Page 30 - BusinessWest May 26, 2025

Designs on Growth
Franklin County Chamber to Lead Downtown Revitalization Project
“This project
is an exciting
opportunity to
plug in additional
administrative
capacity to
enhance regional
collaboration
and downtown
vibrancy and
test a replicable
regional model for
economic growth.”
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce &
Regional Tourism Council recently announced that
it has been awarded the contract to spearhead the
Rural Downtown Redevelopment Project, an initiative
aimed at revitalizing the downtowns of Northfield, Turn-
ers Falls, and Shelburne Falls/Buckland.
The project, administered by the Franklin Regional
Council of Governments (FRCOG) and funded by the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Develop-
ment, aims to bolster economic growth and develop
a sustainable regional model for rural downtown
management.
The year-long pilot project builds upon a 2023-24
study conducted by the BSC Group, which identified
the need for enhanced coordination and administra-
tive capacity to support rural downtowns. The Rural
Downtown District Project aims to strengthen economic
growth and improve collaboration between business
owners, municipal leaders, and community stakeholders
to boost local economies and improve overall downtown
vibrancy, and pilot a regional downtown coordination
model that, if successful, may be replicated throughout
Franklin County and other rural areas.
Project organizers say the Franklin County Chamber
of Commerce, serving as the county’s only regional cham-
ber and state-designated regional tourism council, is well-
positioned to lead the effort. With more than a century
of experience supporting local businesses, promoting
economic development, and marketing Franklin County
locally and regionally, the chamber looks to improve col-
laboration and leverage existing resources to maximize
the pilot’s success.
“After a robust planning process, we are excited about
the opportunity to work with the chamber on this pilot
phase of the Rural Downtown Redevelopment Project,”
said Ted Harvey, senior economic development planner at
FRCOG. “At its core, this project is about building capac-
ity and supporting our communities to grow their local
economies sustainably. Given the chamber’s strong local
partnerships and its success as a regional dot connector,
the chamber is well-positioned to bring this program to
life in the three downtown districts.”
Harvey explained that each of the three pilot com-
munities prioritized enhanced coordination in their local
rapid recovery plans, making them ideal starter locations
to pilot this new approach.
He said the Franklin County Chamber will collaborate
closely with the Franklin County Community Develop-
ment Corp. (FCCDC), FRCOG, municipal officials, and
local leaders to launch the pilot. A key part of the proj-
ect will include hiring a downtown district coordinator
to convene working groups in each community. These
downtown working groups (DWGs) — comprised of busi-
ness owners, residents, nonprofit leaders, arts and cul-
ture represen-
tatives, prop-
erty owners,
and town offi-
Franklin
Continued on page 31 >>
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