Formed shortly after last year's Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth/Brookings Institute report, "Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities"  an alliance of eleven mill communities outside Greater Boston. including Fall River, was formed under the direction of Edward M. Lambert, Jr., Director of the Urban Initiative at UMass-Dartmouth. October 3, 2008, marked the occasion of the first-ever Gateway Cities conference, held at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center on Martine Street. Over a hundred representatives from the eleven communities heard introductory remarks by Fall River Mayor Robert Correia and New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang, Dona Cupelo of Verizon Communications and John Schneider of MassINC. Following a status report by Benjamin Forman of MassINC, Mark Muro of the Brooking Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program presented the keynote address. Click here for last year's MassINC conference. Click here for the Herald News article about the event, including a video segment of Michael Dukakis. For more information about the conference, contact Jason Silva, Research AssociateUMass Dartmouth Urban Initiative 508-910-6407.

(Top row, left) John Schneider of MassINC welcomed representatives from the eleven Gateway Cities to the conference. (Top row, center) Mark Muro of the Brooking Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program talks about the experiences of other American cities in improving their economic status. (Top row, right) Urban Initiative director Edward M. Lambert, Jr. emceed the day. (Middle row, right) Benjamin Forman of MassINC summarizes his findings about state-level actions that can create a foundation for public investment. (Middle row, right) Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts president Craig Dutra listens to the presentations. (Bottom row, left) Brockton Mayor James E. Harrington talks with former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis while Fall River Mayor Robert Correia listens. (Bottom row, center) Ed Lambert talks with panelists UMass-Dartmouth Chancellor McCormick, former Mayor Graham Richard of Fort Wayne, IN, and State Representative Michael Roderigues. (Bottom row, right) Lambert is interviewed by Herald News staff reporter Michael Holtzman.