Planning & Development TA Connect to Coordinate Resources for Cities, Towns
February 9, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kristen Sabella, HED
kristen.j.sabella@state.ma.us
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077 (cell)
kabbruzzese@massdevelopment.com
The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Department of Housing and Community Development, MassDevelopment, and the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies have partnered to launch Planning & Development TA Connect, an initiative to coordinate technical-assistance efforts in cities and towns in Massachusetts. TA Connect will serve as a one-stop shop for municipalities, leveraging resources and fostering cooperation among agencies. This initiative will also include training and education workshops, and tactical assistance for specific, short-term solutions that will spur effective, long-term economic development. For more information, click here.
“TA Connect is a tremendous asset for the municipalities of the Commonwealth,” said Housing and Economic Development Assistant Secretary for Communities and Programs Juan Vega. “In our work to prepare communities for success, connecting municipalities with additional tools and resources for planning, training and economic development resources is invaluable.”
Through TA Connect Direct Assistance, municipalities can submit a short form that outlines a planning and development challenge. The TA Connect team will then work with partners and stakeholders to determine the best resources to tackle the issue, create a plan for execution, and follow up with the community to determine if they are following the plan. TA Connect also launched a trainer-led workshop series in fall 2015, which provides municipal staff with practical tools to facilitate redevelopment and growth in their commercial business districts.
“Massachusetts municipalities can access a wealth of programs to support community planning and economic development, and this one-stop shop enables cities and towns to find the right resources for their needs easily and quickly,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “TA Connect’s centralized information portal, workshops, and tactical assistance will lead to improved planning and municipal growth.”
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2015, MassDevelopment financed or managed 294 projects generating investment of more than $2.5 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create about 6,100 jobs and build or rehabilitate about 2,000 residential units.
