Aaron Vega
Reminder Publishing file photo
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Planning and Economic Development Director Aaron Vega has been appointed president and CEO for the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.
The membership organization made up of businesses, universities and partnerships works together to better the economic development prosperity for Western Massachusetts.
It focuses on Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, and also collaborates with Berkshire County.
Vega will be replacing Rick Sullivan, who has served the EDC for 11 years and will work his last day in the lead role on Dec. 31.
Vega previously served on the Holyoke City Council and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Since January 2021, he has led the Office of Planning and Economic Development in Holyoke. He is also the son of Carlos Vega, a local activist and co-founder of Nueva Esperanza.
Vega talked about his journey that has led him to this new role.
“I’m excited, definitely excited to be back in terms of the big conversation. Going from a state representative, to working municipality to then this makes a lot of sense. It’s a great trajectory, and I feel like I got the right skill set to bring to this new role,” he said.
Vega was appointed after a nationwide search that yielded more than 100 applicants.
He said he wants to figure out how the EDC can support municipalities, and he plans to work with colleges like the University of Massachusetts.
Vega explained how he wants the EDC to partner with municipalities to help with site readiness.
“One of the big challenges we have when it comes to economic development and companies, even small companies, startups, entrepreneurs or the larger companies is site location and site readiness,” Vega said. “Not everyone wants to get involved in the $40 million rehab project. People want sites that are ready to go.”
When it comes to working with the colleges, Vega said, “The second really big bucket is working with UMass particularly, but all the colleges as they sort of start up with entrepreneurs, these young people who are developing the next great idea and developing new companies and new ways and new systems. We want to make sure those companies stay in Western Massachusetts.”
Vega explained that too often these companies are leaving Western Massachusetts. If those companies leave, the population of people between the ages of 25 years old and 45 years old will also be leaving because there are no jobs.
“We’re losing the job creators and then we’re losing the people who would fill these jobs, so I really think we’ve got to close that gap and make sure that these companies that are being cultivated here, stay in Western Massachusetts,” he said.
Another item Vega said he wants to focus on is making sure “everyone is pulling on the same rope in the same direction.”
“I want to find those topics that we can all agree upon,” Vega said.
Vega will be leaving his current role in Holyoke at the end of the year. He said he has been working with Mayor Joshua Garcia to find his replacement.
“I’m hoping the next director can continue the good work that’s going on in Holyoke,” Vega said. “We’ve got a lot of new companies coming here and it’s a lot of startups and green tech companies, and also the work we’ve been doing on tourism.”
When he starts the new role, Vega said he anticipates to spend the first six months as a “listening tour” to meet with the local Chambers, the education sectors, businesses, elected officials and local economic directors to figure out how the EDC can help.
After that, Vega said he’ll likely focus on staffing within the EDC and updating the website. He hopes that in September, the EDC can host an event to introduce the new staff, talk about the current direction of the EDC and plans going forward.
