Worcester Business Journal

18 Worcester Business Journal | October 2, 2023 | wbjournal.com F O C U S BANKING & FINANCE Friday, October 13, 2023 Mechanics Hall 321 Main Street | Worcester 7:30AM- 1:30PM RAIL RAIL C O N N E C T I N G O U R E C O N O M Y Presenting Sponsor: Featuring a fireside chat with Congressmen James McGovern and Richard Neal. Register Today! Join us for this half day event where you will learn about the future of the East/West rail, freight rail growth, and the environmental benefits of rail utilization. Expand your professional network, and engage in thought provoking sessions and discussions. Our event agenda is composed of experts in the industry and public policy leaders who are excited to share their thoughts and insights about how passenger and freight rail keeps us competitive both at home and on the global stage. Andy Koziol, Director of Rail & Transit, MassDOT Steve Cotrone, President, Intransit Container Inc. Maurice O'Connell, Regional VP at CSX Transportation Session 1: Freight Rail- Jobs & Logistics in a fast-moving economy with: Jeff Gonville, Assistant GM MBTA Mike Muller, CEO, MBTA Session 2: Strengthening the link between New England's' two largest cities-Further improvement & expansion of commuter rail with: Panelists and workshops subject to change normally burden all the costs without public assistance," Jacobs said in an email to WBJ. Worcester's inclusionary zoning policy might also run afoul of the Mas- sachusetts Executive Office of Hous- ing and Livable Communities MBTA Communities guidelines, intended to increase housing production in areas of the state served by the MBTA. Dunn will have to prove to the EOHLC the inclusionary zoning ordinance does not prevent housing from being built. e City can adapt the inclusionary zoning policy as needed, Dunn said. "We want to continue to evaluate and adapt to market conditions because what might be something that the market could withstand in 2022, might not be what the market can withstand in 2024," said Dunn. Workforce diversity goals In 2019, the City Council approved a set of workforce diversity goals on construction projects for developers who receive a TIF or TIE. ese goals are meant to encourage developers to hire Worcester residents, people or color, and women, as well as to use subcontractors located within 30 miles of the city. e Worcester Redevelopment Authority, which deals with developers who are giv- en public land for a project, has a similar policy called Responsible Employer and Inclusionary Participation Policy. e goals have been non-binding, but following two incidents, the city began to seek ways of enforcing the policies. In 2022, Milford general contractor Plumb House refused to submit person- nel information to the City to ensure compliance of the hiring goals. Also in 2022, joint venture of Gilbane Building. of Providence and Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis had to pay $1.9 million in fines because it provided false information about its workforce diversity Tax break diversity hiring goals For developments receiving tax-increment financing or tax-increment exemption deals from the City of Worcester, the city government asks for the construction firms to hit certain diversity hiring goals during construction. Firms & Worcester People subcontractors residents of color Women within 30 miles Project Developer General contractor (goal 50%) (goal 38%) (goal 10%) (goal 50%) The Cove* Churchill James, NEI General 26% 73% 0% 17% Worcester Contracting, Randolph (goal 25%) WuXi Biologics WuXi Biologics, The Cardinal China Group, Burlington 11% 33% 5% 53% Mission Chapel Traggorth Cos., Sustainable Comfort, 0% Boston Worcester 22% 32% (goal of 5%) 77% Doherty Memorial Fontaine-Dimeo, Fontaine-Dimeo 17% High School* Worcester Worcester (goal 25%) 28% 7% 22% Alta on the Row Wood Partners, Wood Partners, Atlanta Atlanta 10% 48% 3% 60% The Revington Madison WG Plumb House, Holdings, Boston Milford 11% 47% 2% 32% *Did not receive a TIF/TIE, but hiring goals were tracked because of City involvement in the project Note: Figures as of May Source: Worcester Executive Office of Economic Development Continued from previous page

• Cover