Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 1, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 13 G O V E R N M E N T P O W E R 5 0 Residence: Gardner College: UMass Amherst, Suffolk University Law School in Boston Gardner, aka Chair City, was one of the many Massachusetts municipalities hit hard by manufacturing moving out of the state and the country. During the tenure of the state's youngest mayor and Gardner's first Latino elected official, Nicholson is seeing signs of recovery as new businesses open and the neglected downtown is revived. In 2022, the city saw 33 businesses either open or expand, with seven opening in 2023 so far. Downtown Gardner has seen multiple properties purchased for redevelopment, and the City in February made five vacant government-owned properties available to developers for purchase. The latest effort came in March when The Garbose Building on Parker Street was acquired for $500,000 by Candor Realty of Lowell, which plans on renovating the building to create 18 market-rate one- bedroom and studio apartments and retaining the ground-floor retail space. As more people seek to relocate from more expensive areas and find Gardner, Nicholson is leading the effort to make the city a permanent home for them with tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades, including pedestrian amenities, bike trails, lighting, and roadways. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "Never let anyone tell you to wait your turn, you're too young, that things can only be done the way they've been done before, or that the fear of failure outweighs the potential benefits or lessons you learn along the way. You've been selected for your role for a reason, so show them." n Believing in oneself: Nicholson keeps a box of pacifiers in his office originally left for him on his first day as Rutland town administrator, along with a note saying, "Something for when you realize it's time to let the adults do the job." It reminds him to believe in himself regardless of what critics say. n World traveler: Nicholson has been to 16 countries, and his favorite way to travel is by cruise ship. IVETTE OLMEDA SENIOR FELLOW, TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (TDI) MASSDEVELOPMENT, IN WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico, Clark University in Worcester While eyes were on Worcester's Canal District and Polar Park, from 2019 to 2022 Olmeda was busy in the city's Main South neighborhood where she served as a TDI fellow for MassDevelopment, directing funding and helping to provide services to local small businesses. She founded the Main South Business Association and handed it off to the group's leadership. The TDI program helps with economic development in disenfranchised commercial districts in Massachusetts' Gateway Cities. After the Main South TDI district graduated from the program, Olmeda was appointed to help another Worcester neighborhood along Pleasant Street in the vicinity of Piedmont Street. She is bringing the neighborhood together and providing funding for businesses. She will oversee grants of $2,000-$5,000 to minority- and woman-owned businesses to support operating expenses, new signage, and fresh paint. Olmeda migrated to Worcester from Puerto Rico 35 years ago and uses her experience, empathy, and knowledge to help others in Worcester neighborhoods that are too often overlooked. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "We have the opportunity to break barriers and be connectors for the community. Businesses are uniquely positioned to use their power as a community resource to build relationships, create trust, and engage vulnerable populations. We can restore community connections, uplift leaders, and build pathways through relationship building and resource sharing." n Dancing queen: "I love to dance and secretly hoped one day to participate in a local 'Dancing with the Stars'-type event. Dancing really helps me to reduce stress and takes me to another world where I'm so relaxed I feel like I'm among the clouds." MICHAEL NICHOLSON MAYOR CITY OF GARDNER

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