Strong partnerships are important to a strong economy - by Rick Sullivan

A true strength of the Western Mass. economy is our ability to work together for the common good of the region. We see collaboration between colleges and universities, private business and public-sector organizations, and between the many mayors and our legislative delegations. This united voice, with the same message and goal, will not go unnoticed by businesses that are looking to grow and expand in the region nor by students who are looking at their educational and career choices.

The number one issue for growing and expanding businesses is workforce. Can they find the workers to fill the available jobs and can they retain the talent once the jobs are filled? Western Mass. needs to be able to answer yes. Many regional partnerships have developed in order to meet this workforce need.

A major asset of the Western Mass region is the presence of so many world class colleges and universities. These institutions are educating and training the very talent that private business is seeking. In recent years the colleges and universities have signed articulation agreements between themselves to attract students, make getting a degree more affordable and in some cases quicker than in previous generations. The Elms College and Greenfield Community College (GCC) have developed a program that allows students to achieve a degree in business management, early child care or education; AIC and Holyoke Springfield Technical Community Colleges (STCC) created the Direct Connect Scholarship that guarantees a scholarship with an associate’s degree with certain academic conditions, Western New England University guarantees an academic scholarship to GCC graduates, Berkshire Community College (BCC) and Springfield College have entered into an academic agreement that allows qualified BCC Physical Fitness graduates to transfer to Springfield College’s Applied Exercise Science Program with junior standing.

Private industry has begun working directly with our public schools to create the curriculum that students must learn in order to fill the jobs available today and will be in demand in the years to come. Gulfstream has worked closely with Westfield Academy and Westfield State University to create a new aviation related curriculum, Mass Mutual has invested more than $17 million with UMass Amherst and Springfield satellite campus, Mt. Holyoke College and Smith College to create cutting edge programs in data science, cybersecurity and women in data science programs. Bay Path University recently held a full day seminar on cybersecurity highlighting Bay Path’s and the region’s leadership position in cybersecurity.

MGM worked closely with HCC to create a culinary and hospitality curriculum and with STCC and Cambridge College around gaming. CRRC has collaborated with STCC, Putnam Vocational, and the local unions, hiring many of its graduates and members. Many local manufactures and the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) are working hand in hand with our technical and vocational schools to educate and attract the needed workforce.

The public and private sectors have come together in support of the Federal Reserve Bank’s Working Cities Grant, led by the EDC and the Regional Employment Board (REB). Community leadership has led to the creation of the Springfield Works Initiative. The initiative looks to bring individuals that are currently not participating in the workforce, into the workforce with a career pathway to a better life. More than 40 private, public, and not for profit organizations and businesses are collaborating together on this initiative. If we are successful, this has potential to grow the available workforce significantly.

Valley Venture Mentors (VMM), supported by private and public contributions, is dedicated to building, supporting, and maintaining a community to launch an entrepreneurial renaissance, is growing quickly. Baystate Medical, through its Technology Innovation Center, has created TECHSPRING which serves as the bridge between technology innovators and healthcare professionals, making it possible to prove value and bring better solutions to market, has become a national leader. Innovation and entrepreneurism is a fast-growing segment in our economy.

Our local mayors, state and federal elected officials are always willing to come together on a regional issue of importance and meet together on a regular basis. While each official certainly has important projects in their own communities, they understand that it is important to the whole economy that each community thrive. Creating a positive business climate is important and our officials have shown a unique willingness to work together for the greater good.

The messages we are sending as a region, the partnerships that have been created and the results that are being produced are not going unnoticed. There is significant economic development occurring throughout the region. Leadership has impressively come from every sector within our economy. Working together, our regional economy is bright.

Western Massachusetts is your place to grow! 

Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of Economic Development Council of Western Mass.