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From YouTube: Chamber Community Outreach 4-2023
Description
City of Chelsea, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, Guest Speaker: Alex Train, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development
A
Thank
you.
Excuse
me,
everyone
all
right,
I'd,
like
to
thank
everybody
for
coming.
This
is
our
April
community
outreach.
We
do
have
these
on
the
second
Wednesday
of
every
month,
and
this
month
we're
honored
to
have
Alex
train,
come
and
do
a
presentation
here
for
us
about
what's
going
on
in
the
community
and
what
you
can
expect
for
2023.
I'd
like
to
thank
everybody
for
coming
today,
and
we
truly
appreciate
your
support.
We
hope
to
see
you
moving
forward
again.
A
B
Great
thank
you
yeah
good
afternoon.
Everybody
first
and
foremost,
I
want
to
thank
God,
Jen
Hall
and
the
Chamber
for
being
long-standing
partners
of
the
city
on
you
know
all
facets
of
our
Economic
Development
work.
My
name
is
Alex
I
serve
as
the
Director
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
for
the
city
of
Chelsea.
We're
joined
this
evening
by
city
council
president
Leo
Robinson,
chief
of
police
chief
Houghton,
as
well
as
Omar
Miranda,
our
Small
Business
Development
Specialists.
B
So
tonight,
I
was
going
to
provide
just
a
snapshot
of
some
of
the
different
economic
and
Workforce
Development
efforts.
The
city
won't
embark
on
over
the
coming
year
and
these
span
everything
from
Workforce
training
to
new
development
that'll
occur
in
the
downtown
and
some
of
our
industrial
districts.
So,
throughout
the
course
of
the
presentation,
feel
free
to
interject.
Ask
questions.
Interrupt
me.
B
A
unwavering
support
of
residents,
so
the
department
strives
to
promote
long-term
Prosperity
that
allows
residents
upward
economic
mobility
in
an
attempt
to
remain
in
Chelsea
for
the
long
term,
and
this
is
regardless
of
their
socioeconomic
background,
immigration
status
or
history
in
the
community.
A
lot
of
residents
in
particularly
small
business
owners
in
the
community
you
know,
have
been
affected
by
structural
racism
and
displacement,
and
so
with
the
barriers
that
displacement
pressures
and
racism
in
our
economy
pose.
We
thoughtfully
tailor
programs
to
support
businesses
and
residents
in
longer-term
economic
growth.
B
Additionally,
a
lot
of
our
small
businesses
here
are
really
the
backbone
of
our
our
economy,
so
downtown
here,
you
know.
For
instance,
we
have
over
120
minority
owned
small
businesses
city-wide
we
have
over
600.
The
vast
majority
of
these
are
businesses
one
to
five
employees.
So
a
lot
of
sole
Proprietors
residents
that
are,
you
know,
going
out
on
their
own
and
making
a
living
countering.
B
And
anger
institutions
like
km
Market,
Basket
and
bmwra
that
employ
hundreds
of
residents
and
provide
good,
solid
living
wage
jobs
so
as
part
of
our
Economic
Development
strategy.
First
and
foremost,
we
strive
to
capitalize
on
our
existing
foundation.
So
we
look
at
the
resources
that
we
have
here.
We
have
a
very
good
location,
we're
near
Logan,
Airport,
we're
tied
in
with
the
MBTA.
We.
A
B
Seek
to
modernize
infrastructure
both
a
lot
of
underground
infrastructure
that
supports
new
development
as
well
as
surface
and
transportation
infrastructure
that
residents
rely
upon
to
access
employment,
centers
and
places
throughout
the
community.
And
lastly,
throughout
the
course
of
the
projects
that
we'll
talk
through
today.
All
of
our
work
is
centered
in
Resident
goals
and
vision
for
the
community.
B
B
That
the
city
will
be
making
under
the
leadership
of
city
council
with
art,
for
resources
into
programs
and
resources
that
boost
upward
Mobility
for
residents.
So
this
will
be
a
combination
of
our
existing
programming.
Things
like
our
citizenship
and
Immigration
Services
Program,
a
long-standing
offering
of
the
city,
as
well
as
newer
initiatives
related
to
financial
counseling,
digital
literacy,
child
care
and
Workforce
training,
as
opposed
to
providing
kind
of
standard
programs
for
everybody.
