SEIZING AGGLOMERATIONS POTENTIAL - THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS METALWORKING SECTOR IN TRANSITION, 1986-1996

In the 1980s a dramatic wave of lay-offs and plant closings among west ern Massachusetts' largest metalworking manufacturers led to rapid ind ustrial decline and massive dislocation for several thousand of the re gion's workers. Today western Massachusetts is home to a thriving and competitive agglomeration of over 350 small metalworking firms. In an industrial sector known for cut-throat competition, cost-driven busine ss strategies and fierce privacy, western Massachusetts firms stand ap art for their openness. Hundreds of workers and managers have particip ated in group training and seminars over the last several years in top ics including blue-print reading, computer numerical control machine t ool programming and repair, work flow management and ISO 9000 certific ation. Western Massachusetts represents a successful case of the 'boot strapping' approach to local economic development in which new institu tions, services and forms of collaboration between and among firms and service providers emerge from a continuous process of engagement and adjustment between public and private actors. The geographic proximity of some three hundred small metalworking firms in western Massachuset ts created the possibility for innovative behaviour, but that agglomer ation's potential was realized through the conscious and continuous in terventions of a committed group of public and private actors.