Quotes

1. The concept of having a fund like this targeted to Gateway Cities can really tackle something that is a huge problem.

2. The opportunity has been to use this approach and to really raise and to highlight that in fact, with some support from the public sector, there are private entities that are very interested in investing in those places.

3. The more skeptical person might say I've been to downtown Holyoke, there's not a lot of there there, why would somebody want to spend money?

4. This is important in terms of a cross section of a population and is the best way of strengthening vitality, from an economic point of view, of a city and particularly downtown.

5. Taxpayers deserve some kind of credit if they make the investment to rehabilitate substandard houses in our cities.

6. Once we see where the public money goes, we want to capitalize on that.

7. It's perfect timing because we just did finish an urban renewal plan, and now we're looking for funding for the infrastructure improvements.

Topics Mentioned

• Springfield
• Holyoke
• University of Massachusetts
• Westfield
• Northampton
• Greenfield
• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
• Amtrak
• Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
• Timothy W. Brennan
• Brian M. Connors
• Gregory P. Bialecki
• Kathleen G. Anderson

Authors

• Shira Schoenberg, Political Correspondent