With summer in the city in our rearview mirror, we devote this week’s journal to a fall preview. A lot is poised to happen, here at the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, in Gateway Cities throughout the state, and on Beacon Hill.
From the Institute, look for three major research projects:
- We’ll be rolling out the 2025 Gateway Cities Housing Monitor in segments starting in a few weeks. The special analysis section, which focuses on growing homeownership, will be the final installment. Dig into that meaty topic with us at the annual Gateway Cities Innovation Summit on Tuesday, October 28 in Lowell.
- We’re also excited to release a study examining school facilities in Gateway Cities. The findings point to the need for new policies to ensure that all students have access to 21st century learning spaces. Together with our partners at the Greater Worcester Regional Research Bureau, we’ll unveil this new report at the State House on Tuesday, October 7. A formal invitation to that event will arrive in your inbox this week.
- In partnership with TransitMatters, we’re examining the progress that Massachusetts is making transforming MBTA commuter rail into a high-functioning regional rail network. In October, we’ll release the first paper in a series of three. It will look at the role that fare policy can play accelerating this transformation.
In Gateway Cities, municipal election season is upon us. Focus Springfield and White Lion Brewery held a candidates forum last week. Lawrence Community Works is hosting a forum for mayoral and at-large council candidates this Tuesday. September 16 is the big day for preliminaries. Brockton voters will choose among eight fresh candidates running for mayor. Fall River voters have five options, including the incumbent mayor Paul Coogan.
On Beacon Hill, the governor’s office is getting ready to announce the first round of awards from the new Tech Hub grant. The legislature has already resumed hearings. We eagerly await an opportunity to appear before the Joint Committee on Community Development to discuss the merits of An Act to Promote School-Centered Neighborhood Development. We also anticipate an opportunity for Gateway City leaders to speak in support of a bevy of regulatory changes that will unlock housing production and other urban redevelopment projects.
We look forward to engaging with Gateway City leaders and allies in the coming weeks. As things speed up, please be sure to keep us posted with what’s happening in your communities. We’ll be sure to help spread the word.