City2City

Sign Up for Chattanooga Trip - October 26-28

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:48:00 GMT

Register for the upcoming City2City trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee taking place from Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28!....

For more information, contact Lori Tanner at ltanner@pvpc.org.

Learn About Chattanooga:
CHATT BOARD Newsletter

Note: Participants will be staying at The Read House Historic Inn & Suites in downtown Chattanooga. Participants are responsible for makng their own travel and hotel accommodations (mention that you are with City2City when making hotel reservation).

MassLive Story on Planning for Chattanooga

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 20:01:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD - City2City Pioneer Valley , the program that gives leaders from the Pioneer Valley a chance to visit and learn from metropolitan areas of similar size with similar challenges, will visit Chattanooga, Tennessee , in the fall.MassLive story by Jim Kinney about upcoming trip.

Click here to read article.

Urban Sociology Expert to Speak June 24, 2015

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:14:00 GMT

Join us for a stimulating presentation from Urban Sociology Expert Dr. Katherine S. Newman on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Location to be determined

UMass Amherst Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Katherine S. Newman, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized sociologist who has written 12 books and established successful programs researching poverty, inequality, discrimination and education in the U.S. and internationally. She initiated an “arts campus” in a distressed neighborhood of Baltimore, and she is currently working on a book about returning to traditions of apprenticeship to prepare a highly qualified workforce.

Participants will also be updated on the planned fall C2C trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee including a question and answer session.

Planning for Chattanooga in 2015

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 21:10:00 GMT

The City2City Planning Committee has been meeting to determine the destination of another metro area visit in 2015. Several regions were researched, including Northeast Ohio; Peoria, Illinois;

Providence, Rhode Island; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Louisville, Kentucky. Based on metro area data, published reports, and online research on initiatives taking place in each region, the areas that appear to offer the greatest inspiration to Springfield and the Pioneer Valley are the Chattanooga and Louisville regions. Both areas have made significant efforts to revitalize their downtowns, have been successful in implementing broadband service, and have recent business investment.

Through ongoing dialogue, the Planning Committee identified issues of greatest concern and interest to our region as follows:

Fiber-optic service
Higher education in the urban core
Riverfront revitalization
Sustainability, or “green” initiatives

The African American Heritage Museum in Chattanooga was also of interest to committee members.

Given the interests of the group and the region, and after much discussion, it was determined that the Chattanooga, TN metropolitan area would best fit the needs of this year’s City2City visit. Chattanooga has redeveloped its waterfront as a vital attraction, has a high-speed fiber-optic network that is drawing new high-tech businesses, and is known for its arts and culture districts. The University of Tennessee anchors one of the downtown neighborhoods, where the African American Heritage Museum is also located. Also, in Tennessee, community or technical college is free. In the area of sustainability, one major initiative is a shuttle fleet of zero-emission electric buses (free to riders).

With this in mind, the Planning Committee has begun planning the next City2City trip to Chattanooga, TN in the fall of 2015. The timing will most likely be late September/early October. The Committee is open to feedback on this decision and will continue the planning process this spring. In addition, a late spring event is being planned to bring City2City participants together to talk about issues in our region.

The "Data-Driven City": Chicago's Approach @ Bay Path October 17

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:51:00 GMT

City2City followers may be interested in learning about Chicago's "Data-Driven City" approach in developing efficiencies that make urban living more livable. Brenna Berman, Chicago Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) Commissioner and Chief Information Officer, will present on the “Data-Driven City” at Bay Path University’s Innovative Thinking & Entrepreneurship Lecture on Friday, October 17, 2014 in the Blake Student Commons. A networking continental breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the lecture at 8:15 a.m. The lecture is the eleventh in a series that addresses the concepts of innovation and creativity, with specific emphasis on leadership and results. There is no cost to interested participants. Registration: www.baypath.edu/CEO.

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to Manage C2C

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:17:00 GMT

The City2City initiative was developed with leadership in the Pioneer Valley with particular assistance from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, which served as coordinator, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. To date, trips have been taken to “resurgent cities” Winston-Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina, Grand Rapids, Michigan, New Haven, Connecticut and Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

As the initiative goes forward, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) has offered to provide the facilitating and coordinating role. Below is a letter from Tim Brennan, Executive Director of the PVPC, sent out this past fall to C2C participants about the status of the initiative and plans for the next C2C trip in 2014.

Dear City to City Participant:

As you may know, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has agreed to take on the role of coordinating and conducting the City2City program (now called City2City Pioneer Valley) beginning in 2014. We're in the process of seeking funding to support this endeavor, and we'd also like to convene the planning group in January or February to discuss activities including a potential in-region event plus a trip for the upcoming year. We currently envision an event in the spring or fall of 2014 and a trip to an out-of-state resurgent city/metropolitan area thereafter.

Since a few months have passed since you may have last heard anything about City2City, we wanted to provide you with a quick update on our progress. To date we have received partial funding for the 2014 program year, thanks to the Davis Foundation, and, in addition to the other "resurgent cities" identified by the Federal Reserve, have considered Chattanooga, Tennessee as a potential destination. The Chattanooga metropolitan area has similar demographics to the Pioneer Valley and has received national recognition for its revitalization successes. However, there are many other possible locations, and of course we will need your input on this decision. We look forward to working with you on this effort and reconvening the City2City planning group early on in 2014.

Thanks very much for your interest and support, and we will look forward to seeing you in the New Year. In the interim, if you should have questions or comments please don't hesitate to contact Lori Tanner or me here at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) at (413) 781-6045.

Timothy W. Brennan, Executive Director
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

New City2City Developments

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:32:00 GMT

June 20, 2013 at 3:32 PM

The planning committee of City2City has been meeting and engaging with past City2City participants since the December 2012 visit to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to determine future direction for the initiative. The initiative’s organizational support is transitioning from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, C2C’s partner in the trips to resurgent cities, to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. This will allow for a more regional focus and additional input and participation from communities within the Pioneer Valley.

Thanks to the work of Kent Faerber, former President of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and organizer of the Bethlehem/Allentown trip, a prospectus (below) has been developed outlining C2C’s future direction.

C2C will host a meeting in the fall to review the prospectus, inform participants about fall plans and encourage input about future visits to resurgent cities.

PROSPECTUS

MISSION/PURPOSE
The purposes of the City2City - Pioneer Valley Program are
To educate the leadership of the Pioneer Valley about the way in which other cities have successfully confronted the same problems of urban decay and redevelopment as the Pioneer Valley;
To develop relationships among Pioneer Valley leaders, particularly those who do not regularly collaborate or associate with one another; and
To foster new collaborative initiatives.

