July 2016

New Address!

Over the last few weeks we've been busy moving and settling in to our new, beautiful office space at 83 Maple Street. We are located on the first floor of the restored Merrick Phelps House at the corner of Maple and Union Streets.

Please update your mailing information!

DevelopSpringfield

83 Maple Street

Springfield, MA 01105

Our telephone number has not changed.

83 Maple Street ~ It's Done!

On June 22, 2016 we marked the completion of the restoration of the historic Merrick Phelps House at 83 Maple Street with a Ribbon Cutting Celebration and Open House. We are making our new home on the first floor and are welcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County as our neighbors on the upper levels. We all have some organizing and unpacking to do, but the space is wonderful!

Click here for a link to the photo gallery of 83 Maple Street's progress.


83 Maple Street


	2nd Floor - Final Touches

We are currently redeveloping several buildings on Maple Street to be known at the Lower Maple Business Park. The completion of 83 Maple Street concludes the first phase in this redevelopment project.

Rehabilitation of the former Female Seminary at 77 Maple Street is expected to begin later this year. We look forward to welcoming new tenants! If you have plans to relocate and are interested in some really special office space in a thoughtfully rehabilitated historic building, give us a call! The campus will include ample parking for tenants and their visitors and is within walking distance to the courts and downtown's many restaurants and attractions. Currently we have space available at 69 and 77 Maple Street.

Click here for additional details on the project and for leasing information. To inquire further, please call 413-209-8808 or dmckahn@developspringfield.com

FutureCity 2026 ~ An Economic Development Strategy

FutureCity is a joint initiative by DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Springfield's Office of Planning and Economic Development. Its purpose is to build upon the strategies identified in earlier studies such at the Urban Land Institute study of 2006 and the Rebuild Springfield Plan of 2012--both of which identified tangible goals that continue to be the focus of public and private economic development strategy in the City of Springfield. Both plans recommended the importance of developing a long term strategy for economic growth in the City that would ultimately benefit our entire region.

An executive summary of the FutureCity 2026 Economic Development Strategy was presented to a group of approximately 120 business and community leaders and stakeholders at CityStage on Wednesday, May 25.

"The goal of this project was to pinpoint and leverage the City's attributes including geographic location, infrastructure, workforce and industries, and align these existing characteristics, assets and conditions with pillars of realistic current and prospective market opportunities," said Jeff Fialky, an attorney with Bacon Wilson and c0-chair of the FutureCity initiative. "The objective was to develop an approach based upon realistic market opportunities that is obtainable rather than merely aspirational."

The FutureCity strategy was prepared by the nationally recognized real estate and economic development consulting firm, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank guided by a steering committee representing a broad spectrum of businesses and organizations over the course of a nine-month period. The consultants were charged with an ambitious scope of work which took place over nine months to include the following: assess existing conditions, analyze target industries, assess logistics and supply chain capabilities, assess talent development strategies, develop a list of recruitment opportunities for target industries, identify strategic initiative and an implementation plan with measurable deliverables.

Newmark conducted over 100 interviews which included City and state leaders, economic development agencies, large employers, young professionals, elected officials, nonprofits, workforce development organizations, real estate and creative economy experts, and more; in addition to deep dives into relevant data, peer city comparisons and several site visits to Springfield.

Major themes emerging from the study include: site and space readiness, centralization of small business resources, development of a multigenerational workforce plan, development of a unified marketing and messaging plan, fostering collaboration and connectivity, strategically unify economic development efforts, collaboration, and a focus on Springfield's unique strengths.

"The FutureCity Economic Development Strategy is designed to be a guide to action, not simply a plan to sit on a shelf" said Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield President & CEO and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative. "The plan includes over 170 specific recommendations along with metrics for measuring success, estimated costs, potential impact, priorities, and identifies the parties responsible for implementation."

Funding was provided by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the Springfield Regional Chamber, Smith and Wesson and DevelopSpringfield.

Click here for a link to the executive summary presented in May. In a few weeks, a more detailed report will be made available through DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber and the City of Springfield's Office of Planning and Economic Development.

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Our mission is to help create conditions that encourage private development, with a bricks-and-mortar focus and always with an eye toward understanding and meeting Springfield's unique and diverse redevelopment needs.

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