We held a brainstorming session for the Demonstration Center at the Warner-Babcock Institute of Green Chemistry in Wilmington on July 27, 2009. It was attended by 15 stakeholders in the Demonstration Center. We used the 6 Thinking Hats Brainstorming Method. The notes are enclosed.

Please Sign-up to be Volunteer Mentor/Tutor in Haverhill!

MVVF Event Green Technology in the Commonwealth: Job prospects and necessary catalysts for continued growth Wednesday, March 18, 2009 5:00 - 9:00pm Wannalancit Mill Building 600 Suffolk Street, 1st floor Lowell, MA 01854

Three cheers for the Valley Patriot on it's 5th Anniversary.  This upstart is creating a platform for new voices to be heard throughout the Merrimack Valley.  One of those new voices is us, writers of the Innovation Valley column.  For the past three years our column has been a regular feature and we are grateful. As readers of the Innovation Column know, it's goal is to highlight the world's leading initiatives for municipal business development and quality-of-life improvements.  Every month we report on a program that provides opportunities for the Merrimack Valley.

A sustainable future is not something that can only be enjoyed by certain segments of society or by certain parts of the planet. Many "green" innovations have been displayed in beautifully crafted, yet very expensive homes and buildings. The real, holistic purpose of living sustainably is so that everyone can live cleaner, healthier lives and leave the Earth less of a mess for future generations to clean up.

by John Michitson and Seth Itzkan Background The future of Haverhill's downtown is at a critical juncture. Hundreds of new residential units, mostly apartments, are complementing longstanding stylish restaurants and shops in the downtown. Yet, there are still missing pieces to the puzzle that must be solved before critical mass can be reached in the downtown.

In order to help drive economic development in the Merrimack Valley, we are utilizing predictive market technology to inform investors and stakeholders of the most likely prospects for industry growth through 2009. You, the reader, are invited to participate.

Wind power at Holy Name High School in Worcester is a model for the Merrimack Valley. The school will get all its power from the 600 KW turbine and will even be able to sell power back to the grid. It will be one of the most energy efficient schools in the country.

Michitson makes regional economic development presentation to the Haverhill City Council.

[Download PDF version as it appeared in the October issue of Valley Patriot] Imagine an Olympics of urban foresight and sustainability. How would Merrimack Valley cities do? Gold? Silver? Bronze? Honorable Mention? We may soon find out. Thumbnail image: 

The Merrimack Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) has been published by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.

Former Army Captain Daniel Leary is a lifelong North Andover resident who was deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now as President for a startup Renewable Energy firm he is fighting to make the Merrimack Valley a global leader again

In the middle of its biggest year yet, non-profit greenGoat sets its sights on the largest waste stream it can imagine: corporate relocation.

This article addresses an emerging eco-system of the trades, research and development, manufacturing and workforce development that is spawning green building in our region.

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts visited Haverhill in April to announce that the City is the first of 16 regional "growth districts" designed to be magnets for new business development. The "regional growth districts" are key to the Governor’s long-term economic development strategy for the State. The districts are targeted for older mill towns and cities near highways or other transportation. Thumbnail image: