New Bedford Ocean Cluster

The New Bedford Ocean Cluster works collaboratively with a range of private sector, public sector and academic partners to establish New Bedford as the leading ocean economy on the East Coast.

About

The New Bedford Ocean Cluster (NBOC) is a newly established 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to serve the maritime business community in the greater New Bedford region. The NBOC’s mission is to leverage New Bedford’s coastal position, marine knowledge base, and landside capacity to drive employment and wealth creation for New Bedford residents. This shall be done through a dynamic approach combining recruitment of targeted businesses, creation of unique economic infrastructure, workforce development, and support for homegrown ocean economy companies.

The NBOC has four industry pillars that reflect the blue economy in New Bedford:
  • Aquaculture
  • Commercial Fishing & Processing
  • Innovation & Technology
  • Offshore Renewable Energy

The NBOC will work collaboratively with a range of private sector, public sector and academic partners to establish New Bedford as the leading ocean economy on the East Coast. The NBOC will:

  1. Create a New Bedford maritime business network by serving both as a clearinghouse for business-to-business interaction and the leading convener of the maritime businesses, leveraging the networks, the port’s unique infrastructure and maritime know-how to attract investment and support the formation and growth of ocean economy businesses.
  2. Make the Port of New Bedford the first port of call of the offshore wind industry in the United States.
  3. Become the model for other ports to facilitate commercial collaboration between port industries and companies.
  4. Develop strategies to create more value for our community from our natural ocean resources including fish, wind and aquaculture

Services Provided

Economic and Site Development

  • Economic Development

Human Resources, Workforce and Talent

  • Employee Development
  • Industry
  • Leadership/Professional Development
  • Recruiting
  • Retention
  • Workforce Incentives
  • Workforce Training

Import and Export Assistance

  • Certification and Licensing
  • Financial Assistance for Exporting Activities
  • Identification/Research of Foreign Markets
  • Locating Foreign Distributors
  • Networking/Exploring Exporting
  • Trade Education and Training

Libraries and Research

  • Business Research Resources
  • Demographic/Census Data

Management Issues

  • Leadership/Professional Development
  • Recruiting Assistance

Manufacturing, High Tech, Life Sciences Development

  • Commercialization
  • High Tech Development
  • Industrial Technology Research
  • Manufacturing Development
  • Quality Improvement (Supply Chain, Six Sigma)
  • Science/Bioscience Seminars

Marketing and Sales

  • Competitive Analysis
  • Identification/Research of Foreign Markets

Mentoring

  • One-on-One Counseling

Networking and Associations

  • Demographically Based (Specialty)
  • Geographically Based (Specialty)
  • Industry Specific (Specialty)
  • International Trade
  • Small Business/General (Specialty)

Space

  • Site Location Assistance

Regulatory Compliance

  • Certification
  • Environmental Compliance
  • Government Requirements
  • Insurance Requirements
  • International Regulatory Compliance
  • Registration, Licenses and Permits

Starting a Business

  • Business Research Resources
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Registration, Licenses and Permits
  • Site Location

Technical Assistance

  • Commercialization

Accelerators and Incubators

  • Incubator

Events and Community Building

  • Pitch Events
  • Startup Drinks
Contact Information
Jennifer Downing
Address
1213 Purchase Street, 2nd Fl.
New Bedford, MA 02740