CHESTER – The job is posted for a rural economic development coordinator to operate out of Chester, and serve that community along with the towns of Middlefield, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell and Blandford. The job posting is the result of a grant of just over $100,000 to the Hilltown Cooperative, the group that emerged from a Community Compact signed on by the six towns and the Baker/Polito administration one year ago.
Hilltown Collaborative members at a meeting last November to work on an economic development strategy for the hilltowns. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Facing an aging population, stagnant growth and rising taxes, the Hilltown Collaborative identified the need to plan for the future. They will be working to promote attractions, assets and growth in the hilltowns, and to encourage more families to move in and more economic investment, according to chair Andrew Myers following the announcement of the grant funding.
The Hilltown Collaborative, which has representative members from each of the towns assigned by the individual select boards, retained the services of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to assist in recruitment of the position. PVPC has also been an active part of the Community Compact efforts, and is also helping to look at shared financial and IT services between the towns.
The salary for the full-time, benefitted position is posted at $45,000 to $60,000, depending on experience, and is available online at www.mma.org in municipal job opportunities, under the listing of Rural Economic Development Coordinator, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
The new coordinator will also have the benefit of starting with an economic development plan put together by Elan Planning/Design/Landscape Architecture over the past year, thanks to a $40,000 grant from MassDevelopment. Elan met with stakeholders and town officials throughout the past year, as well as holding open houses and touring the area. Their plan, which focuses on the assets and opportunities in the region, is expected to be finalized over the summer.
While the position is paid for by grant funding the first year, the plan is for all six towns to share the cost of continuing the position in the ensuing years.
“I think it’s important even for small communities to have somebody spearheading economic development issues,” said Joe Mitchell, city advancement officer for Westfield. “The reason being, I have site selectors calling this office very regularly, and they have an interest in a certain parcel or in the city of Westfield.”
Mitchell acknowledged that he doesn’t get them all across the finish line. “But if there isn’t a resource where they can direct the inquiries, you’re going to get zero percent across the finish line,” Mitchell said.
Myers said at the announcement of the grant that they hope to have someone in place by July 1. The deadline posted on the job description is May 22.
“It should be exciting. Things are starting to happen. The real gratification will be when we see new growth coming and the economy starting to turn a bit,” Myers said.
