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Kevin Harrington of Technocopia in Worcester shows U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern a 3D printout.

(Lindsay Corcoran, MassLive.com)

WORCESTER - As he looked around Technocopia, a "makerspace" on Prescott Street filled with 3D printers, laser cutters and electrical boards, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said, "it can be."

He was referring back to his own hopes for the city of Worcester.

"I want us to be the world center for a new wave of manufacturing," McGovern had said.

Thanks to creative work spaces like Technocopia and Running Start that both serve to keep entrepreneurs in the city, McGovern said he sees that future as a possibility for Worcester.

McGovern's visit to the Running Start co-working space and adjacent Technocopia on Tuesday was part of tour organized by FWD.us, an advocacy organization promoting policy agendas to benefit the technology community.

As he chatted with people working inside Running Start, McGovern marveled at the concept of co-working and how it could provide entrepreneurs and start up businesses a place to work with a low overhead cost.

"This makes so much sense. Why weren't we doing this sooner?" McGovern said.

Ryan Leary, one of the co-founders of Running Start, told the congressman that the idea took a couple of years to catch on, but now has a strong following in the community.

"This has a real impact on the entire community," said Leary, noting it encourages new business to stay and grow in Worcester.

Next door at Technocopia, McGovern met with many recent graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

"There are a lot of brilliant minds at WPI. It's in our interest as a city and a region to help you develop roots and keep you here," McGovern said. "Future jobs are coming from those who graduate in Worcester, but the question is, are those jobs going to happen here or in San Francisco or Beijing?"

Hanlin Hong, a graduate of WPI and living in the U.S. on a visa from China, talked to McGovern about adjusting immigration policy to allow international students to start and maintain business here.

"This is my last year on my visa and I'll either have to bring my business back to China or give it up," Hong said.

McGovern said he agreed that immigration policy should encourage talented entrepreneurs like Hong to stay in the country.

"Immigration laws should reflect our economic needs," McGovern said. "The reality is, by allowing you to stay you'll be providing more opportunities for jobs for people here ... Not taking away jobs from Americans."