Lowell Emerges as a Global Contender

Lowell Embraces Frontrunner City Initiative for a Transformative Future

Lowell has become the focal point of a groundbreaking pilot program that could significantly shape its future. This initiative, known as the Frontrunner City Initiative, has drawn a delegation from Canada, representing the Urban Economy Forum (UEF), an international nonprofit organization affiliated with the United Nations. The collaboration aims to unlock substantial financial resources and opportunities for selected cities, with Lowell being the first in the United States to receive this designation.

During a presentation at City Hall, City Manager Tom Golden emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “The goal today is to look at the future of Lowell tomorrow.” The UEF works closely with the World Urban Pavilion to support cities that show promise in becoming innovative and sustainable urban centers. Toronto is among the global cities currently designated, but Lowell's selection marks a significant milestone for the U.S.

Eduardo Lopez Moreno, Co-Director of the World Urban Pavilion, highlighted the potential he sees in Lowell. “We work in a selective few cities that have the potential to be successful,” he said. The Frontrunner status allows Lowell to tap into a global pipeline of investment in finance, construction, and design, with the ultimate aim of creating inclusive, safe, and resilient communities.

The delegation attended a City Council meeting where they received a detailed briefing on the expertise and capital that could flow into Lowell, along with the conditions required to implement the program. Many of these conditions have already been met, including the completion of the Lowell Forward Master Plan.

Lowell Forward: A Blueprint for the Future

Lowell Forward, completed in 2024, serves as the city’s comprehensive plan for the next four decades. It outlines a 20-year vision and roadmap for supporting growth and investment in the downtown business district, neighborhoods, communities, open spaces, and infrastructure networks. The plan covers various areas, including land use, housing, transportation, economic development, environment, parks, and arts. It includes a detailed strategy combining ongoing efforts with new initiatives to guide Lowell’s growth while preserving its unique character.

The UEF team praised Lowell’s historical and cultural assets, natural resources such as the Merrimack River and the canal system, open spaces, and the presence of national parks. Additionally, the city’s strong college and university system was noted as a key factor in the decision to grant Frontrunner status.

Leadership and Partnerships Drive the Initiative

The UEF delegation included UEF Director Kamran Hassani Espili and UEF Head of the Chair’s Office & Senior Advisor Saman Motamedi. They joined Lopez Moreno at the podium, addressing a room filled with developers and other leaders, including Mayor Dan Rourke, City Councilors Paul Ratha Yem and Corey Belanger, former state Sen. Steve Panagiotakos, Lowell Housing Authority Director Tha Chhan, and Zoning Board of Appeals member Dennis McCarthy, among others.

Following the presentation, the UEF team engaged in one-on-one discussions with developers before meeting with UMass Lowell leadership. They also embarked on a citywide bus tour of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), an $800 million development plan that could serve as an economic engine for the city. LINC aims to build a vibrant business and innovation center downtown, expected to bring in $3.7 billion and create 2,000 permanent jobs over 10 years.

On Wednesday, the team met with nonprofit leaders and toured areas under development, including the Hamilton Canal Innovation District, the Jackson-Appleton-Middlesex Street neighborhood, the District and Superior courthouse properties, the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center parcel off Warren Street, and the Gallagher Transportation Center off Thorndike Street.

State Support and Next Steps

The city was an early adopter of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Communities Law. The Frontrunner City status has attracted attention from state leadership, who are champions of more housing and business development in the commonwealth.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary Ed Augustus will attend a roundtable for the UEF delegation held at Cobblestones Restaurant on Thursday night. Assistant City Manager/Director of Planning & Development Yovani Baez Rose mentioned that the next step in the Frontrunner City initiative is to identify neighborhoods that are “big enough, bold enough, and impactful enough to add up to the program.”

“We need to identify areas in the city where we can do big things,” she said. “Areas of the city that need more strategic interventions.”

The sixth Urban Economy Forum was held in September last year, with Mayor Rourke connecting with UEF leadership to discuss Frontrunner status. By December, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the UEF to take all necessary steps to formally become a Frontrunner City. In February, Golden and Rourke returned to Toronto to finalize the decision, leading to this week’s visit.

More discussions will take place over the next several months to determine next steps, but Golden stated that the “path to transformation” is underway. “This isn’t just a white paper,” he said. “This is the potential for international investment to move Lowell to the next level.”