A Productive Meeting: Secretary Bialecki Provided Optimism for Town’s Business Future

That was certainly a productive and energizing visit to our town by Mass. Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki, who met with town and business leaders to discuss strategies to improve local small business development, the ongoing projects in the town, and attracting more visitors to the town to partake of the great restaurant and cultural opportunities in our town.

Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, Town Manager James McKenna, and Town Council President Peter Gill, along with Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Paul McGee, provided the Secretary with a thorough update of the local business community and talked about how the town, with its ideal location and ferry service and an excellently-run Chamber of Commerce, stands poised to expand the economic base of the town.

There was some exciting news revealed at the meeting namely, that local businessman Robert Deeb has under agreement two major properties in town, Michael’s Mall and the building that was to house the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. We have reached out to Mr. Deeb and he has graciously granted us an interview so we can learn more about his plans for this vital area of Winthrop.

Following the meeting, Secretary Bialecki joined McKenna and Gill and others on a  tour of Winthrop Center where the Secretary could see first-hand our business center and then determine how his office could help Winthrop Center reinvigorate itself and collaborate with our town leaders to make it a bustling area in which to shop and dine.

McKenna, who has been pro-business since his arrival as town manager, called the meeting with Mr. Bialecki a great first step in a long and continuing conversation as Winthrop plans for its future development.

It also goes without saying that it boosts Winthrop’s outlook to have Speaker DeLeo advancing the town’s interests on Beacon Hill. From the $25,000 grant he secured for a pilot program for the Chamber of Commerce to the beautiful new look of the entrance to our town at Short Beach to the Winthrop Beach program, the Speaker, in coordination with Secretary Bialecki’s Office, and working with McKenna and our Town Council and Chamber, has demonstrated that there is much reason for optimism in regards to the development of our business community.