The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, a Cambridge-based think thank known as MassINC., held a forum on September 24, 2007 at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center in Fall River to discuss "On the Rise: The Renewal of Southcoast Gateway Cities". The topic was taken form a report published in February 2007 entitled "Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities". The report made the observation that eleven Massachusetts cities that have served as gateways to immigrants and other newcomers to Massachusetts, attracted by lower housing costs and growing communities of newcomers from similar cultural backgrounds, are struggling economically compared to the Greater Boston Area. Presenters at the three-hour forum included mayors of both Fall River and New Bedford as well as U.S. Congressmen Barney Frank and James McGovern. To read the Fall River Herald News article about the event, click here. To read the New Bedford Standard-Times article, click here. To read a Healthy City Fall River blog on the topic from March, 2007, click here.

(Top row) Fall River Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. welcomed over 200 participants in the morning forum at the UMass-Dartmouth Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center on Martine Street in Fall River. (Middle row) Fall River Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Collins, SMILES General Manager Ava Assad, and Fall River Police Chief John M. Souza. listen as Congressman James McGovern gives his perspective on the challenges that the Southcoast faces. (Bottom row, left) MassINC moderator John Schneider kicks off the discussion by panelists. (Bottom row, center) Matt Morrissey of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Ken Fiola of the Fall River Office of Economic Development and Tom Davis of the Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation share their perspectives on ways of making improvements. (Bottom row, right) Congressman Barney Frank offers his remarks.