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Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)
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Economic Development

Home → Resources → Economic and Community Development

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Adapting Public Buildings for Creative Uses

Adapting Public Buildings for Creative Uses

This webinar with the Mass Cultural Council provides an overview of how abandoned municipal buildings have been adapted into artist and creative spaces, featuring projects in Harwich, Easthampton and Dedham. Recommended audience: Planners, all members
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 11, 2025
A Green and Inclusive Post-Pandemic Recovery of the Blue Economy and Coastal Communities

A Green and Inclusive Post-Pandemic Recovery of the Blue Economy and Coastal Communities

A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Glasgow, the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (in Bonn, Germany) and the University of Costa Rica has been developing a trans-national comparative study across coastal areas in Costa Rica, Northern Germany, Scotland (UK), and Massachusetts (USA) to…
Economic DevelopmentReportpdf - 43 MBPublication Date: Mar 31, 2025
Rural Municipalities Toolkit

Rural Municipalities Toolkit

Developed by Mass Cultural Council with support from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development – Rural Affairs. Rural Municipalities Toolkit
Economic DevelopmentWebsitePublication Date: Dec 01, 2024
Advancing Community Arts, Culture, and Economic Development: Best Practices for Select Boards

Advancing Community Arts, Culture, and Economic Development: Best Practices for Select Boards

Representatives from the Mass Cultural Council discuss how select boards can support arts and culture initiatives and advance economic development in their communities, while local officials from Orleans and Carlisle present local case studies. Recommended audience: select board members
Economic DevelopmentWebinarPublication Date: Dec 11, 2024
Building Vibrant and Creative Communities

Building Vibrant and Creative Communities

This webinar discusses how to build public support for culture, celebrate different traditions and talents, and promote economic opportunity within cities and towns. Recommended audience: Planners, all members
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 18, 2024
Mastering Municipal Branding: Best Practices and Benefits

Mastering Municipal Branding: Best Practices and Benefits

This webinar offers insights and discusses challenges related to developing and using a new municipal brand, and how it can positively impact economic development. Recommended audience: Communications officials, chief municipal officials
Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 12, 2024
The Power of Culture in the Commonwealth

The Power of Culture in the Commonwealth

This webinar discusses programs available via the Mass Cultural Council and how municipalities can support and promote the arts through community initiatives. Recommended audience: Chief municipal officials, all members
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: May 28, 2024
Broadband and Digital Equity Planning

Broadband and Digital Equity Planning

This webinar with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute discusses the Challenge Process and other timely programming to help bridge the digital divide. Recommended audience: Chief municipal officials, select board members
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 22, 2024
Cannabis Compliance: Reviewing the New Regulatory Requirements for Host Communities

Cannabis Compliance: Reviewing the New Regulatory Requirements for Host Communities

This webinar reviews the Cannabis Control Commission’s newly promulgated regulations and their impact on host communities.
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Dec 11, 2023
Cannabis Compliance: Draft Regulations on Host Community Agreements

Cannabis Compliance: Draft Regulations on Host Community Agreements

This webinar discusses the implications of the Cannabis Control Commission’s draft regulations on host community agreements and social equity.
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Aug 07, 2023
Broadband and Digital Equity Investments

Broadband and Digital Equity Investments

This webinar provides an overview of the federal broadband funding landscape and the steps municipalities can take to close the digital divide and expand broadband access.
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 15, 2022
Host Community Agreements and Municipalities: Cannabis Law Update

Host Community Agreements and Municipalities: Cannabis Law Update

This webinar covers how a wide-ranging cannabis law enacted in 2022 is likely to affect host community agreements and community impact fees, as well as how municipalities can best position themselves in the changing environment.
Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 09, 2022
Community Grant Finder

Community Grant Finder

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognizes that municipalities need a streamlined, easy-to-use way to interface with state government when seeking opportunities for state resources to support local services. The Community Grant Finder provides a central location to learn about state grant opportunities for cities and towns, regardless of which state agency manages a grant program. https://www.mass.gov/lists/community-grant-finder
Economic DevelopmentListing
Community One Stop: One Year Later

Community One Stop: One Year Later

Presented by the Massachusetts Select Board Association
Economic DevelopmentWebinarPublication Date: Mar 04, 2022
Creative Placemaking in Your Community

