Worcester Business Leaders Cheer Mayoral Chief Of Staff Pick
Worcester’s new mayor, Joseph Petty, who was sworn into office last week, is winning praise from the city’s business community for his appointment of a former official with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce as his chief of staff.
Local business officials see the appointment of Michael Lanava, who has advocated on behalf of businesses as the chamber’s director of government affairs, as a signal the new administration wants to strengthen ties with the business community.
Petty’s predecessor, Joseph O’Brien, stepped up efforts to reach out to businesses during his term, which ended last week. For example, he conducted a series of roundtable discussions to open a dialogue with business owners. He also created a task force focused on job growth and business retention, which included input from businesses on how to create and keep jobs in the city.
The choice of Lanava to head Petty’s staff is a sign to some businesspeople in the city that the new mayor wants to keep economic issues on the front burner.
“I think it’s a good choice,” said Ed Bourgault, president of the North Worcester Business Association and a CPA at Kashuk, Bourgault, Kittredge & Frustaci, an accounting firm on East Mountain Street. In recent years, Bourgault said it seemed like business concerns fell on “deaf ears” at City Hall. But, he’s hopeful for renewed business ties with city leaders continuing the momentum the issue has gained in the past year.
Other Officials Agree
“I think having (Lanava) in there will help, it will give (Petty) some insight on what the business climate is, and not just in Worcester, but around the whole region,” said Tony Economou, the newly elected Ward 1 city councilor, who is also a member of the North Worcester Business Association.
Economou is impressed by city government’s increased focus on local business issues. On top of the task force and business roundtables, he said the city has installed an online permitting system and appointed a business retention manager, Phil Niddrie, who acts as a liaison with the business community and helps business owners apply for local permits, for example.
Looking ahead, Economou and Bourgault agreed that the most important business-related issue for city officials is having an open dialogue, so that issues can be addressed and resolved.
Mayor’s Goals
In an interview before his inauguration, Petty said his role “is to listen to the business owners and work with the city manager and corporations to bring economic development to the city and make sure the projects that have already begun remain on track.”
It’s important he said, for local business owners, state and local officials to all be on the same page. “When we speak with one voice, that’s when we’re the strongest.”
Petty is also eyeing new initiatives. He hopes to focus economic development efforts on areas like the Route 20 corridor, where he said he’ll be looking for state or federal assistance to upgrade sewer infrastructure that will allow more business development. Another priority is finishing the rehabilitation project along the Route 146 corridor.
Lanava, he said, will help with all of those issues.
“I got to know Mike pretty well during the campaign,” Petty said. “He’s a professional, and he’s well known in the community for not only being business oriented, but neighborhood oriented as well.”
Lanava declined to comment for this story, noting that Petty would speak for the administration.
Richard Kennedy, president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he’s sad to see Lanava leave the organization, but praised Petty’s choice.
“I think this is a very positive move from the city’s perspective and the business community’s perspective,” Kennedy said about Lanava’s transition. “He has a sense of what issues businesses face, and by working with (Petty) he’ll be able to convey those messages directly.”
Moving forward, Kennedy said the dual tax rate issue is always a hot topic within the business community, as well as easing regulations and making city government easier to work with for businesses.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs, you just can’t do enough on that front,” Kennedy said.
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