TechSpring ribbon cutting
Greg Bialecki, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, listens to a talk at TechSpring's grand opening Friday, Nov. 14, in Springfield.
(Dan Warner/Masslive.com)
SPRINGFIELD — Walk up Main Street in Springfield from State Street north to Union Station, State Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki said Friday.
"And just about every building you see has something interesting happening in it," Bialecki said. "That is something I'm very proud of."
Bialecki spoke retrospectively Friday while visiting Springfield for the dedication of TechSpring, a health care innovation center created by Baystate Health and funded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
"Eight years ago, we decided that when we worked with cities we would ask them what neighborhoods they wanted to focus on and then focus on those neighborhoods," Bialecki said. "In Springfield, that was State Street and Main Street."
TechSpring itself in 1350 Main St. is an example of an initiative in Springfield's downtown. He also mentioned Valley Venture mentors in Tower Square, hopefully to move into a new Springfield innovation Center on Bridge Street.
He also cited the Baystate information technology department at 1550 Main St., the former federal courthouse.
"And the work we have done on State Street is important as well," Bialecki said. "When we came into office we were told that State Street was important to MassMutual. If they were going to continue to grow and create jobs here, they wanted State Street to be a place they wanted to go."
Bialecki also cited the Deval Patrick administration's emphasis on manufacturing.
He cited a few success stories related to manufacturing:
- Titeflex: Titeflex Corp., on Hendee Street in East Springfield used state tax incentives to leverage a $4 million expansion project in 2010. That project allowed Titeflex to expand to 120 employees.
- "At the time we made the deal with Titeflex, they were deciding whether to grow here or to close up and move the whole thing to South Carolina," Bialecki said
- Smith & Wesson:
Kevin Kennedy, Springfield's chief development officer, said the city has never had two greater friends than Gov. Deval Patrick and Bialecki. Bialecki, who for more than 20 years was a real-estate attorney in Boston, brought development know-how to the job.
"He understood the urban challenges," Kennedy said.
Kennedy hopes to continue the success with Governor-elect Charlie Baker and his cabinet.
Bialecki has already been replaced. Baker has named Jay Ash of Danvers, the city manager in Chelsea, to be secretary of housing and economic development.
Bialecki on Friday called Ash an experienced hand in municipal government who lends "instant credibility" to the the role.
Bialecki said he doesn't yet know what he will do next. But he will look to do something he hasn't done before and has decided not to return to the private practice of law.