Six City Regional Economic Development Compact Announced

Six Boston area Mayors and City Managers jointly announced on December 9, 2015,  the formation of the Greater Boston Regional Economic Compact, which will facilitate regional problem solving among the municipalities of Boston, Braintree, Cambridge, Chelsea, Quincy, and Somerville.

“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership between our cities to address the regional economic challenges and opportunities facing the Greater Boston region,” announced the Mayors of Boston, Braintree, Quincy, and Somerville and the City Managers of Cambridge and Chelsea in a joint statement.

“Cambridge is excited to partner with Boston, Quincy, Somerville, Braintree, and Chelsea to address many important issues – economic development, housing, sustainability, and transportation – impacting the region,” City Manager Richard C. Rossi said.  “Solving issues that transcend municipal boundaries requires a fundamental shift to this type of innovative collaborative approach.”

“In order to succeed it is important that we first recognize that some of our greatest obstacles are not contained within city lines and that regional challenges require regional solutions. I look forward to working together with our surrounding partners to overcome obstacles and grow together across sectors and across borders,” said Mayor Walsh of Boston.

The municipal executives and their staffs will meet to strategize and solve common issues in the areas of housing, transportation, sustainability, and economic development that would benefit from a regional response.

As part of the compact, each participating city will explore committing funds to hire a full-time staff member to work with all participants and help develop a strategy for economic growth. In addition, a Regional Compact coordinator will be hired to develop a regional economic development strategy.

“Economic challenges and opportunities for our region do not stop at our city borders. From transportation to housing to addressing sustainability and climate change, if we are to succeed as individual cities as we face 21^st century challenges, we must develop our strengths as a region. This compact is an important first step in doing so,” said Mayor Curtatone of Somerville.

Mayor Koch of Quincy stated, “Our future is tied tightly together as a region, not just as individual cities. This effort is an important recognition of that reality, and I’m proud to be part of such a dynamic partnership of communities willing to work together to reach our potential and confront our challenges.”   

 “Working together to grow our regional economy through transportation and housing will create vibrant economic value for all,” said Mayor Sullivan of Braintree.

City Manager Thomas Ambrosino of Chelsea stated,” The economy of the Boston region is too complex for each of us to identify ourselves by the community in which we live.  While we might think of ourselves as being from Chelsea, or Boston, or Quincy, in reality we are all from the Boston region and we need to plan and foster investment in the region as a single unit.”

The Compact commits each participating City to five principles:

1.     Commitment: Each community will demonstrate their commitment to developing a regional economic strategy by meeting at least every other month and establishing a formal structure for the group;

2.     Leadership: These meetings will serve as a forum for participants to discuss regional economic development and related critical regional issues including, but not limited to housing, transportation, economic development and sustainability;

3.     Follow Through: Participants recognize that success in leveraging regional economic opportunities and solving regional economic challenges requires persistent follow through. They will therefore regularly review progress made and challenges encountered;

4.     Support: Participants agree to explore the appointment of a staff member to serve as a project manager for the compact, recognizing the need to coordinate and manage the several topic areas;

5.     Inclusion: Participants will welcome and encourage other communities in Greater Boston to support and join the effort.

Aside from geographical proximity, the six participating cities and towns have chosen to join the compact because of their common identities and set of challenges. Last May, the Mayors of Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Somerville and Braintree announced the formation of the Life Sciences Corridor. The corridor was created to promote the robust life sciences sector along the MBTA red line in the Greater Boston region.

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