Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1375174
wbjournal.com | May 24, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal S11 S P E C I A L S E C T I O N : W O R C E S T E R E M E R G I N G O V E R 2 5 Y E A R S . O F S H A P I N G T H E E X C E P T I O N A L Housing / Science & Technology / Healthcare / Industrial / Commercial 200 Ayer Road, Suite 200 . Harvard, MA 01451 . 978 456 2800 . M A U G E L . C O M 222 Brooks Street W O R C E S T E R , M A demic has certainly affected Synergy's commercial development plans, but it is really just a pause. "In a post-vaccination world when safety concerns have been addressed, we will see a significant return back to office. People need office. People need people," Greaney said. He continued to say Synergy has been able to build upon the great work and momentum created by the city govern- ment, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the business commu- nity in Worcester. "What we hope to do is to partner with the business community, to partner with the various agencies, and really try to attract new companies to the downtown Worcester market," Greaney said, "We need to also look outside the Worcester market and specifically into the Boston and Cambridge markets and say, 'Hey, put Worcester on your tour.'" Umphrey mimicked Greaney's opti- mism about the future of office space in downtown. "e pandemic has le a mark," he said, "but Worcester is a driving city." One of the factors companies coming to Worcester and those already within the city look for is a strong workforce to draw from. "Employers will go where employees will be happy to work," said Greaney. He said the factors making employees happy to work in Worcester are public safety, quality housing, arts and cultural scenes, and a dining scene. In turn, Worcester's growth and de- velopment as a city in recent years drew The Worcester Emerging panel of (clockwise from upper left) David Greaney, Grant Welker, Michael O'Brien, Rich Mazzocchi, James Umphrey, and Mark Nedelman. PHOTO | DEVINA BHALLA