Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | Fact Book 2017 | wbjournal.com G r e a t e r W o r c e s t e r R E G I O N S T imothy Murray still faces the same perception of his home city as he did when he was Worcester mayor from 2002 to 2007. Worcester's made strides building a neighborhood downtown and creat- ing a cluster of life science jobs, but BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor An emerging innovation hub Greater Worcester is shedding its old reputation and becoming a new center for the growing Massachusetts economy many might just remember the city for the old Worcester Galleria mall. "It's eroding," said Murray of the old perception. After serving as lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2013, Murray is now the president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. "I can't tell you how many people say this is a different city," he said. Easy access to decision makers Informed people, Murray said, know how critical Central Massachusetts is for the success of the state economical- ly. Greater Boston can't grow east, he said, and its western expansion has formed a corridor along the Massachusetts Turnpike of thriving companies and giving the metro region a safety valve to keep talented workers in the state. In any of his professional roles, Murray has been a cheerleader for Worcester and surrounding towns. The pitch was on display when the city and chamber combined to make a bid for Amazon's second headquarters: more than 30,000 college students, and inclu- sion on a top-10 emerging tech startup hubs early this year by the publication TechNet and the Progressive Policy Institute. The area doesn't take growth for granted, Murray said. A business can easily get ideas to the right decision- makers, like town managers or planners. "They're hungry," Murray said of those who can help businesses grow in the area. "They see the value of grow- ing the economic pie." Downtown Worcester has been the focus of much of the city's revitalization with commercial redevelopments like the Mercantile Center (tall building in the center) and mixed-use projects like the 340- unit development at 145 Front St. Continued on Page 6

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