Report on area's 'creative economy' due

A report on the region's "creative economy" is due to be released on Tuesday by the North Shore Creative Economy Association. The Salem Partnership and The Enterprise Center at Salem State College also commissioned the study, which was paid for with a state grant.

Officials would not comment on the report's findings before they are formally released during a meeting at the Cummings Center in Beverly that is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.

But Christine Sullivan, executive director of the Enterprise Center, said the study will show that the creative economy is not just a flash in the pan. "It will show that it is quite a substantial part of the North Shore economy," she said.

The "creative economy" is usually associated with arts and culture-related businesses. But Sullivan said the sector is much broader, involving software firms, architects, and technology companies. "The creative economy includes people who are inventing things, who are using technology to invent things. It isn't only the traditional art fields. We believe the future is in being innovative and creative," she said.

The report was prepared by two Cambridge firms, ConsultEcon Inc. and Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services. Its findings will be used to map out a strategy to manage and promote that economic sector, Sullivan said.

Job cuts continue at the Alcatel-Lucent plant on the Haverhill-North Andover line. About 20 workers left on March 30, marking the second round of job cuts since the telecom plant's closing was announced last summer. Manufacturing jobs will be shipped to Italy. A union leader said there now are about 200 union and temporary workers left at the plant, which makes transmission equipment.

"People have gone gradually," said Gary Nilsson, president of CWA Local 1365, the largest labor union at the plant. "They've told us we'll all be gone by summer."

A spokeswoman at Alcatel-Lucent confirmed most workers will have no jobs by then. "The bulk of our manufacturing will be gone," said Mary Ward , a spokeswoman at Alcatel-Lucent's North American headquarters in New Jersey.

The plant was approved for trade adjustment assistance, federal money that is available to workers whose jobs are lost to foreign competition. Lucent workers will be eligible for grant money to retrain for jobs in a new field. "A lot of our people came to work here right out of high school," Nilsson said. "This extra training is going to really help them."

The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce will welcome dozens of local businesses and Governor Deval Patrick to Haverhill over the next two weeks. On Wednesday, the chamber will hold its Spring Business Expo and Job Fair at Michael's Function Hall on River Street. About 70 companies, including banks, restaurants, and hotels, will participate.

The expo runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public. The breakfast and luncheon events require tickets. Education and workforce development will be discussed at the breakfast. Immigration will be the topic for the luncheon program. "Immigration is a key issue in the presidential election. We're going to address it here," said Joe Bevilacqua, the chamber's executive director.

On April 29, Patrick will be the guest speaker at the chamber's annual dinner, scheduled for 7 p.m. at DiBurro's in Haverhill. A reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. For information, call the chamber at 978-868-0900.

The Rockport Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Brackett's Oceanview Restaurant, 25 Main St. The guest speaker will be Anita Walker, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Officials also plan to cut a birthday cake to honor the 81st anniversary of the Rockport Board of Trade, the forerunner to the chamber, and the chamber's merger with the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce in Gloucester three years ago. For information, contact the chamber at 978-546-6575.

The North Shore Technology Council will hold its monthly breakfast meeting on April 30, 7 to 9 a.m. , at the Peabody Marriott on Centennial Drive in Peabody. A panel discussion on "Early Stage Dollars," is planned. The cost is $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers. To register, visit nstc.org

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.