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Agenda

8 a.m.
Registration, networking and breakfast

9 a.m.
Welcoming Remarks
• Jerry Wasserman, Needham Selectman, MSA President

9:10 a.m.
MMA Legislative Update
• John Robertson, Deputy Legislative Director, MMA

9:30 a.m.
Opening Speaker, Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chair of the House Financial Services Committee

10:15 a.m.
Session 1: An Open Discussion on Transportation
Several transportation bond bills recently became law. This session will offer an opportunity to learn more about these initiatives and the reforms. Representatives from the Executive Office of Transportation will discuss the laws, the reforms and what this means for your town.
• Jeff Mullen, Undersecretary and General Counsel, Executive Office of Transportation

11:15 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m.
Session 2: Preserving and Enhancing Downtown
Looking to revitalize your downtown by promoting downtown assets and ensuring economic vitality? The goal of this session is to provide the tools necessary to overcome challenges to a community’s revitalization efforts. Representatives from the Department of Housing and Economic Development will identify downtown issues, define a downtown vision, and present success-oriented approaches.

• Steve Greenberg has been a member of the Ashland Redevelopment Authority since its establishment in 2003 and is the current chair. During these past five years, the ARA has obtained funding for and implemented a major Downtown Master Planning Study. The study led to the rezoning of Ashland, which has allowed for the incorporation of a rail transit district and business-friendly development. The ARA has also successfully pursued funding to purchase the last open lot in downtown Ashland and is currently overseeing the development of a mixed-use housing and commercial project on the site. Greenberg is also a developer of single-family, multifamily, and commercial property, including office, retail and affordable housing, both private and municipal.

• Cassandra Acly, Economic Development and Planning Director for the town of Southbridge, coordinates the economic development, community development, and planning activities for the town. She works with the Redevelopment Authority, the Economic Development Commission, the Planning Board, the Downtown Partnership, and the Planning and Development subcommittee of the Town Council. She is also a member of the Optical Museum Committee, a town public art committee, and is a board member of the Southern Worcester County Community Development Corporation. She is passionate about the town’s unspoiled Victorian downtown, and is very involved in downtown revitalization.

• John Fitzgerald is the Urban Development Coordinator for the Department of Housing & Community Development, where he implements the department’s Urban Renewal and Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing  programs. He also provides training and technical assistance to communities interested in increasing their capacity to carry out community and economic development projects and runs DHCD’s Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Program, which provides modest grants to smaller Massachusetts communities for short-term problem-solving or technical assistance projects.

12:45 p.m.
Lunch

1:30 p.m.
Luncheon Speaker, John Henning, Senior Political Correspondent, WBZ TV and radio

2:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment


Directions
Sturbridge Host Hotel, 366 Main St., Sturbridge
(508) 347-7393
www.sturbridgehosthotel.com

Google Map directions

From the West
Mass Pike East to Exit 9 onto Route 84, Exit 3B brings you to Route 20 West. Hotel driveway is approximately 1 mile down on the right, between McDonalds and Burger King.

From the East (Boston)
Mass Pike West to Exit 9 onto Route 84, Exit 3B brings you to Route 20 West. Hotel driveway is approximately 1 mile down on the right, between McDonalds and Burger King.

From the South (Cape Cod and Southeastern Mass.)
Route 495 North to Mass Pike West to Exit 9 onto Route 84, Exit 3B brings you to Route 20 West. Hotel driveway is approximately 1 mile down on the right, between McDonalds and Burger King.

From the North (North Shore, Cape Ann)
Route 93 or Route 95 South to Route 128 South to the Mass Pike West to Exit 9 onto Route 84, Exit 3B brings you to Route 20 West. Hotel driveway is approximately 1 mile down on the right, between McDonalds and Burger King.