WORCESTER — Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson was presented the Mayor Bill Carpenter Award for Excellence in Gateway City Leadership at MassInc’s Gateway Cities Innovation Summit at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester on Nov. 14.
The Carpenter Award, named for the former mayor of Brockton, is awarded to a public official who seeks out new ideas and works collaboratively to advance them, elevating the status of their city and furthering the collective interests of Gateway Cities throughout the state.
Nicholson was honored along with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo for their participation in the Commonwealth Development Project, which was started by the nonprofit Civic Action Project with a goal of integrating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles into public-sector and private-sector development.
Lynn and Salem signed on to the Commonwealth Development Project, along with Boston, Cambridge and Somerville. One of the initiatives is that when a developer applies for a building permit there is an optional DEI disclosure form that can be filled out indicating how they will incorporate diversity in the project. In Lynn, that criteria is included when the City issues an RFP for development.
“We are proud of our efforts to increase diversity in development and honored to receive this award,” Nicholson said. “Since taking office, we have tried to promote inclusive growth in the City and it is gratifying to see those efforts recognized.”
Also at the Gateway Cities Innovation Summit, Danya Smith, policy director for Nicholson, sat on a housing and education panel, discussing how municipalities can better connect schools with housing and community development resources.
