Economic Development

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The City of New Bedford Office of Environmental Stewardship and the New Bedford Economic Development Council have formed a Brownfields Task Force of partners and stakeholders with the goal to identify Brownfield sites in the city that have the highest economic development and job creation potential for targeted EPA assessment funding.

New Bedford, MA - There is no trend hotter than sustainability when it comes to today’s homes. More and more people want healthier, safer and more environmentally friendly homes and lifestyles. If you are interested in “greening” your residence or have questions on current topics such as energy efficiency and sustainability, then you don’t want to miss the Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show. The 2010 Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show, scheduled for Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School in New Bedford, will feature three new “green” seminars.

New Bedford, MA - The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes back The Old Farmer’s Almanac for their highly anticipated gardening seminar at the Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show taking place at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School on March 6th and 7th. Last year, the gardening seminar was a highlight of the show for attendees, and this year is sure to be even better.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- At a press conference this morning, Mayor Scott W. Lang announced that New Bedford will host a major commercial marine industry trade event this June. Commercial Marine Expo (CME), a 42-year-old biennial event, is relocating from Providence to the State Pier in New Bedford. The two-day event will be held June 9-10. City officials began negotiating with the show organizer in 2007, led by New Bedford Harbor Commission Executive Director Kristin Decas and New Bedford Economic Development Commission’s Matthew Morrissey.

John Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will make an appearance at UMass Dartmouth on Monday, March 1.
A renowned economist, philanthropist, and controversial author, John Perkins is promoting his latest book, Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded—And What We Need To Do To Remake Them. Hoodwinked is a blueprint for a new form of global economics that details steps for creating a sustainable and peaceful world. Drawing on personal experiences described in his books, John Perkins explains how four decades of corporate greed in developing countries has enabled the extremely rich to purchase businesses and real estate at fire sale prices and exploit human and natural resources. Perkins will talk about how to transforming the world economy.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC), in conjunction with The Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce, New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce & Southern New England School of Law, are sponsoring a FREE legal workshop for existing businesses where business attorneys will give an overview of legal issues that many small businesses face. The workshop format is very interactive and your questions are welcome.

Christopher J. O’Neil, Vice President of Tomlinson & O’Neil Insurance Agency recently announced his election to the Board of Directors at the Greater New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce.

The vote was taken at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting held recently at the Century House in Acushnet. Chris also serves as Vice President of the South Coast Insurance Agents Association and as Chair of the Business Development Committee for the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board.

Tomlinson & O’Neil Insurance has provided insurance protection for thousands of families and businesses throughout Southeastern Massachusetts since 1956. Chris can be reached at 508-994-5678 or at WWW.TOINSURANCE.COM.

New Bedford, MA- Today, New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, Governor Deval Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Secretary Greg Bialecki of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and President and CEO of Mass Development Robert Culver along with President and CEO of Market Basket Arthur T. Demoulas celebrated the groundbreaking of “Riverside Landing,” the 17 acre retail and mixed-use development located off of Coggeshall Street in New Bedford.

NEW BEDFORD, MA – December 31, 2009 – The City of New Bedford announces the opening of a water transportation link between the City and Woods Hole that will be a vital link for commuters between Woods Hole and New Bedford. The New Bedford/Woods Hole Link will provide affordable, convenient transportation for people doing business, research, studying or traveling on a regular weekday basis between the two ports of call.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - New Directions Southcoast, Inc., the nonprofit corporation that operates the Greater New Bedford and Wareham Career Centers and provides workforce development and training services to the Greater New Bedford community, has elected Jim Mathes as its new Chairman of the Board. Mr. Mathes, who is the Executive Director of SMILES Mentoring, Inc. and the former President of the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, replaces former Chair John Souza who passed away this past spring. Mr. Mathes brings to the Board a wealth of experience and a passion for assisting the community and its citizens, especially for youth programs that promote education and efforts to bring quality jobs to the area through economic development.

Many came out to the North Dartmouth Barnes & Noble on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, to help raise funds to provide access to books for local children. The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB) sponsored the Barnes & Noble Bookfair fundraiser to benefit the Community Foundation’s Greater New Bedford Early Literacy Consortium (ELC).

New Bedford, Massachusetts- At a press event this evening, New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang together with owners Carlos and Gayle deMello Madeira celebrated the grand opening of Cotali Mar Restaurante with a ceremonial ribbon cutting followed by a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef, Benjamin Pereira.

What: Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker will hold a press availability to discuss the struggling Massachusetts fishing industry.

When: 3:15PM, Friday, December 11

Where: Waterfront Grille, 36 Homers Wharf, New Bedford

What: Ribbon cutting ceremony followed by cooking demonstration.
When: Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 5:30pm
Where: Cotali Mar Restaurante ~ 1178 Acushnet Ave. ~ New Bedford, MA 02746 

Cotali Mar Restaurante offers a sophisticated contemporary menu with international influence, specializing in Authentic Portuguese Cuisine and Ocean Fresh Seafood. The restaurant offers a Tuscan dining setting with cozy fireplace seating and an outdoor terrace.

Program Features Include:

* Remarks by Mayor Lang and other elected officials
* Introduction and remarks from owners Carlos and Gayle Madeira
* Introduction and remarks by Executive Chef Benjamin Pereira
* Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting followed by Cooking Demonstration

NEW BEDFORD, MA, December 3, 2009 — Bristol County Savings Bank (BCSB), headquartered in Taunton, MA, celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking this morning at the future site of its eleventh banking office and first in the city of New Bedford, MA. Located at the corner of Ashley Boulevard and Tacoma Street (former site of Thad’s Restaurant), the new 3,500 square foot branch will feature a modern, wood clapboard exterior similar to the look of the bank’s Dartmouth, MA office, two drive-through lanes, a drive through ATM, a café, a coin machine and, common to all its banking offices and part of its corporate identity, an exterior standing clock. The branch, to open mid-year 2010, will bring more than 200 construction jobs to the New Bedford area and create approximately eight permanent positions.

