Boston Mayor Walsh looking to create more innovation districts in the city

What's up in New England?  |  September 29, 2014

This originally appeared in Boston Business Journal

 

Boston may soon be floating in innovation districts.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced on Friday the formation of a “Neighborhood Innovation District Committee” with one purpose: to expand innovation within the city of Boston.

A news release states the Neighborhood Innovation District Committee "will seek to identify policies, practices, and infrastructure improvements to support the development of innovation districts throughout the city."

The first meeting will be Oct. 1 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Roxbury Community College, Media Arts Room 1 (Room 301) at 1234 Columbus Ave.

The Neighborhood Innovation District Committee will be chaired by John Barros, chief of economic development for the city of Boston, and Edward Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard University and director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston.

The members appointed to date include:

 

• Alec Stern, Founding Team and Vice President, Strategic Innovation, Constant Contact
• Alex Oliver-Davila, Executive Director, Sociedad Latina
• Bill Dickens, Professor of Economics, Northeastern University
• Byron Rushing, State Representative, Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Charlayne Murrell-Smith, Vice President, External Relations & Corporate Development, Boston Children’s Museum
• Chris Jones, Executive Director, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
• Michelle Wu, Councilor At-Large, Boston City Council
• Dan Isenberg, Professor of Entrepreneurship Practice, Babson College
• Darnell Williams, President & CEO, Urban League Rich Davey, Secretary of MassDOT
• Greg Bialecki, Secretary of Economic Development
• Harry Brett, Business Manager, Plumbers Local 12
• John Fitzgerald, Senior Project Manager, Boston Redevelopment Authority
• Joyce Ferriabough-Bolling, Media and Political Strategist, Joyce Ferriabough Media
• Keith Motley, Chancellor, UMASS Boston
• Mariama White-Hammond, Executive Director, Project HIP-HOP
• Mel King, Founder & Director, South End Technology Center
• Nicole Fichera, General Manager, District Hall / Venture Café Foundation
• Pat Kinsel, Venture Partner, Polaris Partners
• Ryn Miake-Lye, Co-Founder, Build From Scratch To Last
• Scott Griffith, XIR and Partner, General Catalyst Partners
• Sheila Dillon, Director, ‎Cabinet Chief of Housing and Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development, City of Boston
• Sonia Chang Diaz, State Senator, Massachusetts Senate
• Stas Gayshan, Managing Director, Cambridge Innovation Center - Boston
• Susan Rittscher, President & CEO, Center for Women & Enterprise
• Travis McCready, Vice President for Program, The Boston Foundation
• Valerie Roberson, President, Roxbury Community College