In full transparency, the following is a press release submitted to SOURCE media for publication.
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WESTBOROUGH – The 495/MetroWest Partnership is inviting area business and organizational leaders across its 36-municipality service area to take part in its annual 495/MetroWest Employer Survey, which opened today and will remain open through the end of April.
Employer representatives can access the survey via the organization’s website, 495Partnership.org.
The survey represents a collaborative effort between the 495/MetroWest Partnership and Framingham State University’s MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC). Now being conducted for the 10th year running, the survey is an opportunity for the region’s employers to communicate concerns and challenges, which can guide policymakers in considering needed changes and investments. The survey is also an important tool in forecasting future growth by regional employers, and in identifying warning signs of challenges to come.
“For ten years, state policymakers have looked to the results of this survey to see what’s on the minds of employers in 495/MetroWest,” said Jason Palitsch, Executive Director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership. “We’re pleased to continue our Partnership with MERC and Framingham State to lift up the voices of our employer community on a range of issues. In addition to traditional topics such as hiring intentions and business confidence, this year’s survey gives employers a more in-depth opportunity to identify concerns and threats to their future growth, including the rising cost of housing.”
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The survey may be completed by owners, leaders, or individuals with regional hiring authority for private, public, or nongovernmental organizations that have a presence in the 495/MetroWest region. The survey is entirely online and takes approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. Individual responses are kept anonymous; answers will be aggregated and reported with all responses. Results and analysis of the survey will be released later this spring.
“MERC is pleased to collaborate again with the Partnership on this 10th version of the 495/MetroWest Employer Survey,” said Luis D. Rosero, PhD, and Fahlino Sjuib, PhD, who serve as Co-Directors of MERC. “We are living through significant economic changes with higher-than-usual inflation, yet still strong housing and labor markets. As the region charts its path through the rough waters of the economy, it is incredibly valuable to hear directly from employers in our 495/MetroWest region. We look forward to learning more about how the region’s business landscape continues to evolve and thrive.”
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The survey results are annually incorporated into the 495/MetroWest Partnership’s annual economic and demographic report, Strength in Numbers, which is used to market the region to site selectors and relocating companies, as well as to advance regional needs to state policymakers.
The survey can be accessed online via the 495/MetroWest Partnership’s website, 495Partnership.org. Responses are being collected through the end of April.
Communities served by the 495/MetroWest Partnership are Acton, Ashland, Bellingham, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Harvard, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Northborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Upton, Wayland, Westborough, Westford, and Wrentham.
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The 495/MetroWest Partnership, headquartered in Westborough and serving 36 cities and towns across the region, is a unique public-private collaboration among businesses, municipalities, and other stakeholders whose mission is to lead the advancement of the 495/MetroWest region as an exceptional location for people, businesses, and communities. The vision of the Partnership is a 495/MetroWest region that enjoys sustainable economic growth, well-stewarded natural and built resources, and diverse transportation and housing choices, which together make the region a desirable place for all to live and work. The Partnership advances these aims by coordinating, educating, and advocating for solutions to regional challenges.
The MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) at Framingham State University, established in 1991, collects and analyzes data related to economic conditions in several Massachusetts regions including the MetroWest and South Shore Cohesive Commercial Statistical Areas (CCSA) and the Greater Marlborough Region. MERC provides data and analyses on economic issues of vital interest to these regions. MERC analysis has proven critical for regional and town planning as well as for the retention and recruitment of businesses.
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MetroWest Medical Center