job creation

recovery & revitalization...

Our severe economic downturn has hit most families extremely hard.  Job losses that created reduced consumer sales, income freezes or reductions, investment losses, and increased costs, have put tremendous pressure on individuals, families and businesses. We need to make our economic recovery and economic growth our first priority.

We have a hardworking, educated, and talented workforce ready and eager to staff opportunities.

We need to accelerate innovation and work on regional economic development.  

We need to insure that we have a competitive infrastructure to attract and support this region's growth. Fiber optics, water, sewer and transportation must be a strategic priority for our region in order to compete for growth opportunities.

We, also, have unique growth opportunities in health services, farming, innovation alternative energy technology, downtown retail, social services, manufacturing, education and tourism.

We need to insure that our region gets our fair share of monies available from state and federal programs. I will work with the Western Massachusetts Legislative team and other key area leaders to insure our area receives critical investment money from our state and federal programs.

I am interested in meeting regularly with the existing business owners in this area to understand what they need to grow their businesses.

Together, we must invest, support and grow existing businesses while recruiting new businesses and services to our region.  I have over 25 years of experience in manufacturing and business and will bring that experience when working on regional economic development.

youth engagement...

We need to increase the youth's employment training and their economic opportunities. Growing up in this area, I benefited greatly from tremendous work opportunities as a youth. Working at Moore’s Apple Farm in Orange, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Camps in South Athol, The Enterprise and Journal also in Orange, Westvaco in Greenfield and falling in love with manufacturing at the Erving Paper Mill prepared me for life and work. These opportunities provided me and many others with valuable skills, confidence, healthy work ethics, hope and financial means. Together, we need to insure that our youth of today have equal or better opportunities to engage in experiences like these that shape one's character, values and future. I will continue to mentor and support youth and to partner with youth organizations in order to engage in opportunities that will build our communities and to help young people to achieve their dreams and potential.