The future of our regional economy depends on our ability to address housing, its availability, affordability, and alignment with workforce needs. Game Changers: Building the Future of Housing focuses on the bold ideas and collaborative approaches required to meet this challenge head-on.
Housing now sits at the center of some of today’s most pressing business issues, including workforce shortages, rising costs, and regional competitiveness. Worcester is experiencing a tremendous surge in housing production. Over the past decade, the city has successfully delivered more than 3,000 new housing units. This momentum is only accelerating: today, there are over 1,600 units actively under construction and another 3,000 units in the pipeline.
While this growth is historic, the demand for housing remains critical. To keep pace with economic growth and ensure affordability, regional and state targets show we must scale up production even further. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts estimates a need for 220,000 new units by 2035, with Worcester’s local share requiring over 12,000 new units by 2033. Worcester is proud to lead on housing development, but we must continue to build on this foundation to meet the needs of our growing community.
This half-day conference will convene leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector to explore how housing shapes the ability of companies and communities to grow and thrive. Featuring insights from two keynote speakers and expert-led workshops, the program will examine emerging trends, policy tools, and market-driven solutions that can help unlock housing development and support long-term economic growth. Attendees will engage in meaningful dialogue focused on what’s next and how we can move forward together.
Sponsorship Available Now
https://www.worcesterchamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026_GameChangers_Sponsorship.pdf
Registration and Agenda coming soon