In this issue....

• MassDevelopment Emerging Technology Fund

• EPA RDA Focus Group for 495/MetroWest Stakeholders

• MetroWest Life Sciences Network Speed Networking Event

• Westborough: Downtown Public Meeting Workshop



• Westford: Economic Development Committee Business Forum

• MERC to Host Annual Conference on May 30th

• We're Hiring! Manager of Research and Business Services

• LAST CHANCE: 495/MetroWest Employer Survey

MassDevelopment Emerging Technology Fund

The Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) is designed to assist growing companies in Massachusetts by providing capital needed for expansion. The fund offers loans of up to $4,000,000 for acquisition, expansion, working capital, and equipment purchases.

Eligible technology companies must meet the following criteria:

• Launching or expanding operations in Massachusetts
• Seeking financing for real estate or equipment related expansion
• Receiving financing from 2 other parties
• Can ensure that their financial investment benefits the state economy

Click here to learn more about the program. To inquire about your eligibility, contact Kevin Barry at 857-262-3129 or kbarry@massdevelopment.com.  

EPA RDA Focus Group for 495/MetroWest Stakeholders

EPA Region 1 continues to work on the development of a permit, referred to as an “RDA Permit,” that will regulate stormwater run-off in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset River Watersheds. This permit will apply to certain commercial, industrial, and institutional property owners with greater than 1 acre of “impervious cover,” a term which refers to those parts of properties, such as roofs and parking lots which allow rainwater (or “stormwater”) to carry pollutants into local rivers, lakes, and streams. The permit will require those private landowners to implement practices on their properties to control the release of stormwater coming from their properties.  

EPA is hosting a series of focus groups that will allow technical experts to share ideas about permit implementation challenges. These focus groups are a follow-on to the presentations EPA provided earlier this spring to a variety of groups; copies of the presentations can be found on EPA’s website.  

A focus group for 495/MetroWest Partnership stakeholders will be hosted virtually on June 12th. If you are interested in participating in the focus group on June 12th from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, click here to register. 

For more information on the development of this RDA permit, please see EPA’s website. If you would otherwise like to offer thoughts about the best ways to implement this permit, you may offer feedback directly to EPA at R1.RDA@epa.gov. Questions regarding the focus group on June 12th may be directed to 495/MetroWest Partnership Executive Director jason@495partnership.org.  

MetroWest Life Sciences Network Speed Networking Event

The MetroWest Life Sciences Network invites professionals in the life sciences sector to connect and engage on Wednesday, June 12th, from 8:30-10:00 AM at Knowledge Park in Marlborough. The event will feature table topics such as media, manufacturing challenges, workforce challenges, growth milestones, work-life balance, DEI, and AI utilization. Coffee and breakfast will be served. Click here to register.  

Westborough: Downtown Public Meeting Workshop

The Town of Westborough will host their 2nd public workshop on the development of a Downtown Plan. The project focuses on reinvigorating downtown as a destination for the Westborough community and neighboring towns. Join this session to learn how feedback from the first workshop has been integrated into the plan. This meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 5th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Great Hall at the Forbes Building. Food will be served. Click here to register. 

Westford: Economic Development Committee Business Forum

The Town of Westford’s Economic Development Committee invites Westford business owners to their Business Forum Breakfast on June 7th. Attendees will be able to discover business opportunities, connect with other local professionals, and bring their perspectives to the table. The event will be held on Friday, June 7th, from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at NETSCOUT. Click here to register.  

MERC to Host Annual Conference on May 30th

Framingham State University's MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) will host their 31st Annual Conference, focusing on “From Challenges to Opportunities: Innovative Housing Solutions For Economic Prosperity.” The conference will feature a keynote address from Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward M. Augustus, Jr. 

The event will include a panel discussion with industry experts, moderated by Jason Palitsch, Executive Director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership. Panelists include:

• Amy Dain, Consultant at Dain Research
• Geoff Homoliski, Executive Vice President and Chief Leading Officer at Middlesex Savings Bank
• Debbie Maruca Hoak, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity MW/Greater Worcester
• Peter Matchak, Director of Planning for the Town of Ashland
• Paige Roosa, Director of the Mayor’s Housing Innovation Lab in the City of Boston.

The conference will be held on Thursday, May 30th, at the McCarthy Center at Framingham State University from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Click here to register.

We're Hiring! Manager of Research and Business Services

The 495/MetroWest Partnership is hiring!

We are seeking a full-time Manager of Research and Business Services, who will handle diverse responsibilities related to economic development, as well as research to support public policy related to economic development (transit, regional infrastructure, workforce development, water resources, and housing). The incumbent will lead research processes including collecting data for regional and local economic profiles, analyzing pending legislation and regulations, and monitoring organizational priorities in various planning processes. The incumbent will also conduct outreach to small and mid-sized businesses in the region, and provide technical assistance and other supportive services to these businesses while involving them in Partnership initiatives. 

Click here to access the complete position posting.

LAST CHANCE: 495/MetroWest Employer Survey

The 495/MetroWest Partnership invites business and organizational leaders from across our region to take part in our annual 495/MetroWest Employer Survey! The survey will close at the end of the day today, Friday May 17th.

This survey represents a collaborative effort between the 495/MetroWest Partnership and Framingham State University's MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC). Over the past decade, this survey has proven an important tool in gauging business confidence in the 495/MetroWest region. Now being conducted for the 11th year running, the survey is an opportunity for our region’s employers to communicate concerns and challenges, which can guide policymakers in considering needed changes and investments. The survey is also an important tool in forecasting future growth by regional employers, and identifying warning signs of challenges to come.  

Your participation is greatly appreciated, and is leveraged to promote the region and to ensure its continued prosperity.

Key survey details:

• Who should take the survey? Owners, leaders, or individuals with regional hiring authority for private, public, or nongovernmental organizations that have a presence in the 495/MetroWest region.

• This survey should only take about 5-7 minutes to complete.

• Your individual responses are anonymous; your answers will be aggregated and reported with all responses.

Thank you for your assistance in continuing this important economic assessment tool for our region. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Executive Director Jason Palitsch via email at jason@495partnership.org.