Bridge the Gap: A Cape Cod Bridges Podcast

The Cape Cod housing market has been strong for many years, with sustained price increases. But since the onset of COVID-19, the growth has been explosive -- the average price of a single-family home has surged from $450,000 to $620,000 -- in less than two years. That's squeezing many people out of the market and forcing long-term Cape Codders to make difficult decisions about staying on Cape or looking for more affordable locations to purchase. And that it is having a big impact on the employment market, putting businesses in the vice when it comes to finding workers. On this edition of The Policy Pod, The Davenport Companies Director of Communication Matt Pitta and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki discuss the current state of housing and what the Chamber is doing to address the issue.

After 24 years leading the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, CEO Wendy Northcross officially retired earlier this year, capping off an immensely successful career leading Cape Cod's foremost promoter of the region's economy. Her successor, Paul Niedzwiecki, comes to the Chamber from successful careers in government, policy planning and the private sector. On this edition of the Policy Pod, Matt Pitta sits down with both Wendy and Paul at a testimonial dinner held in Wendy's honor in Dennis. Listen in to hear about where the Cape Cod economy has been -- where's it headed -- and the challenges ahead.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce continues work on promoting the 'Blue Economy' - an initiative to build a sense of pride and identity in the region's 'water economy,' and to encourage responsible blue entrepreneurship and employment. The vast majority of Cape Cod's economic engine is driven by water -- better defined as the health and quality of our beaches, bays and ponds. Without it - the Cape's tourism economy could not survive. As a way to promote the concept, more than 30 Waypoints have recently been installed across Cape Cod. The interpretive structures are designed to educate people about the special relationship we have with our waters. On this episode of the Policy Pod, Expedition Blue Director of Community Engagement Bert Jackson joins Matt Pitta to talk about the initiative.

The Summer of 2021 has officially arrived on Cape Cod -- and local businesses are looking for a strong season as they continue to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Quahog Day, a light-hearted welcome to summer, where "Johnny Quahog" delivers the prognostication of how many days of sunny weather the Cape will have from "Doug the Quahog." And the friendly mollusk predicted more than 100 days of summer! The event was created several years ago as a way to build interest for Cape Cod at the beginning of the summer season. On this edition of the Policy Pod, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross and Matt Pitta, Director of Communication with The Davenport Companies, speak with 2021 Quahog host Chris Lambton, a local business owner and HGTV host, about the upcoming season.

Cape Cod and all of Massachusetts moved into the next phase of reopening on April 30 more than year after the COVID-19 outbreak began. As of the end of April, the outdoor mask mandate has been eliminated. In the coming weeks, capacity limits for gatherings will increase for both indoor and outdoor venues. Street festivals, parades and beer gardens will be able to reopen. Gov. Charlie Baker also announced that as of August 1st, all industry restrictions will be lifted. On this episode of the Policy Pod, we discuss what the changes mean for Cape Cod residents and businesses.

In an historic step, the first-ever grants from the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund were issued on April 16, 2021 to local towns. Projects will include innovative strategies and alternative septic system technologies and wastewater treatment plants, as well as drainage improvements and water treatment programs. The ultimate goal is to improve water quality in freshwater ponds and marine resources. On this episode, we explain why it's important and what it means for the future of clean water on Cape Cod.

The Town of Barnstable has embarked on an ambitious and critical plan to ensure clean water for the community's future. On this episode of the Policy Pod, we take an in-depth look at one of the most pressing issues facing all Cape Cod communities -- our future wastewater needs and treatment options. Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells and Barnstable Director of Finance Mark Milne join the podcast to detail what residents and business should expect over the next several months and years from the planning, construction and financing angles contained in their Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan.

When COVID-19 hit nearly one year ago, the public transportation sector took a major blow, with people avoiding trains, buses and other modes that involved putting large groups of people together. The result was devastating to the financial well-being of public and private transit agencies on which so many rely. On this edition of the Policy Pod, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Administrator Tom Cahir joins us to talk about federal money that is arriving to help the struggling transit sector.

In 1997, Wendy Northcross took what at the time was going to be a temporary assignment as the CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Nearly a quarter of a century later, she has announced her retirement after transforming the once-languishing organization into Cape Cod's most influential force for tourism and business promotion. Through good and bad economic cycles, recessions and now a pandemic, Northcross has been the steady steward on the rudder keeping Cape Cod moving forward. On this segment of the Policy Pod, we talk with her about the past 24 years leading the Cape Cod business community.