PROGRAM
The City2City - Pioneer Valley Program will consist of:

One trip per year (30-40 participants) to a city selected for its success as a ‘resurgent city’, using the same format as the City2City Springfield program. That is, participants will depart on a Wednesday and return on a Friday, including two dinners, and a full program of presentations by presenters chosen for their knowledge of or participation in model initiatives about which the City2City visitors should be educated. While the schedule should be tightly organized, it should provide ample time for participants to build relationships among themselves. Participants will pay their own travel costs and their share of common costs (bus, banquets, gifts, etc.)
Three local events per year
At least one of these sessions will be dedicated to de-briefing about the most recent trip.
o The others will be half-day (or shorter) sessions, consisting of presentations by persons from other cities selected for their knowledge of or participation in model initiatives in those other cities. These sessions will also provide ample opportunity for participants to network/share ideas.
The programs for all trips and other events will be organized on an apolitical and research-based basis.
Attendance/participation in City2City Pioneer Valley programs will be by invitation only to Valley leaders, but, as noted below, invitees will be continuously and vigorously recruited and replenished from throughout the Pioneer Valley, and, in part, self-identified.
Intellectual/Urban Planning support for the programs (selection of cities to visit, subjects to be investigated) will be provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (to the extent it is still willing to do so), the host organization, and local university faculty and staff recruited for that purpose.
Communication among and with participants will be regular and continuous:
Blog
Newsletters
Info about projects initiated by or participated in by past registrants as a result of their participation.
New potential leaders who should be invited to go on the trips and be included in other events will be continuously and proactively identified and recruited;
o In particular, more governmental/regional organizational individuals should be included.

GOVERNANCE

The program will be overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of 12 persons representative of the various constituencies that participate in the program.
The Steering Committee will determine the cities to visit and local programs to be organized.
The Steering Committee will be self-perpetuating.
A host organization will provide all other support except those expressly assigned elsewhere in this prospectus.

FINANCES

The trips and other events will be self-supporting (i.e. fees from each participant will cover the direct costs of his or her participation in each trip and each event).
Grant support will be sought to supplement fees as needed to cover additional trip and event expenses such as:
Host organization’s personnel and overhead costs
Host organization’s advance trip and trip costs
Other miscellaneous costs

• Expected total annual budget - $25,000

Highlights of Allentown-Bethlehem PA Visit

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:41:00 GMT

Over thirty people from various Western Massachusetts organizations joined representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on a three-day visit, November 28 to 30, 2012, to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem.

City2City attendees heard presentations about strategies to redevelop the urban core, support entrepreneurship and business incubation and learned about the impact of Bethlehem’s Sands Casino on the region.

What we learned:

-Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, is in the process of a significant revitalization of the center city. Officials are anticipating significant population growth over the next 10 years and its proximity to metro New York (1 hour and 15 minute drive) is attractive, and growth is coming from companies with less than 100 employees.

-Allentown has developed something called the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) to attract core city investment. The NIZ was established through state legislation authored by State Senator Pat Browne, who represents the Lehigh Valley. The NIZ captures all state tax revenue generated in the NIZ to be used as a financial tool and reinvested in the site to encourage development in the NIZ.

-The NIZ legislation has led to an investment of $230 million in Allentown’s core city; an 8,500-seat arena (ground was broken during our visit), 220-room hotel and medical care space are all part of the development.

-Allentown was also vying for a casino, in competition with Bethlehem, prior to Pennsylvania’s selection of the site of the Sands Casino that opened in Bethlehem 2009. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan indicated that the competition between the two cities was intense, leading to an agreement between the two mayors that the winning community would capture 80% of the casino’s revenue sharing and the losing community 20%.

-The Bethlehem Sands Casino site was one of the largest brownfield remediation sites in the United States. Economic development on the site was underway prior to the building of the Sands. The casino is built on the former Bethlehem Steel site.

-Bethlehem’s political and planning leadership visited other casinos across the country to learn how to mitigate the impact of a casino on their community -- visiting communities where the impact was both positive and negative.

-Well in advance of the building of the casino, Bethlehem officials altered the city’s zoning ordinance to prohibit the establishment of check cashing stores, massage parlors, pawn shops and related businesses in the areas around and near the casino.

-Leaders indicated that the casino is a part of the region’s revitalization, not the primary driver of the area’s resurgence. The primary benefits of the casino have been the jobs created and the local and state revenue generated by gaming. Representatives of the region also shared that the casino does not play a role in spreading economic development to other businesses in the region. According to Mayor Callahan, the Sands “is not the economic engine” for the city or the region.

-Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of four centers in Pennsylvania, funded by the state, which promotes entrepreneurship and economic development. The organization was founded in the 1980s as a result of massive steel plant closings during that decade. The northeastern center is housed in the Ben Franklin TechVentures incubator. The initiative has had a $9.3 billion impact on the Pennsylvania economy, and jobs created with the help of the organization pay 33% more than the state’s average wage. In spite of its success, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has substantially cut funding to the center over the past year.

-The City2City contingent also met with representatives of area colleges including Northampton Community College, Lafayette College and Muhlenberg College. Northampton Community College offers certificate programs and trainings related to casino employment, such as card dealer training.

-Community leaders expressed that race and racism, the distinction between “have” neighborhoods and “have not” neighborhoods continues to be a barrier to advancement for the cities and the region.

Bethlehem’s daily newspaper, The Morning Call, published a story about the City2City Greater Springfield visit. See link:

Times Article on Grand Rapids Downtown Market

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:59:00 GMT

In 2011 City2City Greater Springfield visited Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a city that continues to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to development and collaboration.

C2C participants were impressed with the collaboration between philanthropy, community and the non-profit business-led group known as Grand Action in turning a city in decline into a resurgent city. The latest example is the building of a year-round public market that will bring local chefs, the region’s farming community and an anticipated half-million visitors a year to a downtown location. See the article here .

Program Overview - Allentown/Bethlehem

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 21:06:00 GMT

C2C Greater Springfield is traveling to Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on November 28-30, 2012. Participants will get a close look at two economic drivers for the region—health care and education—and engage with organizations such as the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Council. Participants will also visit the relatively new Bethlehem casino, as Western Massachusetts girds for a future casino in our region.

In Allentown, participants will meet on Wednesday, November 28 at the Lehigh County Government Center to discuss urban core redevelopment and the use of alternative financing models. Panelists will include Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, along with other representatives of the city of Allentown and the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. Alan Jennings, Executive Director of the Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, will be the dinner speaker at Hotel Bethlehem.

On Thursday, November 29, Mayor of Bethlehem, John Callahan, will join participants for breakfast at Hotel Bethlehem followed by a panel discussion at the Bethlehem Sands Casino: “The Impact of Casino-Style Gaming in Smaller Industrial Cities.” Panelists include representatives of the city of Bethlehem, the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority and Sands Casino.

On Thursday afternoon, a third panel discussion will take place, “Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation,” at Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Those on the panel include Charlie Marcon of Lehigh Valley Partnership, Mike Gausling of Originate Ventures, R. Chadwick Paul, Jr. of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Pennsylvania and Matt Tuerk of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation.

