Fall River, MA – Mayor William Flanagan announced the creation of a new economic advisory committee today at the Fall River Chamber of Commerce. The new advisory council will be asked to examine Fall River’s economy and present its recommendations for economic recovery. 

“I fully expect that the advisory council’s work will lead to new ideas and increased collaboration between our government and business communities, which in turn will light a path to economic growth,” Flanagan said.

The advisory council will be composed of seven representatives from the city, the state, and the Congressional delegation, as well as five members of Fall River’s business community.  Mayor Flanagan announced the council, along with news that Governor Patrick will hold an upcoming cabinet meeting in Fall River, as part of a broader discussion of Fall River’s economy.

“Over the past eighteen months, we have taken great strides towards a better economic future,” the Mayor said.  “But I recognize that all these positive steps are of little consolation to those who remain unemployed.  To that end, my administration has worked to expand job opportunities immediately.”

Flanagan discussed his administration’s economic accomplishments, as well as its efforts to improve the school system and quality of life.  You can read the full text of the speech below:

Mayor Will Flanagan Speech to the Fall River Chamber of Commerce - May 4, 2011 (As prepared for delivery)

Good morning, everyone.   

Before I begin, I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce, and the Fall River business community, for welcoming me to speak today, and for its efforts to work with my administration to help get our economy moving forward. 

I also want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work done earlier this week by our intelligence community, our military, and President Barack Obama in ridding the world of Osama bin Laden.  I would like to also recognize the sacrifices that the city of Fall River has made in the two wars since 9/11.  We have lost too many brave soldiers since 2001, but we know they did not die in vain.

This amazing victory has had an interesting effect on the American psyche over the past three days.  For the first time in a long time, we feel like we have made some progress.  We feel like we won.  We have been unified in victory and in national pride. 

It has been nearly ten years since the attacks of 9/11, and perhaps the death of bin Laden will finally allow us to put those terrible events behind us. 

Ten years ago our country, our state, and our city were very different.  Our economy was strong.  The dotcoms had not yet crashed, the airline industry had not yet cratered, the auto industry had not yet folded, the banking industry had not yet faltered, and the housing market had not yet collapsed. 

We were on the path to a stronger Fall River, with a more vibrant economy.  But some things are beyond our control. 

I don’t have to remind any of you that the past decade has been especially difficult for our city.  And the budget we will release next month will likely be the most challenging we have ever faced.   But we cannot lose hope.  Despite recent setbacks, through continued hard work we can and we will succeed. 

And we have already started down the path to recovery.

Over the past two years, we have taken significant steps to improve our educational system and ensure that we are training an educated workforce.  Despite difficult budgets, we added teachers.  We completed a district improvement plan that emphasizes college and career readiness.  We partnered with Northeastern University to allow our students to take online courses. And we partnered with Teach for America to help ensure educational opportunity in our school system.   

We are already seeing results.   Our dropout rate has decreased, while our graduation rate has increased.  We have doubled the number of Durfee High School students in Advanced Placement courses, and tripled the number of qualifying AP test scores.  As a result, Fall River was one of just four Math & Science Initiative School districts in Massachusetts named to College Board’s Advanced Placement Achievement List.  We need to continue this achievement in our science, technology, engineering, and math education in order for our students to compete in the 21^st century economy.

My administration understands the importance of an educated workforce and so do you.  If we can raise the level of talent here in our city, we will make it easier to attract, grow, and retain new business.  I am committed to building this talented workforce. 

We also understand that we need to create a climate that helps our businesses succeed.  To that end, my administration has worked to improve our quality of life.  We have targeted abandoned property for seizure, we have proposed new penalties for littering, we have begun erasing illegal graffiti and other blight, and we have undertaken a massive effort to fix our roads.  We want to ensure that your customers and your employees are able take in the beauty of our city on their way to your office or business.

I am also committed to creating a regulatory structure that makes sense for business.  The more predictable and stable we can make our commercial and industrial policies and regulations, the easier it will be to grow jobs here in our city. A few weeks ago I introduced a waterfront rezoning plan that will streamline investment and development along the Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay.  If we can eliminate red tape and create an easier process for business owners, we can speed up job creation.

We have been addressing the city’s bond rating, to make Fall River more attractive for long-term investment.   We have now successfully stabilized our rating, and are working to improve it.  Last fall, we finalized the long-awaited agreement with UMass Dartmouth to create a Fall River BioPark, and bring as many as 8,000 new jobs to our city.  We continue to fight for state and federal approval and funding for South Coast Rail, to finally build a connection with Boston that will attract even more talent and new business to our city. 

Over the past eighteen months, we have taken great strides towards a better economic future.  But I recognize that all these positive steps are of little consolation to those who remain unemployed.  To that end, my administration has worked to expand job opportunities immediately.

We helped bring TPI Composites back to Fall River, to help anchor our growing green jobs sector.   We met with Tribal Leaders to discuss the potential for a resort casino in the city.  We partnered with Bristol Community College and UMass Dartmouth to expand workforce training programs. We have had discussions with several other major employers about expanding their operations here. And I have visited with our small business owners first hand to hear their concerns and to lend assistance.

We are making progress, and I know there is more we can do.  It’s no secret that Fall River has not yet shared in the recovery seen in other parts of the state, and I am working to address that.

Two weeks ago I wrote to our state and federal leaders to ask for additional assistance in identifying new strategies for job creation, and last week I met with Governor Patrick here in Fall River.  As a result, I can announce two major developments this morning.

First, Governor Patrick has agreed to hold a future meeting of his cabinet here in Fall River.  This will be a great opportunity for our city to showcase its potential to every state department, and enhance collaboration between the city and the state.

Second, we will be forming an economic advisory council that will make recommendations for improving the economy of Fall River and creating jobs in our city.

This advisory council will be composed of seven representatives from the city, the state, and our Congressional delegation, as well as five members of Fall River’s business community.  The advisory council will be asked to examine our city’s economy and present its recommendations for economic recovery. 

I fully expect that the advisory council’s work will lead to new ideas and increased collaboration between our government and business communities, which in turn will light a path to economic growth.

Over the past several months our administration has been actively searching for a permanent Chief Financial Officer, a position in municipal government that is vital to improving our financial stability. Therefore, it is my attention to convene a search committee consisting of citizens in the private financial sector to assist our administration in selecting a qualified and competent individual. This public private partnership will aid us in our road to financial recovery.         

I grew up here in this city, and attended its public schools.  I paid my way through college by working nights at the local grocery store.  Like everyone in this room, I understand the value of hard work, and determination.  And that’s fitting for Fall River.  

Because everything that happens in this city happens through the hard work and the determination of its amazing citizens.  

It’s part of what makes us unique.  In fact, it’s what I love about our city.  We want to make our lives here.  We want to make this city a success.  We want to renew the promise of a brighter future for Fall River that we were all raised with. We want to renew that promise for the small business owner who is struggling to make payroll.  We want to renew that promise for the working parents who want to know that their children will receive an exceptional education.  We want to renew that promise for the unemployed workers who can’t pay their bills because they can’t find a job to pay them with. We want to renew that promise of a brighter future so that every child in our public schools will graduate with the skills they need to be successful in our economy.

But we recognize that the task at hand is not easy.  It will take all of us to bring Fall River back to those days when our economy was growing, our foundations were strong, and our future was limitless.  It will take all of us to ensure that Fall River’s best days are still ahead.

I am dedicated to serving as your Mayor, and I ask for your support.  

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