Hyannis The Focus Of New MassDevelopment Economic Growth Program
October 6, 2022 : Patch, by Montana Samuels
BARNSTABLE, MA — MassDevelopment recently announced a cohort of 13 Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Fellows who will work for three years in newly selected TDI districts in Attleboro, Barnstable (Hyannis), Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Revere, Springfield, Taunton, and Worcester.
TDI Fellows are MassDevelopment employees who provide on-the-ground economic development expertise and collaborative leadership in cities and help TDI partnerships "utilize an arrangement of tools to catalyze development, such as technical assistance, grants to support local market development, arts and cultural infrastructure, collaborative workshops, placemaking, and more," a news release said.
"MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) takes a street-level approach to accelerating economic growth in Gateway Cities," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment's Board of Directors.
"The Baker-Polito Administration is glad to see the agency expand this program to 13 cities and bring on an impressive cohort of economic development professionals who will help advance former industrial neighborhoods across the Commonwealth."
In February 2022, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an expansion of TDI, a MassDevelopment program for Gateway Cities designed to accelerate economic growth within focused districts. The expansion more than doubled the size of the program and represents a $23.7 million investment in Gateway Cities over three years.
“This cohort of TDI Fellows is our largest yet; they’re a skilled and talented team of economic, community and planning development professionals who will be hard at work in their respective districts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera.
“The Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing investment in Gateway Cities led by Secretary Kennealy reflects the success of the TDI program and graduated districts across the state, which could not have been possible without the collaborative work of residents, business owners, municipal leaders, and nonprofit partners.”
TDI concentrates economic development activities, resources, and investments within designated neighborhood areas, known as “TDI districts,” for a term of three or more years. TDI districts are downtowns and commercial districts within Gateway Cities, where a targeted focus of place-based economic development leads to positive change over time.
MassDevelopment has previously designated 16 TDI districts across the Commonwealth, including in cities not in the current cohort, such as Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Fitchburg, Haverhill, and Peabody.
Josilane "Josie" Santos is the TDI Fellow chosen for Hyannis.
Here's what MassDelvelopment said about her:
"[Santos] is a socially engaged consultant with more than 15 years of experience across both business and nonprofit sectors. She has experience in local and international projects, consulting operations management, strategic social management, human resources management, triple bottom line, urbanization projects, and development.
Josie has worked with the Massachusetts Area Planning Commission as an independent consultant focused on the development of the Lynn Local Rapid Recovery Program, and also designed special projects with Lynn Main Streets to expand relationships with local agencies and small businesses.
She is a strong advocate for cross-cultural communications and social-economic development projects. Josie studied international business management at Sao Marcos University in Brazil and holds a master’s degree in sustainable international development from Brandeis University."
