LOWELL
CITY COUNCIL
Edward "Bud" Caulfield
MAYOR
Rita M. Mercier
VICE MAYOR
Kevin P. Broderick
Rodney M. Elliott
Michael J. Lenzi
William F. Martin
Armand P. Mercier
James L. Milinazzo
OFFICE OF THE
CITY MANAGER
Bernard F. Lynch
CITY MANAGER
Adam Baacke
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/
DPD DIRECTOR
Theresa Park
DIRECTOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
| MARK YOUR CALENDAR
| |
January 5, 2010Developing Future Leaders:
What School
Hasn't Taught Us6:00 - 7:30 PM Panera Bread 120 Highland Ave Needham MA January 5, 2010The Boston Business Strategy and Networking Meetup12:30 - 2:00 PM Vlora, Boston, MA http://calendar.boston.com/ boston-ma/events/show/87842278 January 11, 2010Sandler Executive Sales
Boot Camp Ultra12:00 - 2:00 PM Bay Colony Corporate Center, 1050 Winter St., Suite 1000 Waltham, MA http://www.masshightech.com/ calendar/event.html?id=1610306 January 14, 2010Business Development Group Meeting1:00 - 3:15 PM Lord Wakefield Hotel, Wakefield MA http://www.bizjournals.com/ boston/calendar/ ?op=event_details&listing_id=66381 January 14, 2010Evening Mixer5:00 - 7:00 PM C'est 177 Merrimack Street, Lowell MA http://www.greaterlowellchamber.org/ eventCalendar.aspx January 20, 2010Business Longevity-Will Your Business Survive
the Long-Haul?5:00 - 8:00 PM Holiday Inn 4 Highwood Drive Tewksbury, MA http://www.mvvf.org/ events.asp#calendar January 22, 2010Economic Outlook 2010
7:30 - 9:30 AM
Westin Hotel, Waltham MA
http://www.aimnet.org/
source/Meetings/
MeetingSearchForm.cfm
February 2, 2010MIT Enterprise Forum:
Start-up Clinic for Early-stage Technology Companies5:30 - 9:00 PM Royal East Restaurant 792 Main Street Cambridge MA http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/ events/clinics.html March 2, 20102010 High Technology Summit7:30-10:00 AM Westin Hotel Waltham, MA http://sbane.org/events/ 2010-high-tech-summit April 21 - 22, 2010BIOMEDevice ForumBoston Convention & Exhibition Center- Boston, MA http://www.massmedic.com/ meetings.htJ  February 5 - 6, 2010Downtown Lowell  Do you have an event coming up that would be of interest to our readers?Let Us Know!Send an email with your event
and contact information toNewsletter@LowellMA.Govto be included in our next issue. | | Join our list |  | | | HAMILTON CANAL DISTRICT MOVES AHEAD
| While development projects across the Commonwealth are falling apart due to lack of financing and support, Lowell is celebrating the groundbreaking of the $800 million Hamilton Canal District revitalization project. On November 12th Governor Deval Patrick joined dozens of local and state officials and members of the community to launch the kick-off of construction of the new Appleton Mills in the Hamilton Canal District. Appleton Mills will soon be home to 135 units of live/work space for artists in Lowell. This phase is just the beginning of what will be a new urban landscape for downtown Lowell which will offer 350,000 square feet of commercial and office space, 50,000 square feet of retail space and 800 units of affordable and market-rate housing, and be home to the new Lowell Trial Court.
In September 2008, the Hamilton Canal District was labeled a "Growth District," by the Patrick/Murray Administration, which enables the state to make targeted projects "development ready," and expedites commercial and residential development in the area. $50 million was set aside by the Legislature to help support and develop the 20 growth districts found across the state; the Hamilton Canal District now accounts for more than 25 percent of the available funding. Governor Patrick presented a $13 million Growth District grant on November 12th to help facilitate the $64 million Appleton Mills redevelopment. The project is collaboratively supported by the Commonwealth's Growth District initiative which includes $42 million in private equity provided by MetLife, Inc, a permanent mortgage of $1.6 million from MassHousing, and a $34 million construction loan from Mass Housing. The project is being developed by Trinity Financial and the deal was brokered through Redstone Capital Partners. November 12th was a day that celebrated the private/public partnership that is working this expensive redevelopment project to get off paper and become reality.
The Hamilton Canal District is another sign of the Commonwealth's optimism for the City of Lowell's future. The project is not only creating immediate jobs, but is positioning the city for long-term growth, economic health and vibrancy according to Governor Patrick. Through this project Lowell is continuing to move forward during our nation's economic recession. To learn more about the Hamilton Canal District project, please visit the website atwww.hamiltoncanal.com.
| | SBA OFFERS BIZ TRAINING FOR VETS |
| The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a three-year program to expand and deliver entrepreneurship training for veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars. This management and mentorship program will expand the amount of small business assistance available to veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, and dependents or survivors looking to start or expand their own businesses. Additionally, SBA has launched a new online contracting tutorial on www.sba.gov which expands their services to veterans and military spouses who own small businesses. This tutorial identifies federal contracting opportunities that will benefit their small business.
