Letter from the Executive Director

Welcome to the Salem Partnership's website. The Partnership is a public/private leadership organization directly involved in determining the outcome of issues critical to the greater Salem Community. Members of the Partnership believe that a strong community creates a prosperous business climate. The goal is to bring all sectors of the City together to revitalize Salem. The partnership differs from other business organizations as its role is to focus on key specific projects. Presently, its focus is on:

The renovation and expansion of the Courts Complex in Salem

This has been a longtime project for The Partnership. In the spring of 2005, $106 million was allocated to build the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center. To date:

• Three houses have been removed to provide space for the new courthouse.
• Roadwork is well underway and is expected to be completed by November 2008.
• The rear addition of the Baptist Church has been removed and the original portion of the church is scheduled to be moved to its site in late October or early November 2008.
• The design of the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center is at the 60% stage and construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009 with a completion date of 2011.
• $72 million has been identified in a bond bill just passed by the Legislature for the renovation of the Probate and Family Court. While this project is not yet funded, when funds are appropriated it will complete the upgrade of all the court facilities in Salem.

The Salem Port Development Project includes:

• The Salem Harbor Plan, which was updated and approved by the Executive Office for Energy and Environment Affairs.
• An important part of this project is the ferry service from Salem to Boston. In June 2006, the Salem/Boston ferry was initiated. This ferry, The Nathaniel Bowditch, is now in its third year of operation. It is a highly successful operation and is enjoyed by tourists, commuters and residents of the greater North Shore region.
• The establishment of a multi-purpose municipal port facility. A consulting firm has completed a market analysis and revenue projections. Land acquisition is being pursued. It is anticipated that engineering work will soon be initiated and permitting needs are to be filed.

The Creative Economy Initiative

The Creative Economy Initiative is the third major project that The Salem Partnership is focused on.

In the ’08 state budget, the Salem Partnership and The Enterprise Center at Salem State College and the Creative Economy Association of the North Shore (CEANS) received $115,000 from the State Legislature for the expansion of the Creative Economy Initiative on the North Shore. A major portion of this funding was utilized in a market analysis and an action plan was prepared by ConsultEcon, Inc. in association with Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services. Copies of this report can be found on this website under Current Projects.

The Three principals (The Salem Partnership, The Enterprise Center at Salem State, and the creative Economy Association of the North Shore) have again received $115,000 from the State Legislature in the recently passed ’09 state budget. This funding will allow for the implementation of the action plan identified in the above-mentioned study.

The Legislation introduced at a breakfast held in April ’07 at the Parker House in Boston sponsored by the Partnership and the Enterprise Center recently passed both Houses of the State legislature and Governor Patrick has indicated that he will sign it. It provided for a state wide Creative Economy Council, and there is a seat on this council designated for the Salem Partnership and one for the Enterprise Center. A new industry director for the Creative Economy was appointed through the Office of Housing and Economic Development this past May. This appointment and the creation of the Creative Economy Council are the results of direct
efforts on the part of the Partnership and the Enterprise Center and represent two major steps toward moving the Creative Economy forward in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The word “partnership” means collaboration and cooperation, and that is what The Salem Partnership is --- a coming together of all segments of the community to better serve the Greater Salem area, and to thus make it a better place to live, work and visit. We hope that you, the residents and business people of greater Salem will use this website to communicate with us. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your comments or questions.

Patricia H. Zaido
Executive Director
The Salem Partnership