Economic Development Strategy

After months of research, strategy development, and community engagement with a wide group of stakeholders, Mayor Reardon is pleased to present the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Newburyport. This is the result of a collaborative effort with the City, our consultants, a steering committee, and the greater community that focused on creating a vision for the future of Newburyport’s economy and creating a strategy for how to achieve our many goals. This plan prioritized inclusive, sustainable economic development that will maintain the city’s historic character while creating local employment and business ownership opportunities for residents.

The strategies outlined in this plan will help advance the overall goal of securing economic well-being now and in the years to come, while also improving the overall quality of life of residents and community members. It aims to keep a healthy tax base that can fund the municipal services the community expects, and to strengthen our downtown and other residential and commercial centers throughout the city. We also made sure that this economic development plan considered the vital role of arts and culture in Newburyport, and looked for opportunities to grow and sustain our cultural assets.

We thank the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development for their financial support of this project, and for their investment in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Thanks also to the consultant team of Karl Seidman and his associates, Susan Silberberg and Sue Kim of Civic Moxie. Their ability to listen and engage with this community impressed us just as much as their analytical and strategy development skills, and the project benefited greatly from this. Thanks also goes to our Economic Development Steering Committee, whose thoughtfulness, vision, and passion for the community helped strengthen this strategy. We extend out thanks to all the City staff who assisted on this project, and all community members who offered their feedback along the way.