Exploring Economic Development with MEDC

We are excited to welcome our very own Lindsey Jaworek, Director of Business and Community Development to our podcast to discuss the downtown Marlborough Pop-Up Shops, what to expect for the coming season and the success small businesses have seen from the program. Make sure to tune in!

We are excited to welcome newly elected City Council Vice President, Sean Navin, to our podcast to discuss what is expected to come before the Council this year, his family’s many years of public service and what it’s like balancing the importance of smart growth with the needs of the community. Make sure to tune in!

In episode 53 of 'Exploring Economic Development with MEDC', host Meredith Harris welcomes Naomi Berlin, Assistant Secretary of Business Growth from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development. Tune in to hear about all the ways the state economic development team can help businesses grow, especially through their new platform, The Business Front Door.

In episode 52 of 'Exploring Economic Development with MEDC', host Meredith Harris welcomes Mike Ossing, President of the Marlborough City Council. They discuss various topics including the roles and functions of the City Council, and specific processes like special permits and overlays. Mike highlights significant projects like the Green District and Apex that have immensely benefited the city, as well as instances where potential missed opportunities occurred. He also shares insights into his involvement with the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and the importance of continued economic development for Marlborough’s financial health.

During episode 51 of "Exploring Economic Development with MEDC", get to know Michelle Mercier, CEO and President of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce. Michelle was tapped to lead the Chamber just over a year ago, learn more about where she was before and what she has done to improve the organization and engage members through her leadership. You will also gain an understanding of why a business might want to be a member, how our two organizations work together to serve the businesses in our area as well as the value that the MRCC brings to our community as a whole.

For Episode 50 of “Exploring Economic Development with MEDC”, we are excited to sit down with WMCT-TV Executive Director, Ryan Malyar, to learn more about our local television studio, how they continue to engage with our community and what opportunities are available for Marlborough residents, non-profit organizations and businesses looking to tell their story.Learn more about WMCT online at:https://www.wmct-tv.com/https://www.youtube.com/@WMCT-TVMarlboroughhttps://www.youtube.com/@WMCTTV

For Episode 49 of “Exploring Economic Development with MEDC”, we are pleased to welcome back Mayor J. Christian Dumais to discuss the current state of the city, some recent economic development wins, what to look forward to for the remainder of this year and other exciting things happening in the City of Marlborough.City of Marlborough Website:https://www.marlborough-ma.gov/

On Episode 48 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC, we will be welcoming Ryan Gagne, Owner and Operator of Venture X, Marlborough. Ryan will share with us what coworking space is, why it's attractive to businesses of all sizes, how it can be a feeder system for the city and why he chose to open in Marlborough.

For Episode 47 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC, we will be welcoming Katie Perry, Vice President of Business Administration of Technium, a Marlborough-based IT company on Donald Lynch Boulevard. Katie will discuss how Technium is a network expert and go into depth on a unique partnership the IT company has with Marlborough Public Schools through the work based learning initiative.

On Episode 46 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC, we are joined by Jessica Muradian, Director of Government Affairs for the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA). Jessica will discuss the importance of the MRA, what benefits restaurants receive as members and the type of advocacy they typically do. In addition, she will bring us up to speed on Question 5 and the potential economic impact on the restaurant industry. Reach out to Jessica at: [email protected] https://www.themassrest.org/https://www.protecttips.org/https://www.protectmassrestaurants.com/

MEDC is excited to welcome Maurice Phelan, President of Sartorius North America, for Episode 45 of Exploring Economic Development. Maurice shares with us the journey of Sartorius in Marlborough as well as the biotechnology company's expansion on both a local and national level. We will also discuss the ongoing Donald Lynch Boulevard Project and Maurice's experience as a MEDC Board Member.

We'll be getting to know Stacey David, Executive Director of the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau (MBVB) for Episode 44 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. As the Regional Tourism Council for our area, we'll look into ways that MBVB markets destinations such as the City of Marlborough, the businesses and recreational assets here, and how they work with the Commonwealth to keep us all on the map for visitors far and near.

For Episode 43 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we're connecting with Jim Nee from the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) to discuss why public transportation is critical to the growth of our region, the benefits of having and using public transportation, and what the future might look like for riders in Marlborough.

Mayor J. Christian Dumais joins us for Episode 42 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC to discuss his first 30 days in office, priorities for the administration and why Marlborough is the city to watch.

City Council President Mike Ossing joins us for Episode 41 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC to dig into the recent tax rate decrease and explain what we can expect to see from the City Council in the coming months.

For our 40th episode, we welcome back Mayor Arthur Vigeant and his Executive Aide Trish Bernard to look back and reflect on how Marlborough has evolved over the Mayor's tenure in municipal government and gain insight on his business friendly leadership and support to the business community.

Local small business owners Amanda Mayo (Luna Pines) and Alicia Tucker (Magic & Color Co.) join Meredith and Jill to discuss Marlborough's downtown Pop-Up Shop project and the ins and outs of running a retail business as we head into the holiday shopping season.

