Five Members of Congress, Local Planning Leaders to Reflect on New England Knowledge Corridor's Growing List of Transportation Assests

31 Aug 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 31, 2017

 

CONTACT

Pat Beaudry, (413) 210-4658 or pbeaudry@pvpc.org

 

FIVE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LOCAL PLANNING LEADERS TO REFLECT ON NEW ENGLAND KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR’S GROWING LIST OF TRANSPORTATION ASSETS IN NEWLY OPENED UNION STATION

Members of Business Community, Academia and Public At Large Encouraged to Attend  Corridor Partnership’s 2017 State of the Region Conference

It’s not every day that business and civic leaders have the opportunity to hear from members of Congress whose collective districts span from Massachusetts’ Vermont border to the Long Island Sound’s shores in Connecticut, but Wednesday morning, October 18th at the newly opened Union Station, they’ll have the opportunity to do just that.

The New England Knowledge Corridor (NEKC) - an interstate partnership of regional development, planning, business, tourism and educational institutions working together to advance the region’s economic progress - is once again convening their State of the Region Conference.

“What better place is there to convene our business, civic and governmental partners to discuss the constantly growing list of regional transportation assets than the newly renovated Union Station!,” said Pat Beaudry, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Manager of Public Affairs.

Following welcoming remarks from Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) Vice President & Economist Peter Gioia will present the findings of the 2017 NEKC Business Survey - an instructive report that allows NEKC to identify areas of challenge and opportunity in the coming year.

Gioia shared that, "this year's NEKC survey provides comprehensive statistical information on the economic and policy opinions of hundreds of area business leaders."

Massachusetts’ Congressmen Richard Neal (MA-1st) and Jim McGovern (MA-2nd) will be joined by Connecticut U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1st), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3rd), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5th) to reflect on the current policy and budgetary landscape in Washington and its potential impacts on the Corridor.

“Leveraging transportation investments is a major opportunity for the Knowledge Corridor to accelerate economic growth, “ said Lyle Wray, Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments.

A subsequent panel will discuss a number of developments in transportation locally - including Springfield’s Union Station, Bradley International Airport, as well as the potential for increased passenger rail options for NEKC residents.

The Conference will end with both state’s top transportation officials discussing the importance of interstate mobility and the work their respective departments are currently undertaking to ensure this seamless interstate regional economy continues to thrive in the coming years.

The event is free and open to the public, though they must register online.

A full program of the conference is available here.