A pair of recent visits to the Great White North could bring the Mill City into the International business forefront and provide tremendous economic development opportunity that could rival or surpass the $800-million UMass Lowell LINC Development.
An Informational Report in next Tuesday’s City Council agenda calls for the council to approve allowing City Manager Tom Golden to enter into negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding getting Lowell classified as a “Front Runner City.” Front Runner cities are a United Nations initiative that pumps significant investment into cities around the world in an effort to make them more sustainable.
According to the informational report (published in its entirety below), “once an MOU is executed, the city would be connected to a global network of practitioners in the fields of finance, construction, design, sustainability, community engagement and community development to share knowledge, information, and bring their expertise and capital to Lowell. ”
While city officials remain tight-lipped regarding specifics thus far, should Lowell indeed be chosen to participate in one of the Front Runner programs, it would become the first city in all of the United States to receive such a designation and the investment influx that comes with it.
You’ll recall back in late September, Mayor Danny Rourke was invited to the 2024 Urban Economy Forum in Toronto, Canada. The invitation was spurred by a July feature in Capital Analytics, an online and print platform providing comprehensive investment knowledge to external investors and the global business community. Subsequent stories highlighted other key players in the city, including City Manager Tom Golden, key members of his administration and vital community partners like UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen.
As a result of Rourke’s initial trip to Canada and the glowing Capital Analytics spotlight, the Mayor, six other City Councilors (Corey Belanger, Sokhary Chau, John Descoteaux, Rita Mericer, Vesna Nuon, and Kim Scott) and Department of Planning and Development Director Yovani Baez-Rose visited Toronto again November 13-16 for high level meetings with Front Runner representatives.
Toronto has been designated a Front Runner City, which led to the April of 2022 opening of the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park.
Among the Front Runner city initiatives is a program called World Urban Pavilion, which identifies and supports cities, universities, governments, civil society, and the private sector that are making progress in sustainability. The program helps these entities set new benchmarks for urban development and become global examples of excellence.
Information included in the packet for the November 5th Council meeting indicates the Lowell group was to tour Downtown Toronto, Regent Park and Richmond Hill. It also provides information on UN Habitat Sustainable Development Goal (SDC) Cities and offers a hint as to what the delegation was hoping to accomplish.
“Ultimately, the interest in Lowell seeking an SDG Front Runner City designation is to connect to a pipeline of global investment,” Baez-Rose wrote. “The recently completed Lowell Forward Master Plan, our continuous work on improving sustainability across municipal buildings, our designation as a Green Community, and our recent zoning changes appear in line with this program and its core pillars. This could present an opportunity for Lowell to continue advancing its goals while harnessing the support of a global initiative to support long-term sustainable development.”
When asked about what the Toronto discussions entailed and what a Front Runner designation could mean for Lowell, the Manager, Mayor and all councilors contacted refused to provide specifics, other than a general consensus that “this could be big.” When asked if they could offer a hint, one responded by saying “think LINC, maybe bigger.”
Needless to say, an international-level development on the heels of UMass Lowell’s LINC announcement in March could further transform the Mill City into a model of 21st Century urban design.
Depending on what, if any, specifics are revealed and the level of investment involved, Tuesday’s council meeting could be one of the most significant discussions ever held in council chambers.
6 responses to “Toronto Trips May Pay BIG Dividends”
To the mayor, city manager and counselors, as your constituent I do not consent to any and all of these initiatives including Linc. I think you need to hear that because to me your actions ignore your oath of office and duty to the people. I for one am tired of all of these decisions being made by the mayor, city managers, and city councilors(whom have personal gains from all this) because the state and federal government has decided to put money in your pockets to forget your primary obligation is to SERVE the people of lowell,the ones who elected you and who have not had a direct say in any of these decisions your makin. And No voting you in office is not consent enough to do what your doing. While we are at it if you are getting 800 million dollars for the linc initiative, took obscene amounts of money from the covid “initiative” again from state and federal tell me why property taxes are going up? Why are the streets not perfect and only the exact same streets are getting paved every year? Why do we pay for trash and recycling? Why are we not swimming in riches and over taxed? Why are the fat cats only in city hall and those who profit from their decisions? Whats next, taking our homes and lands by eminent domain because you need land to build lowell up on the global stage? To the people let me ask you something; Does lowell on the global stage even make sense? Ask yourself this,why? Who gains? What happens to your life here? What do you give up on the global stage; your way of life, freedom, property, increased cost of living,more taxes crime, what does pairing with the U.N. cost you (think WHO pandemic tteaty)? This is what you’ll get on the “world stage” no bells and whistles are worth any of this.The list could go on? Why are you willing to sign our rights, freedom and way of life away to the United Nations under the guise of economic development and sustainability. How sustainable is a city that will be full of buildings, over run and populated full of cement and “designated” green spaces. Next it’s whatever the U.N. says goes. Nope, again I do not consent! I for one am not willing to sell the soul of Lowell because you want to make a buck and keep sticking it to its people. Voting for your or not, is no longer consent when you as our representatives can no longer uphold their oaths of office, their obligations to the people or even their duties. I also found the “refused to give specifics…” comment completely indicative of a legal disclaimer so when you say we’ll we didn’t know about that they can say we’ll we said we couldn’t give specifics… this statement also attest to the fact that the people you serve never fully get or know the truth about decisions you are making in office.
Wow, just wow! I commend city leaders for being open to opportunities that will position Lowell for economic growth and prosperity. Keeping streets paved is important but is a basic function of any municipality. It should definitely not be the prime focus of city administration, in my opinion. By partnering with UML on the LINC project and exploring opportunities for economic growth through the Forerunner Initiative, city leaders are upholding their responsibility to think strategically to make Lowell an economic success, which will certainly improve the full quality of life for all her citizens.
Your tactics are despicable. Why don’t you tell everyone how you pick and choose your own people to get the funds from these programs? Why dont you discuss how you weaponize your positions and power against your own constituents and local businesses ? How dare you. The departments handling public funds need to be audited. Let’s see what’s really going on behind closed doors.
There’s much more to learn about the potential of this project and how it would be used to benefit the city. Doing things the same old way that is familiar and comfortable is not moving the city forward. Trying to be open to strategic thinking and being innovative is encouraging. Can’t wait to learn more.
Wow. Glad the Nick’s of the world are speed bumps to progress. Signs don’t vote. Wingbats post but vote in Low numbers. Great opportunity for Lowell. I’m amazed anyone could resist this. So glad tye future is the hands of our current gov’t
This is more incredible work by our city officials. The future is extremely bright in Lowell.