The trip will conclude on Friday, November 30, with a breakfast and a presentation by Phyllis Alexander, City of Allentown Neighborhood Coordinator and former Weed & Seed Site Director. A panel discussion, “University and College Partnerships,” will also be offered.

Next Up - Bethlehem-Allentown Pennsylvania

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:44:00 GMT

C2C Greater Springfield will be visiting Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and the cities of Bethlehem, Allentown and Easton on November 28 through 30, 2012.

In addition to similar geography, the Lehigh Valley tri-city region has other similarities to the Pioneer Valley and the Springfield-Holyoke-Chicopee area. Population is similar (Allentown has 118,0000 residents, Bethlehem has 75,000, Easton 27,000) and the region is home to a large Hispanic population. Both regions have suffered the loss of an industrial base. Allentown is a two-time winner of the All-America City Award and Springfield earned its first recognition as an All-America City by the National Civic League for Grade Level Reading.

The Lehigh Valley region is also host to the Sands Casino Bethlehem opened in 2009 on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. With Western Massachusetts the future site of one of the three casino licenses to be granted by the state and with several applications likely for the Western Massachusetts license in the region, C2C organizers believe the trip to Pennsylvania will be instructive.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, through the efforts of Anthony Poore and Richard Walker, is again helping to organize the program. Representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia will join the Greater Springfield contingent on the trip.

While still in the planning stage, participants will get a close look at two economic drivers for the region—health care and education (“Eds and Meds”). The group will also engage with the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Council and Lehigh University.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts will continue to serve as fiscal agent and will be an active participant in the planning of the C2C trip. Details about cost, travel arrangements and registration information will be made available in early fall. The trip is open to anyone in the Greater Springfield area interested in participating.

New Haven Visit

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:41:00 GMT

Over thirty Greater Springfield area individuals representing business, education, philanthropy and community development participated in the April 24, 2012 one-day visit to New Haven. As with the other C2C trips to Winston-Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina and Grand Rapids, Michigan, New Haven was selected because it is among the 10 Resurgent Cities identified in a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Although other City2City trips in the fall are three-day tours, the City2City planning group decided to offer a one-day experience to visit a New England city facing many of the challenges cities in the Northeast like Springfield and New Haven share. The visit to New Haven focused on two learning tracks: education and economic development.

Among the highlights of the New Haven visit:

-Yale University is one of the drivers of the resurgence of New Haven. The University, once perceived to have a benign approach to the city’s economic development, has become one of the primary drivers of the resurgence.

-The new collaboration between Yale and city government over the past year has overcome old divisions, creating a unified approach to building a “new New Haven” as described by presenters.

-Another educational institution, Gateway Community College, was relocated to a downtown campus—a new $200 million campus that serves 11,500 students. The campus has had the impact of stimulating economic development, commerce and housing in the areas near the college.

-New Haven has focused on particular sectors: Biotech and science. Of the 52 Biotech firms in Connecticut, 39 are located in New Haven. New Haven’s Science Park is housed in renovated buildings (the former gun manufacturer, Winchester Repeating Arms Company) and is near Yale.

-The theme of “Eds and Meds,” prevalent in other resurgent cities, is part of the New Haven strategy as well. The Yale New Haven and Smilow Cancer Hospital were strategically located in Downtown, with an investment of $700 million over the past decade.

-The commercial and residential vacancy rate in New Haven is very low, as the city has become a vibrant center of activity and a desirable place for people to live.

-Carter and Adam Winstanley, of the commercial real estate firm Winstanley Enterprises located in Concord, Massachusetts, have invested $200 million in Downtown New Haven real estate. Their rationale for investing in New Haven is that political and economic development leadership are in alignment, making doing business in the city attractive. Their website explains their approach to identifying projects.

-The group toured a renovated neighborhood elementary school with a large Hispanic population. The school curriculum includes instruction in both English and Spanish and the results on student achievement have been impressive.

-An assistant superintendent of New Haven schools spoke to the group about New Haven’s “School Change” initiative to reform the public school system.

-New Haven has prioritized early childhood and has established the New Haven Early Childhood Council. The Council’s Early Childhood Plan can be accessed here .

City2City Gains National Attention

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:28:00 GMT

Tod Newcombe, author of the Urban Notebook blog, part of Governing Magazine, writes about the City2City Greater Springfield initiative, "Springfield, Mass. Wants to Become a Resurgent City; And it's looking to tap the secret of other cities' success in the post-manufacturing age." See the story here: http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/gov-springfield-mass-wants-to-be-resurgent-city.html#

New Haven Visit April 24, 2012

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:03:00 GMT

City2City participants will engage in a one day retreat-styled visit to the resurgent city, New Haven, Connecticut on Tuesday, April 24. Details and registration information are still in the planning stage. Planners expect to cover successful education and economic development initiatives during the visit. More information on the trip and registration info will be posted when available.

Planning for New Haven 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:54:00 GMT

The City2City planning committee has begun discussion about a possible one-day retreat-styled visit to New Haven, another resurgent city. Planning is in the initial stages and City2City organizers are proposing a late April 2012 visit to New Haven by a Springfield contingent. One area of focus will be education, where New Haven has demonstrated leadership.

Grand Rapids De-Briefing Meeting

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:36:00 GMT

Grand Rapids Tour Debrief and Discussion

In Attendance:
Joan Kagan, Herbie Flores, John Davis, Rick Debonis, Ron Ancrum, Marsha Montori, Paul Robbins, Patricia Canavan, Tim Brennan, Erica Broman, Lora Wondolowski, Melinda Graulau, Nancy Reiche, Richard Walker, Dianne Doherty, Ellen Freyman, Tim Allen, Ira Rubenzahl, Charles Rucks, Henry Thomas, Bill Ward, Helen Caulton-Harris, Al Griggs, Jeff Fialky, Steve Huntley, Allan Blair, Chris Sikes, Nick Fyntrilakis, Steve Bradley, Mary Walachy, Kevin Kennedy, Denise Jordan, Dora Robinson, Mayor Domenic Sarno, Vanessa Otero, Sarah Page, Glenn Davis, Carlos Gonzalez, Andrew Nutt, Kate Putnam, Jeff Ciuffreda, Roberto Nieves, Patrick Leary, Glen Welch, Ashley Pereira, Trevis Wray.

Agenda

Agenda set forth by Ron Ancrum to cover: Comments on the organization of the City-to-City trip and any improvements thereto; Comments on lessons learned; Comments from Nick Fyntrilakis on Develop Springfield; Sharing of ideas and projects that may be developed as a result of the trip; and next steps.

Welcome

Mayor Sarno offered a sincere thank you for the group’s collaborative efforts and the resulting synergy. He is pleased with the work of City-to-City to date.

