The city of New Bedford is ready to make technology a part of its economic future.
As a result, officials from the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) along with area companies have created an Information Technology Task Force to serve as a resource for local businesses.
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John R. Zakian, executive director of the NBEDC, said the task force, which was only developed a month ago, already has a firm set of both short-term and long-term goals.
“The short term is about trying to collect as much data and information as possible specific to issues that exist in today’s marketplace,” he said. “In the long-term we are going to work with the task force to establish a new component to the overall economic development strategy that will focus on access to and development of the Internet and high technology business development.”
The Task Force, which met for the first time earlier this month, already has more than 15 members, representing both large and medium size business, the telecommunications industry, and higher education.
“What we have found is that we have a nice mix at the table,” said Carl Ribeiro, chairperson of the task force and chief executive officer of Luzo Foodservice. “What we are trying to do is provide businesses with more connectivity to the Internet.”
Following the first meeting, Task Force participants agreed to move forward on two fronts, one looking at immediate problems, and the other to develop a long-term plan to be incorporated into the city and regional economic development strategy. Zakian said the short-term plan is expected to take only six months, while there is no real time frame for the long-term plan.
“When it comes to the short term, we want to hit the ground running,” he said.
Zakian said while the sub group seeking to identify and address the immediate issues is important, the potential benefit to the region is even more exciting because it offers the city a chance to remain current on the economic growth wave involving Internet use and access.
“From a corporations standpoint we have made this a priority,” he said. “I think the Task Force clearly sees the value in creating Internet support for both the traditional brick and mortar businesses as well as the new technology companies.”
Dr. Ely Dory, director of the Institute of Technology Management at Bridgewater State College who also serves as chairman of the long-term strategy sub group of the task force, said future planning equals establishing an infrastructure.
“Our position is any given commercial business that wants to be located in the greater New Bedford area should have the telecommunications and information system backbone,” he said. “These things should be fundamental, just like we offer people telephone service and traffic lights. We live in a world of technology, supply chain management and globalization. It’s ridiculous that a metro area like New Bedford wouldn’t offer these services.”
Dory said though the first step has been taken in establishing the task force, the hardest part is figuring out how to get the end result, and figuring it out together.
“Everyone is interested in building this infrastructure, but we don’t yet know how to do it,” he said. “All of us have the responsibility to build this backbone. From our point of view we aren’t competing with each other, but instead we are cooperating with each other to build.”
Zakian stressed the new infrastructure isn’t designed to change the economics of New Bedford, but instead is designed to add diversity.
“I don’t subscribe to making New Bedford another Silicon Valley, but I do see the value in seeking to attract high-tech firms to the area,” he said. “It’s not an end-all solution to creating new jobs, but this can become a valuable component of an overall strategy.”
And though there have been no financial figures attached to the project, Dory said there is an understanding from local businesses that there are financial ramifications.
“We are expecting this to come with a high price tag,” he said. “But we are working with smart and competent business partners that know it’s going to take an investment. We believe the payoff will be incredible — not just for business but for the entire region.”
What makes task force members so confident is that they are leading the way in terms of this kind of development. According to Dory, New Bedford is the first city in Massachusetts to embark on this type of planning.
“We aren’t afraid of the challenge,” he said. “As far as we are concerned, we are going to be a flagship for Massachusetts and become a critical player in international commerce. We see our future there and we know what we have to do to get there.”
