DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION GETS BOOST ALONG ROUTE 3 CORRIDOR

Middlesex 3 Coalition Recognized by Massachusetts Municipal Association for Creative Projects

Putting the power of its public-private partnership to good use, members of the Middlesex 3 Coalition have been working to bring jobs, transportation projects and economy-boosting programs to the Route 3 North corridor and to the city and towns of Burlington, Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford and Lowell. The effort was recognized on Saturday when the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) presented the Middlesex 3 Coalition with the Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award.

The Middlesex 3 Coalition was started three years ago by the town administrators of the participating municipalities and representatives from the private sector. At present, Richard Reed, Bedford Town Manager, is the leader of the municipal component, and Robert Buckley, a Senior Partner at Riemer & Braunstein, heads up the private sector involvement.  UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College are also founding members representing the education sector. 

The group’s mission is to foster economic development, job growth and retention, diversification of the tax base and enhancement of quality of life.  Members include stakeholders in local government, business, finance, education and development who have combined resources to promote the competitive advantages of the region and advance the economic vitality of the Route 3 North corridor. 

The group has successfully put in place a shuttle service to Technology Park in Billerica, undertaken preliminary development master planning and jump-started innovative real estate development strategies for the region, long thought to be a potential hot spot for significant growth.

The Pickard Award is given by the MMA to projects that increase the effectiveness of local government. Some of the criteria include: project originality or novelty; adaptability to other communities; cost effectiveness; efficiency or productivity; addressing a common community issue; and consumer/community satisfaction.

“Middlesex 3 works to solve the common issues in the area and to improve the quality of life for local residents,” said Buckley. “The key is the public-private partnership we’ve created. It allows us a unique perspective on economic and municipal opportunities. ”

“In these times, more and more municipalities are being asked to join together in regional initiatives, pooling resources for more efficient and effective results.  This innovative partnership is a response to this call,” said Reed.