B
We're
taking
the
approach
of
creating
a
program,
that's
really
tailored
to
different
populations,
so,
for
instance,
we're
planning
on
having
a
component
of
this
program
tailored
to
working
mothers.
The
resources
under
it
will
be
a
bit
different
than
if
it
were
to
be
tailored
towards
you
know,
larger
Working,
Families
and,
and
so
on,
Beyond
this
one
particular
initiative,
we're
also
embarking
on
a
lot
of
work
related
to
internet
access
of
another
aspect
that
determines
whether
or
not
residents
can
be
economically
mobile.
So
Chelsea
is
by
far
some
of
the
worst
internet
access
in
the
region.
B
Almost
30
percent
of
our
residents
lack
access
to
Reliable
high-speed
internet
up
10
of
them.
Don't
have
it
whatsoever
in
Chelsea.
We
have
a
single
carrier
Comcast
and
because
they
have
a
monopoly
on
the
general
Network.
There's
a
lot
of
delays,
Services
lag
and
the
pricing
is
a
little
bit
higher
than
it
is
in
surrounding
communities.
B
So
last
year,
with
the
support
of
the
mass
Broadband
Institute
completed
a
digital
Equity
study
that
looked
at
different
impediments
to
digital
access
and
improvements
that
the
city
could
undertake
in
conjunction
with
the
private
sector
and
Community
Partners,
so
coming
out
of
that
plan,
one
of
the
major
recommendations
is
to
explore
the
establishment
of
a
public
internet
option.
So
this
could
function
similar
to
how
our
water
and
sewer
system
functions
by
providing
low-cost,
highly
reliable,
high-speed
internet
for
residents.
It's
a.
A
B
B
Switching
over
to
the
child
care
space,
which
is
another
kind
of
component
of
social
infrastructure
that
we
see
as
important
economic
Mobility.
We
hear
all
the
time
about
the
child
care
shortage,
that
a
lack
of
affordable
child
care
means
residents
can't
rejoin
the
labor
force.
Folks
are
paying
20
30
000
a
year
to
have
their
kids
go
to
child
care
and
the
quality
of
the
programming.
Honestly,
isn't
that
great?
B
So
under
the
leadership
of
Omar
and
our
team,
you
know
we're
seeking
to
address
the
capacity
issues
in
the
local
Child
Care
sector
by
increasing
the
number
of
family-based
and
center-based
Child
Care
Centers.
We're
also
looking
to
expand
existing
centers,
where
expansion
is
feasible
through
a
combination
of
Hands-On
technical
assistance,
financing
and
access
to
state
grants,
plus
the
affordability.
B
Similar
to
child
care,
which
is
experiencing
a
lot
of
Workforce
pressures
across
the
city,
you
know
employers
are
struggling
to
fill
existing
positions.
Our
unemployment
rate
right
now
hovers
around
4
percent,
which
is
about
average
when
compared
to
the
state,
with
that
said,
there's
a
significant
share
of
extremely
vulnerable
lowering
residents
that
still
can't
access
work,
as
well
as
older
residents
that
are
seniors
that
were
employed
before
the
pandemic
and
now
coming
on.
The
pandemic
can't
reobtain
employment.
So
our
Workforce
Development
program
consists
of
multiple
adult
basic
education,
job
training
and
job
placement
initiatives.
B
This
includes
a
focus
on
English
as
a
second
language
programming,
as
well
as
adult
basic
education
that
teaches
things
like
computer
skills
and
the
soft
skills.
You
need
to
go
into
a
job
interview
on
Workforce
training.
We
look
to
continue
our
support
for
youth
employment
in
partnership
with
mass
hire
and
the
collaborative
while
with
adults
we
seek
to
help
folks
return
to
the
workforce
quicker
through
the
rapid
re-employment
program,
which
allows
residents
to
access
jobs
as
quickly
as
possible
to
get
back
on
their
feet
and
in
longer
term.
B
We
are
rolling
out
a
series
of
new
Workforce
training
programs
this
year
spanning
the
construction
trades,
digital
technology,
Transportation
child
care,
as
well
as
a
green
jobs
program
that
we're
aiming
to
do
in
partnership
with
the
Benjamin
Franklin
Institute
of
Technology
combined.
