Partners

A “Spirit of Partnership”: The proposed Green High Performance Computing Center (GHPCC) in Holyoke will be the cornerstone of an Innovation District in the historic canal district of the city and will catalyze economic opportunity throughout the Pioneer Valley region.

Inspired by the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick, as evidenced by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with industry, university and municipal leaders on June 11, 2009, local leaders have begun to develop immediate plans for a GHPCC in Holyoke as well as establish the framework for a larger visioning and planning exercise to better exploit the benefits of this investment for the local and regional economies.

Led by Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan along with representatives from the City’s Office of Planning and Development and Holyoke Gas & Electric, and also joined by regional representatives from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, these entities are exploring ways to maximize the economic development opportunities that could flow from the presence of the GHPCC in Holyoke.

These partners have endorsed the formation of an Innovation District steering committee that would be responsible to oversee an Innovation District design and development program that catalyzes economic growth in Holyoke and throughout the Pioneer Valley. What has become apparent is that the very characteristics that attracted the research universities to Holyoke in the first place can be the basis for an innovation district and for a far-reaching innovation economy strategy for the entire Pioneer Valley region.

Working closely with representatives of the City of Holyoke, the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as regional partners are reaching out to add key organizations as opportunities emerge.

The region’s educational institutions will be essential to any successful strategy.  These include Holyoke Community College, UMass Amherst, and Springfield Technical Community College.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Gregory Bialecki, has been a strong advocate and fearless leader for this initiative.  He brings to bear the valuable participation and support of two state agencies, MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s John Adams Innovation Institute.

In early February 2010, project partner Cisco Systems, Inc. announced a special initiative called Smart+Connected Communities, which Cisco wishes to pilot in Holyoke as part of the new Innovation District. Cisco and the City of Holyoke signed a Memorandum of Understanding detailing this agreement.