Each year, the Gateway Cities Innovation Awards celebrate visionary local leaders and organizations driving inclusive growth, creativity, and opportunity across Massachusetts. These projects and people exemplify what’s possible when communities work together to reimagine their futures. This year’s honorees reflect the innovation, collaboration, and perseverance that define the Gateway Cities movement.
Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 – Berkshire County
Led by 1Berkshire, a membership-sustained coalition dedicated to economic development and destination marketing for the region, Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 is a 10-year strategic plan guiding inclusive economic growth. Developed through two years of research and collaboration, the Blueprint advances a cluster-based model focused on six key industries: advanced manufacturing, creative economy, food and agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, and outdoor recreation. Now at its halfway point, 1Berkshire released its Five-Year Benchmark Report in 2025 to re-engage stakeholders, ensure mutual accountability, and affirm the scaffolding for collaboration. The initiative continues to align businesses, community leaders, and institutions around a shared vision for sustainable, high-impact economic development throughout Berkshire County.
CAFETERIA Food Hall & theJAV – Lawrence
Bringing new life to downtown Lawrence, CAFETERIA and theJAV combines housing and commercial space to strengthen the local community and economy. This private real estate development by Jowamar Companies features 24 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments designed to reflect the city’s culture and character, leveraging the state’s Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) to provide new market-rate units on the city’s main street. On the ground floor, CAFETERIA – Lawrence’s first food hall – showcases local chefs and small businesses, creating a lively gathering space that celebrates the city’s food, music, and history. Together, CAFETERIA and theJAV represent a creative model for mixed-use development by homegrown Latinx developers that connects people, culture, and opportunity.
Chelsea Housing Authority – Chelsea
The Chelsea Housing Authority’s 440 Broadway Affordable Homeownership and Teen Center Initiative is transforming a long-vacant downtown property into both affordable homes and a dynamic community space. Developed by Causeway Development with support from MassHousing, the project will deliver 29 permanently affordable homeownership units – creating rare opportunities for working families to build equity. The city will also convert the first-floor space into a Teen Center, offering after-school programs and workforce training. By combining housing, youth investment, and downtown revitalization, 440 Broadway sets a powerful example of inclusive, community-centered development.
Holyoke Housing Authority – Holyoke
The Holyoke Housing Authority is leading a community-driven transformation in South Holyoke with South Holyoke Homes, a multi-phase redevelopment on long-vacant municipal land around Carlos Vega Park. Guided by years of local community conversations, the project blends affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, achieved in part through modular construction, while modernizing neighborhood infrastructure. Phase 1 delivered 12 affordable rental units in 2023, and Phase 2 will soon add 20 duplex-style affordable homeownership units for income-eligible families. With a third phase now funded, South Holyoke Homes is creating lasting pathways to housing stability and neighborhood revitalization.
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives – Central Massachusetts
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) has driven the growth of the biotech cluster in Central Massachusetts for 40 years, with more than 1800 jobs created and a cumulative impact of more than $2 billion. As the state’s longest-running life sciences incubator, MBI supports startups and innovation that strengthen Worcester’s position as a leading biomanufacturing hub. Through its Regional Biomanufacturing Strategy, MBI is closing workforce gaps, supporting homegrown companies, and tackling development barriers west of I-495. With a $145 million annual impact and more than 80% job growth in recent years, MBI exemplifies Gateway City innovation at a global scale.
Shirley Ave TDI Partnership & SANA – Revere
In Revere, the Shirley Ave TDI Partnership and SANA, the Shirley Ave Neighborhood Association, support inclusive economic opportunity, small business stabilization, and quality of life improvements in a community experiencing change and displacement pressures. Emerging from MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative and in close coordination with the City of Revere, SANA is positioned to host a collaborative downtown management organization oriented to the neighborhood. The partners have pursued a range of creative strategies including: participatory budgeting, small business organizing, the Shared Space program enabling businesses to share costs, Community Land Trust feasibility, District Improvement Financing planning, district marketing and promotion, and the Build On Your Business Initiative, which helps local commercial property owners explore adding housing above their businesses. Together, these tools promote cultural preservation, mixed-use redevelopment, and the stabilization of the Shirley Avenue community, offering a model for inclusive and locally-driven development.
Mayor Bill Carpenter Award
Mayor Jon Mitchell, City of New Bedford
Since his first election in 2011, Mayor Jon Mitchell has led New Bedford’s transformation into one of the Northeast’s most dynamic mid-sized cities. Under his leadership, the city has achieved record-high bond ratings and high school graduation rates, reduced violent crime by 60%, put vacant properties back online, and secured over $1 billion in Port infrastructure investments. New Bedford has remained the nation’s top grossing commercial fishing port and a major arts hub, while also expanding into offshore wind and marine technology. Mayor Mitchell’s forward-looking approach exemplifies Gateway City innovation rooted in reform, resilience, and shared prosperity. From reimagined public spaces to thriving cultural districts, the city’s revitalization reflects a collective pride in place and confidence in its future.
Gateway Cities Champion Awards
Emmy Hahn
As Program Coordinator for the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative for 25 years, Emmy Hahn has been a driving force behind downtown revitalization across the commonwealth. Through formal and informal technical assistance, workshops, and grant support, she has helped communities strengthen their local economies, adapt to challenging conditions, promote district management strategies, and cultivate dynamic small business districts. During the COVID pandemic, her leadership in deploying the $10 million Rapid Recovery Plan Program resulted in diagnostics and action plans for 124 communities, along with 10 subject matter toolkits, 7 collections of best practices, and 25 webinars—all of which are still available to the public on the program’s website. Collectively, this work represents the best roadmap for a healthy downtown in Massachusetts, and won the International Downtown Association’s Pinnacle Award in 2022. Just as importantly, Emmy’s constant availability for free guidance and coaching made her an invaluable partner for communities across the commonwealth. Her commitment to Gateway Cities has spanned her entire career. Prior to working at MDI, Emmy was the Project Manager for the Main Street Program in Lynn, MA and was the Executive Director of Downtown New Bedford, Inc. MassINC congratulates Emmy on her retirement and thanks her for laying the foundation for further state investments in our downtowns and main street areas.
Jim Canales
As President and Trustee of the Barr Foundation, Jim Canales has guided one of New England’s largest philanthropies through a decade of growth and renewed focus on equity, education, creativity, and climate resilience. Under his leadership, Barr has expanded its commitment to Massachusetts communities, investing in local leadership, downtown revitalization, and climate-ready infrastructure across the Gateway Cities. The Barr Foundation has been the critical philanthropic support for backbone organizations that support priorities that benefit all Gateway Cities, including MassDevelopment Transformative Development Initiative, Transportation for Massachusetts, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Clean Energy States Alliance, and of course, MassINC. A champion of transparency and collaboration, Jim has positioned Barr as a trusted partner to cities working toward inclusive, sustainable growth that strengthens the Commonwealth’s social and economic fabric.
Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees for their outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities across Massachusetts. Together, these honorees exemplify the creativity, collaboration, and perseverance that power the Gateway Cities movement.
Join us in celebrating their achievements at the 13th Annual Gateway Cities Innovation Awards & Summit.