Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and University of Massachusetts Chancellor Robert C. Holub signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" to mark a new partnership between UMass and the Greater Springfield area.
The partnership, which was announced on November 7th in downtown Springfield, intends to boost Springfield's economy by forming environmentally friendly industries, supporting the city's arts economy and expanding UMass' involvement with "relevant teaching and outreach initiatives," according to a statement from Springfield City Hall.
Specifically, UMass will be contributing research on energy conservation, Green fuels production and other University developments in conjunction with the city's existing industrial center.
This will include an "assessment of research programs at UMass that can be dedicated to creating jobs in green technology and clean, renewable energy with the long-term goal of making the city a center for green industries," the statement said.
Mayor Sarno spoke of the advantages of partnering up with an institution like UMass.
"Bringing [UMass] in on research and development … means that you're going to have to create a plug," said Sarno. "And when you're creating a plug, that means that you're going to be creating jobs, and that's what drives the economy. There's a phenomena going on right now in the nation: empty-nesters and baby-boomers are downsizing, and they like to go to urban centers, urban areas that are clean and safe."
The University's contributions will not stop at green technology; an evaluation will also be made of the city's and UMass' ability to support "the creative economy driven by performance arts" in downtown Springfield, the statement said.
Besides promoting a green, economically healthy city, the partnership intends to create progress in Springfield's workforce development, public health and education.
"We view this as a collaboration that will benefit all concerned," said UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski. "Broadening our efforts may help us, for example, build new connections to recruit students and potentially identify ways to help translate research into products and jobs. Such success would help us fulfill our land-grant mission to serve the citizens of the commonwealth."
Funds supporting the partnership total more than $320,000, with funds from Springfield, UMass and a $150,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
"Such grant applications are competitive, and the University and city made a convincing case that such a project holds the potential to yield notable results in revitalizing Springfield," said Blaguszewski.
"By combining the efforts of the University faculty with the time-tested ingenuity of the people of this great city, we … celebrate the possibilities of this partnership and the opportunity to harness the creation of new knowledge and bring it to our global society for the betterment of all," said Chancellor Holub in his closing remarks concerning the partnership.
Kimya Hedasyat-Zadeh can be reached at mhedayat@student.umass.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!