Worcester Business Journal

20 Worcester Business Journal • January 5, 2015 www.wbjournal.com A n executive with JetBlue struck a positive tone last month before the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce when she said the airline is committed to flying out of Worcester. Joanna Geraghty, vice president for customer experience, also suggested that Worcester Regional Airport would benefit from having more carriers. That would lead to more traffic. Is there potential for more? About two-thirds of voters in our poll for the week of Dec. 9 said yes. How much more annual passenger traffic (beyond 100,000) do you think Worcester Regional Airport will generate over the next three years? Voters say Worcester Airport traffic will grow Over 25 years of providing Integrated Marketing that works. The PENTA Building | 208 Turnpike Road | Westborough, MA 01581 | USA 508.616.9900 | www.pentamarketing.com COMMENTS: Join the WBJ's LinkedIn discussion group by scanning the code to the left on your smartphone. To scan the code, you need the NeoReader. Visit get.neoreader.com to download it onto your phone. Want to participate in the conversation? W orcester, Framingham, Fitchburg, Webster and Sturbridge recently narrowed the gap between the property tax rates assessed on homes and businesses to help make their communities friendlier to businesses that want to grow or move in from elsewhere. Are property taxes important to business growth? An overwhelming majority of voters in our poll for the week of Dec. 16 said yes. How important are property taxes when it comes to weighing all the factors on whether and where to expand your business? Property taxes important? Absolutely! COMMENTS: Critical 30% F L A S H P O L L T A L K B A C K Double 38% "I have lived near the airport for over 30 years and Worcester just can't seem to keep any airline for long." Very important 40% "Traffic will only increase if the necessary improvements are made to the airport. Without the improvements, Worcester may lose Jet Blue eventually." "The main issue of better access is still the main deterrent to growth and ridership. The recent interest in commuter rail between Worcester and Providence would be enhanced by a direct rail connection between Union Station and Worcester Airport." "In choosing … expansion in the future, property tax costs will make or break the decision to stay in the city. Right now it looks like the businesses get the (brunt) of the tax burden." Somewhat important 16% Not important 14% Triple 21% More than triple 8% The same 19% Traffic will fall 14% "Property taxes are but one point to be considered when operating a business. The right location, infrastructure in the area, cost of utilities and ease of transportation for your employees and shoppers are likely more important factors." WHAT LIES AHEAD IN NEW YEAR? While we were putting together our annual Economic Forecast issue (Dec. 22), we asked members of our LinkedIn group if they had any predictions for 2015 for the Central Massachusetts business community: "We have brought on four new hires in the past four months and I expect that to continue into 2015." LinkedIn group member Jim Pond "Unibank continues to hire and expects to continue to do so." LinkedIn group member Deborah Larsen (of Unibank for Savings) "I see a 'flat' economy, greater stress on food pantries and shelters … and increased crime and desperation on the part of many slipping beneath the waters of (a) lack of economic vision." LinkedIn group member Matt LaBarre

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