This expansion of the SBA's entrepreneurship training initiatives is possible through the Patriot Express loan program. This loan program has supported nearly $400 million in loans to more than 4,700 veterans and spouses looking to establish or expand their small businesses in the last two-and-a-half years. Lowell veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can obtain more information by visiting www.sba.gov. | | H1N1 PREPAREDNESS GUIDE FOR SMALL BIZ | |  In October, President Obama declared the H1N1 swine flu a national emergency. With the H1N1 outbreak moving rapidly, it is important that people take the right precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and their employees and customers.
The Small Business Administration and Department of Homeland Security recognize the possible effect that the H1N1 and seasonal flu could have on small businesses and have announced the availability of a preparedness guide in planning for the possibility of a flu outbreak this fall and winter season. The preparedness guide offers small business employers tools and information to help them plan for and respond to the issues that may occur due to increased absenteeism, restricted service capabilities, and supply chain disruptions from the H1N1 flu. For more information and to view the preparedness guide, please visit www.flu.gov. | CUTTING YOUR BUSINESS'S ENERGY COSTS
| | One of the largest drains on a company's bottom line is the cost of energy to keep equipment running and to maintain the comfort of your facilities for your employees and/or customers. Currently energy costs are climbing out of their temporary price decrease. The city would like to assist your business in energy efficiency and is applying for a grant to supplement the many opportunities already available. If your company may be interested in participating or learning more about any energy efficiency program that could offer your generous rebates to upgrade your facility, please contact:
Sandy Swaile 978-446-7200 x1419
We would also like to hear from businesses who have already taken some action in energy efficiency so we might be able to share your experiences with others. | CRISTEK INTERCONNECTS CHOOSES LOWELL
| |  The City of Lowell welcomes Cristek Interconnects, an Anaheim, California based company, to their new east coast facility on Lawrence Street. Founded in 1985 by Cristi Cristich, the award winning company manufactures electronic connectors for the military, aerospace, and biomedical markets. These components are used in radar systems, spacecraft, missiles, soldiers' equipment, medical devices and many more applications that require small packaging and high reliability. Cristek's competitive advantage comes from its in-house design and manufacturing ability combined under one roof. Its product reliability and ability to meet customer demands are evidenced by Cristek's receipt of numerous awards including the U.S. Small Business Administrators Award for Excellence and the Mass Mutual Blue Chip. Cristek promises to be a great addition to the list of specialty manufacturers in Lowell.
After careful consideration, Cristek selected Lowell over New Hampshire for various reasons, the primary being ready access to a trained labor force that will accelerate Cristek's growth. Cristek, assisted by the Economic Development office, identified 5,000 square feet of suitable space at 663 Lawrence Street. The end result will be a renovated space that will meet both office and manufacturing functions, and complement the other building tenant. Cristek will create 40 new jobs within the next 5 years; jobs that will be available to Lowell residents. The company hopes to begin business in Lowell at the start of the 2010. To learn more about this company visit www.cristek.com. | | LOWELL COMPANY TAPS THE SUN AT PATRIOT PLACE | | Patriot Place, the 1.3-million-square-foot entertainment, retail and dining destination adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts will be making a significant step in energy efficiency for the state of Massachusetts. With the help of a local Lowell company, Constellation Energy, a photovoltaic power system will be constructed that will generate approximately 525 kilowatts of clean, renewable solar power at Patriot Place.
Open since 2008, Patriot Place was constructed using sustainable design practices, including low-emitting construction materials; white roofs to facilitate heat isolation reduction, solar-powered trash receptacles, and on-site wastewater re-use systems. The installation of the 2,800 crystalline photovoltaic panels will contribute greatly to the innovative design practices already present at Patriot Place. The solar power system will supply 30 percent of Patriot Place's power and span seven building rooftops at the complex. In addition, Constellation Energy's Projects & Services Group estimates that the system will generate more than 12 million kilowatt hours of electricity over 20 years, and prevent the release of more than 8,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere!
Constellation Energy's Projects & Services Group is located at Boott Mills in Lowell and is the energy services arm of Constellation Energy. They hope that this solar power system at the highly visible and highly trafficked Patriot Place will give them the opportunity to demonstrate to the general public that distributed renewable power systems are a viable and practical component of our energy future.
| | TARGET OPENS FOR BUSINESS IN LOWELL | | The Plain Street Plaza has been reinvigorated. Hannaford's Supermarket's move to Rogers Street has opened the way for the opening of a new Target store. On October 11, 2009 public officials and residents of Lowell came together to celebrate the grand opening of Target. In addition to expanding Lowell's retail offerings, Target has created approximately 160 jobs in the city. Lowell residents, workers and students can now skip the drive to Nashua or Woburn to do their Target shopping. The new store offers a wide variety of products, everything from a Starbucks coffee shop to grocery to kitchenware. With Christmas right around the corner it makes for a perfect time to go check out Target!
| WORKING TO BETTER SERVE YOUR BUSINESS
| Make sure to check out our new website to learn more about Lowell's Economic Development Office and the resources and opportunities available for any business!
| | |
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment