Congratulations to Melisa Tintocalis, Economic Development Director, Town of Burlington; the City of Lowell, and Yihao Wu of Harvard University for receiving the following awards at the 2025 APA National Planning Conference held in Denver CO. March 29th thru April 1st.
We will have additional details about Melisa and Yihao in upcoming APA-MA Newsletters and the June edition of Massachusetts Planning Magazine!
Meanwhile, here are the details for the City of Lowell:
The City of Lowell’s Economic Development department won an award from the American Planning Association’s Economic Development Division for their work helping to revitalize downtown Lowell. The department was recognized for programs that have made the downtown area better for both residents and visitors:
- The Downtown Lowell Vacant Storefront Program, which helps fill empty store spaces by offering state tax credits.
- Project Pop-Up, which gives new businesses a chance to try out a store with a short-term lease.
The Small Business Expansion Program, which helps local businesses grow.
These programs make it easier for people in the community to start or grow a business. Thanks to these programs, Lowell has seen real improvements downtown and has helped create more opportunities for everyone.