Franklin to Host Resident Visioning Event on Business Growth & Opportunities

The Town of Franklin and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are undertaking a business development strategy to support business growth in Franklin’s three strategic growth locations: Downtown Franklin Commercial District; the Crossing (near Union & Cottage Streets); and the Mixed Business Innovation District (near Fisher & Hayward Streets). The main goal of this project is to increase the economic activity within these older commercial areas, and the Town as a whole. The resulting market analysis will guide the development of a business recruitment and retention strategy including the future creation of business recruitment materials to capitalize on the market potential of these districts. 
Franklin’s Department of Planning & Community Development and MAPC are partnering with Franklin’s Cultural District Committee and the Franklin Downtown Partnership on this important business development study. Officials are seeking resident, artist, property owner, and business owner input on what can be done to stimulate Franklin’s economy, including insights into how to create jobs, support businesses, and strengthen the community as a whole. 
A public meeting is being held on Tuesday, October 22nd, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Franklin Municipal Building’s 3rd Floor Training Room at 355 East Central Street. The public input session will feature a presentation by a representative of MAPC on goals of the project, and the current state of economic activity in Franklin. 
All input and guidance provided by the public will be utilized to develop the Market Analysis and Market Position Summary, which will contain an updated demographic analysis for the Town, local and regional market assessments, specific recommendations for growth in the three key commercial districts, and an outline of a Business Recruitment and Retention Strategy. 
For more information, contact Raul Gonzalez, Senior Planner at MAPC, at rgonzalez@mapc.org, or Bryan Taberner, AICP, Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Franklin at btaberner@franklinma.gov.