Ze-gen plans clean energy plant in New Bedford

Ze-gen, a company which has a process for converting municipal waste into electricity, has raised $2.5 million to fund construction of its first full-scale plant.
Pinnacle Ventures on Thursday said it will provide the debt financing, which will be used to develop a commercial plant. Ze-gen's pilot plant opened in the middle of last year in New Bedford, Mass.

Ze-gen developed a process to turn municipal solid waste into electricity, which you can sell onto the grid or to an on-site consumer. [read more]
 

  Wholly mackerel: City plant works tirelessly to deliver popular fish overseas

NEW BEDFORD — For the next four months, the Norpel plant on Fish Island will operate around the clock to freeze and box whole mackerel bound for Nigeria, Egypt, Poland and other foreign markets.

The strong-tasting fish has yet to win an audience among American eaters, but foreigners enjoy it smoked, grilled or pickled.

The mackerel season begins in January, when fast-swimming schools of the green and blue tiger-striped fish can be found in Southern New England and [read more]

  New manager named for airport

NEW BEDFORD — A Falmouth man with a background in law, Coast Guard aviation and experience in the public and private sectors has been named manager of the New Bedford Regional Airport.

Edward J. DeWitt was selected by the New Bedford Airport Commission with the approval [read more]

  Deal reached for 100-room waterfront hotel

NEW BEDFORD — A 100-room "mid-scale" hotel is planned to open just over a year from now on a 1.6-acre parcel on the waterfront, developers and city officials confirmed Wednesday.

Richard LaFrance of Westport's LaFrance Hospitality Co. said a purchase-and-sale agreement has been signed with Scott Nanfelt, owner of the property, which now houses the Delken laundry across MacArthur Boulevard from the Bourne Counting House.

He and city officials declined to name the price, but he said he hopes to open the hotel in spring 2009. The property is valued by city assessors at $1.3 million [read more]

  Job outlook remains steady, but those without education, training will face tougher prospects

In spite of recession threats on the horizon, the job front in Massachusetts is slowly rising, according to state and local experts.

Massachusetts had an increase of 25,000 new jobs statewide in 2007, and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent, the lowest in six years. Heading into 2008, officials expect the trend to continue.

According to Linnea Walsh of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development [read more]
 

  NBEDC Names Senior Lending Officer

Executive Director Matthew A. Morrissey announced the appointment of Ramon Silva to serve as Senior Lending Officer of the New Bedford Economic Development Council. Mr. Silva joined the staff January 14th.

With 12 years of experience in residential and commercial mortgage lending, Mr. Silva brings a full range of lending skills that will enable him to continue the NBEDC’s successful lending program. Given his on-the-ground business-to-business sales experience [read more]