Middlesex 3 Coalition
2014 & 2015
Year in Review
MIDDLESEX 3 COALITION
The Middlesex 3 Coalition was
incorporated in 2012 as a regional
collaboration among public and private
leaders along Route 3 in Middlesex
County.
Middlesex 3 communities include:
•Town of Bedford
•Town of Billerica
•Town of Burlington
•Town of Chelmsford
•Town of Lexington
•City of Lowell
•Town of Tewksbury
•Town of Tyngsborough
•Town of Westford
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The Middlesex 3 Coalition has a 13 member Board of Directors, consisting of five
municipal chief executives & eight regional leaders from Middlesex 3 companies and
educational institutions.
Richard Reed
Bedford Town Manager
John Curran
Billerica Town Manager
Judy Burke
Middlesex Community
College
Mark Reardon
CB Richard Ellis
John Petrin
Burlington Town Administrator
Paul Cohen
Chelmsford Town Manager
Pamela Anastasi
Enterprise Bank
Steven Tello
UMass Lowell
Robert Buckley
Riemer & Braunstein
Scott Weiss
The Gutierrez Company
Scott Hartman
Lahey Health
Michelle Davis
Lowell General
Kevin Murphy
Lowell City Manager
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MISSION STATEMENT
The Coalition’s Mission is to:
• Strengthen and grow economic development in the region
• Create and retain jobs
• Increase and diversify the tax base
• Improve the quality of life in the nine Middlesex 3 communities
The Middlesex 3 Coalition will
• Pursue infrastructure and transportation improvements when
beneficial for the region
• Seek resources for workforce development including grants and
training programs in order to increase and sustain regional
employment
• Advocate on behalf of the region to our state and federal legislators
• Introduce business leaders to municipal and financial contacts within
the region
• Support streamlined permitting process for business initiatives
• Identify available sites for business growth
MEMBERSHIP
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MEMBERSHIP
GK ENTERPRISES
Eno Martin Donahue
Frederick Ciampa, CPA
Bernard Lynch
RAMKAR
MIDDLESEX 3 Coalition
Target Issues
Promote
• Route 3 Corridor and Area Businesses
Improve
• Transportation
• Education and Workforce Development
• Infrastructure, Utilities & Real Estate Development
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Promote Route 3 Corridor and Area Businesses
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Emphasize high caliber of local companies
•
Publicize expansion projects
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Highlight available resources (quality of schools, labor market,
infrastructure, real estate, quality of life, etc.)
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Recent Middlesex 3 Events
to promote the Route 3 Corridor and existing
businesses include:
•Business Resource & Networking Expo – May 2014 at UMass Lowell - over 200
Businesses – Presentation included workforce development panel and Barry Bluestone
from Northeastern University who addressed future workforce needs and challenges
•Economic Development Forum – March 2014 with Secretary of Housing and Economic
Development Greg Bialecki – Highlighted area expansion projects and discussed
methods to improve development projects.
•Robotics Event – “Rise of the Robots” - October 2013 at UMass Lowell's NERVE Center
- Epicenter for Robotic Companies in the United States
•Life Sciences Forum - November 2012 at UMass Lowell - over 150 people from the
over 80 life sciences companies within the five host communities
•Advanced Manufacturing Event – October 3, 2014 - Highlight Resources and Address
Workforce Development Concerns
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Transportation Improvements - Advocate for better
transportation linkages between employees and existing businesses
Transportation Committee (Chair – Robert Nagi, VHB)
• Community Innovation Challenge Grant - $147,000 from the Commonwealth for
Transportation Coordination and Improvements with Route 3 Businesses & Residents
• Middlesex 3 Transportation Management Association (M3 TMA) established in November
2014
Middlesex 3 Transportation Management Association is a
partnership between businesses and communities where participants join
together to solve transportation related issues such as traffic congestion and air
pollution, and to improve transportation options in a defined region.
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• Ridematching Database - An on-line regional program where employees can look for carpool or vanpool
partners.
• Emergency Ride Home Program - Guarantees participants a ride home if they have an emergency on a day
when they use an alternative to driving alone.
• Promoting Active Commuting Options - With the right amenities on-site, biking and walking to work can be
viable options for certain employees.
• Vanpool Formation Assistance - Larger groups interested in sharing the commute can get the support they
need to get started.
• Marketing Programs - A comprehensive program to promote alternatives to driving alone can help your
company impact traffic congestion and air quality in the region.
• Transit Benefits - Pre-tax benefits can be put into place and an MBTA pass program established (to promote the
use of public transportation).
•
"Last Mile" Connections - "Last mile" connections to transit provide services where non exist and enable
businesses to share the costs.
• Shuttle Service - Shuttle service is currently available between Boston, Cambridge and the Route 3 Corridor.
Additional services are being established based upon the needs of the business community.
Middlesex 3 Transportation Management Association
(M3 TMA)
• $100,000 DEP Mitigation Funding
Established $20,000MIDDLESEX
in matching3:funds
first five companies
Targetfor
Issues
that join M3 TMA and 12 month shuttle service.
• The MITRE Corporation, E Ink and National Development
M3 TMA members with shuttle service from Boston and Cambridge
• Strong interest from businesses, commercial and residential developers,
and educational institutions along Route 3.
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Education and Workforce Development Committee
Chair: Judy Burke, Middlesex Community College
•
Objectives include:
• Collaboration of Regional Institutions
• Outreach to Business Community and Coordination of Resources
• Industry Specific Roundtables (May and June)
o Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics
o Life Sciences
o Healthcare
o Information Technology and Security
• Industry Consortium Workforce Training Grants
• Retail Best Practices Workshops (Spring)
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Infrastructure & Development Committee
Chair: Steve Sadwick, Community and Development Director for Tewksbury
• Improvements to existing permitting processes
• Reduce differences in permitting among nine communities
• Market the Middlesex 3 area as permit friendly
• Identify impediments and make improvements to permitting
• Adopt best permitting practices and identify ways communities collaborate on joint issues
• Improve responsiveness and coordination with utilities and public sector
• Streamline the permitting and utilities approvals for development
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Regional Economic Development Priorities
• Road and Infrastructure Improvements
 Phase 3 of the Middlesex Turnpike/Crosby Drive Project
 Route 3 and I-95/Rt. 128 Interchange
 Route 3 and I-495 Interchange
• Alternative Modes of Transportation
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TMA Expansion – Funding Resources (i.e., DEP Mitigation)
Route 3 Bus Expressway
LRTA / MBTA Service Area
Expansion of Rail Service
Park and Ride Facilities
Transportation Tax Legislation
MIDDLESEX 3: Target Issues
Regional Economic Development Priorities
• Workforce Development
 Encourage Expansion of Cluster Industries
 Assist with business and workforce recruitment efforts
 Analyze regional workforce strengths and core competencies
• Infrastructure & Development
 Reduce differences and impediments in permitting
 Adopt best permitting practices
 Market the Middlesex 3 area as permit friendly
• Marketing and Funding
 Route 3 Name Change - Signage Along Route 3
 REDO Grant Funding
 Funding Resources (i.e., CIC Grant)
To obtain more information on Middlesex 3, please contact:
Stephanie Cronin
Executive Director
Middlesex 3 Coalition
P: (978) 808-5281
info@Middlesex3.com
www.middlesex3.com |
@middlesex3