Comments on the Organization of the City-to-City Trip and Any Improvements

Ron Ancrum voiced concerns around having an extremely compact schedule.
Paul Robbins is in support of having more time to consume more of the everyday life of the site city. He described it as more time to “touch and feel”.
Sarah Page suggested allowing more time as an option for those who desire it.
Steve Huntley echoed this, by mentioning more opportunity for “intellectual recreation”, such as museum visits.
Ron Ancrum agreed that a visit to the Grand Rapids B.O.B. (Big Old Building) would have been nice.
Marsha Montori suggested the on-site debriefing session, which occurred in Grand Rapids, should have been recorded. There was a level of openness and intimacy and sharing that does not typically occur during home-based meetings.
Ron Ancrum agreed and mentioned that a meeting note taker was not present during that session. It is important to capture that type of energy and idea sharing while it's fresh.
Allan Blair reminded the group of the difficulties of scheduling and that maintaining a tight conference schedule would better benefit the group because more conflicts would occur if the conference were to stretch beyond its current length.
Ron Ancrum offered an acknowledgment to Trevis Wray for work performed around the logistics of the conference and tour.

Comments on Lessons Learned

Chris Sikes mentioned the studies that are commissioned prior to breaking ground for development. There were numerous studies performed in Grand Rapids to guide the development. He questioned the cost of such studies, the importance of having them done, and ways of prioritizing the findings thereof. How are we prioritizing in Springfield?

Sarah Page shared her positive impressions of the stakeholders of Grand Rapids demonstrating a willingness to “imagine” and “find” the resources and funding to put plans into action.

Charles Rucks suggested there was a significantly higher level of planning, participation, and overall buy-in from stakeholders in the Grand Rapids community compared to Springfield.
Steve Bradley expressed that although he did not go on the trip, he is impressed by what he has learned of concerning improvements around race and inclusion in Grand Rapids.

Marsha Montori emphasized that the trip allowed for a much healthier than normal discussion around otherwise sensitive issues. She felt people opened up more than they would have at home.
John Davis and Paul Robbins have expressed a strong interest in continuing a dialogue around race. John feels it's important to lay a good foundation and pave the way for an Institute for Healing Racism. He would like to see the work done right, and not a reinvention of the wheel.

Vanessa Otero commended any resultant work around race and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of open and honest dialogue.
Allan Blair suggested the need for tolerance and patience. The improvements in Grand Rapids around race and inclusion appear to have taken 10 to 12 years to yield measurable results.

Marsha Montori mentioned the sense of healing that was evident as a result of the revitalization of the neighborhood park where a tragedy once occurred. Apparently there was some type of shooting involving an area patrolman.

Helen Caulton-Harris brought up the issue of classism, perhaps evidenced by the disproportionate percentage of children from more affluent families being privately educated, compared to the overwhelming majority of poor who populate the public school system. She mentioned how one woman referred to it as the “American Apartheid”.

Dora Robinson was impressed by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s demonstrated understanding of the critical importance for racial inclusion, realizing it makes good business sense. Dora shared that she came away from this trip with a more realistic grasp of the time it takes to plan, implement and yield results in accordance with a greater plan for progress. She recalled feeling a bit more anxious following last year's trip. She is aware that many of the improvements in Grand Rapids are the results of long-term planning, up to 20 years, with a focus on business development.
Melinda Graulau asked whether or not the suburbs were hurting the city. How much urban created wealth is drawn out to the suburbs? Being a native of Michigan, she emphasized the need to connect with an urban hub. People identify with cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids, but people in Springfield’s surrounding towns do not necessarily identify with Springfield.

Paul Robbins mentioned the billion-dollar investments made in downtown Grand Rapids in what is known as the “medical mile”. This is a clear and distinct draw for people, particularly professionals to the downtown area.

Charles Rucks reminded the group that public education is a problem for all urban areas. A distinct difference for Grand Rapids is that their school system is managed separately from city government. It has a separate tax structure and funding scheme. Charles also emphasized the medical school and research facility investments in downtown Grand Rapids.

Comments from Nick Fyntrilakis on Develop Springfield

Nick Fyntrilakis offered some comments and some insight with respect to Develop Springfield. He suggested it was a defacto public-private partnership, as demonstrated by its linkages with the Springfield Redevelopment Authority. He recalled most of the successes in Grand Rapids were touted as having input from public and private sources. Develop Springfield has been heavily involved in post-tornado planning; intermediate “space and use” planning, as well as broader long-term “master planning”. An unveiling of the first draft of the master plan will be held on January 6th, 2012 at 6:30PM, at St. Anthony's on Island Pond Road. The final meeting, unveiling the finished plan draft, will be held on January 26th, 2012 at the same location. Input from City-to-City is highly encouraged.

Mary Walachy mentioned domains of the plan which included: social; cultural; educational; physical; organizational; and economic areas. She also mentioned the relevance of the kickoff event for Stand for Children, which was recently held at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Nick Fyntrilakis suggested that there is a clear priority for education, followed by public safety. He recommended visiting the developspringfield.com website for more details.

Sharing of Ideas and Projects that May be Developed as a Result of the Trip

Ron Ancrum polled the group for ideas on what activities they would like to engage in as a result of the trip.

Steve Bradley declared that Baystate Medical Center was invested in this work. Steve pledged $200,000 on behalf of Baystate, open to a match by any other partners, with an emphasis on work of the prior mentioned Institute for Healing Racism.

John Davis mentioned the importance of making Springfield an attraction for the region. Springfield should be the heart of the Pioneer Valley.

Ira Rubenzahl expressed that he expected to witness more economic dislocation by virtue of Grand Rapids being a Michigan city. Michigan, as a state, has suffered severe economic declines. Ira would like to explore opportunities around economic development, particularly in the wake of a loss of MA State subsidization of the business incubator at STCC’s Technology Park. He will explore a partnership with UMass.

Ron Ancrum suggested that Grand Rapids was doing something better with higher education involvement than Springfield seems to muster.

Ira Rubenzahl agreed that collective efforts from area colleges was in order but prior to engaging in any substantive planning, a collective discussion with the new Springfield school superintendent would be necessary. Ira suggested many ideas could result such as a summer camp with an emphasis on transition to college.

Chris Sikes expressed an interest in creating more jobs for the region. He would like to address the lack of expertise of area businesses, and their difficulty in growing. He hopes to identify potential high-growth businesses. His organization has hired Terry Anderson of Holyoke to work on the plan.

Mary Walachy firmly believes the Springfield Schools superintendent hire will be the most important hire for the city. This group (City-to-City) should pay close attention, although the process is in its early stages, and an outside consultant has been hired to explore the issue.
Steve Huntley referred to investments and improvements made in Grand Rapids. The infrastructural improvements are evident, but the question remained, what has been the impact on the poor? He would like to look into the linkages to entry-level employment opportunities.
Vanessa Otero commented on racial diversity in entry-level employment, particularly at the MM Center.

