Lowell Sun - Gateway Cities partnership seen boosting Lowell

Onetime booming manufacturing cities, such as Lowell and Fitchburg, have an official new friend following Wednesday's launch of a new independent think-tank aimed at bolstering their educational and economic development.

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, created by the nonprofit, MassINC, was introduced to municipal officials, state politicians and the public at a rollout held at the Statehouse.