By Matt Murphy, mmurphy@lowellsun.com
CAMBRIDGE -- Lowell's Hamilton Canal District is on the short list of areas to be targeted by Gov. Deval Patrick for economic development, a designation that could put the weight of the state behind recruiting businesses to the city.
Patrick, in his much-hyped speech on the state of the Massachusetts economy yesterday, said he plans to create 16 "regional growth districts" that would function like the former Fort Devens with streamlined state permitting that the state would market to potential new companies.
The administration has already announced zones in Worcester and Haverhill as the first two growth districts, but administration sources told The Sun that Lowell's Hamilton Canal District, a revitalization project in the downtown area between Jackson, Appleton and Middlesex streets, is likely to be included in the governor's plan.
"I foresee the Hamilton Canal District, with its 15 acres and all its commercial potential, being a great candidate," said George Ramirez, general counsel in the Executive Office of Economic Development and a former Lowell city councilor.
The governor's office would only say that Lowell is a "likely candidate."
Businesses looking to locate in growth districts would be put on the fast track for state environmental and building permits, and the state would help cities and towns expedite the local permitting process to lure businesses and jobs.
As it does with Devens, state agencies would also assist with marketing and help to steer companies interested in locating in Massachusetts to one of the 16 districts.
"That would be huge for us if we can get that designation," said City Manager Bernie Lynch, adding that officials plan to start moving full-steam ahead on the Hamilton Canal District by the end of the summer.
An announcement on the district is expected to come within the next 30 days, Ramirez said.
"It really is about time to take that Devens concept and replicate it throughout the state, because it works," said Robert Halpin, executive director of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council.
The state has been successful in luring many business to Devens, including Bristol-Myers Squibb and Evergreen Solar, with projects that created thousands of new jobs.
Patrick, delivering his speech on the campus of MIT, sought to ease fears over the downturn in the national economy, remarking several times that he senses the public's "anxiety."
"People are anxious and we need to pay attention to that," Patrick said.
"State government has its limitations, but it has its responsibilities as well," he added.
To that end, the governor said he would file legislation requesting $3.8 billion in new borrowing to repair 411 deteriorating bridges in the commonwealth over the next eight years, a sped-up schedule that would put people to work immediately, creating 10,000 to 15,000 new construction jobs.
By taking on additional debt now, administration officials said they could jump-start the economy in the short term, and would lower the state's transportation bonding cap in future years to keep state debt under the current borrowing limits.
House Speaker Sal DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray and state Treasurer Tim Cahill have endorsed the plan.
"There would be 900 structurally deficient bridges by the end of my second term under the current schedule," Patrick said, drawing laughter from the audience with the suggestion that he plans to still be in office six years from now.
Two state-owned bridges in Lowell, including one over the Merrimack River and another over Interstate 495, are on the list for repairs, MassHighway spokesman Adam Hurtubise said. He could not immediately provide exact locations of the bridges.
Patrick painted an optimistic picture of the state's economy, arguing that despite job losses in retail, construction and manufacturing, the growth of the life-science, biomanufacturing and clean-energy industries have kept Massachusetts moving forward.
He pointed to companies like Evergreen Solar, which this week announced an expansion in the construction of its new Devens facility that would triple the company's work force in Massachusetts with 700 new jobs.
Unlike the past two national recessions that have hit Massachusetts harder than other states, the governor said the state is well-positioned to weather the storm, but not immune to slumping housing markets, foreclosures and job losses.
He said he plans to authorize the release of $20 million in local infrastructure grants and $18 million for work-force training programs over the net 90 days. The state will also loan $20 million to nonprofit developers to help buy and rehabilitate foreclosed properties in the state's largest cities.
Republicans jumped on the speech as an opportunity to criticize the governor's tax plan to be taken up by the Legislature tomorrow. The plan would raise revenue by hiking the cigarette tax by $1 and closing corporate tax loopholes to generate almost $300 million.
Patrick and DiMasi have both proposed an accompanying reduction in the corporate excise tax, but the speaker has offered a bigger tax break for mostly small businesses
This story appeared in the Lowell Sun on Thursday, April 10, 2008