Sarah Page expressed an interest in commercial real estate developments. She noticed developments on the outskirts of urban areas facilitated interaction between otherwise economically diverse areas. This apparently helps facilitate less segregation. Despite appearances, the real estate in Grand Rapids is affordable. Mixed market rate and low-income housing appear to work well in downtown Grand Rapids.

Henry Thomas pointed out that Grand Rapids was good at identifying its assets and opportunities. It understood how to leverage resources and accomplish a relatively good amount of development in a 7 to 8 year time span. He suggested participants of City-to-City, particularly those seated at the table today, can help leverage resources that might otherwise be overlooked. He reminded the group of his Board seat at UMass and encouraged the group to use him to the advantage of the city. He agreed that, of the cities visited by the group to date, public education has been a bit of an embarrassment. It has been demonstrated that school districts cannot do it alone. He intends to maintain a focus on STEM enrichment (science, technology, engineering, and math). The Urban League of Springfield will host Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) at its March 6th, 2012 Annual Meeting Dinner.

Carlos Gonzalez says his organization will maintain a focus on micro-entrepreneurship supported by financial literacy and asset management training programs. He described the year 2012 to be a year of the partnership and leveraging opportunities.

Tim Allen mentioned the importance of sharing planning information, pointing out the sense that stakeholders in Grand Rapids knew what the planning entailed. Tim also expressed concerns around public education, particularly preschool education. He emphasized a tie-in to ongoing initiatives such as Pre-school Education for All, and Cherish Every Child. To that point Ron Ancrum suggested visiting cherishspringfield.org.

John Davis emphasized the need for a demand by the community. The general public, particularly parents of school-aged children.
Bill Ward stated he does not have funds to offer at this time but recognizes the enormous opportunities to align community assets. On a national scale, Massachusetts is the leading state in educational achievement, but statewide has pockets of severe underperformance. He mentioned “Race to the Top” and the fact that there should be a community based, community driven push for universal pre-K. He suggested Massachusetts is the poster-child for income and educational gaps. He echoed what Henry Thomas said with respect to resource leveraging and alignment.
Steve Bradley pointed out the disparities that are consistently concentrated along Brown and Black racial lines.

Next Steps

Ron Ancrum offered the group next steps, including a one-day trip in the Spring to New Haven, Connecticut. A poll of the group indicates April will be the best month to attempt to accomplish this. New Haven, Connecticut has apparently demonstrated a number of improvements particularly around education. The one-day trip will have a very specific focus and will be organized as a City-to-City retreat.

Ron also mentioned some preliminary discussions with respect to the Fall 2012 City-to-City tour. The intent is to visit a city with a significant Puerto Rican population. One example would be the Tampa, Florida / St. Petersburg, Florida area. City-to-City will continue to work with the Boston Federal Reserve Bank for further research and support.

Ron also suggested City-to-City will participate with Develop Springfield and attend its respective meetings.
City-to-City encourages efforts toward the development of the Institute for Healing Racism, led by John Davis and Steve Bradley.
Richard Walker shared that he was impressed by the level of participation in today's meeting. The fact that every seat is full is a great sign. Richard emphasized the importance of the group holding itself accountable for pledged or intended projects and outcomes. For instance, there was supposed to be some asset mapping performed as a result of the 2010 tour. Ron pointed out that there will be follow-up on this piece. That work was originally the responsibility of a member of the group that has since relocated (John Judge). City-to-City will look to resume asset mapping through Glenn Davis and Develop Springfield.

Paul Robbins mentioned he was contacted by Governance Magazine for information about City-to-City. Paul, Ron and Vanessa were interviewed on WGBY’s Connecting Point. The date the segment is to be broadcast is unknown.

In response to concerns that the group lacked representation from the Springfield School Department, Ron pointed out that Springfield School Committee member Norman Roldan was a member of City-to-City, traveled with the group to Grand Rapids, but was unavailable for today's meeting.

Herbie Flores informed the group to be on the lookout for some new construction projects that he will be commencing in 2012. He welcomed feedback from the group.

BusinessWest Coverage

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:21:00 GMT

George O'Brien's BusinessWest article (December 19, 2011) on the City2City trip to Grand Rapids can be accessed at this link:

http://businesswest.com/2011/12/city2city

BusinessWest editorializes on lessons learned from Grand Rapids that can be applied to Springfield:

http://businesswest.com/2011/12/editorial-41

Thoughts on the Grand Rapids Trip

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:03:00 GMT

Reflection Submitted by Christopher Sikes, Chief Executive Officer,
Common Capital, Inc. (Formerly Western Mass Enterprise Fund)

Planning and leadership

Grand Rapids

During our three-day visit I was struck by the level of systematic research and planning that went into every project. The” magic mile” was a well thought-out strategy from start to finish but every smaller project seemed to be done in the same manner. When I spoke with a presenter from the panel on philanthropy she indicated how in the early days there was more of a “ready shoot aim” approach by the philanthropists and it seemed to work well. The economy was simpler. Now that the world is more complex the philanthropic community in Grand Rapids engages sophisticated planners to conduct studies and make recommendations.

Planning is part of the culture. They have a methodology for putting the right teams together and then devising a plan, and in the larger projects, that plan includes paying a professional firm to conduct the research and make recommendations. They have a great respect for the planning process. Everything seems to move forward with a plan.

Finally, development was not only planned it was coordinated. They worked hard to break down silos. Everyone seemed to know what everyone else was doing. This created a sense of being part of a larger team all moving forward. There was a palpable sense of esprit de corp.

There was recognition of the importance of roles and of matching the skill set to the job. The Mayor, an elected position, did not manage the operations of the city; the City manager did.

With this approach, the success of a project could be measured and adjustment made as needed. All parties understood the impact of a project or initiative upon the City. As success has followed success and as individuals know their role and can see their impact on the success, there is a momentum of growing collaboration, of being personally invested in the success of the City.

Certainly Grand Rapids has its challenges. Its public school system is no better than most inner city schools. The issues of diversity and racial equity are significant. There appears to be a growing sense of its urgency to address these issues but I didn’t hear much talk about planning for improving the schools. Still, much was being done to improve the low-income neighborhoods.

The Challenge for Springfield

I left Grand Rapids feeling much better about Springfield when I first arrived. We have capital. We have some strong educational, and economic development organizations, and we have strong (albeit predominantly not family owned) businesses.

But what we also have, that they don’t have, are very high silos. Here at Common Capital we are just now reaching out to the community and becoming more proactive. We have tended to be a well-kept secret in the Valley. We have frequently not been part of important meetings where we would have had something substantial to offer. These omissions aren’t by design; they are more about not having a coordinated and open methodology. But whatever the reasons for the silos, we are living through economic times that just don’t allow it.

