At the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Committee’s (CMRPC) 50th anniversary Quarterly Commission meeting on September 10, our President and CEO, Jon Weaver, joined regional leaders for a panel discussion on the past, present and future of growth in Central Massachusetts. The conversation was an opportunity to talk about what it will take for Central Mass to keep growing as a biomanufacturing hub, and why that growth depends on the whole region pulling in the same direction.

Jon opened by sharing MBI’s own evolution, from a life sciences incubator to a broader role as a builder of the region’s biomanufacturing ecosystem. That shift, he said, has come with a clearer view of both the opportunities ahead and the barriers still standing in the way.

Central Mass’s biggest advantage is geography. “We are the crossroads of New England,” he told the audience, pointing to Worcester’s proximity to Boston, Manchester, Providence, Springfield and Hartford. It’s a natural hub position, and one the region hasn’t fully capitalized on yet. Jon pointed to Worcester Regional Airport in particular as an underused asset with real potential for the biomanufacturing sector’s shipping and logistics needs.

He also made the case for expanding access west of Worcester and strengthening the connections that let workers from Eastern Mass reach jobs in Central Mass. As Worcester competes for talent and investment against much larger cities and regions, Jon said the calculus is clear: communities that plan now for housing, industrial space, and workforce access at the scale their competitors are building will be the ones that thrive. Those that don’t adapt, risk being left behind.

Growth in Central Mass isn’t something any one organization, city, or industry can do alone. It happens because communities in this region are already comfortable sitting at the same table and solving problems together. That collaborative instinct, paired with deliberate investment in infrastructure and talent, is what will let Central Mass’s biomanufacturing cluster grow into something the whole region can be proud of, and where the next generation can afford to build their lives.

Thanks to CMRPC for inviting Jon to participate in the panel and share his perspective with your members.