Transition leaves WBDC in good hands

Anyone who remembers the downtown Worcester of 1992 and compares it to the city taking shape today can tell you what a difference 20 years make. And anyone who knows the Worcester business community can tell you what a difference one man has made in that transformation.

He would be the last one to boast of his role in any of the city’s many successes — from technology parks and the rebirth of Union Station to CitySquare and The Hanover Theatre — but David P. Forsberg, outgoing president of the Worcester Business Development Corporation, deserves every accolade that came his way yesterday during WBDC’s annual meeting, held at the DCU Center.

During the last 13 years at the helm of WBDC, Mr. Forsberg has been a powerful force in ushering project after project from conception to reality, providing countless new opportunities and making enduring contributions to the economic and social revitalization of Worcester and the surrounding region.

And as numerous speakers remarked yesterday, he has done it with intelligence, warmth, determination, humility, and a deep faith, always putting the needs of others, and the good of Worcester, ahead of himself.

With his family, friends and business associates on hand, Mr. Forsberg was surprised yesterday morning with WBDC’s Bowditch Award.

Development corporation begins to sketch out plans for city's core

WORCESTER — With a vision of new and renovated downtown buildings joined by clean, well-lit public spaces and accessible parking, the Worcester Business Development Corp. has refocused its attention on Worcester's downtown core.

Armed with a new leader, Executive Director Craig L. Blais, and a new direction, the WBDC has cleared several large development projects off its plate.

Although it had been involved in a number of diverse projects since its founding in 1965, the WBDC had invested most of its resources and time in two major initiatives — development of the 75-acre Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park on Belmont Hill and, in partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the transformation of 11 acres of brownfields into Gateway Park off Lincoln Square.
 

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
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WORCESTER — David P. Forsberg will step down as president of the Worcester Business Development Corp., and Craig L. Blais, the WBDC’s longtime executive vice president, will take over the reins of the nonprofit organization beginning Monday.

The change in leadership was not unexpected and had been rumored for months.

Mr. Forsberg will stay on as senior adviser.

“This is the time for me to go,” said Mr. Forsberg. “Craig is more than ready to take over.”

 J. Robert Seder, chairman of the WBDC’s board, said Mr. Forsberg and Mr. Blais have, over the years, provided strong leadership, thus making the change at the helm easy.

“Craig has done an incredible job and is deserving of this position,” he said.
 

WBDC eyes link to Theater District for $300K property

November 10. 2011 5:45AM

WORCESTER — Officials of the Telegram & Gazette and the Worcester Business Development Corp. announced yesterday that The New York Times Co., owner of the T&G, has sold the T&G buildings at 18-20 Franklin St. and the newspaper’s Federal Street parking lot to the WBDC.

The sale price was $300,000, said David P. Forsberg, chief executive officer of the WBDC.

Mr. Forsberg said the WBDC, a nonprofit developer, plans to prepare the back of the former T&G four-building complex, on Federal Street, for some kind of academic use as part of the WBDC’s Theater District downtown redevelopment project.