2012 AUGUST-MASHPEE EDIC Plan for Executive Park

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1 Strategy#3:. Further Build on Existing Economic Strengths A. Promote the development of tourism activity in Mashpee that benefits Mashpee residents and fits their vision. Tourism that draws on Mashpee's cultural and environmental strengths should receive primary attention. Suggested actions include forming a tourism coordinating council, creating a half-time staff position to help support and coordinate tourism, developing packages that focus on ecotourism, supporting the Wampanoag Indian Museum as a key historical attraction, increasing efforts to secure a first-rate hotel for the Town, seeking to attract the environmental resort proposed by the Cape Cod Center for the Environment and a Sustainable Economy and integrating Mashpee into the promotion network of the Cape. B. Promote the further development of aquaculture in Mashpee by creating an interdepartmental task force, orchestrating a public awareness campaign, developing a brochure summarizing the Town's stance on aquaculture and listing the areas in which aquaculture would not conflict with other uses, mapping Mashpee waters to determine what areas could be used as private aquaculture sites, developing an alliance with the Wampanoag tribe around aquaculture, participating in regional efforts to develop aquaculture training, involving school administrators and staff in a discussion about development of school curriculum around aquaculture, recruiting volunteers to assist with the municipal propagation efforts and exploring collaborative aquaculture ventures with the Town of Falmouth. C. Take better advantage of the technology resources in the region by looking at the feasibility of developing a technology building in the industrial park, offering the new Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge as a real-life marine and environmental laboratory and promoting the development of a regional technology transfer organization on the Cape. Strategy #4: Develop alternative employment options for Mashpee residents A. Support home-based work opportunities and micro-enterprises. B. Develop an entrepreneurial mentoring program. C. Test the feasibility of establishing a very small incubator or telecommuting center as part of the speculative building being proposed at the Mashpee Industrial Park. D. Create a system to promote home-based workers and address regulatory barriers to home-based work by facilitating a network of home-based workers and businesses using contract help, making available to Mashpee residents a list of companies that support telecommuting and examining existing regulations to understand how they impact home-based businesses. E. Maintain a close working relationship with the Southeastern Massachusetts Entrepreneurial Training Program. F. Work with Mashpee Commons, the Mashpee Human Services Coalition; the Mashpee Housing Authority and Cape Cod's Chapter of SCORE to encourage low- and moderate-income residents to participate in a pushcart program at Mashpee Commons. G. Facilitate an arrangement between the Wampanoag Tribal Council and the Boston-based self- employment resource Cooperative Economics for Women. Strategy#5: Ensure that Mashpee residents benefit from regional economic activity and that the workforce development needs of local businesses are met. A. Recognizing the shortcomings of the existing education and training system, the EDC should take action to build local mechanisms that can improve communication between educators, businesses and economic development professionals. B. The EDC should work with school administrators to design an informal school-business partnership program. C. The EDC should coordinate a special round table discussion exclusively for the business community to discuss what curriculum and programs they would like to see the new high school implement. D. The EDC can work with the high school to develop a shadow program for high schoolers. 22