Town Partners With MetroWest Chamber, Northeastern University To Attract Businesses

Framingham’s Economic Development and Industrial Corporation took a meaningful step to make the town more attractive to businesses, when the four-member panel agreed to participate in the Municipal Magnet program sponsored by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce.

“We are charged by the Board of Selectmen to take a look at Framingham and find ways to make the town more attractive to businesses,” said Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) Chair Mike Gatlin Tuesday night.

MetroWest Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bonnie Biocchi presented an overview of the program.

“What the program does is look at what the town is doing and what is in
place,” she said. “What businesses do the town support and what other
businesses need to be attracted?”

The central component of the Municipal Magnet program is the Economic Development Toolkit developed by Northeastern University. The Toolkit’s first initiative is the Economic Development Self-Assessment Tool.

The self-assessment tool is a method for the town to benchmark its readiness to attract industries and investment through a self-assessment survey. The survey reveals the town’s strengths and weaknesses.

Northeastern University's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy then analyzes the survey results and gives guidance on where the town needs to focus its attention.

Biocchi indicated the survey should ideally be taken by about 40 people and stressed they represent a cross section of businesses, government boards and agencies, non-profits and education entities.

The EDIC and Framingham's Community and Economic Development
department will invite townspeople to take the four-hour survey either in mid- to late April or May.

“You don’t want people saying the same thing. You want to get a conversation going,” said Biocchi.

The Chamber will fund the $5,000 survey through a grant. The town of Framingham will have to become a member of the Chamber to receive the grant. The cost: $325.

Also at its meeting Tuesday night, the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation reviewed a draft request for proposals for marketing consultants to develop ideas for the Mt. Wayte Plaza, on the corner of Franklin and Mt. Wayte streets.

The Plaza, which was built in the 1960s and has had little or no upgrades since, is three-quarters vacant.

Framingham Selectmen challenged the Plaza’s landlord to upgrade the six-acre property but changes to the moribund shopping center have not been forthcoming.

Town planner Erika Jerram listed a number of options for developing the plaza in the draft request for proposals (RFP):

• A rejuvenated retail center;
• Office space;
• Urban scale mixed use office space with housing on the second story;
• Multi-family residential.

“This is not set in stone and is open to discussion,” said Jerram. “What we’re asking the consultants to do is look at the conditions, the demographics, what the market demands and assess what is feasible.”

Economic Development and Industrial Corporation Chair Gatlin said, “We need to say, ‘Here is the space we have. Give us your ideas.’ I don’t want to limit it to specific uses.”

The other members of the panel concurred and requested that specific uses be struck from the final request for proposals and something like “Three or more
alternatives for the space,” be used instead.

Gatlin asked that the request for proposals (RFP) be ready for the next meeting (March 20) and a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen be arranged.