They need to be dissolved. To accomplish this, leadership has to show vision and use a strategy of “winning over.” Unlike Grand Rapids, the leadership won’t come exclusively from the wealthiest and most influential individuals and corporations. It will come from those who hold the vision of the critical importance of bringing the right people to the table and who put Springfield before the advancement of any other agenda.

We need to identify that leadership and gradually bring it together. How do we do that? My thought is that we need to turn to ourselves to start that process. We have gotten to know one another, we represent a wide area of interest and influence and, in some capacity, all of us are in leadership roles. Why don’t we take the first step and conduct a charrette: what does a vibrant Springfield look like? And work from there. We may want to have the meeting facilitated by an outside facilitator.

I believe that the initiators of growth lie within the City2City group. As we develop we would bring others to join the process, broadening the engagement in the community.

Republican Editorial-Grand Rapids Visit

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:58:00 GMT

The Sunday Republican editorializes (December 11, 2011) about the recent City2City Greater Springfield trip to Grand Rapids, calling for more private sector involvement in a Springfield resurgence.

.http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/editorial_private_sector_needs.html

Lessons From Grand Rapids

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:25:00 GMT

A group of over 30 City2City Greater Springfield representatives returned from the November 29 - December 1, 2011 visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, considered a “resurgent city.” City2City participants met with Grand Rapids representatives in the areas of economic development, philanthropy, education, racial inclusion and urban revitalization.

The following three links provide a good summary of information about the trip. The first is a news story that appeared in the Republican/MassLive written by Jim Kinney:

http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/12/springfield_boosters_inspired_by_trip_to.html

The second link is a reflection on the trip to Grand Rapids by Paul Robbins:

http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/12/commentary_in_grand_rapids_city-2-city_g.html

Here is an additional link to a WWLP-22News story about visit to Grand Rapids:
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/spfld-leaders-look-to-improve-the-city

Preparing for Grand Rapids

A group of over 30 Greater Springfield representatives head to Grand Rapids this week to learn more about how that city has overcome some of the same challenges faced by Springfield.

I will be offering reports from Grand Rapids on this blog and on MassLive and The Republican. My first reflection appears on MassLive: http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/11/city-2-city_on_the_way_to_grand_rapids_r.html

Planning Info

City2City Greater Springfield participants will travel to Grand Rapids on November 29 for a three-day visit to another urban area that has earned the “resurgent city” designation by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Those interested in more information about the trip, costs and arrangements for travel and lodging should contact Trevis Wray at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts: twray@communityfoundation.org.

Planning Committee Report - Why Grand Rapids

In collaboration with the Community Development Unit of the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, our group underwent an extensive investigative process consisting of literature reviews and interviews. Based upon this qualitative and quantitative research, the City2City Greater Springfield Planning Committee selected Grand Rapids for the next site visit. Grand Rapids was one of the “resurgent cities” from the Boston FRB study that included Springfield.

Grand Rapids is distinctive with specific lessons to be learned. Grand Rapids’ focus on political inclusion and collaborative leadership is robust and best exemplified through its 1992 “Voices & Visions” long-term planning process. This collaborative, regionally focused planning process coupled with consistent leadership and an influential philanthropic community has shaped Grand Rapids’ resurgence. The use of the Arts and the leveraging of the City’s anchor institutions (Educational and Medical) have significantly impacted the City’s cultural and academic landscape. There are many similarities to Springfield as well as some differences, but there’s much to be learned from how this city was revitalized. Another key organization attendees will learn about is Grand Action, a non-profit downtown redevelopment initiative: http://grandaction.org/.

Lessons from the August site visit and what you can expect to learn

In August, a site visit was conducted to further understand and explore various aspects of Grand Rapids’ resurgence and its applicability within the Springfield context. Over a two-day period, the parties convened 12 meetings. Interviews were conducted with Grand Rapids’ political leadership, non-profit executives, philanthropic organizations, arts organizations, etc. Through this series of meetings all parties identified ten consistent themes, listed below, representing “key learning opportunities” for the City to City participant:

The impact of long-term regional planning and collaborative leadership in Grand Rapids;
The significance of “Private/Public” partnerships in Grand Rapids’ resurgence and their impact on collaboration across sectors;
The role of private philanthropy as a key driver in Grand Rapids’ resurgence;
The benefits of long-term stable leadership in Grand Rapids;
Grand Rapids and its focus on “Regionalism”;
The impact of medical & higher education institutions as anchors and major employers in the region;
The role of arts and culture in Grand Rapids’ development agenda;
The impact of the Renaissance Zone & the Brownfield Tax Credit Laws.

Planning Meeting for Grand Rapids Trip, Sept. 27

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:51:00 GMT

Those interested in the next City2City site visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, scheduled for November 29 – December 1 can learn more about the itinerary at a general meeting to be held Tuesday September 27, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at First Church of Christ (Old First Church) in Court Square (50 Elm Street, Springfield).

Further details of the trip will be provided including the travel itinerary, which will include air and ground transportation. Organizers will also provide an estimated total trip cost along with a breakdown of anticipated expenses, including meals and lodging. A draft of the a schedule of engagements with leaders from the Grand Rapids community, prepared by our partners at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, will be shared as well.

Paramount Reception, Next Stop: Grand Rapids

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:53:00 GMT

City2City participant Herbie Flores hosted about 30 representatives of the initiative on Friday, July 22 in the Paramount Theater, the building that was acquired earlier this year by the agency Herbie leads, the New England Farm Workers Council.

Participants learned more about the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s recommendation for City2City Greater Springfield to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan in the fall. The Springfield group will travel to Grand Rapids on November 29, returning December 1, 2011. Participants are responsible for the cost of travel and accommodations. Ron Ancrum, of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, will again help facilitate the trip.

Ron Ancrum along with Richard Walker and Anthony Poore, both of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, will be traveling to Grand Rapids in August to meet with key contacts and arrange the tour agenda for the fall. More details will be forthcoming in this space.

Grand Rapids and Springfield enjoy many similarities: both cities are roughly equivalent in terms of average household incomes, educational attainment levels, the unemployment rate and housing composition (owner occupied vs. renter occupied).

Among the practices that have helped Grand Rapids earn “resurgent city” status by the Federal Reserve Bank and that will offer learning tracks for the Springfield contingent include: political inclusion and collaborative leadership; the role of long- term planning as a community building tool; the role of philanthropy as a catalyst for change; the role of local universities and community colleges as community development partners; the importance of collaborative regional community development; and the role of arts and culture.