These
training
programs
are
designed
to
offer
residents
that
may
not
see
College
as
a
traditional
pathway.
Another
alternative
that
they
can
then
go
through
and
come
out
with
a
living
wage
job
that
they
can
support
their
families
within
remain
in
Chelsea.
So.
A
B
A
B
B
So
I'm
going
to
switch
over
now
to
kind
of
what
new
term
is
traditional,
Economic
Development,
which
is
the
attraction
of
businesses
to
Chelsea
and
the
development
of
our
commercial
and
Industrial
base.
The
city
strives
to
leverage
our
existing
assets,
our
geography,
our
location,
our
transportation
infrastructure,
as
well
as
our
existing
land
uses
in
order
to
boost
job
opportunity,
communities
for
residents
and
maximize
our
tax
nice.
B
Moreover,
coming
out
of
the
pandemic,
we're
seeking
to
diversify
that
tax
base,
I
think
one
thing
that
the
pandemic
taught
a
lot
in
communities
was
that
over
relying
on
any
one
particular
industry,
as
your
Economic
Development
strategy
means
that
you
can't
weather
storms,
you
can't
weather
shops
and
you
ultimately
aren't
as
resilient
as
as
you
should
be.
So
as
we
head
into
2023,
you
know
we're
seeking
to
attract
new
businesses
that
rely
on
Logan
airport
and
that
are
able
to
take
advantage
of
our
commercial.
A
B
Industrial
tax
base
across
the
region
right
now,
a
lot
of
the
old
industrial
property
and
commercial
property
is
being
converted
to
residential
uses,
so
Chelsea
hasn't
quite
deliberately
preserved
our
Industrial
and
Commercial
miss
when
you
look
at
places
like
Everett
and
Revere
you'll
notice,
new
apartment
buildings
going
up
which
will
provide
crucial
and
unit
housing.
But
with
that
said,
that's
one
last
location
that
a
business
can
locate
in
order
to
operate
and
employ
residence.
So.
B
Lot
of
are
now
increasingly
attracted
to
Chelsea
we're
looking
to
move
as
many
possible
here
that
provide
access
to
living
wage
jobs,
particularly
businesses
in
the
food
distribution
manufacturing
biomanufacturing
spaces.
In
a
couple
of
minutes,
I'll
talk
through
some
of
the
new
projects
that
we're
doing
with
some
of
those
businesses
as
a
few
examples,
but
a
lot
of
this
work
is
centered
too,
on
attracting
outside
resources,
so
because
of
the
high
value
of
land
and
construction
costs,
it's
continuously
increasing.
B
B
Larger
businesses
that
we
do
work
with,
we
deliberately
set
out
local
hiring
programs
with
those
include
preferences
for
Chelsea,
high
school
graduates,
preferences
for
local
residents
and
other
ways
to
prioritize
employment
for
residents
that
you
know
more
and
greatest
and
continue
to
live
here.
And
lastly,
I
mentioned
this
kind
of
at
the
beginning.
But
a
lot
of
the
efforts
here
to
while
driven
by
a
desire
to
grow
jobs,
are.
B
B
Part
of
our
Economic
Development
agenda
for
2023
we're
overseeing
an
array
of
smaller
and
larger
development
projects,
predominantly
centered
on
like
Industrial
and
Commercial
businesses.
So
a
Hallmark
of
this
agenda
is
the
22
Willow
project
that
many
of
you
are
familiar
with
the
old
Nancy
sales
building.
More
recently,
this
building
was
demolished
with
construction
slated
to
commence
in
May
on
a
new
120
000
square
foot,
light
industrial
facility.
B
This
facility
will
be
designed
using
sustainable
design
principles
with
solar,
a
light
roof
to
mitigate
Urban
heat
on-site,
storm
water
infrastructure,
to
reduce
flooding
and
a
host
of
job
opportunities
for
residents
upon
completion.
We
project
that
the
facility
will
employ
about
300
residents
in
living
wage
jobs
with
a
local
hiring
preference,
and
we
estimate
that
it'll
generate
about
eight
hundred
thousand
dollars
per
year
in
new
revenue
for
the
city.
