LOWELL — Ali Carter’s introduction to her job as the new director of economic development was a trial-by-fire during Mayor Sokhary Chau’s business roundtable discussions.
The small-group sessions were designed to introduce business owners to city services, as well as provide additional support for pandemic-related impacts. Carter was barely a week into her new job, and still going through the process of learning all its roles and responsibilities, yet she managed to provide much-needed resources and line up supports for many of the participants.
“Business owners from the first series of communities — Asian American, Hispanic and Latino, Caribbean and African American — came to City Hall to meet with leadership,” Carter remembered. “We wanted business owners to know that you belong here, that you are welcome here and that we’re here to help.”
Putting herself out there and having an open-door policy are core values…
