WBDC Podcast – Worcester’s Climate Goals vs. Economic Growth
By-Hank Stolz
Photo- Kill the Ball Media
WORCESTER, MA-Roberta Brien, Executive Vice President of the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC), sat down with Worcester’s Chief Sustainability Officer, John Odell, and Jon Weaver, President & CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), to talk about what it means to pursue ambitious climate goals in a city that is rapidly growing its innovation economy.
The discussion focused on Worcester’s newly adopted Specialized Stretch Code (SSC) — a set of advanced building standards that require higher levels of energy efficiency for new construction. Supporters say these changes will reduce emissions, promote healthier buildings, and protect the community during the increasingly severe climate events that are expected in the northeast.
But these benefits come with significant challenges.
Weaver emphasized that biomanufacturing facilities are energy-intensive, and the added cost of designing to the SSC could create a barrier for companies looking to expand in Worcester. While sustainability is widely supported across the industry, balancing regulatory requirements with economic development remains a critical concern.
Odell highlighted the long-term cost savings and health impacts of green buildings, pointing to progress Worcester has already made — including 12 megawatts of solar power installed on city property and a city-wide electricity aggregation program that has increased renewable energy use.
He also stressed the urgency of preparation, referencing catastrophic flooding in nearby Leominster:
“It’s just a matter of when we get hit — and we won’t get hit just once. It’ll happen multiple times.”
As Worcester continues to grow, the city’s future will depend on how well it can support innovative industries while protecting residents from climate-driven threats — a balance that leaders agree must be pursued, but carefully.
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Kelleher & Sadowsky Executives Discuss Transformative Plans for Worcester’s 51-Acre Saint-Gobain Site
In an exclusive interview, Kelleher & Sadowsky’s Jim Umphrey and Philip DeSimone discuss plans for Worcester’s 51-acre Saint-Gobain site redevelopment. They highlight the site’s potential to attract technology firms and boost local employment.
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The Podcast of The Worcester Business Development Corporation-Explore how QCC & WSU have shaped Worcester’s growth with projects like the Hanover Theatre & 20 Franklin St. on this WBDC podcast episode.
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Executive Vice President, of the WBDC pulls together a panel including Mark Rengel, VP of Development from Menkiti Group, Peter Dunn, Chief Development Officer from the City of Worcester and Eric Halverson, Principal from RKG Associates to discuss conversion of existing inventory in the City. It is a new tool in the toolbox to combat lack of housing. Brien says it is a tool the state has really run with. She says it is a nice balance to urban development. The panel does a deep dive into how Worcester is responding. This podcast is a must for those interested in the issue of affordable housing.
Seven Saws Brewing Expansion: WBDC & Rollstone Bank Aid
Seven Saws Brewing in Holden recently underwent a major expansion and they aren’t done yet. Hear how the WBDC helped make the owners vision come true with the help of Rollstone Bank and other partners. On this edition of The Podcast of the Worcester Business Development Corporation we break down what goes into taking an idea from the kitchen table, or in this case from the garage, and making it a viable successful business.
Craig Blais & Jenny Pacillo Discuss Greendale, WBDC, Amazon Plans
Craig Blais, President of the Worcester Business Development Corporation is joined by District 1 Worcester City Councilor Jenny Pacillo to talk about development. Particularly plans for the Greendale neighborhood. Conversation also centers on the WBDC’s plans for the Saint Gobain property. The Amazon Warehouse and will it be open by the end of the year? (Hopeful, but no one knows.) Pacillo also goes out of district to talk about much needed condos coming to the downtown area.
WBDC President Craig Blais Discusses Private Investment In Worcester With City Manager Eric Batista
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Six Nonprofits Successfully Relocate to Former Unum Building in Worcester
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Saint Gobain and the WBDC
We throw around words like transformative too easily but in this case it is accurate. The deal between Saint Gobain and the WBDC that sees 51 acres, half of the campus being transferred, is truly transformative and historic. Craig Blais, President WBDC, and Patrick Dwyer from Saint Gobain take us through the deal and what it will mean for Worcester and the Greendale neighborhood. As Blais says – you just don’t have tracts of land this size become available.
Table Talk Pie and Mount Carmel Sites
The podcast of the WBDC centers on two new housing projects going up in Worcester. One at the site of the former Table Talk Pie bakery next to Polar Park. The other off 290 at the former site of Mt. Carmel. Craig Blais, President and CEO of The Worcester Business Development Corporation is joined by Rich Mazzocchi, Partner at Boston Capital and Jim Lambert, Development Director at Wood Partners. They go into detail about the need for housing, the projects they are bringing to Worcester and what attracted them to the city, and comment on inclusionary zoning.
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