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Press Release: July 13, 2004

Congressman John W. Olver
1027 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLVER HOSTS FORUM ON STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NORTHERN TIER

Stakeholders weigh in on recommendations to rebuild local economy

GREENFIELD - Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District), along with Mt. Auburn Associates of Northampton, yesterday unveiled initial recommendations of a strategic plan to rebuild the economy of the Northern Tier area of Massachusetts at a meeting of nearly 120 stakeholders from communities in the region.

The meeting, held yesterday at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, was a forum for community members from across the Northern Tier to weigh in on the results of the project to date and help shape the strategic plan's next steps.

" The goal of everyone involved in this project is to develop new economic engines in the Northern Tier and make well-paying jobs accessible to low-income and working class residents here," Olver said. "This is a work in progress. The thoughts, ideas and recommendations voiced by members of the communities that make up the Northern Tier are essential in bringing this plan to action."

Mt. Auburn Associates, a consulting firm specializing in economic development issues, has been working since October 2003 with a steering committee of regional planners, economic development and housing officials, and political and business leaders in the region to develop the plan.

Olver secured $150,000 in the fiscal year 2003 federal budget for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) to conduct the project. Last fall, FRCOG contracted with Mt. Auburn, and the steering committee was formed.

Olver and Michael Kane of Mt. Auburn presented a draft report that is the culmination of work on the project to date. Then, participants broke out into smaller groups to discuss the various focus areas of the report. Each of the groups plans to meet later this summer. Mt. Auburn plans to report the findings of the groups this fall.

The draft report identifies four sectors to strengthen the region's economic base: the creative cluster, renewable and alternative energy, ecotourism and outdoor recreation, and small manufacturing. The report includes an entrepreneurial development program that was designed to help businesses in these and other promising sectors. In addition, the report targets two sector-based training areas - healthcare and manufacturing - to help residents gain access to well-paying jobs and career advancement.

[An electronic copy of the draft report is available upon request.]

" The goal is to move these sectors to a higher level of economic and commercial importance within the region," the report states. "The hope is that, over the long-term, a small artisan will grow his or her business and hire new workers, an existing ecotourism business or recreation organization will increase its customer and visitor base and expand its operations, renewable energy research and demonstration projects will lead to commercial applications and small enterprises will gain new customers and hire new employees, and small manufacturers will find new ways to increase production efficiencies and take on new workers."

Olver praised the progress on the project to date and thanked the 117 participants for attending the forum.

" The positive energy in the room was palpable, and some good work was done yesterday," Olver said. "This strategic plan holds great promise for retaining existing trade and industry and for broadening engines in the region."

The Northern Tier faces unique economic challenges that stem from the loss of its historic manufacturing base. This economic engine generated good-paying jobs for a large force of blue-collar workers and supported the vitality of communities. As manufacturing began to decline, though, it was not replaced by a comparable industry. As a result, households in the Northern Tier have earnings well below the state average and experience higher rates of unemployment and poverty.

The Northern Tier region is in northwest Massachusetts, running from the New York border east to Gardner. The decision to concentrate on the Northern Tier grew out of a previous analysis of the state showing that 32 of the poorest 50 communities in Massachusetts are in the first congressional district and that the communities along Route 2 create a solid block of the poorest communities in the state.

The Northern Tier region includes all towns in Franklin County, the Berkshire County towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown, and the Worcester County towns of Ashburnham, Athol, Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon. Route 2 and Interstate 91 are the main transportation routes in the region.

The steering committee includes Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), Nat Karns, Executive Director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Robert Hubbard, Director of the City of Gardner's Department of Community Development & Planning, Paul Douglas, Executive Director of the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Laila Michaud, Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, Peggy Sloan, Director of Planning for FRCOG, Jim Canavan of North Adams and Congressman Olver.

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