Creative Placemaking in Your Community

2022 MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show webinar: Attendees learned how the city of Brockton and others have embraced placemaking, and discovered some funding sources and tools that can help engage with citizens on this important topic.
Economic and Community DevelopmentWebinarPublication Date: Feb 03, 2022
The Future of Work Webinar: 8 Key Insights and Collaborative Solutions

The Future of Work Webinar: 8 Key Insights and Collaborative Solutions

2022 MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show webinar: Panelists shared eight key insights into what needs to be addressed to create vibrant, equitable and competitive cities and towns for the future.
Economic and Community DevelopmentWebinarPublication Date: Jan 27, 2022
Preparing For the Future of Work in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Preparing For the Future of Work in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Study commissioned by Baker-Polito administration to evaluate the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed work habits in Massachusetts as the state emerges from the pandemic. Conducted by McKinsey & Company.
Economic DevelopmentReportpdf - 47 MBPublication Date: Jul 13, 2021
State and Local Economic Recovery Efforts in the Wake of COVID-19

State and Local Economic Recovery Efforts in the Wake of COVID-19

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s annual Leadership Conference series
Economic DevelopmentWebinarPublication Date: Jun 24, 2020
Control Your Destiny: Top Tips for Economic Development

Control Your Destiny: Top Tips for Economic Development

Presentation by April Anderson Lamoureux, president of Anderson Strategic Advisors, LLC, at MMA Annual Meeting, Jan. 24, 2020
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 1 MB
What Makes Working Cities Work?

What Makes Working Cities Work?

Presentation by Barry Bluestone, Russell B. and Andree B. Stearns Trustee professor emeritus at Northeastern University, at MMA Annual Meeting, Jan. 24, 2020
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 4 MB
MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Economic Development Factors Within Municipal Control

MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Economic Development Factors Within Municipal Control

Established by MMA Policy Committee on Municipal and Regional Administration, published in MMA Best Practices Series, vol 5, 2020
Economic DevelopmentGuidancepdf - 209 KB
MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Create a Policy Surrounding the Review and Negotiation of Applicants and Host Community Agreements

MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Create a Policy Surrounding the Review and Negotiation of Applicants and Host Community Agreements

Established by MMA Policy Committee on Municipal and Regional Administration, published in MMA Best Practices Series, vol 4, 2019
Economic DevelopmentGuidancepdf - 162 KB
Policy Statement Regarding the Sale of Hemp-Derived Products in the Commonwealth

Policy Statement Regarding the Sale of Hemp-Derived Products in the Commonwealth

Issued by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, June 2019
Economic DevelopmentGuidancepdf - 241 KB
What Makes Working Cities Work?

What Makes Working Cities Work?

Presentation by Barry Bluestone, Professor of Public Policy Emeritus, Dukakis Center for Urban & Regional Policy, Northeastern University. Presented to the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association on April 24, 2019.
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 3 MB
MAPC: Boost Your Downtown with Better Parking Management

MAPC: Boost Your Downtown with Better Parking Management

Presentation from Sarah Kurpiel Lee, assistant director of transportation, Metropolitan Area Planning Council at MMA Annual Meeting, January 20, 2018
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 7 MB
Downtown Melrose Parking Management

Downtown Melrose Parking Management

Presentation from Denise Gaffey, city planner, Melrose at MMA Annual Meeting, January 20, 2018
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 2 MB
Franklin Downtown Parking Management

Franklin Downtown Parking Management

Presentation from Jamie Hellen, deputy town administrator, Franklin at MMA Annual Meeting, January 20, 2018
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 4 MB
Improving Amherst's Downtown Parking

Improving Amherst's Downtown Parking

Presentation from Connie Kruger, Selectman, Select Board, Amherst and Nathaniel Malloy, Senior Planner, Amherst at MMA Annual Meeting, January 20, 2018
Economic DevelopmentPresentationpdf - 2 MB
From Airbnb to Zipcar: The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Communities

From Airbnb to Zipcar: The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Communities

Presentation by Thomas Champion, Policy Research Analyst with the Office of the State Auditor, Division of Local Mandates, at MMA Annual Meeting, January 22, 2016
Economic Developmentpdf - 5 MB
Local Government and the Sharing Economy

Local Government and the Sharing Economy

Presentation by Natick Selectman Josh Ostroff at MMA Annual Meeting, January 22, 2016
Economic Developmentpdf - 4 MB
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