Worcester Must Compete To Win Business
As we ring in the New Year, there is much to be thankful for. Worcester has so many positive assets that other communities can only wish for. More importantly, Worcester is a place where sense of community and shared responsibilities are prevalent. Challenges are solved and opportunities are seized through partnerships that span a broad, colorful spectrum of who we are — a let’s “roll-up our sleeves and get it done” collective of government, business, academia, culture, service and citizens. This is why we continue to weather this recession and position ourselves well for the 21st century and the better days ahead, all while protecting, preserving and enhancing our quality of life — our greatest asset.
Throughout time, private sector investment, jobs and associated payrolls and taxes have sustained our community and have allowed it to thrive. This recession has not been easy for anyone, but we are stable, and that is a credit to the talented leaders in our private sector from the large corporations and institutions to the entrepreneurial storefronts. We have worked together to bolster our local economy in these tough times. While indeed we have positioned ourselves well, it is a global, competitive “dog-eat-dog” economy and we need to compete to win. The charge is clear.
Legislative Promise
With Worcester at the helm, 11 of the commonwealth’s cities united to craft the Gateway Cities Legislation for additional economic development tools to help us—older, post-industrial urban centers—help ourselves. The legislation includes incentives to attract new industry, to retain and expand local jobs, to create market-rate housing and to foster economic vitality. Its passage is critical for us to attract private investment and housing, renovate historic buildings and grow jobs to create more positive momentum as we pull ourselves out of this recession. We are working very closely with our state delegation and the state administration. We need your support advocacy for the Gateway Cities Legislation. Information can be found at www.worcesterma.gov.
Tax Equity
Our competition is no longer other communities in the commonwealth, or in New England for that matter — it is instead international. Each and every facet of our ability to compete in this context, to sustain, to retain and create private sector jobs must not be taken in a vacuum, unto itself, but as part of the collective whole. Factoring all moving parts allows us our place on this world stage. Each and every year in November, the split tax rate and tax classification are sources of tension and debate and much is stated on both sides of this issue as to the pros and cons. The New Year will see a renewed focus on this issue as an important aspect of the broader whole and in the context of all of our economic development efforts and incentives. Expect real solutions developed to make this a long term win-win.
Education First
Our teachers do a tremendous job educating our leaders of tomorrow. Our public schools remain one of our greatest assets for this reason. However, we must recognize that change is in the air. Like all of us, economic pressures have our public schools under great strain. The years ahead will not be easy. There will likely be reform, reductions, new revenues, new benchmarks and other modifications in our schools as a result of changing times. The long-term vitality of our community and our local economy, and the workforce to support that vitality, is dependent on the continued success of the Worcester Public Schools. The positive outcomes from the necessary changes in the years ahead will require the engagement and support of our entire community.
Like all we accomplish, these efforts will require all of us around the table with our sleeves rolled-up to get it done. These are critical times for maintaining our place on a world stage and creating, sustaining and retaining jobs. Please participate in these community discussions, dialogues, debates and deliberations. The issues are very complex, no question, and there will be no simple solutions, but as always, as a community, we can and will find the ways.
Michael V. O’Brien was appointed city manager for Worcester in 2004. He can be reached at CityManager@worcesterma.gov.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments