Franklin County – The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council announced that it has been awarded the contract to spearhead the Rural Downtown Redevelopment Project, an innovative initiative aimed at revitalizing the downtowns of Northfield, Turners 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 Development, aims to bolster economic growth and develop a sustainable regional model for rural downtown management.
The year-long pilot project builds upon a 2023-2024 study conducted by the BSC Group, which identified the need for enhanced coordination and administrative capacity to support rural downtowns. The Rural Downtown District Project aims to strengthen economic growth, 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, can be replicated throughout Franklin County and other rural areas.
According to officials, the Chamber of Commerce, serving as Franklin County’s only regional Chamber 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 collaboration and leverage existing resources to maximize the pilot’s success.
Ted Harvey, Senior Economic development Planner at FRCOG explained that each of the three pilot communities prioritized enhanced coordination in their Local Rapid Recovery Plans, making them ideal starter locations to pilot this new approach.
Harvey says the Franklin County Chamber will collaborate closely with the Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC), FRCOG, municipal officials, and local leaders to launch the pilot. A key part of the project will include hiring a Downtown District Coordinator (DDC) to convene working groups in each community. These Downtown Working Groups (DWGs)— comprised of business owners, residents, nonprofit leaders, arts & culture representatives, property owners, and town officials—will identify 2–3 priority projects in each district, help guide the Downtown District Coordinator, and inform long-term planning.
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce will provide regular updates as the project progresses. For more information or to learn more about the Downtown District Coordinator position, please visit franklincc.org.
