FACT: Springfield has the lowest rate of employment in New England Jobs in Springfield, Massachusetts: Understanding and Remedying the Causes of Low Resident Employment Rates Federal Reserve of Boston, 2010

FACT: Families NOT Earning an Economic Independence Wage [1] MEDIAN INCOME NeighborhoodNumber of Households Household IncomeFamily Income Nation112,611,029$51,425$62,363 Massachusetts2,465,654$64,496$80,822 Citywide56,055$34,113$41,476 South End1,484$14,764$13,962 Brightwood2.003$15,573$19,247 Memorial Square2,363$16,226$17,540 Maple High/ Six Corners 3,737$17,283$17,583 Metro Center4,531$21,161$20,184 McKnight2,866$24,909$27,009 Bay2,347$26,563$27,448 Upper Hill3,281$32,778$35,360 [1] Census, America Community Survey (2009) Median Income

Example: Health and social assistance jobs (2006) –10,300 jobs in Springfield –Only 1,500 held by Springfield residents Skills Gap

The Need Entry level jobs matched to residents in need of employment Place-based jobs for the center city Jobs that provide a living wage Revitalized, healthy neighborhoods with higher employment

The Available Resource: Anchor Institutions $1.5 billion a year in goods and services –Spent mostly outside the region Estimate: 90% spend outside the region Can we harness this for job creation?

A National Model for Job Creation: Cleveland’s Evergreen Cooperatives A network of worker-owned green businesses supported by anchor institutions –Cleveland Clinic, Case Western University Economic development in Cleveland University Circle, with poor surrounding neighborhoods: –$18,500 median household income –unemployment 20% Providing jobs for hard-to employ people –50% of employees are formerly incarcerated

Cleveland’s Evergreen Cooperatives Launched Evergreen Cooperative Laundry Ohio Cooperative Solar Green City Growers Cooperative Evergreen Business Services GUC Neighborhood Voice Pipeline 3-4 Next-Generation Businesses Annually

Key Lessons Anchor institution participation ensures steady demand Cooperatives are part of a business group that provides support, training, helps raise capital Long-term commitment to neighbor-hoods due to worker ownership

Wellspring Development Model Shift anchor institution purchases to center city neighborhoods Create a network of worker-owned companies –Place based– Provide a livable wage and benefits –Build assets Provide job training in skills and self- management Organize strong community ownership Green development for healthy environment

Wellspring Initiative Partner Organizations Lead Agencies Center for Public Policy and Administration University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Popular Economics University of Massachusetts Amherst Partners for a Healthier Community

Anchor Institution Partners Baystate Health Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium Providence Health System Springfield College Springfield Technical Community College University of Massachusetts Amherst Western New England University

Community Partners GreenWorks Jobs with Justice New North Citizens Council Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Pioneer Valley Project Development and Technical Partners Common Capital Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Michael Kane Consulting Regional Employment Board of Hampden County

Funding Partners Baystate Health MassMutual Foundation Providence Health System Regional Employment Board of Hampden County Springfield Technical Community College Third Sector New England United Way of Pioneer Valley University of Massachusetts

Timeline 2012 Research, development and finance 2013 Creation of the first cooperative business