LOWELL
CITY COUNCIL
Patrick O. Murphy
MAYOR
Joseph M. Mendonça
VICE MAYOR
Kevin P. Broderick
Rodney M. Elliott
Edward J. Kennedy, Jr.
Martin E. Lorrey
William F. Martin
Rita M. Mercier
Vesna E. Nuon
OFFICE OF THE
CITY MANAGER
Bernard F. Lynch
CITY MANAGER
Adam Baacke
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/
DPD DIRECTOR
Theresa Park
DIRECTOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
| MARCH 6th, 14th, 21st, and 27th, 2012 MassChallenge UnTapped 6:00PM to 8:00 PM MassChallenge ONE Marina Park Drive; 14th floor, Boston, MA 02210 MassChallenge.org MARCH 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, 2012 Right Start Entrepreneurial Training- Merrimack Valley Small Business Center 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Community Teamwork Inc. 155 Merrimack Street, 3rd Floor Lowell, MA 01852 7:30AM to 7:00PM Colonnade Hotel 120 Huntington Avenue Boston MA BECBC.org MARCH 12th, 2012 Samuel Adams
Brewing the American Dream Speed Coaching Event 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Samuel Adams Brewery
30 Germania Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 0213
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Collaborative Space
100 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852 MARCH 15th, 2012 Merrimack Valley
Small Business Center
Open House 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM The Center 88 Middle Street Lowell, MA 01852
MARCH 16th, 2012 City of Lowell St. Patrick's Day Breakfast 7:00 AM UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center 50 Warren Court Lowell MA 01852
MARCH 19th, 2012 Legal Considerations - Meet with a Lawyer 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM The Center, 88 Middle Street Lowell, MA 01852 MARCH 20th, 2012 Social Media Training 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Lowell Telecommunications Center 246 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852
Wannalancit Mills 600 Suffolk Street 2nd Floor Lowell, MA 01852 MARCH 28TH, 2012 Sandbox Networking Night: Coaching Next Generation Entrepreneurs 5:30 PM Contact Lianna Kushi for more information. APRIL 26th-27th, 2012 2012 Development Dialogue: Connecting an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem See website for times UMass Lowell
Inn and Conference Center
50 Warren Court
Lowell, MA 01852
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| Join our list |  | | | | TANNER STREET PLANNING LAUNCHED | | On January 23, 2012 the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) held the first in a series of three public meetings for the Tanner Street Brownfields Area-Wide Planning process, which was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The meeting was attended by more than 60 interested businesses and residents to start developing a vision and plan for the district. The meeting kicked-off with a presentation by Carole Schlessinger, the lead project consultant from Crosby, Schlessinger, Smallridge, covering the history of the district, a summary of the existing conditions and market analysis of Tanner Street and their vision statement. Following the presentation the community had an opportunity to offer feedback and guidance for this project.
The planning effort is designed to capitalize on Tanner Street's ideal proximity to the Lowell Connector Highway and Gallagher Terminal in order to generate jobs and stimulate economic development, while simultaneously addressing real and perceived environmental issues of the district. The input from the community on the 23rd helps the consultants and DPD formulate the vision for the District and continuing input is vital to make this vision possible. The next public meeting is anticipated to be scheduled in the spring. Please visit the DPD's website to see the presentation from the January 23rd meeting and to learn more about this project. |
| IGNITING INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | | On Wednesday February 15th, a group of co-working/incubator space experts and entrepreneurs traveled from Boston, Cambridge and Somerville for a tour of Lowell and Lawrence to learn about the assets and resources available in these cities and their ability to support and strengthen an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The group included representatives from Cambridge Innovation Center, MassChallenge, GreenTown Labs, FringeUnion, Design Annex, and Space with a Soul. The day started with a bus tour of Lawrence and Lowell, in addition to a walkthrough of a few mill buildings.
The tour was followed by a lunch and discussion at the newly finished Appleton Mills in the heart of the Hamilton Canal District. With an expanded audience that included local entrepreneurs and vested stakeholders, the group engaged in an active dialogue on the attraction and benefits of flexible work spaces and how to foster a regionally-appropriate programming and other support services. The feedback offered a wide-range of possibilities and ideas, whose potential will be explored as part on a longer-term effort to catalyze innovation as a key component of the regional economy.
In the last year the cities of Lowell and Lawrence have been working hand in hand with the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Initiative to cultivate entrepreneurship in the Merrimack Valley, building on successes evidenced in cities like Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Through visits to various incubator spaces in those communities it was clear that cities like Lowell possess the amenities that would allow entrepreneurship to flourish. One outcome for entrepreneurs of the cooperative effort between the cities and the Sandbox is the potential to aggregate the needed resources, such as an incubator space with lowered cost of entry, supportive programming to help accelerate new ventures and a culture where entrepreneurs can thrive off other entrepreneurs. The city of Lowell and the region as a whole are positioned to become the next new hub of innovation and we look forward to its continued progress in the coming months. To learn more, contact Theresa Park or David Parker.
