HANOVER and ROCKLAND, MA, Issued FEBRUARY 6, 2019… The South Shore Chamber of Commerce and its subsidiary, the South Shore Development Corp. (SSEDC), briefed business leaders, community stakeholders and elected officials on the next phase of South Shore 2030’s Housing Initiative. To kick off the next stage of the Initiative, Rockland Trust announced a $35,000 sponsorship to support the program.
The February 5th briefing, hosted at Rockland Trust’s Hanover Headquarters, included an overview of 2019 strategies. The Housing Initiative is a major component of South Shore 2030: Choosing Our Future, a multi-year plan dedicated to crafting a comprehensive economic and community development effort for the South Shore. The housing strategy calls for 44,000 new homes by the 2030 to make the South Shore more competitive. It calls for different housing product types that meet the needs of two demographics – young professionals and downsizing baby boomers. Rockland Trust’s CEO, Christopher Oddleifson, has played a key leadership role in supporting this initiative.
“We salute the South Shore Chamber of Commerce for their leadership on finding a solution to the housing crisis affecting Massachusetts’ cities and towns,” said Christopher Oddleifson, Chief Executive Officer of Rockland Trust. “The success of every business depends on the ability to attract and retain qualified employees. The lack of adequate housing is a growing challenge to our economic wellbeing and we’re proud to support the Chamber’s efforts in bringing all the stakeholders together to resolve this issue.”
Yesterday’s announcement called on the business community and influential community leaders to be involved, to step up to support the initiative, and to attend community outreach meetings in the coming months to learn more. Also, at the event, Peter Forman, South Shore Chamber President and CEO, unveiled the new South Shore 2030 housing webpage (www.southshore2030.com/housing) and provided a brief overview of local housing development endorsements. Key business leaders who will drive the 2019 agenda were in attendance, including Nancy Bailey of Rockland Trust who is co-chair of the Housing Committee. Other key leaders in attendance included: Judi Barrett, Barrett Planning Group; Tricia Dandrow, Brookline Bank; Joe Gratta, Atlantic Mechanical; Brad Mahoney, Mahoney Law Group; Tom McManus, Cape Cod Lumber and SSEDC Chair, Rich Beal of A.W. Perry. State Senator Patrick O’Connor was in attendance, along with local officials from Cohasset, Braintree, Hanover and Weymouth.
In addition to Rockland Trust, key initial funders include Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) and Cape Cod Lumber. MHP is a statewide public nonprofit that works with the Governor and the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to help increase the supply of housing in Massachusetts.
“Clearly outlining 2019 initiatives, calling upon business leaders to get behind the goal of 44,000 new homes, and establishing a web site to track progress are the latest examples of the South Shore Chamber’s ongoing dedication to this issue and the future well-being of the region,” said Susan Connelly, director of MHP community assistance and a member of the South Shore Chamber’s Housing Committee. “In our work around the state, the chamber stands alone in recognizing that building local support and breaking the zoning logjam are crucial to building apartments and smaller homes in walkable neighborhoods near transportation and amenities, just the type of housing millennials and retiring baby boomers want.”
Cape Cod Lumber is an employee owned, South Shore grown business supporting builders, remodelers and homeowners throughout the home creation process.
“The connection between housing, business growth and the economy on the South Shore is crystal clear,” said Peter Forman, President and CEO of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. “It’s imperative for business leaders to get involved in this conversation. We are grateful to Rockland Trust for its continued support of this vital work and are happy to see other businesses and organizations, like MHP and Cape Cod Lumber, step up to invest in this long-term initiative.”
About the South Shore Chamber of Commerce
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long been recognized throughout the state as one of the most active and forceful advocates for the business community and numbers among the larger chambers of commerce nationally. The South Shore Chamber is a not-for-profit association of businesses in the communities south of Boston. It is committed to helping its members grow their businesses and to improve the business climate in the region. Members range in size from major international corporations headquartered on the South Shore to small local firms and sole proprietorships. For additional information on the Chamber, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 781-421-3900.
