Help wanted: the communities of Turners Falls, Shelburne Falls and Northfield are seeking a rural downtown coordinator to work on a state-funded downtown revitalization pilot program.

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has been awarded an $87,800 contract from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, which received a $100,000 Rural Development Fund grant through the state Executive Office of Economic Development to support the new position as part of the rural downtown development project. The coordinator for a yearlong pilot program will be tasked with testing a model for economic development in these downtown areas in coordination with business owners and municipal leaders.

“This project is an exciting opportunity to plug in additional administrative capacity to enhance regional collaboration and downtown vibrancy and test a replicable regional model for economic growth,” Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council, said in a statement. “This is a great, low-risk opportunity to pilot a regional coordination model and give our downtowns a measurable boost.”

“At its core, this project is about building capacity and supporting our communities to grow their local economies sustainably,” Ted Harvey, senior economic development planner at FRCOG, said in a statement. “The chamber is well-positioned to bring this program to life in the three downtown districts.”

Harvey mentioned that each of the three pilot communities prioritized enhanced coordination in their Local Rapid Recovery Plans, making them ideal locations to pilot this approach.

The job description from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce states the ideal applicant should have project management, interpersonal communication, marketing and branding skills. The person who is hired will be expected to identify and start two to three projects per town by partnering with downtown working groups comprised of business owners, municipal officials and other stakeholders, and will leverage existing resources and grants to support businesses.

The job is a full-time, 12-month position that carries a $65,000 to $75,000 salary plus benefits, though there is a possibility the position may be extended after the year. Hybrid hours between Deerfield (where the Chamber of Commerce is located), Northfield, Shelburne Falls and Turners Falls are offered to accommodate for public events and community meetings.

Growing Northfield’s efforts

While the chamber prepares to take on its administrative role in the project, the three participating communities are exploring what they want to see in a rural downtown coordinator and what projects they could take on.

Leslie Cameron, who owns Cameron’s Winery and The Back Room Brewing Co. with her husband, Paul, said the position will be a great tool for expanding the existing work in town. A group of community members and business owners led by the Recreation Department meet every other month to plan events and programs to highlight the business community. Having a full-time coordinator working on efforts to support businesses will only grow them.

“This grant will give us a lot more power. It’ll be like adding fertilizer to your garden,” Cameron said. “In Northfield, we sparkle and shine when it comes to tourism. There’s so much to do here, you can’t see it all in one weekend. … This project sort of jet sets what we’re already doing.”

Stacy Bond, director of the Recreation Commission and leader of the unofficial Northfield Events Coalition, said the town has a strong volunteer base working to bring residents and businesses together for fun events, but it could use help with marketing and economic development.

Bond said whoever is selected for the rural downtown coordinator position should know that Northfield is a beautiful agricultural community with a long history that should be celebrated. She feels the town has plenty going for it that just needs to be promoted, and the coordinator could help attract new businesses.

“We have a lovely Main Street. There’s beautiful buildings and it’s a beautiful town. … We’re in a really nice spot with a beautiful countryside,” Bond said. “And with Northfield, there’s so much to it and it has such great stories.”

Steering Committee to help

In Shelburne Falls, business owners have not had a strong coordination of marketing efforts since the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Cate Chadwick, a community volunteer and manager of ShelburneFalls.com. Volunteers have been working to revitalize community marketing efforts and will form a Shelburne Falls Steering Committee to work with and guide the new coordinator.

“The business owners seem really curious about what this will look like,” Chadwick said. “Some of the answers aren’t there yet, and we’ll figure it out as we go.”

She said the Steering Committee will work with the chamber and other communities to create an action plan for the new hire. Some ideas include applying for grants, supporting event planning, and marketing the region’s offerings and events.

Chadwick said whoever takes on the rural downtown coordinator role should remember that Shelburne Falls is a village with land in two municipalities, a community with natural and cultural landmarks, a thriving arts and culture community, and an area where residents celebrate its history and future.

“Shelburne Falls is truly one of a kind — a vibrant downtown village that spans two towns but functions as one close-knit community and cultural hub. With its unique geography and rich history, the village has long been a cherished destination for both locals and visitors,” Chadwick said. “What sets Shelburne Falls apart isn’t just its attractions — it’s the people. Business owners, nonprofit leaders, community groups and residents alike are invested in the village’s future.”

A viable partner

In Turners Falls, Montague Planning Director Maureen Pollock said she’s met with local business owners who have expressed a variety of ideas for what a rural downtown coordinator could help with.

A unique part of the community is the RiverCulture municipal program, which is part of the Montague Planning Department that hosts and promotes cultural events; shares information about business, arts and recreation in Montague; and helps support the creative economy. These are all efforts that a new hire could be a valuable partner for, Pollock expressed.

Pollock said feedback on what a rural downtown coordinator could do has centered on bolstering existing infrastructure for cultural attractions. Installing signs, implementing marketing campaigns and social media, and improving communication between businesses are goals she’s heard from community members.

“It’s all building upon the great assets here, and how do we promote and communicate them?” Pollock said. “How do we market Montague to our own community?”

One of the people Pollock has touched base with about the pilot program is Peter Chilton, co-owner of Nova Motorcycles on Second Street in Turners Falls.

Chilton said given the niche nature of his motorcycle repair business, he sees a downtown coordinator as being a beneficial point person for information and resources on business finances, permits and other logistics involved in owning a small business.

He also sees this person as taking on goals that business owners in Turners Falls hope to bring to the forefront, such as revitalizing the Great Falls Festival, also known as Pumpkinfest, and getting more foot traffic to the food trucks at Unity Park. If a coordinator is hired full-time to work with people on goals like these, he thinks ideas and projects could get off the ground.

“We almost need someone who just connects the dots for us,” Chilton said. “As a small business owner, I’m super busy with the day-to-day business stuff. And then it would be nice to have someone sort of come in once a month or once a week and say, ‘What’s going on? What do you need?’”

Reach Erin-Leigh Hoffman at ehoffman@recorder.com and Madison Schofield at mschofield@recorder.com.