Economic Development

Economic Development Working Group

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December, 2011

 

Occupy reaches out: Grass-roots economic protests take root in suburbs, small cities

Occupy GroupWhile Occupy Wall Street and big-city spinoffs such as Occupy Boston no longer physically occupy plots of land, the spirit of the movement has caught traction in the suburbs.

North of Boston, grass-roots Occupy chapters have sprouted in Somerville, Malden, Salem, Lowell, and Woburn, and on Cape Ann. Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 9 - February 16, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_09.htm

 

Plans Underway to Improve Providence Recycling

CommitteePROVIDENCE - Recycling was a major topic during a recent meeting of the city's Environmental Sustainability Task Force. One immediate change discussed by the committee is a proposed ordinance requiring outdoor events such as road races and WaterFire to recycle and generally be more responsible with waste.

Sheila Dormody, the city's new director of sustainability, is working with the Arts, Culture + Tourism department to outline basic waste disposal requirements to be included in the permitting for events. Dormody said a City Council member will introduce the new rule. Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 

EPA Visits R.I. for State of Green Economy

PanelEAST GREENWICH - There was no bullet train, solar-panel breakthrough or game-changing biofuel to brag about during a recent rap session involving top EPA officials and representatives from Rhode Island's green business sector.

There were, however, smaller success stories lending support to the notion that environmental initiatives are taking hold in Rhode Island. The Ocean SAMP, energy-efficiency programs and renewable-energy incentives were credited for establishing a framework to boost the local environmental sector. Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 

Community Foundation awards $100K in work force grants

The Community Foundation of southeastern Massachusetts recently awarded $100,500 in work force development and early literacy grants with funding from the Polaroid and Acushnet Foundation funds.

This is the Community Foundation's sixth year of managing the New Bedford-area grants program of the Polaroid Fund under contract with the Boston Foundation. The Polaroid Fund distributes up to $100,000 each year to support organizations or collaboratives that focus on work-force development and early literacy. The foundation's Acushnet Foundation Fund also provides up to $12,500 for early literacy programming. Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 

Freetown aims to tweak successful recycling effort

FREETOWN - While the town has had major success with its pay-as-you-throw trash and recycling program, confusion about procedures has prompted town officials to begin a public awareness campaign.

"We find it necessary to clarify what may be included in the town's single stream recycling," said Selectman Jean Fox. "Our hauler will soon be placing stickers on receptacles that contain items that may not be recyclable in our program." Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 

Financing for biomanufacturing center finalized

DARTMOUTH - It's official: The board of the Massachusetts Life Science Center has approved $14.6 million for UMass Dartmouth to build a biomanufacturing center in Fall River. That money will be matched by UMass Dartmouth and will create what will be the nucleus of a new 300-acre SouthCoast Life Science and Technology Park.

"We are excited to get this project moving forward,'' said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack. "This center will inspire our students and faculty to learn and discover, and it will create jobs that will keep our students in the region when they graduate. We look forward to the center becoming a cornerstone of a fast-emerging SouthCoast innovation triangle that also includes our core campus in Dartmouth and our marine science and arts facilities in New Bedford." Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 

Mass. Fourth Graders Make Movie Greener

Movie StillFourth graders from Brookline launched an online petition on Change.org to get the upcoming movie, The Lorax, to have a stronger environmental message on the film's website. The petition has gotten over 57,000 signatures (at press time) and successfully convinced Universal Studios to update the website with green tips. The enterprising students not only started a petition, but they made posters, wrote a script, and shot a video. Read more here.

Sustainability Almanac - February 2 - February 9, 2012 http://www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/almanac/2012_02_02.htm

 
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About the Council on Sustainability

The Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability was established by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMD) and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) to provide education, advice and assistance on the broad issue of sustainability in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Council acts as a leadership forum and network to connect, facilitate, support and coordinate sustainability efforts and initiatives throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Council acts as a regional coordination point for targeted efforts at achieving sustainability in food and agriculture, transportation, energy, natural resources and economic development. The Council will work to unite these elements into a regional plan for sustainability.

The Council will endeavor to secure and provide technical support by identifying expertise within UMD, SRPEDD and among regional resources for sustainability efforts and initiatives throughout the region.

Council membership is open to all who wish to participate.   Representatives from UMD and SRPEDD shall act as co-chairs. The Council may establish or support subcommittees for food and agriculture, transportation, energy, natural resources and economic development, or other areas as needed.