CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire Community Association President John Tremblay hopes a recent economic development report can lay out a path forward in which the town can grow.
"This is a big thing and could increase revenue in town," Tremblay said. "Every community is struggling with it so this is a long-term list that shows how we can take these assets and leverage them to grow funding."
This Phase 1 report comes after implementing recommendations from the Cheshire Financial Management Review report published by the state's Division of Local Services in 2022.
The first in the list of recommendations was to appoint an Economic Development Task Force. Next was to create the Economic Development Report, a form that could guide and support the task force efforts.
Tremblay said state Rep. John Barrett III secured $10,000 for the town to conduct the study with the help of Berkshire Regional Planning Committee. The planning was at no cost to the town.
Tremblay said he worked closely with BRPC Economic Development Program Manager Laura Brennan to develop the document.
"BRPC handled all the blocking and tackling, and I helped with the vision," Tremblay said. "We didn't want some dry document; we wanted to bring Cheshire to life. We want to be able to use this as a marketing tool so we talked about all of the potential and other cool things happening in town."
The document includes many photos, and Tremblay said its more colorful aspect has influenced how BRPC will form similar economic reports in the future.
"This is a different kind of report. We didn't want something boring you would glaze over," he added.
Brennan said the report pulls from different studies and planning initiatives.
"This report combines elements from several types of economic development research, including what BRPC learned from leading local recovery planning efforts in some neighboring towns during the pandemic," she said.
Spanning close to 100 pages, it offers a comprehensive overview of the town by encompassing demographic and economic data, highlighting various assets and characteristics. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the town, enabling comparisons with similar communities.
In addition to statistical information, it highlights encouraging trends in Cheshire, including properties and projects with economic potential. The report also includes potential funding sources the town can harness to help these projects along.
The document lays out some recommended actions for town leadership that Tremblay hopes will improve the town's economic condition while maintaining its character.
It also points out successes that the town can build upon including the town's development of an Open Space and Recreation Plan and its designation as an Appalachian Trail Community. The report notes various community events and efforts.
The report presents opportunities, especially in the village center, and suggests building off efforts to highlight the town's history such as the Cheshire Mammoth Cheese replica positioned near the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and the revitalization of Leland Park. It also recommends additional cleanup efforts in the village center and improvements to overall mobility.
To "energize" the area, the report recommends utilizing signage along Route 8 to attract visitors to the village center
Suggestions include improving the parking area at Cheshire Reservoir to make it more conducive to pedestrian travel and visitation. Currently the lakeshore has inadequate parking. It was also suggested that the area be cleaned up and aesthetics improved.
The report noted that pedestrian travel on portions of Route 8 is not the best with a lack of sidewalks, specifically near Whitney's Farm Stand. Also, there is no safe way to cross the road from the rail trail to the farm stand.
The report also saw the potential for future business investment along the Route 8 corridor, including a long list of underutilized vacant buildings and properties and various conditions.
The report pointed to some immediate potential actions including installation of public art and improving facades in more public areas. The report also suggested wayfinding improvements and utilizing vacant space, even temporarily, among other things
The document also recommends establishing a cultural district.
Moving more toward the mid to long-term, the report suggested engaging the business community with networking and technical support and the creation of an online guide for new residents and businesses in Cheshire.
Ultimately, the report points the town toward Phase II of economic development planning.
The document specifically lined up two longer-term projects including, as mentioned, the improvement of the Cheshire Reservoir area and the repurposing of the land between the rail trail and Hoosic River abutting the Father Tom campsite to the south for recreational purposes.
Brennan said she hopes the report will help guide the town going forward.
"It gathers a wide array of data that Cheshire can use to track its progress over time — more than a typical economic development chapter in a master plan, really equipping the community to make informed decisions moving forward," she said.
Tremblay said the Cheshire Community Association brought the document before the Select Board in February. He said he hopes it is a tool that town leadership can use to steer Cheshire toward some meaningful economic development.
