SHELBURNE FALLS — The Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (GSFABA) has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to match a state grant it received that will benefit the village’s economy.
Within 60 days of its launch, the association must match its $30,000 Commonwealth Places grant from MassDevelopment to secure the funding — which would total at least $60,000 — for the projects it outlined in its grant application, according to GSFABA board member Whit Sanford.
Contributions toward the project, “Shelburne Falls Initiative: Making Downtown Shine,” can be made at patronicity.com/shelburnefalls.
GSFABA qualified earlier this year for the Commonwealth Places grant, but when the pandemic arrived, the association and other grant recipients made a case to the state for changing the grant criteria so they might address the more immediate economic impact of the pandemic.
In July, GSFABA was one of 20 organizations and communities to receive a grant for two projects outlined in its revised proposal.
The first of those projects, “The Economic Recovery Fund,” is a small grants initiative to help the village’s businesses, nonprofits, artists and farmers to deal with the pandemic, and to equip their businesses with heat lamps, Plexiglas barriers and more to accommodate current health safety protocols.
The other project, the “Village Revitalization Project,” would help businesses grow by attracting visitors to Shelburne Falls year-round. Part of this project could include new lighting in the downtown area. The plan is to hold a public meeting in early 2021 to review possible scenarios.
Since July, the business association has prepared its campaign launch with the production of a video that includes voices of local business owners and state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, who is seeking re-election on Nov. 3.
“I grew up here,” Hinds said in the campaign video. “This is where nature, culture and community meet. … We really need to make sure we’re doing all we can to sustain that, to keep the character, make sure our businesses can thrive and people will come here to support and enjoy our community.”
According to a press release from GSFABA, the Franklin County Community Development Corporation will manage the funds on the association’s behalf, and decisions on spending the donations will be made by two teams of local leaders the association established to oversee each project.
“We have to match that money, dollar for dollar, so we have to raise $30,000 from everybody who loves Shelburne Falls,” Sanford said in the campaign video. “The total amount will be $60,000 if we raise the match, but I’m hoping we have a generous community out there, and we can raise even more and help the businesses and help brighten Shelburne Falls even more.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne