Priority Projects and Partnerships New Bedford Quest Center

The Quest Center for Innovation first opened in 2005, housing municipal and state offices including the New Bedford Economic Development Council and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Council. The presence of such organizations affords unique access to small businesses who inhabit the incubator space. Since its revival in 2012, the Quest Center welcomed Groundwork, a co-working space offering a flexible working environment for local professionals.

Strengths

• Growing off-shore wind and ocean-based industry clusters

• Strong regional universities, colleges, and community colleges

Weaknesses

• Despite gains, our workforce development efforts are not keeping pace with competitors and the modern economy

Stakeholders: New Bedford Economic Development Council, Massachusetts Small Business Development Council

Proposed Investments and Initiatives: The Quest Center seeks to initiate small business growth at the city and regional scale. The Groundwork coworking space facilities the connection of small businesses to local and state resources. The Quest Center’s original plan envisioned a small business incubator space on the third floor (9,430 square feet), focused on fostering marine science and technology, software, and life science technologies.

Opportunities

• Improved educational attainment can be advanced through strategic workforce development that is tailored to the “biotech” manufacturing, MST-based, and health care industries

Threats

• Unforeseen economic and social disruptions, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic

• Perceptions of persistently high unemployment and low educational attainment