SouthCoast Development Partnership relaunched

DARTMOUTH – The SouthCoast Development Partnership has been relaunched to address emerging economic opportunities and challenges facing the SouthCoast region.

Representatives of area business, as well as civic and educational leaders, gathered at the University of Massachusetts School of Law on Thursday for the relaunch.
The partnership will focus on commuter rail expansion to the SouthCoast and waterfront development in New Bedford and Fall River, among other initiatives.

Co-chaired by UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman, New Bedford business leader Peter Kavanaugh and BayCoast Bank President Nicholas Christ, the new SouthCoast Development Partnership will build on the previous version of the partnership by adopting a new mission and structure aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship across the region, according to a university news release.

The new partnership also will be funded entirely by grants and other sources and have at least 75 individual and organizational members.

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The partnership’s mission will be closely aligned with the strategic plan of UMass Dartmouth to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the region.

The partnership also will make workforce development and educational attainment key components of its activity.

In addition to commuter rail expansion and waterfront development, the partnership will focus on renewable energy, labor market analysis and high school/college dual enrollment issues.

“By infusing the partnership mission with the strategic plan of the university, we will create a new and fertile environment for innovation and entrepreneurship,” Grossman said in a statement. “This will develop, attract and retain talent for the region and spawn new ideas that will address real challenges, create new enterprises and enhance the quality of life here.”
Said Christ, “From two dynamic ports to an emerging national research university to an ideal geographical location, the SouthCoast is strongly positioned to grow as the economy rebounds. We need to work in innovative and collaborative ways to reach our full potential. That is the goal of this partnership.”

Also announced at the meeting was the appointment of attorney and former congressional aide Hugh Dunn as executive director for economic development for UMass Dartmouth.
Dunn also will serve as the director for the SouthCoast Development Partnership.

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