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| MASS CHALLENGE WINNER HAS LOWELL ROOTS | | Q & A with  | | Photo Courtesy of Casa Couture |
Claudia Espinola
Claudia Espinola is the founder and CEO of Casa Couture, a stylish maternity shoe collection that actually lengthens and widens to perfectly fit a woman's feet during pregnancy. She was one of the finalists in the MassChallenge competition.
What is your history with Lowell? How long did you live here? Were you born here?
I was born in Bolivia, but lived in Lowell from the age of 5 until my sophmore year of High School when my parents relocated us to FL in seek of warmer weather. My heart has always been in New England, so as soon as I finished High School, I moved to Boston and received a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Northeastern University.
However, my father, George Espinola, was a native of Lowell and his family immigrated there from Portugal and Spain in the early 1900's. So we've been a Lowell family for over a 100 years. My father met and married my mother in Bolivia and subsequently brought her and our extended family back to Lowell in the early 80's. At the time, Lowell provided various manufacturing opportunities for my family to work, as it was still America's largest textile center. This continues to serve as an inspiration to my company to look for manufacturing opportunities in the U.S. I've seen first-hand and been impacted directly by the effects creating skilled labor jobs can have on the economy and working class families.
Growing up did you always have an entrepreneur spirit?
I didn't know it growing up, but I come from a family of entrepreneurs. Through the years, my father opened several businesses, so the idea of owning something of my own one day always seemed possible, I just wasn't exactly sure how I'd do it or what my business would be about. What really opened my eyes to the idea that I could own a business was the time I spent at the City Magnet School in Lowell where we had something called a micro-society. Basically, we would run our own businesses during the latter part of the day by setting up a booth in the cafeteria, making something to sell and employing "workers". My business was making wood key chain holders which involved convincing my classmates who took shop class to make them for me at a fair price where I could still make a profit, keep them employed and sell them at a price that customers would be willing to pay. It's a simple concept, but funny enough, still applies to my business model today.
Explain how this business came to be and when you officially decided to make this your first priority?
My Ah'ha moment happened while scouring several shoe stores with my best friend who, at 7 months pregnant, desperately needed footwear that would accommodate her painful, swollen feet that no longer fit into pre-pregnancy shoes. The goal was to find a few stylish pairs she could wear to her baby shower, work and other occasions. To my surprise, this proved a difficult mission, as pregnant feet and designer shoes are apparently mutually exclusive. Six stores and three hours later, my friend was left to resort to flip-flops, which provided no support and didn't match the stylish garments she regularly wore. Astounded by this reality, I was forced to ask the question: Why aren't there any maternity shoes on the market like there are maternity clothes? After scouring the web and visiting dozens of retailers, I was surprised to find that the needs of expecting moms had yet to be addressed in footwear. From that moment on, I made it my mission to fill that void. I simply couldn't accept the fact that pregnant women were limited to changing shoes throughout the day, wearing non-supportive shoes or suffering through the pain of tight shoes, all of which are unhealthy and unsafe for expecting moms.
Several years and patent filings later, I entered the MassChallenge with the commitment that if I won, I would leave the comforts of my corporate job and focus on bringing this important product to market.
What made you decide to enter into MassChallenge and how did you hear about it?
I had been looking around for months for a business incubator program while also tapping into my professional network for leads on grants and sources of start-up funding. Eventually, I was introduced by a personal friend to a 2010 MassChallenge finalist. I could not believe an organization like this existed, especially one that is not only helping you get funding, but also giving you a complete tool kit to success. Quite simply, this type of program doesn't exist anywhere else. At MassChallenge, they give you all the resources you need to launch, like in-depth training, top-notch mentors and access to resources you would never otherwise be exposed to. Unlike other incubators out there, MassChallenge doesn't want equity or anything else from you except your commitment and passion to succeed. It's been an absolute launch pad for my business.
Were you surprised to find out you were one of the finalists?
Competing against some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs in the world was certainly the most difficult thing I've ever done. I knew I had a great idea and there was a white space in the market for my product, but I went up against over 700 applicants globally, including local MIT & Harvard grads. To make it to the top 125 finalists was an amazing feat, but to actually be one of the winners to share the $1MM prize was a "pinch me, I'm dreaming" moment. I was certainly proud to represent Lowell, although, my hope is that it also inspires more women and minorities to get involved in the thriving start-up ecosystem developing here in Boston. We are certainly still under-represented.
What is the next step in your business since winning the MassChallenge prize?
Winning MassChallenge means that we can get our product to market faster. Right now, we are focused on finalizing our production, establishing our supply chain and signing on new retail partners.
How many employees do you have at the current time and are you continuing to grow?
I started this business as a company of one, but since MassChallange, I've been able to grow my team to five people. We get calls and emails every day from wonderful talent that want to join our team. We're committed to continuing to employ locally, but for now, we have to grow our business as our revenue grows. After our official launch in a few weeks, we hope that will mean expansion by this coming Fall.
Where does the manufacturing of the shoes take place?
At the moment, we are manufacturing our high-end, signature collection in Italy. However, we are actively looking for a domestic factory to produce our mid-range line here in the U.S. We've looked at a few options in New England and NY, but our of course, our preference would be to bring manufacturing back here to MA. Boston use to be the shoe capital of the world and I'd love to play a role in helping that to be true again someday.
