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NBEDC seeks to broaden its business base
 The
New Bedford Economic Development Council voted
unanimously on August 15 to broaden its base of Council
members to “at least 75”; to form working groups in
focus areas of the City’s economic development agenda
including: Emerging job sectors; Existing and small
business development; Sales, Marketing and
Communications; Workforce Development; and the Creative
Economy; and to hone its governing board from 24 to 9
members. The vote culminates a four-month review.
“Truly sustainable economic development requires a broad
and inclusive base of business support and buy-in,” said
Tony Sapienza, president of the Council and president of
Joseph Abboud Manufacturing, a company which employs
more than 600 people in New Bedford.
“Over the last year, it has become clear that the work
of the Council is as important as it has ever been. As
the only agency charged with economic development
throughout the City, we have been building on the solid
work of past and present board leadership. We will
expect that each member of the Council will serve on a
working group and that our executive director will be
communicating with the entire Council weekly,” continued
Mr. Sapienza.
“While we respect the concept of the previous
configuration of the 24 members of the governing board
representing many different organizations, in practice,
it has not allowed us to focus on NBEDC’s unique
mission,” he said.
The new board of nine members consists of a cross
section of the City with three members from the private
sector, three from the community at large, two appointed
by the Mayor, and the Mayor, ex-officio. The members
are: Tony Sapienza, President, Joseph Abboud Mfg.
(Chairman); Bill Davis, President and CEO, Ze-gen, Inc.;
Peter Kavanaugh, President La-Z-Boy; Katherine Knowles,
Executive Director, The Zeiterion Performing Arts
Center; Scott W. Lang, Mayor; (Ex officio); Jim Mathes,
President, SMILES Mentoring; Joe Nauman, Executive Vice
President, Corporate and Legal, Acushnet Co.; Paul
Vigeant, Assistant Chancellor, University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth (Ex-officio).
In addition, Mayor Lang and members of the NBEDC staff
will begin meeting with more than 50 employers
throughout the City to ensure that their needs and their
ideas are being integrated into the City’s economic
development activities. |
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