SUNDERLAND — With the thud of a potato cannon’s ammo striking a target next to the cornfield, the secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development got a first-hand taste of the types of experiences Franklin County can offer.

Secretary Yvonne Hao stopped by Mike’s Maze on Route 47 on Friday morning, where she was joined by other state officials and legislators on a tour of the Pioneer Valley. They highlighted the economic opportunities sprouting in the region, especially in the tourism and travel sector.

In addition to firing off the potato cannon, Hao and others on the tour talked with the business owner, David Wissemann, and spent some time in the maze that drew approximately 15,000 visitors in 2023. Wissemann runs Mike’s Maze alongside Jess Wissemann.

“This is why people love living in New England, this is why people want to be here. We want to attract more people to come out to this part of the state,” Hao said in an interview. “We have so much opportunity. If you think about this region, we have all the talent — homegrown — and we have so many universities here. We’re attracting the best and brightest, not just from our state, but from the country and the world to this region.”

Other officials on the tour included Executive Office of Economic Development Undersecretary Ashley Stolba, state Rep. Natalie Blais, state Sen. Jo Comerford, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessye Deane, Western Massachusetts Regional Director Kristen Elechko and Franklin Regional Council of Governments Executive Director Linda Dunlavy.

Hao spent the day in the Pioneer Valley, kicking things off in Hatfield, where the community celebrated the near-completion of an extensive water and sewer infrastructure project on Routes 5 and 10. The tour then traveled to Yankee Candle in South Deerfield before finishing off the day at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Comerford said the visit underscores the Healey-Driscoll administration’s promise to “govern 351 cities and towns,” and provides an opportunity for those in Boston to see what opportunities there are west of the Quabbin Reservoir.

“They understand that rural communities are different from urban communities, and they want to celebrate what’s unique about us and they want to help us overcome our greatest challenges,” Comerford said, emphasizing that she and Blais are working to ensure these partnerships bring results to the valley. “Tourism is huge. … We’re not going to get the big-dog multi-global corporate headquarters, but we are going to get some of the most exciting start-ups, so that’s what they see.”

Tourism in Franklin County grows every year, according to Deane, who highlighted that the Chamber of Commerce, which also serves as the county’s Regional Tourism Council, received a $325,598 grant from the state Tourism Trust Fund, the largest it has ever received.

In highlighting Mike’s Maze, Hao said family-run businesses are the backbone of Massachusetts’ economy and the Healey-Driscoll administration has placed its focus on supporting those folks. She cited the creation of the director of rural affairs position, held by former state Sen. Anne Gobi, as well as the creation of new positions in the Office of Economic Development that are dedicated to rural communities and family-run businesses. The office also provides a slew of grant, loan and technical assistance programs.

“We need our small businesses to be successful. They are the majority of our businesses and they are the majority of the employment in our state,” Hao said. “We need to do more to help everyone accelerate this growth and we have some big opportunities ahead with tourism. With the 250th [anniversary of the country’s founding] coming up, that will be a real occasion to have everyone look at our state and especially to bring people out here to celebrate all of the great culture and arts and sports and businesses that we have.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.