Tugbiyele: Bold vision needed to bridge Lowell forward

By BOBBY TUGBIYELE | Lowell Sun

History has shown us that bold ideas have a great potential to move communities forward. As we near the 30th anniversary of the controversial local ballot measure narrowly supporting the construction of the Tsongas Arena, we are reminded of how a bold idea played a critical role in the economic revival of an entire city. I believe that having a bold vision for recovery during challenging social and economic times can serve as a source of inspiration and hope for all. And so, as I think about our present and future, we have to be bold when addressing downtown revitalization, expanding commercial development, training and developing our workforce, public health infrastructure, and affordable housing and homeownership.

By enhancing incentives and subsidies to attract entrepreneurs, vacant storefronts can be occupied by tenants who will help breathe new life, foot-traffic, and pride into our downtown. This approach can create an environment where entrepreneurship and small businesses flourish, leading to an increased vibrancy that invites more local shopping and dining. Geographically and culturally, Lowell can be an attractive destination for various industries. As we expand commercial development, let’s ensure we create fair partnerships and agreements that align with a company’s revenue goals as well as the broader welfare of the city. Let’s develop a stronger corporate social responsibility relationship where companies, residents, and neighborhoods can all benefit.

The future of work in Lowell and how we best prepare our workforce to be competitive comes to my mind. Investing in on-the-job (OJT) training, high demand industry certifications, and recruiting new employer partners are essential. As Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Workforce Association, I am committed to the success of our local MassHire and our region’s workforce development initiatives. Lowell’s proximity to major healthcare organizations, as an example, provides ripe opportunities to address workforce shortages by educating, training, and providing affordable housing to the next generation of community-based Primary Care Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Mental Health providers and more. UMass Lowell’s advanced robotics program is a great opportunity for our city. Let’s ensure we are best positioned to attract future workers so that they see Lowell as a city to develop their careers and start or raise a family. I envision a Lowell where more teachers are home-grown and are compensated competitively. Let’s strategize with our local educational, childcare, and banking institutions to develop incentives and products to attract and retain these professionals to put down roots in Lowell.

The pandemic revealed the need to recommit efforts to address public health gaps and risks across various communities and neighborhoods in the city. Lowell’s recovery should leverage local and state-wide data to prioritize the health and wellness of all residents, especially those who were disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. Like potholes, our public health infrastructure should also be addressed. I encourage residents to contact their State Representative and Senator to move on the passage of the Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Every Community Act (SAPHE 2.0) to create a 21st-century system that can meet the public health challenges of today and tomorrow.

Housing is healthcare and affordable homeownership creates generational wealth. Our workforce and talent pipeline cannot grow without available, diverse housing options. Rising rent prices are symptomatic of the growing shortage of housing options. This is causing more families to be rent-burdened, spending 30 percent or more of their household income on housing. We must continue to prioritize the creation of affordable and accessible housing units to alleviate the pressure on these families as well as seniors on fixed incomes. The city has allocated $4 million from ARPA funds towards generational wealth and affordable housing initiatives. The city has also declared that Homelessness is a Public Health Crisis. I believe we should be bolder and consider leveraging additional ARPA funding to combat these crises. Let’s work together to better align resources and strengthen partnerships with policymakers regionally, statewide, and federally as well as with community-based organizations already working to address the housing crisis.