Economic Development & Planning
Greater Franklin County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Program & Economic Development District (EDD)
Through the CEDS Program, an EDA grant funded infrastructure in the Randall Pond Industrial Park in Orange.
Project Overview
The CEDS Program provides coordinated regional economic development planning for the Greater Franklin County CEDS Region, which includes the twenty-six towns of Franklin County plus the towns of Amherst, Athol and Phillipston. This program maintains the region’s eligibility for select federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding programs. The intention of the CEDS Program is to create a roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy, in a way that benefits its constituents and is in keeping with their values and goals. The CEDS Program is guided by the CEDS Committee and the EDD Governing Board, which oversee the development of the five-year plan and its annual updates. To support the implementation of the CEDS Program, the CEDS Region was designated an (EDD by the EDA in 2006. Through this designation the FRCOG may apply for federal planning funds to support the CEDS Program.
Current Activities
In June 2011, the first update to the 2010 CEDS Plan (882K pdf), the 2011 CEDS Annual Report (1.7M PDF) was created. The Annual Report includes socio-economic and industry data, an update on programs and policies that impact the region's economy, and an expanded 2010 CEDS Listing that includes cluster development projects.
One project identified in the CEDS Plan was the potential for a telecommunications interconnection facility in the Greenfield area. Such a facility would leverage existing and pending fiber optic telecom infrastructure for the purpose of enhancing the regional economy. In September 2010, FRCOG was awarded a $78,000 EDA strategy grant to hire expert consultants to conduct a feasibility study. The EDA grant was matched by an award from the MassBroadband Institute a and the volunteer time of Innovation Committee members who provided oversight to the project. The consulting team of Communications Media Advisors was hired and completed this work in September 2011. Their findings concluded that there was an attractive opportunity for an Interconnection Facility with a small, technology-focused data center space in the Greenfield area, and that this asset would support the growth of IT intensive businesses and result in job creation and private investment. A presentation of this study and its findings (2.2M PDF) is available for download.
Through the CEDS Program, two small research projects were recently completed. First, a survey of real estate professionals (1.0M PDF) serving the region was undertaken to learn how they market Franklin County commercial/industrial properties. Based on the findings of this survey, the FRCOG will coordinate a meeting to discuss existing resources and needs for further promoting Franklin County commercial/industrial properties. The second project was a literature review and case study (456K PDF) on recreation and nature-based tourism in rural areas. Franklin County has a wealth of natural and cultural resources that residents enjoy and attracts visitors. This paper explores the development of this industry and examines a case study in Maine.
Future Plans
Under the guidance of the CEDS Committee and EDD Governing Board, FRCOG will implement the activities outlined in the 2010 CEDS Plan and subsequent CEDS Annual Reports. These activities include facilitating meetings and events that build local economic development capacity, providing technical assistance to encourage downtown revitalization and the growth of innovation clusters, supporting broadband infrastructure deployment, assisting in the marketing of industrial properties and redevelopment opportunities, and more. The CEDS Committee membership consists of municipal appointees as well as at-large members appointed by regional organizations. Vacant seats on the Committee remain. If you are interested in learning more about the CEDS Committee, please contact Jessica Atwood (jatwood@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x101).
Links
US Economic Development Administration
Page last updated on December 14, 2011 .