That
can
then
be
reinvested
in
the
community
northward
up
Easter
Ave
at
295.
Eastern
is
a
similar
project
for
that
of
private
partner.
B
A
GFI
group
is
undertaking
in
conjunction
with
the
city,
so
at
this
location
on
the
waterfront,
the
Partnerships
proposing
a
hundred
thousand
square
foot
of
manufacturing
facility,
which
will
likely
be
anchored
by
three
different
tenants
and
ultimately
will
employ
around
300
to
320
votes
once
it's
operational,
but
in
addition
to
these
larger
projects,
the
Departments
also
spear
adding
a
number
of
smaller
initiatives.
So
quite
frequently
we
work
with
existing
businesses
that
are
looking
to
expand
or
pivot
to
new
spaces.
B
B
One
barrier
that
we
didn't
know
was
that,
because
they
are
a
Department
of
Defense
Contractor
out
there,
they
had
to
have
immigration
status
fully
sorted
out
and
had
to
be
able
to
pass
query
checks
and
I'll
talk
a
little
bit
about
that
in
a
second,
but
that
does
pose
barriers
for
some
residents.
So
we
try
to
address
that
through
a
series
of
other
projects,
but.
A
B
Also,
an
activity
to
grow
into
the
fiber
optics
and
so
over
the
next
year,
they're
planning
on
providing
another
40
to
50
employment
opportunities
with
that
on-site
training
for
folks
that
may
lack
the
experience
so
across
the
you
know,
Beach
and
Williams,
industrial
Corridor
and
the
Waterfront.
We
see
a
lot
of
opportunity
for
both
small
and
large
businesses,
both
businesses
that
have
been
there
long
term
who
want
to
evolved
as
well
as
businesses
that
are
coming
into
the
city
and
are
looking
for
well-connected
space
in
a
city.
That's
predictable!
B
To
do
this
in
the
Senate,
there
are
a
number
of
larger
projects
that
we're
continuing
to
pursue
that
are
a
bit
more
medium-term.
The
signature,
Bread's
property,
which
has
been
making
for
about
two
years
right
now,
is
one
of
the
Paramount
priorities.
This
space
two
floor,
Warehouse,
that
is
around
100
110
000
square
feet.
Originally
it
was
acquired,
but
for
about
52
million
dollars
two
years
ago
as
a
lab
facility.
B
Additionally,
we're
looking
at
the
future
of
many
of
the
surrounding
commercial
and
industrial
areas
through
things
like
the
West
Chelsea,
Economic
Development
study.
So
in
partnership
with
the
Chamber
of
Commerce,
this
plant
looks
at
the
area
around
Market
Basket,
as
well
as
the
area
situated
north
of
the
railroad
tracks.
Right
now,
there's
a
lot
of
service
parking,
there's
still
a
number
of
dilapidated,
smaller
warehouses
and
underutilized
land
through
the
planning
process.
B
We're
aiming
to
develop,
set
of
recommended
policies
that
could
Spur
new
development
at
these
locations,
as
well
as
the
blueprint
that
can
guide
new
housing,
commercial
and
Retail
development
of
a
rock
Market
Basket
and
the
surrounding
inference.
These
are
efforts
that
are
done
in
concert
with
a
lot
of
the
private
property
owners
of
the
district,
our
community-based
partners,
as
well
as
the
Chamber
of
Commerce.
So,
throughout
the
course
of
2023
we're
looking
forward
to
culminating
that
study
with
a
set
of
recommended
policies
and
projects
that
will
then
carry
forward
into
a
year
ahead.
B
So
the
last
item
I'll
touch
on
tonight
is
the
Small
Business
Development
Area
concentration,
that's
held
by
Omar
and
our
team.
So
over
the
course
of
the
last
year,
through
the
community
planning
process,
the
city
set
aside
funding
for
the
creation
of
a
dedicated,
Small
Business
Development
specialist.
So
this
was
the
first
time
the
city
has
had
a
dedicated
resource
that
provides
Central
Access
to
navigational
support
and
accessing
permits
and
different
city
resources
as
well.
B
Access
estate
grants
and
other
opportunities
that
are
pivotal
to
doing
business
in
the
community.
