What is Cape Cod Focus?

Cape Cod is losing its greatest resource, its people, and to curb this devastating trend, a collection of concerned citizens, business individuals and community leaders have joined forces to create Cape Cod Focus, a study group committed to providing analysis, advocacy and support for issues that improve the quality of life for Cape Codders of all ages.

The quality of life on Cape Cod is in danger. The Cape’s economics and demographics are out of balance. We believe that by accessing critical information and by engaging in constructive inquiry and discussion, we can assist Cape Cod decision makers in improving the future.

Cape Cod Focus is led by Steve Abbott, retired CEO of Cape Cod Health Care, and Gary Sheehan, President & CEO of Cape Medical Supply and co-founder of Cape Cod Young Professionals, will work to:

* Separate the myths from the realities of the Cape Cod economy, in addition to its demographic and future challenges
* Optimize local tax dollars through resource and idea sharing
* Help create multiple economic opportunities to ensure that the Cape will be a diverse and vibrant community
* Identify and explore past successes that can serve as models, such as school system consolidations, Cape Cod Healthcare, previously established municipal resource sharing and new business development
* Track and comment publicly on current initiatives being discussed or attempted


Late last fall, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Summit released a study conducted by Peter Francese, director of demographic forecasts for The New England Economic Partnership, concluding that the Cape’s year round population growth has virtually ceased after decades of double digit growth. Cape Cod, the study warned, is losing its working age adults, age 35–44 years, their children and early retirees. Young adults, for example, are relocating at a faster rate than elsewhere in Massachusetts. The study noted that communities historically have about ten years to address such trends and avoid dire economic consequences. Cape Cod Focus was formed as a result of this study. The next Economic Summit is scheduled for November 14 at Cape Cod Community College.

The membership of Cape Cod Focus includes representation from all key Cape economic sectors including: creative, educational, research, retail, banking and insurance, healthcare, hospitality and government services. Members also include representatives of stakeholder organizations like: the Workforce Investment Board, Cape Cod Community College, Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Cape Cod Young Professionals and others.

 

A Steering Committee has been formed to tackle these issues and start the conversation about changing the dynamics on Cape Cod for everyone.

Through its research, advocacy and public outreach Cape Cod Focus hopes to accomplish its goals by:

* Convening knowledgeable and concerned citizens, business people and community leaders
* Being flexible and open to all points of view with a bias for action
* Providing focus on key issues through open communication, advocacy, broad based discussion and interaction with elected officials
* Securing objective analysis of certain issues to promote greater understanding and appropriate action
* Tracking progress of key initiatives
* Generating ideas and asking questions that may challenge “business as usual” in the public and private sectors

Cape Cod Focus, in its work, pledges to acknowledge the successes of others, and help build community consensus without seeking credit or recognition for its efforts.

 

Steering Committee Members

Gary Sheehan, President/CEO, Cape Medical Supply 

Wendy Northcross, CEO, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Richard Neitz, Neitz Real Estate - Chairman, CC Chamber of Commerce

David Augustinho, Executive Director, Cape & Islands Workforce Investment Board

William Zammer, President, Cape Cod Restaurants, Inc. 

Kathleen Schatzberg, President, Cape Cod Community College

Dorothy Savarese, President and CEO, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank,

Jamie Regan, CRB CRS, Owner/Broker, Century 21 Regan Realtors

Tony Shepley, President and Owner, Shepley Wood Products

Douglas Storrs, Vice President, Mashpee Commons LP/Cornish Associates

Dan Gallagher, CCCC -  Exec. Director, Open Cape

Steve Abbott, retired, Cape Cod Healthcare - Co-Chair, Steering Committee

Allen White, Optimist Café - CC Econ. Devel. Council Rep.

Peter Meyer, President and Publisher, Cape Cod Times

Paul Niedzwiecki, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission

Greg O'Brien, Stony Brook Group and Owner, Codfish Press

Paul Rumul, COO, Davenport Companies 

Fred O'Regan, President and CEO, IFAW

Margaret Van Sciver, Whitebriar Fin. Corp. - Chair, Bd of Dir., Arts Foundation of CC

Peter Polhemus, Polhemus, Savery DaSilva Architects/Builders President, Cape Cod Homebuilders and Remodelers Assn.

William Doherty, Barnstable County County Commissioner

Staff:
Clare O'Connor, Dir. of Economic Initiatives, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce