Pepperell leaders have ‘Summit’ with Ash

PEPPERELL — The Town of Pepperell held a Summit Workshop with Jay Ash, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the Lawrence Library on July 27.

Ash handles policies and programs for Governor Charlie Baker’s agenda on housing and community development, job creation, economic and business development, consumer affairs and business regulations. He served as the City Manager in his native Chelsea from 2000 to 2014. In this local position, the City of Chelsea produced both economic development and business expansion and fiscal stability. Secretary Ash was appointed to the Governor’s Cabinet on January 8, 2015 and he was Governor Charlie Baker’s first appointment.

“By working closely with our Legislative Delegation and with Secretary Ash, we will further improve our solid linkage to state agencies and expand our opportunities for leveraging additional resources in the future,” Town Administrator Mark Andrews said. “This effort has been the blueprint for Pepperell’s success with securing new grants and programs that improve our financial stability.”

The Summit Workshop included: local leaders from the Board of Selectmen, Pepperell’s Land Use Staff, the Pepperell Business Association, the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Pepperell business owners, the regional Town Administrator’s Council, Regional School leaders and the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments.