Manufacturing recovery : a networked approach to green job creation in Massachusetts Gateway cities

In this thesis, I compare workforce development planning in Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts, two of the state's older industrial "Gateway" cities. I specifically examine local planning processes around job creation in the clean technology (clean tech) sector. Contradicting the notion of the cities as "urban twins," I find that Lawrence's original physical and social design led to a pattern of economic disinvestment and a deficit of municipal planning capacity compared to Lowell. Today, Lawrence experiences the resulting disadvantage when it competes with Lowell for clean tech economic development funds. I argue that state and federal policymakers should recognize critical differences that exist among even the seemingly most similar communities and implement strong, place-based programs so that investments in green workforce development do not perpetuate the historic inequities that cities such as Lawrence face. I conclude by proposing a networked planning strategy that, with stimulus from the state and federal governments, could help Lawrence and Lowell to leverage more effectively and collaboratively their respective assets in support of a regional green economy.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Leavy-Sperounis, Marianna (Marianna Breakstone)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lorlene Hoyt.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59753

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/59753