Additionally,
we've
enrolled
we've
enriched
our
partnership
with
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
under
Jet's
leadership,
and
have
begun
building
out
a
different
set
of
programs
for
engaging
businesses
and
increasing
capacity
at
the
chamber
to
ensure
that
we
can
continue
to
attract
and
build
our
local
economy.
B
Additionally.
The
city,
oversees
of
Small
Business
technical
assistance
program
that
provides
business,
counseling
assistance
with
marketing
web
development,
graphic
design
and
we're
also
operating
a
number
of
different
financing
programs
for
businesses,
small
and
large.
So
this
includes
a
micro
financing
program
for
small
businesses
that
have
less
than
five
employees,
as
well
as
more
traditional
lending
programs
that
can
assist
new
businesses,
as
well
as
existing
businesses
with
Capital
Improvements
and
operating
expenses
on
the
child
care
side.
B
B
That
Omar,
you
know
particularly
focuses
that
on
is
the
adaptability
of
our
office,
particularly
just
small
business
needs.
So
if
there
are
anything
that
we
can
do
to
be
supportive
of
the
small
business
Community
or
if
it's
a
project
or
a
program
that
would
help
your
business,
please
definitely
let
us
know,
and
you
know
to
the
best
of
our
ability,
we'll
try
to
incorporate
that
and
pivot
in
order
to
support
you.
So
with
that
happy
to
open
it
up
for
questions
or
talk
further
about
any
of
these
efforts
that
might
be
of
interest.
A
D
He
was
talking
about
how
there's
not
enough
lab
space
in
the
Cambridge
is
actually
kind
of
putting
a
moratorium
in
like
residential
spaces
being
converted
to
lab
space,
because
there's
just
such
a
hunger
for
it
and
we're
like
right
on
the
outskirts
of
town.
So
why
is
lab
space
you
mentioned
actually
pivoting
away
from
it
at
one
of
the
projects?
Why
is
that
happening?.
B
Yeah,
so
we
do
have
one
lab
project,
that's
underway
right
now,
situated
at
211
average
Ave.
So
this
was
a
project
that
was
conceived
about
two
years
ago.
That
will
be
a
research
and
development
lab
with
educational
partnership
with
Chelsea
Public
Schools.
Needless
to
say
about
you
know,
five
six
years
ago,
a
lot
of
the
lab
that
you
would
see
going
up
in
Cambridge
128
was
built
on
spec.
So
a.
B
Were
pouring
resources
into
it
and
building
these
facilities
before
they
had
tenants
lined
up
what
we've
seen
over
the
last
two
years
in
the
stock
market
is
that
many
biotech
companies
small
at
large
have
really
taken
a
hit,
so
they
don't
have
money
now
to
invest
in
buildings,
expanding
or
new
facilities.
So
the
development
Community
is
being
more
conservative,
they're
no
longer
building
on
spec.
They
want
to
have
a
tenant
lined
up
before
they
build
and
a
lot
of
the
tenants
just
saw
their
stock
price
plotted.
B
You
know
50
60,
so
they
don't
really
have
the
resources
either
to
to
invest
in
property.
So
it's
not
coming
to
a
screeching
halt
by
any
means,
but
it
definitely
is
slowing
down.
I
think
we're
situated
well
with
the
silver
line
here
to
continue,
fostering
some
biotech
god-related
uses,
but
for
from
sort
of
the
lens
of
sustainability.
I.
Think
it's
important
from
the
city's
vantage
point
to
diversify.
B
B
Situated
on
on
Bale
Street
right
now,
we're
looking
to
grow
That
Base
as
well,
both
contract
manufacturers
and
direct
manufacturers,
primarily
because
those
jobs
are
a
little
bit
more
accessible
for
residents.
They
don't
require
a
college
degree
in
real
life,
so
it's
yeah
I'll
come
into
a
screeching
haul,
but
but
definitely
slowing.
B
A
Our
city
councilor
we're
truly
grateful
for
all
the
support
that
we
have
today.
We
have
the
CBC
here
with
us,
he's
Cambridge
Savings
and
the
boys
and
girls
club.
So,
as
we
mentioned,
this
is
a
community
outreach.
We
appreciate
everyone's
support
being
here
and
we
look
forward
to
seeing
everyone,
hopefully
again
next
month.
Thank
you
very
much.