Puerto Rican Leadership Coalition Formed

As a result of last year’s C2C experience, Herbie Flores has helped form a new Puerto Rican Leadership group that now meets on a regular basis. As a way to promote and develop more collaborative leadership within the Puerto Rican community, the group is meeting to discuss community and economic development initiatives, particularly relating to Downtown Springfield, as well as other critical issues affecting the Hispanic and wider communities. Herbie indicated to the group that this initiative is a direct result of last fall’s visit to the two C2C resurgent cities in North Carolina.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines To Keynote HAPHousing Annual

Event, Nov. 16

Peter Gagliardi and Sarah Page from HAPHousing were part of the group that traveled to North Carolina and both were impressed with the work of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines to revitalize his city.

As a result, HAPHousing will be hosting Mayor Joines who will serve as keynote speaker at HAP’s annual event on the evening of Wednesday, November 16, 2011. Plans are underway for an afternoon session with Mayor Joines and representatives of City2City Greater Springfield. Details about HAP’s evening event and the afternoon session will be shared on this blog once finalized.

Develop Springfield

At the C2C Paramount Theater meeting, Glen Davis of MassMutual and a City2City participant, shared details on Develop Springfield, its storefront improvement project, and its primary funding source, MassMutual.

Reception at the Paramount July 15- Plans for Fall Trip to Grand Rapids

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:42:00 GMT

Participants in the ongoing City2City Greater Springfield Initiative and those interested in becoming involved will be welcomed at a gathering to be held at the restored Paramount Theater on Main Street in Downtown Springfield on Friday, July 15, starting at 3 p.m. The event is being hosted by Herbie Flores, a C2Cer and President of the New England Farm Workers Council, the agency that recently acquired the Paramount.

Attendees will learn more about City2City, hear progress reports from those who participated in last fall’s visit to Winston Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina and gain information about the planned trip to Grand Rapids later this fall.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Recommends Visit to Grand Rapids

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, through the Bank’s Richard Walker, has been instrumental in helping to launch the City2City Greater Springfield initiative. The goal is to connect leaders from our region, through a site visit, to a city and metro area designated a “resurgent city” by the Fed.

Springfield area leaders will be invited to join the next City2City trip to resurgent city Grand Rapids, Michigan November 29 to December 1, 2011. Participants are responsible for the cost of travel and accommodations. The City2City planning committee handles all logistics and meetings and presentations from leadership in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids has a diverse population with many of the same challenges faced in the Springfield metro area. The community undertook a long range planning process in the early 1990s and key players in Grand Rapids’ revival were Grand Valley State University and a consortium of philanthropic organizations that launched Grand Action. More details on the City2City visit to Grand Rapids will be forthcoming in future postings.

June Update

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:11:00 GMT

City2City Posting June 20, 2011
UpdateTornado Impact

City2City Greater Springfield Planning Committee met on May 31, 2011, the day before the June 1 tornado ripped a 39-mile path of destruction through Western Massachusetts including large sections of Springfield.

Many of those who participated as part of the City2City trip to Winston-Salem and Greensboro were directly affected by the tornado or are involved in relief efforts. Ron Ancrum, President of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and co-facilitator of the City2City initiative and trip to North Carolina, could see the storm from the CFWM offices on the 23rd floor of Tower Square.

As a result of the storm the Community Foundation has established the Tornado Relief Fund for Western Mass to aid non-profits that are attempting to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those impacted by the tornado. Visit the Community Foundation website for more info: www.communityfoundation.org.

For City2City participant and planning committee member Joan Kagan the tornado had a dramatic impact. Her organization, Square One, suffered a direct hit at one of its early education centers at 947 and 959 Main Street, in Springfield’s north end where the tornado entered the city. Fortunately no children or staff were hurt and Square One will move its Main Street center operation into temporary space at Springfield Technology Park adjacent to Springfield Technical Community College.

HAPHousing, an active participant in the City2City initiative, is working with other non-profits to find housing for those displaced by tornado damage. In Springfield alone 514 dwellings have been condemned. HAP is working to raise $300,000 to help pay the upfront costs—first month’s rent, security deposit, utility hook-ups—needed to establish a new residence. HAP is also collecting all kinds of essential household items for those displaced, as the contents of their homes were also destroyed during the tornado. For more info: www.haphousing.org.

HAPHousing Plans to Host Winston-Salem’s Mayor Joines in November

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines will serve as the main speaker at HAPHousing’s annual event to be held in November at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The Federal Reserve Board has identified both Winston-Salem and Greensboro as “Resurgent Cities.” The City2City Greater Springfield visit in the fall of 2010 was designed to provide the Springfield contingent with data and ideas that could be utilized in ongoing initiatives to help Springfield achieve Resurgent City status. Mayor Joines meet with C2Cer’s and shared his community’s experience in overcoming some of the same challenges Springfield is facing in its development.

Participants in the City2City initiative and those interested will have an opportunity to meet with Mayor Joines to discuss Winston-Salem’s success and share information about ongoing initiatives in Springfield that have been stimulated by the North Carolina trip.

Planning the Next City2City VisitGrand Rapids or Jersey City

Planning is continuing on selection of another City2City site visit. Planners have narrowed the choice down to Grand Rapids, Michigan and Jersey City, New Jersey, both of which have experienced turnarounds in recent years. The visit would again take place in the fall, either late November or early December. More details will be forthcoming.

There is also a suggestion to visit a closer-to-home Resurgent City, New Haven, Connecticut. Planners are considering a City2City Greater Springfield visit to New Haven in the spring, as a follow-up to the planned trip to either Grand Rapids or Jersey City.

More updates on the next visit will be posted as details become available.

Planning Update

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:00:00 GMT

The City2City Greater Springfield Planning Committee met on April 20, 2011 to discuss possible destinations for the next annual City2City visit. Among the cities being considered are Camden and Jersey City in New Jersey, New Haven, Connecticut and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

According to Richard Walker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and a member of the City2City planning group, each of these cities has experienced a turnaround. Once a destination is determined, City2City participants will travel next fall as part of this ongoing initiative for Springfield leaders to learn about the successful strategies being employed in another city and region.

Planners are also working on inviting a representative of Winston-Salem and Greensboro, visited by C2C Greater Springfield representatives in December, to Western Massachusetts to share their perspective on how each city achieved “Resurgent City” status by the Federal Reserve. The goal is to invite the Mayor of Winston-Salem and a representative of Action Greensboro for a meeting with Springfield area business and community leaders. More details on this will be forthcoming.

The larger group of participants in last year’s trip to North Carolina, along with any others interested in joining the City2City initiative, will be welcomed to a social gathering and update meeting in the renovated Paramount Theater in June. Our host will be City2City participant Herbie Flores. Date and time are to be announced and will be posted here on the City2City blog.