Greg Bunn of MassHire and Dennis Collins of the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) join Meredith and Jill to talk about apprenticeship opportunities and programming available across all industries. Whether you’re an individual looking for a unique entry point into the workforce or an employer looking to boost your hiring practices, this episode is for you!

Apex Entertainment COO Marcus Kemblowski joins us for Episode 37 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC! We will be talking all things Apex, getting into the project's history in Marlborough and revealing details you might not know about the scope of what Apex offers to our community.

Returning guest Jason Palitsch of the 495/MetroWest Partnership joins us for Episode 36 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC to provide an update on regional economic development and discuss how our organizations work together on projects to benefit our community. Learn more about the 495 MetroWest Partnership by visiting their website: https://www.495partnership.org/

We are going Inside the Industry of Entrepreneurship & Innovation for Episode 35 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. Joining us for this discussion will be Christimara Garcia (Director of the Framingham State University Entrepreneur Innovation Center) and Luiz Fernandes (Owner of Labaredas Brazilian BBQ & Bar). We'll learn how the partnership between them led to one of the area's favorite restaurants and encourages the success of other businesses.

For Episode 34 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC, co-hosts Meredith and Jill will be answering questions submitted by residents, local businesses, and followers of the program. Having had the privilege of hosting a diverse range of guests we hope to feature our loyal listeners and engage with them on topics they want to learn more about and for us to dive into deeper.

Welcome to Episode 33 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC! In this episode, we have special guests Connie Askin, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass and Metrowest, and Dr. Daniel Riley, Principal of Marlborough High School, discussing the Mazie Mentoring Program. The Mazie Mentoring Program is a unique initiative that connects high school students with mentors in their community to help them succeed academically and personally. As a program that directly impacts the youth of Marlborough, MA, we are excited to hear from our guests about the program's successes and opportunities for growth. Don't miss out on this informative conversation, and be sure to visit https://bbbscm.org/mazie-mentoring-pr... for more information on how you can get involved with this incredible program.

For Episode 32 we'll be learning how the residents and businesses in Marlborough benefit from the city's municipal aggregation program with Colonial Power Group's president Mark Cappadona. Helping us to understand the process more will be City Council President Michael Ossing, who also chairs the Marlborough Municipal Aggregation Committee.  MEDC is dedicated to promoting, supporting and guiding #MarlboroughMA businesses!   Please let us know how we can serve you. You can visit our website at: https://marlboroughedc.com/ Or contact us at: [email protected]

For Episode 31 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we'll be going Inside the Industry of Local Banking in Marlborough. Joining us will be Walter Dwyer (Main Street Bank), Nabil Farooq (St. Mary's Credit Union), Esi Kodra (DCU), Courtney McGloin (DCU), and David Morticelli (Avidia Bank). We'll learn the importance of having these institutions in our community, discuss current market conditions and how they work together to help small businesses in Marlborough.

On the 30th episode of "Exploring Economic Development with MEDC" we had the pleasure of sitting down with Marlborough's mayor, Arthur Vigeant, to reflect on the city's major projects, milestones, and achievements over the past year. This live video podcast series, produced by the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), focuses on various aspects of economic development in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The goal of the podcast is to provide valuable insights and expert perspectives on the subject, while also engaging with the audience to gain real-time feedback and perspectives. Throughout the series, we invite local business owners, government officials, and economic development experts to share their knowledge and experiences. We cover a wide range of topics, including attracting new businesses, supporting existing ones, promoting sustainable energy solutions, developing technology and life-science industries, and other key issues related to economic development in the city. As the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation, our main objective is to foster a robust and resilient economy in Marlborough by attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones. To achieve this, we work in partnership with local businesses, organizations, and government agencies to provide resources and support for economic development initiatives. Additionally, we focus on advancing the growth of technology and life-science industries, as well as promoting sustainable energy solutions in the city. Our aim is not only to create jobs and strengthen the economy but to make Marlborough a better place to live and work. At MEDC, we also work to promote Marlborough's rich arts, culture, and historical heritage, in order to attract visitors and newcomers to the city. This helps to boost the local economy and improve the overall quality of life for residents. We are committed to working tirelessly to achieve our goal of fostering a strong, vibrant economy in Marlborough, and are always looking for ways to improve and grow the city. We offer free and fair guidance and resources to support potential investment decisions and we are always open to hear how we can help you. You can visit our website at www.marlboroughedc.com or contact us at [email protected] for more information or assistance.

Jeanne LeClair from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is joining us for Episode 29 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. As the Senior Developer of Business Development and Workforce Partnerships we are interested in discussing the life sciences ecosystem in our state and how this agency serves the growth of the industry, while creating jobs and opportunities for the people here.

One of MEDC's Founders, Past Chairman of the Board, Former City Councilor, lifelong Marlborough resident and Attorney at Law, Arthur Bergeron, is joining us to talk about what Marlborough does right from a developer's perspective and the Lincoln/Mechanic Site which will soon be home to the new Alta-Marlborough mixed-use project. We will dive into the history of the site and learn more about the importance of this development to the French Hill neighborhood.

