UMass Dartmouth was recently awarded a $600,000 EDA grant to develop the SouthCoast Blue Economy Corridor. The PPC will be spearheading the development of this strategy as part of our expanding expertise in the blue economy.

Click here to read university’s press release for more details on this exciting collaboration with our partners in the region.

This report presents the results of a comprehensive workforce and economic analysis that estimates the labor needs and economic impacts associated with the planning, construction, and maintenance of 1,600 MW of offshore wind (OSW) energy. Among other things, this report finds that workforce development efforts should focus on the three priority occupations of water transportation workers, trade workers, and operations & maintenance technicians, all of which will be in high demand.

The PPC conducted a pair of analyses to describe the economic contributions to employment and economic output that the proposed 400 and 800 MW Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Energy Projects can be expected to have on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the regional economy of Southeastern Massachusetts.

Click here to view the reports and their findings.

Commissioned by the Seaport Economic Council, this report describes the major features of the maritime economy and their impact on the overall state economy, with a focus on marine technology. A survey of marine businesses highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the maritime economy.

Click here to access the report.

An update of our 2013 report, this needs assessment identifies the priority health needs of the region by examining the demographic and socioeconomic profile of the population and by analyzing a number of health indicators and outcomes. Findings indicate that Fall River and New Bedford continue to lag the region in most metrics.

Click here for the full report.

The PPC recently completed a comprehensive study of the housing conditions in Fall River, Massachusetts. The study brings evidence and objective information to bear on the ongoing public discussion that is taking place in Fall River about current housing conditions and relevant policies. This research provides community leaders with the information and data they require to inform the development of a new housing policy for the City of Fall River.

Click here to view the report page.

Case studies of six communities find state tax revenues more than offset local shortfalls when they occur. Click here to read the full report.

Launched in 2012, the SouthCoast Urban Indicators Project (SCUIP) tracks important conditions in the Gateway Cities of Fall River and New Bedford on a regularly updated webpage.