Under the direction of researchers Nora Ganim Barnes and Eric Mattson, The Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth recently conducted a new in-depth and statistically significant study on the usage of social media in fast-growing corporations. This new study revisits the Center’s study of Inc. 500 social media usage for the third consecutive year making it a valuable and rare longitudinal study of corporate use of these new technologies. The new study compares adoption of social media over the last three years (2007, 2008 and 2009) by the Inc. 500, a list of the fastest-growing private U.S. companies compiled annually by Inc. Magazine.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The City of New Bedford is pleased to announce its second annual partnership with AHA! to present a youth and family-based New Year’s Eve celebration, City Celebrates! New Year’s Eve. This event will be held from 4-9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve in downtown New Bedford to encourage family-centered activities and participation. After 9pm, restaurants and bars throughout the city will offer live entertainment and great food to welcome in 2010.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The City hosted two film crews over the weekend: Original Productions filmed at the Waterfront Grille on Friday night and Silent Dinner Productions filmed several scenes at the Law Offices of Lipman & Lipman on Sunday.

NEW BEDFORD – The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board (WIB) recently hosted the Harvest Awards to recognize the dozens of local businesses and youth service providers who responded to the rapid influx of $1.5 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars for youth jobs this past summer. The event took place at Normandin Middle School in the city.

At a press event today, Mayor Scott W. Lang and the New Bedford Economic Development Council announced a six-month agreement with Community Rowing Inc. (CRI), to help develop a successful plan to make rowing available to public school students and community members in New Bedford.

CRI is renowned for their successful rowing programs that emphasize fitness and team building for diverse populations. Based on the Charles River in Brighton, Mass., the nonprofit organization is the biggest rowing organization in the world with 35 coaches and 700 people on the water every day in 150 boats. The organization was recently named as the US Rowing’s Club of the Year from among more than 1,000 member organizations across the country

New Bedford, MA—November 17, 2009—The New England Business Bulletin, a product of SouthCoast Media Group, will be announcing the winners of the first annual Top Young Professionals Under 40 in Southeastern MA & RI in the December issue.

New Bedford, MA - Scott Kirsner, Author, Professional Speaker, and Innovation Economy columnist for the The Boston Globe will be the keynote speaker at the 123rd Annual Meeting & Business Luncheon for the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Kirsner will share his perspective on the Innovation Economy in New England.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- After years of research and months of planning, Southern Mass Credit Union recently purchased property on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford’s north end across from Trucchi’s Supermarket for the purpose of building a full service credit union office. Anticipated for completion in the late spring/early summer of 2010, this office will provide a complete array of financial services and will house the following:

New Bedford, Massachusetts- At a press event yesterday, Harbor Development Director Kristin Decas and City Councilor Kathy Dehner along with CEO Jon Williams celebrated the opening of the Atlantic Red Crab Co.’s premier processing facility with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The ultra-clean, state of the art facility consists of eleven thousand square feet and contains high grade stainless-steel processing equipment, staffed by highly trained production workers to ensure the highest quality products.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC), in conjunction with The SouthCoast Entrepreneurial Network: the Quest Center and the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center’s Technology Venture Center (ATMC), are sponsoring a FREE workshop for regional businesses interested in obtaining federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. The workshop will be held in New Bedford on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

New Bedford, MA - On Monday, October 26, 2009, the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB) awarded nearly $500,000 in economic stimulus dollars to fund local programs in Literacy and Energy Efficiency.

After receiving $2.9 million in total stimulus dollars, the WIB released two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) over the summer: one focusing on the literacy needs of the New Bedford region, and the other focusing on the quickly developing energy efficiency and clean energy industries. “Our RFPs align with the priority industries and populations of the WIB, and fulfill a big need for the region.” said WIB Executive Director Leonard Coriaty.

What: Announcement and check presentation of grant awards from the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

When: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 10:00am

Where: City Hall - Ashley Room - 133 William Street - New Bedford, MA 02740

Background: The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB) will present their American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus plan. The WIB issued two Requests for Proposals to the region, a $260k proposal focusing on the literacy needs of the region and a $200k proposal focusing on the quickly developing energy efficiency and clean energy industries.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- At a press event this evening, New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang along with Councilor Steve Martins celebrated the dual opening of Sound Xplosion and Lumina Images with a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony. Chris Saraiva, owner of Sound Xplosion and Nelly Soares, owner of Lumina Images hosted the event in their joint studio on 761 Purchase Street.

NEW BEDFORD, MA (October 20, 2009) – Members of the New Bedford Economic Development Council (EDC) and Mayor Scott Lang welcomed Congressman Barney Frank, members of the local State legislative delegation, and community leaders to Regency Tower on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 to celebrate an important cornerstone in the revitalization of downtown New Bedford. Regency Tower, one of the most prominent buildings in downtown New Bedford and a critical piece in the plan to revitalize all of the downtown area, is the focus of an extensive $30 million redevelopment plan.

New Bedford, MA – Flu season is creeping up on us, how do you know your employees and customers are safe?

The New Bedford and Fall River Area Chambers of Commerce and the Southcoast Hospitals Group, Inc. will be hosting a workshop entitled “What Businesses need to know about H1N1” on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the SouthCoast Business Expo at White’s of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport, MA.