For Episode 27 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we'll be going Inside the Industry of Manufacturing in Marlborough. Joining us will be Shawn Fitzpatrick (Resilience), Hayley Steele (Mass MEP), Kristy Grignon (Mass MEP) and Sean Marshall (MassHire). We'll learn what it means to be a manufacturer in Mass, about available resources for employers, job opportunities and additional benefits for manufacturing companies located in Massachusetts.

The Executive Director of MassEcon, Peter Abair, is joining us to hear how their team works to promote and champion Massachusetts as the best place to start, grow and locate a business. We'll talk about the talent pool, investments in communities, and the different partnerships that create opportunities for companies locally.

To kick off the unofficial start of summer, we'll learn what makes the Marlborough Recreation Department unique during our 25th episode of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. Joining us will be Director Chuck Thebado who has made a lifelong commitment to contributing to the programs and amenities offered in the City of Marlborough through parks and recreation.

Join us for Episode 24 of Exploring Economic Development with Steve Uliss of Firefly's BBQ. As an Owner/Operator and #Pitboss in Marlborough for over 21 years, we will hear how his daily operations contribute to their success. As Firefly's continues to evolve, this episode is sure to be filled with advice, insight and why businesses are important to the economic health of our city.

For this special edition of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we'll be going Inside the Industry of Sports Tourism in Marlborough. Joining us will be Mike Matros (BFit Heroes Cup Hockey Tournament), Richard Tomanek (Embassy Suites Marlborough), and Oliver Vieten (New England Sports Center). We'll learn how these organizations work together to drive tourism to the city.

For Episode 22 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we are sitting down with Jon Pezzoni, Senior Vice President at Avison Young, to talk about commercial real estate and the current state of the market. We look forward to hearing how commercial brokers can help businesses locate and expand in Marlborough, MA.

For February's episode of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC we are excited to talk with Melynda Gallagher, the co-owner and coffee roaster for Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co. Melynda is a new board member, past Toolbox recipient and an active member of our community. We look forward to hearing why Melynda believes Marlborough is a great place to live, work & play!

Kick off the new year by celebrating our 20th episode with Jon Weaver from Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives. MBI serves as a catalyst for life science and healthcare innovation in Central Mass. We're looking forward to discussing why companies should want to be here - specifically for their biomanufacturing and R&D!

Join us for Episode 19 as we discuss Marlborough's hotels with Jenney Cataldo. Jenney is the Director of Sales at the Hyatt Place and the Fairfield, both in the Apex Center. She'll tell us about her relationships with other businesses in Marlborough and what's on the horizon for the hotel industry.

Meredith, Linda, Lindsey and Jill will discuss their biggest takeaways from 17 episodes of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. The team will share what they consider to be the most important, fun and inspiring moments that were shared with their guests up to this point.

Catch up with the Council on Aging Exec Dir. Trish Pope to learn more about the importance of an active Senior Center & her history with economic development in Marlborough.

For Episode 16 of Exploring Economic Development we are sitting down with Marlborough City Councilor and small business owner Christian Dumais. As an entrepreneur and advocate for small business, we look forward to hearing why Councilor Dumais has chosen Marlborough not only as his home but also where he operates Drumais Hair Salon.

Kevin Kuros from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development visits us for Episode 15 of Exploring Economic Development to discuss how their team assists new and existing businesses in Massachusetts through their programs and incentives.

Episode 14 will focus on how Marlborough Public Schools works with MEDC to reach the local business community and create opportunities for our students and employers.

Episode 13 will focus on regional economic development and how working together with our neighbors is important. Jason Palitsch will talk us through how the 495 Partnership advocates on behalf of its 35 communities in the MetroWest region.

Joining us for Episode 12 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC will be Greg Bunn from MassHire. We'll be getting his take on the current state of the job market, unemployment benefits in Massachusetts and how MassHire works to connect businesses and jobseekers.

State Representative Danielle Gregoire is coming to the studio to give us the update on what’s happening at the State House. Being born & raised in Marlborough, we’ll also find out where some of her favorite places in the city have been throughout the years!

Mayor Arthur Vigeant joins us to celebrate the 10th episode of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC. We’re looking forward to hearing his thoughts and perspective on Marlborough’s growth.

In episode 9 of EED with MEDC we'll be talking with Kelly Arvidson from MassDevelopment about the importance of building relationships, not only locally & regionally, but also state & nationwide. Previously livestreamed on Wednesday, June 2nd.

Previously streamed Wednesday, May 19th 2022. Meredith and Jill will sat down with City Council President Michael Ossing to discuss how the city council views economic development and how the MEDC can continue to help the city in moving Marlborough forward.

In Episode 7 of Exploring Economic Development, we’ll be speaking with Attorney Arthur Bergeron. Arthur is a former Chair of the MEDC Board of Directors and a founder of the organization. We will talk about how the organization came to life, the vision behind its development and what he believes to be some of the City’s most important economic development accomplishments.

In this episode Meredith and Jill sit down with Rob Schlacter and discuss how the unique partnership between MEDC and the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce benefits businesses in Marlborough, MA.