Ninth Annual Gateway Cities Innovation Awards and Summit

The COVID-19 recovery presents a turning point for Gateway Cities. After decades without access to resources to adapt to a changing economy, these regional urban centers will finally have an opportunity to invest in the future.

They face an enormous task list: replace aging water and sewer systems, modernize the electric grid, provide internet connectivity to thousands of households left behind in the digital era, and build multi-modal transportation networks for the 21st century.

At this year’s summit, Infrastructure for Equitable Economic Growth, we will look at how Gateway Cities can leverage infrastructure investment to grow businesses owned by people of color and build community wealth.

Register here

Full Program Book

Welcome                                                                                                                                           

Juana Matias
Chief Operating Officer, MassINC

Recognizing the recipient of the Mayor Bill Carpenter Award for Excellence in Gateway City Leadership

Mayor Thomas M. McGee
City of Lynn

Keynote Address & Gateway Cities Champion Award Honoree                                                   

Congressman Richard Neal MA 1st District
Chairman of Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

Recognizing Gateway Cities Champion Award Honoree

Dr. Tracy Corley
Director of Research and Partnerships, Conservation Law Foundation

Recognizing the Gateway Cities Innovation Award Honorees

Frank Carvalho
Founding Executive Director, Mill Cities Community Investments

Samalid Hogan
Regional Director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network Western Regional Office

Fred Taylor
President, NAACP Worcester

Ann Burke
Former VP, The Economic Development Council of Western MA

Research Presentation

Ben Forman
Executive Director, Gateway Cities Innovation Institute and Research Director, MassINC

Panel Discussion

Moderated by Shirley Leung
Business Columnist and Editor, Boston Globe

Dan Rivera
President & CEO of MassDevelopment

JocCole “JC” Burton
Founder & CEO of Maven Construction

J. Phillip Thompson
Deputy Mayor for Strategic Investments, City of New York

Kenan Bigby
Managing Director of Development at Trinity Financial