"It just felt like a very appropriate thing for us to do to support that report and put something together that could be used by the leadership in the town or task force," he said. "It is really an asset inventory, it is not a plan. It is Phase I of a body of information that we can use to really get into some serious economic development discussions."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
BArT Announces First Quarter Honor Roll
ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Arts & Technology (BArT) Charter Public School has announced the students who made the honor roll for the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year.
Students who earned 80 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of Honors. Students who earned 90 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of High Honors.
Academic courses at BArT are aligned with the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks for the appropriate grade level and include all standards deemed necessary for a complete, college-preparatory, middle and high school education.
Students in Grade 6 who earned High Honors are Akua Acquah, Daniela Arellano, Lexi Bentley, Jordan Braman, Fernanda Chavez Quispe, Vivian Culpo, Emma Danylieko, Addison Ely, Isla Fairfield, Scarlett Garanzuay, Kira Hamilton, Adriana Huntoon, Elizabeth Isham-Morton, Alexa Jackson, Madison Lillie, Austin Lincoln, Dominick Mancari, Gloria Nyamehen, Bethany Oberle, Jaiiden Petersoli, Athena Pradere, Scarlette Smith, Miley Strawbridge, Lucie Walsh, Fiona Wells, Andrew Williams, and Kyleighana Yarrell.
Students in Grade 6 who earned Honors are Maria Adorno Martinez, Addison Arseneau, Joshua Bailey, Giovanni Brown, Elvin Cochran Jr., Brielle Gaudette, Imogen Guerin, Henry Herzberg, Mekhai Hunte, Spencer Kotski, Jesse Labshere Jr., Harley LeSage, Gavin Marotta, Quinlan Marran, Kaidyn Martin-Basinger, Jonathan Martin, Nayomi Martin, Charlotte Nicholas, Marcos Palma-Marchiando, Mack Ray, Scott Ray, Hector Reyes-Colon, Jaxan Rowett-Cote, Lillian Ryan, Rocky Sabo, Laylah Scipio, and Iyrielle Spratling-Keele.
Students in Grade 7 who earned High Honors are Abigail Betti, Jaydn Bolus-Strawbridge, Kason Corkins, Norah Duffy, Kourtney Hoang, Delroy Leard, Morgan Legrand, Dante McClerklin, Miah Morgan-Enos, Joey Nocher, Stephen Nyamehen Jr., Gustavo Perez, Armani Roy, Isabella Silva, Paige Tetreault, and Cole Wallis.
Students in Grade 7 who earned Honors are Daniel Aguilar, Kyra Boyles, Majbrit Carpenter, Bailee Cimini, Christian Columna, Liam Connors, Brooklyn Cook, Alex Demary, Harmony Greco-Melendez, Riley Hitchcock, Sakora Knight, Anelia Lang, Tristan Larkin, John Lescarbeau, Ian Lloyd, Allanah McCabe, Casper Quirke De Jong, Rufus Quirke De Jong, Isabella Rosales, Aiyanah Roy, Niyah Scipio, Emma Sherman, Kevin Toomey, and Patrick Wells Vidal.
Mila Marcisz ripped a shot from the top of the 18 that slipped just under the swing of teammate Adele Low and past the Mustangs keeper in the fourth minute of the second overtime to give Mount Greylock a 1-0 win. click for more
Mount Greylock dominated for much of the game, compiling a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal, not to mention numerous Mountie chances that went just wide or high of frame. click for more
Nora Schoeny, Gianna Love and Elyssa Scrimo Sunday led the Lenox girls cross country team to a narrow victory in the Division 2 race at the Western Massachusetts Championships at Stanley Park. click for more
The "Spotlight on Applied Learning" presentation is the brainchild of Kristen Palatt, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, to demonstrate student work.
click for more
The newly formed Student and Adult Advisory Board (SAAB) held its first meeting at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center Thursday to structure the group they hope can drive meaningful change at Hoosac Valley. click for more