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Local and Regional
Blueprints Needed for Survival in
Global Economy
February 24, 2008
Dear Editor:
I read with great interest the
recent interviews of the mayors in the region, including those
from the Lawrence, Haverhill, Methuen, Amesbury and Newburyport.
The overwhelming theme was that every city and town in our region
is hurting financially. Each is lobbying for additional funding
from the State, additional employee concessions and other cost
reduction measures.
Each city needs an actionable
and flexible long range plan to pitch to State and Federal officials,
industry, foundations and other potential sources of revenue
and services, in addition to the usual practice of plugging municipal
budgetary gaps on a year-to-year basis.
Likewise, a regional long range
plan should be collaboratively formulated by the cities and towns,
based on their collective needs. The cities and towns in the
region need each other to survive in a global economy. For example,
the high cost of living is creating a major barrier for economic
development across the region.
The individual and regional long
range plans should address the necessary foundational changes
that are needed; some of which may not show a return on investment
for several years. The plans must also address what each city
and the region can bring to the table in return for the help
that they are seeking. It will undoubtedly increase the probability
of success of lobbying efforts.
Each long range plan should address
topics such as: 1. budgeting and financial planning; 2. community
development; 3. environmental management; 4. education; 5. public
safety; 6. capital improvements; 7. zoning and 8. economic development.
The nation's gold standard for long range planning and sound
fiscal management is Sunnyvale, CA. Sunnyvale's General Plan
can be found at http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/Community+Development/General+Plan/.
Locally, Newburyport is well known for its Master Plan which
can be found at http://www.cityofnewburyport.com/Master%20Plan.pdf.
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and the Merrimack Valley
Economic Development Council develop regional strategies for
economic development that should be leveraged by the cities and
towns.
Let's address one example of
the benefits of individual and regional long range plans. The
Merrimack Valley is well suited to capture its fair share of
the emerging technologies manufacturing base. Just this past
October, a consortium of Merrimack Valley stakeholders, led by
Haverhill, hosted a global conference on eco-friendly green chemistry
at NECC's technology center that brought together the scientific,
business and workforce development communities for the first
time to collaborate on how to develop and attract a green chemistry
industry. Scientists and business leaders from as far away as
Russia and Sweden participated in the event. In a global economy,
an endeavor of this magnitude requires a regional approach.
The stakeholders in the green
chemistry conference are currently planning the next steps to
help brand the region and Haverhill as eco-friendly and innovative
with a focus on emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology,
bio-tech and green technologies. We are well suited to leverage
the manufacturing segment of this industry, but we should also
try to lure research and development. Please visit http://www.ivalley.org/
to learn about the way ahead for this endeavor, which from the
start has focused on a regional approach to be applied locally.
From the start, Haverhill's Hilldale and Ward Hill Industrial
Parks and North Andover's Lucent complex have been target locations
for eco-friendly, innovative companies.
It is very likely that professional
local and regional blueprints and associated marketing will increase
our chances of providing the additional recursive revenues that
our cities and towns need.
Sincerely,
John Michitson
119 Kenoza Street
Haverhill, MA 01830 |
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The above letter was
the featured letter appearing in The
Eagle Tribune;
published on February 24, 2008.
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