Moving Beyond the Pandemic in the Pioneer Valley
Economic Development Assessment of Small Towns & Rural Communities
CLIENT: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
TEAM: Judi Barrett, Principal-in-Charge, Catherine Dennison, Community Planning Associate, Alexis Lanzillotta, Project Manager, Fiona Coughlan AICP, Community Planner
In 2022, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) hired Barrett Planning Group to assess local economic conditions and the state of economic recovery in the 35 small towns and rural communities in Hampshire County and Hampden County. We consulted with local officials, town planners, and regional economic development and community development organizations, and gathered, analyzed, and mapped available market, economic, land use, housing, and labor force data.
From these many sources and others, we created 35 town profiles with maps and economic metrics, and developed recommendations for PVPC and the communities to move forward with economic development activities scaled to the size and character of these small communities:
Improving regional communications and coordination
Activating strategies for promoting local businesses
Addressing the region’s housing affordability and housing supply constraints
Holding regional and inter-local economic development roundtables
Building recreational, agricultural, and heritage tourism development
Zoning reform: aligning local control with twenty-first century zoning
Working on local economic development assessments
On December 9, 2022, American Planning Association Massachusetts awarded the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission the 2022 Planning Project Award to this project.
Learn more about other award recipients here:
https://www.apa-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-APA-MA-Awards-1.pptx.pdf
Barrett Planning Group LLC provides high-quality, customized planning and community development services for cities and towns and non-profit organizations throughout greater Massachusetts and New England. Barrett Planning Group is known for our creative approach to planning and problem-solving, our expertise as trainers and technical assistance providers, our attentiveness to clients, and our expertise in capacity building.
We advocate for healthy, sustainable communities that value education, diversity, and social equity.
Our offices are located in Hingham, MA. Contact us to work together.