WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

INVEST IN BUSINESSES OWNED BY NEW BEDFORDIANS

More than 85% of New Bedford's businesses are small companies with 50 employees or fewer. Our city thrives when they do. As a founder of multiple business and non-profits, I've personally experienced the frustrations of doing business in the SouthCoast. As mayor, I'll invest more city resources in the development of New Bedford’s small businesses. I'll work to simplify permit requirements, eliminate unfair fees and fines and streamline what the city mandates to start a business. As well as, developing partnerships with entrepreneurial development organizations to better equip business owners. It should be a boon to your business to be built in New Bedford, not a burden.

HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

HOW DOES SUCCESS LOOK?

New businesses are forming at an increasing rate annually.
More diverse businesses are supported by New Bedford and contracts
readily go to these businesses.
Filing for a business license isn’t overwhelming; the process is clearly
communicated.
Grants and investments are readily available to small business owners.
Business owners don't feel blindsided by tickets or city taxes.
Turnaround time for acquiring a business license is reduced.

ACTION STEPS

Conduct interviews with New Bedfordians at various
stages of owning a business to get insight into
obstacles they face.
Conduct an audit of the Office of Business Affairs
and Consumer Protections Small Business
Centers to improve services
Provide businesses with access to low interest
rate loans insured by the city.
Assist small businesses in competitively bidding
for city government contracts.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

# of small businesses year over year
# of jobs added by small business per
year
% of city contracts awarded to New Bedford-based small businesses
Amount of $ invested in small businesses
# of business licenses obtained annually
% of occupied storefronts
Occupancy and graduation rates of
New Bedford's business incubators
Average time it takes to return a business
license

REFERENCES

ATTRACT BIG BUSINESSES, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF RESIDENTS

New Bedford has successfully attracted nationally recognized brand such as McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Family Dollar. While we must work to attract large businesses, perhaps even their satellite headquarters to our city, and we cannot provide tax breaks without stipulated investments for our neighborhoods and the certainty of jobs for New Bedfordians. To people struggling, that would be a slap in the face. In a city that is as dependent on small and midsize businesses as much as large businesses, we must ensure they pay their fair share to participate in our city.

HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

HOW DOES SUCCESS LOOK?

Corporations consider New Bedford as a competitive advantage.
Housing rates don’t spike as a result of new corporate
developments.
Large corporations are not given unfair tax breaks.
Local Communities feel their voice is considered in new
developments.

ACTION STEPS

Focus on New Bedford's pool of talented
labor, public transportation and local
colleges instead of solely tax incentives to
attract corporations.
Expand and enforce an Affordable Requirement Ordinance.
Require contract for a new business to hire
from the community (not transplants).
Hold community forums when large
business contracts are in negotiation.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

# of big companies considering
or expanding in New Bedford
# of residents displaced by new
developments
% of jobs hired from
community (as opposed to
transplants)
# Community forums hosted in
the bid/zoning process

REFERENCES

CREATE AN OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

I'll create an Office of Vocational Training and Employment to ensure New Bedfordians - especially in our most underserved communities - are the best-qualified candidates for existing and emerging roles. As mayor, I'll be relentless in providing every New Bedfordian with the resources and education they need to thrive in this city with meaningful job opportunities.

HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

HOW DOES SUCCESS LOOK?

The business community has partners in City hall to develop relevant
workforces for their industry.
Students have enriching apprenticeship opportunities to enter the workforce
no matter their interests.
Students of all ages are enlisting and staying in vocational programs
because of the value it provides for them.
New Bedford has a clear plan for emerging market needs and is building a
pipeline to service these new jobs.

ACTION STEPS

Create the Office of Vocational Traning and
Employment which in its first year will focus
on setting goals and budgets required for
future success.
Create a council of community business
leaders who direct future job needs.
Establish a liaison between New Bedford and the internship and post-graduate career services of Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth and Bridgewater State University.
Identify key pathways for vocational and
tech training from partner agencies across
the city.
Launch longitudinal study tracking the OVT.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

% matriculation from
vocational programs
% of high school students
enrolled in vocational training
# of skilled laborers on the
job market per year
Average salary and working
conditions of vocational
students

REFERENCES

EMBRACE TECHNOLOGICAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIES

New Bedford has a very romanticized past, but keeping our sights solely on the sea has stifled our economic growth on land. I propose the technology and land become our futures with the development of Silicon Seaport and an Agricultural Council.

HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

HOW DOES SUCCESS LOOK?

Most of the food consumed locally is sustainably produced and distributed within the Southcoast (including businesses, schools, and institutions).
Most of our construction and manufacturing materials and energy sources are sustainably produced and distributed within the Southcoast.
Our surpluses are then put into our export economy, driving in external revenue.
We become the birthplace of the Silicon Seaport.

ACTION STEPS

Invest in incentives for farmers to grow hemp and startups to create Ag-tech (agricultural technology) like IoT (Internet of Things) and indoor farming.
Invest in the processing infrastructure to refine raw materials into usable construction materials.
Create an Agricultural Council.
Research how climate change is projected to impact Massachusetts agriculture, specifically within the Southcoast, and act accordingly.
Strategically place beehives and pollinator-friendly gardens to strengthen crop and biodiversity resilience during climate change.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

% of locally consumed food
% of locally consumed food that reaches high-need areas
% of locally produced materials are used
% of export revenue generated via surplus

REFERENCES

CONTRIBUTE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

INVEST IN BUSINESSES OWNED BY NEW BEDFORDIANS

ATTRACT BIG BUSINESSES, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF RESIDENTS

CREATE AN OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

EMBRACE TECHNOLOGICAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIES