Business View Civil and Municipal | March 2021

53 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MARCH 2021 GARDNER , MASSACHUSETTS time of three hours for the first month. I’m not exaggerating, that’s the data I have in front of me. We do have other small restaurants, but when the factories started to leave, a lot of the other industries left with it. Most residents aren’t used to having a lot of chain options here in the city anymore. While a lot of people are still supporting local businesses, we are seeing a lot of increased traffic from outside the city coming in with this new development.” Supporting Gardner’s entrepreneurs is another important focus, as emphasized through the upcoming MakerSpace project. The concept is for retired craftsmen from the city’s factories to teach their time-honored woodworking techniques to aspiring artists to incorporate those methods into their own work. The city is working with a local artist group to create a community where people can learn from each other in a shared space for a membership fee. The hope is to secure a space by the end of 2021. Gardner also makes workforce development a priority and sometimes offers training through the Massachusetts’ Workforce Development Board’s MassHire program. And the city also has a community partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College, which offers professional development classes. Additionally, Gardner High School (GHS) just launched its first Vocational Trade program with a Manufacturing program. “I started a program with GHS and used City Hall as the starter,” Nicholson explains. “We’ve actually seen many businesses, including Garlock Printing & Converting and Seaman Paper, pick it up as well, creating a new Internship program. Our students will receive credit for getting real world experience as part of their regular curriculum. Even if they don’t continue in those sectors, they’ve at least broadened their network.” All of these flourishing developments in Gardner’s economy have had a positive impact on its population growth – along with COVID-19, surprisingly. “As a result of the pandemic, believe Mayor Nicholson bell-ringing for the Salvation Army Mayor Nicholson at the Gardner CAC annual coat drive