The following reflections were offered by Rick DeBonis, from Hampden Bank, a participant in the City2City trip to North Carolina:

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:19:00 GMT

To my fellow City to City Participants:

First and foremost, “thank you” to Ron and Richard for not only coordinating this trip and being fabulous “scout leaders,” but for having the faith in all of us to bring our collective visions to the forefront. Thank you to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Eric Rosengren for your work and interest in improving the City of Springfield. And thanks to each and every one of you who “came along for the ride” – I immensely enjoyed your company, your honesty, your wisdom, and your sincerity.

I’m sure my initial feelings about this trip were much like yours. Not knowing what to expect gave way to my biggest concern, that of hoping this trip would not become simply a “feel good junket” or a “convention and visitors bureau promotional event” touting the attributes of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. It was not. It proved to have substance and real meaning. Most importantly, in my mind, it has served to generate a surge of renewed creative energy – the kind necessary to move forward.

The way we were.

As a native of Springfield, I’ve been fortunate to see Springfield at its finest. As a youngster, I recall a vibrant downtown bustling with people in every nook and cranny. I can still see the lines outside the Paramount Theatre with people of all ages lined up waiting to see the latest Hollywood had to offer (waiting in line at the Lowe’s Poli and the Bijou were common occurrences, as well). At 3:00 PM every weekday lower State Street down to Main Street became a “sea” of high school students filtering into the downtown area waiting for city buses to take them home – and doing the things high school kids do. And the images of our department stores, restaurants, and museums all bursting at the seams, are still as vivid as if it were only yesterday. Springfield was indeed a veritable beehive of activity, the “center of our lives,” the energetic hub of the region.

In later years I recall the pride I felt in knowing our public education system was the envy and model of the nation. And, as a young construction worker, it was heartening to see our skyline take shape. Fact is, back then there was hardly a season where construction cranes didn’t fill the skies. Life was good and the dream of even better tomorrows was alive and well.

Then things began to change. Little by little and year by year the losses took their toll. Industries moved, jobs were lost, businesses closed, opportunities became fewer, the flight to the suburbs was in full swing, and attitudes about the City began to change. Over a relatively short time the cumulative negative effect of this change seemed to take on a life of its own. This all took years; however, in retrospect it seemed as if it all happened in a day -- like a freeze frame in time -- almost as if someone flipped a switch. People began to wonder if anyone was paying attention.

Since then we’ve all often heard the promises and plans and the speeches about our potential to bring this City back. We’ve all seen our share of research studies and development plans, and four-color architectural drawings and models presented, all with good intentions, to at least give us hope. Truth is, very few of these efforts have ever come to fruition for one reason or another. (It is heartening to know, however, that today some of these projects appear to be back on the table.) After decades with little in the way of visible improvements to the overall quality of life, the feeling among many of our citizens seems to have turned to one of apathy along with the underlying attitude that “good things only happen to other cities, in other places, but not necessarily here.” And it’s not because there haven’t been good people doing good things for the City; it’s simply because what has been accomplished over these interim years rarely seemed to have impacted the masses in significant ways or affected the combined psyche of the people and the City as a whole. No one is to blame. Yet at the same time we can all take some responsibility as to our current condition.

So what’s the point?

I believe it was no accident we all came together for this trip. I believe we are at the crossroad, a defining moment in our City’s and in our region’s history. With what we’ve seen and what we’ve learned, combined with the creative energy generated from this trip, we truly have a unique opportunity to take the significant steps toward bringing our City back and achieving positive outcomes.

As we all know, the difficult part lies before us because now we must demonstrate we have the will and the courage to follow through. Knowing many of you prior to this trip and having the wonderful opportunity to get to know many more of you during our “adventure,” I’m totally confident we will succeed. And I’m sure we will begin to spread a new message, one that assures our fellow citizens that our “City Has No Limits” when it comes to a brighter future for all.

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”

-- John F. Kennedy

What I’ve learned:

That a strong Springfield is good for all
That collaborative leadership is essential
That communication at all levels is vital
That we must put a face (or faces) on our mission
That total inclusion is a must
That we have to break down the silos
That the youth leaders, those who will be inheriting our City, be engaged, involved, and listened to (“let the young people build it, they are the benefactors”)
That our colleges/universities play an integral part in our mission and become engines of progress
That the“30,000 foot view” – i.e., a County-wide/regional thinking approach, makes sense
That the arts play a critical role
That people need to see results, no matter how small
That our attitude is equally important as our actions -- we must foster a spirit of optimism
That there is no room for naysayers
That we need a damn ballpark!

Thank you for everything you do.

Best regards to all for a healthy, safe, and joyous Holiday Season.

Best personal regards,

Rick DeBonis

Reflections from other participants–

“I learned a great deal in my two days with the esteemed group of committed individuals who participated in City2City. I am looking forward to fully supporting and participating in the future discussions and initiatives that will result from our journey.”

“I was struck by the importance that leaders in Winston-Salem and Greensboro placed on their downtowns and the slow but steady progress they had made in rebuilding their city core for entertainment, housing and retail. This is a job for the entire city, not just downtown businesses. A safe and exciting downtown will benefit higher education in the region by providing a location where students can gather and enjoy themselves.”

“I was struck by the commitment to action shown by all the leaders we engaged. They clearly had undergone a strategic planning process and were well into, and enthusiastic about, the implementation of the ideas/activities. I was also struck on the flight home how important it is to have someone convene these conversations. We are all so busy with our work, important work, but we have to take time to stop and sit and talk to each other on a regular basis to understand how our individual work relates to the work of others.”

“I’m sure my initial feelings about this trip were much like yours. Not knowing what to expect gave way to my biggest concern, hoping this trip would not become simply a “feel good junket” or a “convention and visitors bureau promotional event” touting the attributes of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. It was not. It proved to have substance and real meaning. Most importantly, in my mind, it has served to generate a surge of renewed creative energy – the kind necessary to move forward.”

Highlights of the Springfield Metro-Winston Salem/Greensboro, North Carolina Visit

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:19:00 GMT

A group of Springfield leaders representing business, education, philanthropy, planning, workforce development and industry embarked on its first City2City Greater Springfield trip, visiting Winston-Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina between November 29 and December 2, 2010. The trip was organized and facilitated by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Some facts about the trip:

38 people participated in the first City2City trip - including three from the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston - representing a very diverse group: 36% women; 44% Black/Latino; 47% community/nonprofit organizations; 18% business; 13% City; and 13% higher education.
Met with 30 individuals from Winston-Salem & Greensboro, including the Mayor of Winston-Salem, heads of Chambers, head of the United Way, Superintendent of Schools, head of CDC, a college president, assistant Chief of Police and Foundation executives.
Special sites included: Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Piedmont Triad Research Park, Goler Community Development Center, International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Forsyth Tech Community College and the NewBridge Bank Park baseball stadium.

Lessons Learned:

Need to build optimism
Need to better share information
Need to be more participatory
Need to work across sectors toward a common goal and vision
Need to ignore the naysayers and just make something happen