Tech Foundry, and Christina Royal, PhD, President, Holyoke Community College

The Strategic Planning Subcommittee is charged with planning the future of the EDC and charting the course for the work of the organization into 2026. The work strongly plays off the 2020-2023 strategic plan. The goal for the group is to improve the economy for everyone in Western Mass.