Lastly, did living in Lowell have any affect on you wanting to be an entrepreneur?
It's funny because I often reflect back on my childhood in Lowell and how growing up in a neighborhood of other immigrant families, most of my neighbors were running their own businesses because they didn't speak the language well. They would find a way to create their own opportunities to work, whether it was opening a store, car repair shop or bakery. Lowell certainly planted the entrepreneur seed in my heart, but I also credit the city with teaching me that no hurdle is impossible to overcome and that we can each take the reigns on our own future.
To learn more about Claudia Espinola or Casa Couture please visit their website. To learn more about MassChallenge please click here.
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| REGISTRATION OPEN FOR "STREETWISE MBA™" PROGRAM | | Interise is recruiting for its April 2012 StreetWise 'MBA'™ program. This alternative MBA program is open to owners of established businesses in the Greater Lowell area. Interise is a national program with a proven track record of helping CEO's streamline operations, increase annual revenue, gain access to capital, and win government contracts.
Over approximately six months, you work with experts and peers on business development, strategic planning, learn about access to capital and government contacts, and get a hands-on education on financials, marketing, effective sales, and human resources. It's a powerful tool to help you focus your goals, maximize your time, and move forward.
For more information, contact Program Manager, Beecher Grogan at (978) 204-8734, or by email. You can also apply online at Interise.org. |
| NEW OWNERSHIP FOR MEADOWBROOK PLAZA | | | It was announced January 30th that the Target-anchored 133,000 square foot Meadowbrook Plaza was purchased by RD Management LLC. RD Management is one of the nation's largest privately held real estate development and management company with over 30 years experience. In building up the current retail mix, RD Management has retained Atlantic Retail Properties, whose efforts have resulted in new tenancy by Children's Place, Eblens, Best Fitness and GNC. Further, they are in negotiations with additional national retailers in the furniture, clothing, and personal services industries. The plaza will also be undergoing façade renovations as part of RD's redevelopment activities. For more information contact the Department of Planning and Development at 978-674-4252.
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| ILC IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS | | The City of Lowell, with its long and rich history of immigration resulting in a diverse mix of ethnicity and culture, seeks to support immigrant entrepreneurs as a critical part of its economic development strategy. On May 9th, 2012 the ILC (Immigrant Learning Center) will be hosting their Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner. This dinner will honor outstanding Massachusetts immigrant entrepreneurs in three categories: business growth, neighborhood business and science or technology business. The event will take place in Cambridge and will include a reception, followed by dinner and an awards ceremony with master of ceremonies Richard A. Davey Jr., ILC board trustee and secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The award nominations are being accepted through March 14, 2012 and the winners will be selected by mid-April. To learn more information about this event and the different award categories please visit ilctr.org.
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| LOWELL BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS | | | Borrego Solar, Inc., a company  offering full range of solar energy services to both commercial and public area customers throughout the U.S., is growing its businesses within the City of Lowell. Their New England office, currently located at Industrial Avenue will be relocating to the Princeton Corporation Centre, 1115 Westford Street. The new location will allow the company to meet its growth plans for 2012, which is expected to increase their 37-employee base by 15 to 25 percent. To learn more about Borrego Solar please visit borregosolar.com. Photo Left to Right: City Manager Bernie Lynch, Chief Technology Officer at Borrego Solar Chris Anderson, President at Princeton Properties Terry Flahive, and Assistant City Manager Adam Baacke.
 Konarka Technolgoies, an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic, a lightweight flexible organic solar film that converts light to electricity, was certified in compliance with IEC 61646, making Konarka the world's first organic photovoltaic (OPV) to be certified. These recent advances are based upon Konarka's inverted cell architecture, the company's proprietary intellectual property protected under issued patents. For more information about Konarka please visit: konarka.com.
Nobis Engineering Inc., a multi-  disciplinary consulting firm providing diversified environmental, geotechnical, and civil engineering services, announced that it has opened two new offices in Iselin, New Jersey and White River Junction, Vermont due to an expanding client base. The New Jersey office was opened to serve clients in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania and to support a five-year on-call environmental services contract awarded by the Region 2 office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Vermont office was opened to support their various projects in the Upper Valley and Vermont. For more information about Nobis Engineering visit nobiseng.com.  Watermark Environmental, a Lowell based consulting firm that provides complete solutions to environmental challenges, including a full range of planning, engineering and construction services specializing in environmental engineering, construction management, and operation and management has announced the opening of a new office in Newtown, Pennsylvania. To learn more about Watermark Environmental visit watermarkenv.com.
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| NEED SPACE? | | Farley White Interests is offering a $500 showing bonus for qualified tenant tours effective February 1st through March 31st, 2012 to tour Wannalancit Mills, a restored 19th century mill building located in historic downtown Lowell. This 283,000 SF office building provides high post and beam ceilings, hardwood floors, brick interiors, arched doorways, and views of the City's historic canals; also a short walking distance from the Tsongas Center and many restaurants, shopping venues, and theaters. Contact Rob Connors by e-mail or 617-654-9422 to schedule a showing or with any questions.
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