TURNERS FALLS — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, visited the village Friday afternoon to hear about priorities for development.
“This is a neat community,” McGovern observed.
Part of the occasion for his meeting with Montague town officials and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, was the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package the federal government passed in March, which will include sums of money for individual states that may be distributed to towns and cities.
“This money is going to go quickly. Everyone is going to ask for it,” McGovern said. “And those decisions are going to be made relatively quickly.”
McGovern also suggested that he may be able to offer other forms of political support for major development projects in Montague.
Most of the meeting with McGovern was spent on a walking tour of the Canal District, which town officials have often discussed as a long-term priority for development.
“Turners Falls has become one of those places where people really want to go for dinner or a show,” Town Administrator Steve Ellis told McGovern. “Last year notwithstanding, we’re not expecting any of that momentum to have waned. It’s just an attractive, interesting place.”
Ellis and Town Planner Walter Ramsey described Montague’s goals for developing the area north of the mill buildings into a public park with river access. They also discussed the progress around the old mill buildings, one of which is planning to house a new marijuana grower.
“A lot of communities would tear this down,” McGovern said of the mill buildings. “You could never build something like this again.”
“Ultimately we’re trying to create gravity in this town. These historic buildings possess so much gravity in and of themselves,” Ellis said.
Ellis and Ramsey also brought up FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s ongoing renewal of its federal licenses, which are valid for 50 years, and so are expected to have long-term influences on development in Montague. McGovern and Blais said they were interested in participating in the negotiations.
“What makes me feel good about this discussion is, you actually have a plan,” McGovern said. “I think that will make it more attractive for the state to want to work with you. It also makes it easier for us to advocate on the federal monies the state will receive.”
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.