Northern Middlesex Council of Governments

09/08/2026

What does it take to keep development moving in Greater Lowell?

That’s one of the questions we’ll dig into during a special Developer Roundtable at the 2026 Greater Lowell Economic Summit on September 22.

We’re bringing together four voices with different perspectives across the development landscape:

🔹 Jeff Bush, President, Heritage Properties
🔹 Steve Horn, Vice President – Leasing, Farley White Interests
🔹 Sandi Silk, Executive Vice President of Real Estate, MassDevelopment
🔹 LZ Nunn, Executive Director, The Lowell Plan, Inc./LDFC — Moderator

This will be a candid conversation about the realities of development today, from market conditions and financing to leasing, investment, public-private partnerships, and the opportunities developers see in our region. Whether you’re a municipal leader, business owner, planner, community partner, investor, or simply someone who cares about the region’s economic future, this is an opportunity to hear directly from people making decisions about where and how investment happens.

Come listen, ask questions, share your perspective, and help shape the conversation about what Greater Lowell needs to be future-ready.

📅 September 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 UKG Headquarters, Lowell
🔗 RSVP: nmcog.org/summit

More speakers and sessions for the Summit will be announced soon!

08/12/2026

Register for the 2026 Greater Lowell Economic Summit!

Join us on Tuesday, September 22, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at UKG Headquarters in Lowell for this free regional event focused on the opportunities and challenges shaping Greater Lowell’s economy.

The summit will feature a developer roundtable and panels on:

* Building organizational and community capacity
* Destination development
* Leveraging regional opportunities
* Infrastructure

Participants will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the progress the region has made in advancing the 2025–2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Business leaders, elected and appointed officials, nonprofit organizations, and community members are all invited to participate.

📅 Tuesday, September 22 | 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 UKG Headquarters, 900 Chelmsford Street, Lowell

Register today: https://nmcog.org/summit

Co-sponsored by NMCOG, Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, MassHire Lowell Career Center, The Lowell Plan and the LDFC, Middlesex 3 Coalition, and Revolutionary Valley.

07/14/2026

We're hiring!

NMCOG is seeking a Regional Planner and a Regional Housing Coordinator to join our team.

If you're looking for an opportunity to help communities address complex planning challenges while working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment, we'd love to hear from you.

At NMCOG, our staff work directly with local governments across the Greater Lowell region on projects that strengthen communities and improve quality of life. Our work spans housing, transportation, land use, economic development, sustainability, climate resilience, and regional services. We are looking for team members who are thoughtful, collaborative, and committed to helping communities develop practical, forward-looking solutions.

If you're interested in meaningful public service, working on a diverse portfolio of projects, and making a lasting impact at the local and regional levels, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more about our current openings and how to apply here: https://www.nmcog.org/jobs.aspx

Please share this post with your network or anyone who may be interested in joining our team.

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07/06/2026

Join the Conversation on Pepperell's Housing Future

Town of Pepperell, MA Housing Production Plan

Let's Talk Housing: From Ideas to Action

Second Public Forum

Monday, July 13 | 6:30 PM

Lawrence Library

15 Main Street, Pepperell

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first community forum and shared ideas about housing in Pepperell. Now it's time to take the next step.

Join your neighbors for an interactive discussion as we build on what we've heard, explore potential housing strategies, and identify priorities that will help shape Pepperell's Housing Production Plan.

Whether you attended the first forum or are joining us for the first time, your perspective matters. Together, we'll:

- Review what we've learned from the community

- Explore potential housing solutions

- Discuss priorities for Pepperell's future

- Help shape the Town's Housing Production Plan

Your voice can help create a stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable Pepperell.

Can't attend? We still want to hear from you. Share your ideas and provide feedback through the online project page:

This page is designed to give the Pepperell community an interactive platform to be engaged in the planning process.

05/28/2026

The Northern Middlesex MPO is accepting public review and comment on the 2027 Unified Planning Work Program and Amendment #5 to the FFY 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) through June 18. The UPWP describes the work that NMCOG staff will perform over the 2027 Federal Fiscal Year, from data collection and public engagement through long-range interdisciplinary planning and corridor studies.

Share your input via email, mail, or at our virtual public meeting on 6/3 at 12pm.
Read the materials and share your feedback: https://www.nmcog.org/publiccomment

05/22/2026

Have you ever lived or worked in Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, or Westford? If so, we want to hear from you.

Home Starts Here is a community storytelling initiative led by NMCOG and Health Resources in Action (HRiA) focused on collecting and sharing housing stories from people across the region. The initiative centers the voices and experiences that are too often missing from housing conversations.

We are looking to hear from renters, homeowners, housing providers, landlords, people experiencing homelessness, and others across the housing spectrum. Stories may reflect challenges, successes, or the everyday realities of finding and keeping housing in our communities.

By sharing these experiences, we hope to build greater understanding among local agencies, policymakers, elected officials, and neighbors about how housing policies affect people’s lives for better and for worse.

Learn more and share your interest in participating at:
nmcog.org/storytellers

05/15/2026

NMCOG has received a 2025 “Stormy” Award for the Merrimack River Revive initiative!

The award recognizes innovative regional work in stormwater management, flood resilience, and water quality planning across 13 communities in the Lower Merrimack watershed.

From stormwater mapping to watershed-scale modeling and culvert assessments, Merrimack River Revive is helping communities plan smarter and build resilience together in the face of climate challenges.

Learn more at http://www.nmcog.org/news



Art by Sector 37

05/13/2026

Come work with us and our communities in Greater Lowell! NMCOG is seeking a Regional Housing Coordinator to support local and regional housing initiatives and programs. The position will focus on assisting our member municipalities in developing, maintaining, and administering affordable housing. Learn more and apply: www.nmcog.org/jobs

05/05/2026

Reminder: public hearings on the draft Greater Lowell Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan are scheduled for tomorrow, 5/6 at 12pm and Thursday, 5/7 at 7pm. Zoom links and agendas are posted at nmcog.org/calendar.

Want to get a closer look at the bicycle and pedestrian network maps? Visit engage.nmcog.org/GLBPP for links to the map, to view the entire plan, and provide online comments!

04/27/2026

Housing affects our health, work, and daily lives. We’re launching Home Starts Here: a storytelling project to create a better understanding of how housing shapes Greater Lowell — and we want to hear from you.

Join our virtual info session on Wednesday, May 6, 4 pm to learn more and express interest in sharing your story. Gift cards available to thank the first 20 who register and attend – register today:

https://nmcog.org/homestartshere