Shaping the Future: Coming Together to Create a Vision for the Shelburne Falls Economy & Community

What’s next for the future of our local downtowns? That’s the question community members and business owners gathered to discuss on January 28 when the results of the Rural Downtown District Management Study were presented. Commissioned by FRCOG in partnership with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and the Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC), the study—conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG)—explored ways to boost economic and community vitality in Shelburne Falls, Turners Falls, and Northfield Center.

One major takeaway from the study was that a regional approach could be beneficial. Instead of hiring separate staff for each community, which according to the study would be unsustainable, FRCOG secured funding for a one-year pilot program for a shared Regional Coordinator.

In Shelburne Falls, responses were mixed. Some community members supported splitting the role into three part-time positions, while others strongly felt that local business support should be prioritized over tourism. A common concern was whether one person could effectively serve the unique needs of all three communities. To address this, BCG recommended forming a downtown Shelburne Falls working group to collaborate with the new Regional Coordinator and help set priorities.

This idea aligns with an ongoing effort by the Shelburne Falls Initiative, which has been exploring the creation of a Shelburne Falls Steering Committee to lead local economic and community development efforts. Such a group could provide long-term leadership, set priorities and goals for the village, lead community outreach, and decide how the new Regional Coordinator could assist Shelburne Falls in building on the existing momentum.

In Shelburne Falls, Cate Chadwick has been fulfilling a similar role—organizing events, coordinating with businesses and nonprofits, and managing ShelburneFalls.com—primarily as a volunteer. Whit Sanford has led fundraising efforts through the Shelburne Falls Initiative, with the Franklin County Community Development Corporation as its fiscal sponsor. Their contributions were acknowledged by Franklin County Chamber Executive Director Jessye Deane, who noted that the new Regional Coordinator pilot program could lay the groundwork for an eventual dedicated Shelburne Falls coordinator.

Want to dive deeper? Interested in the details of the study's findings and the decision to move ahead with the Regional Coordinator pilot program, you can view the presentation slides from the January 28, 2024, meeting here:
Rural Downtown District Management Study Presentation

Stay tuned! In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about the work of the Shelburne Falls Initiative, the development of the Shelburne Falls Steering Committee, and updates on the Regional Coordinator pilot program.