FY 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

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From the Executive Director I hope this annual report provides some useful information for those of you who read it. The following is a summary of Hilltown Community Development’s recent work and some of my experiences as the Director. To start, I want to thank all my co-workers who come to work every day and dig into rural community development. I am so impressed with everyone I work with. Everyone at Hilltown CDC is creative, smart, dedicated and friendly. I also want to thank the Board of Director’s for their commitment in supporting the mission of this great agency. The work we do is diverse but always rural. I really enjoy figuring out ways that this agency can support our rural communities. Many of you know we build and preserve affordable housing for local residents including seniors. You may know that we rehabilitated over 700 homes for Hilltown residents and that we provide in-home chore services to Hilltown seniors. You have probably seen our Annual Hilltown Business Directory marketing over 300 local Hilltown businesses. You may not be aware of some of our other efforts. You will learn a little more about our projects in the following pages. We are working with local farmers, operating a senior van and driver pool, promoting arts and culture programming and supporting our towns through municipal grants. Our success is recognized in Boston. I was appointed by the Governor to a new Rural Policy Advisory Commission and we released our rural state plan this year. This advocacy focuses on equity for our Hilltowns and begins the conversation with state government around our needs for capacity, infrastructure investment, land and water management and municipal services that directly impact tax payers. This kind of advocacy demands a response from our state government which has historically focused on expanding the state’s urban communities. This is the trend nationally and has been for many decades. It’s time we remind those in power how we live. In the age of automation and climate change, rural communities need to develop new economic opportunities within their geographies and state government needs to be a partner in the way forward. Part of our work includes advocating with state government on behalf of the Hilltowns. We want to make sure the Hilltowns remain a beautiful place to live, work, hunt, fish, camp, play and raise a family. We will continue to fight for a fair deal from state government as we build our strength and talent in the future. Thank you, Dave Christopolis Executive Director 4 Hilltown Community Development
Rural Economic Development and Small Business Assistance Hilltown CDC expanded its small business assistance services this past year to reach more Hilltown businesses. We offer a series of classes and workshops and one-on-one business counseling each month from our office in Chesterfield and at the Village Enterprise Center in Chester. We provided web design, quick books, marketing assistance, legal services, loan referrals and general business consulting to over 50 Hilltown businesses this past year. This past year we were also approached by two important businesses in our region: the Williamsburg Market and the Old Creamery Co-op in Cummington. The owners of the Williamsburg Market contacted us because they are ready to sell their business after 30 years of operating it and wanted to ensure it was replaced with another food market. We worked with a group of residents who wanted to explore the feasibility of attracting a new market to Williamsburg. We were able to set up a fiscal sponsorship and raise funds to conduct a feasibility study on the market’s potential future business model. We worked together to develop a work plan and fundraising plan. Hilltown CDC then secured a small business grant to hire a consultant to conduct a valuation of the business and its property. The community raised additional funds through donations to pay for a capital needs assessment of the building and to conduct a community survey. This work has provided vital information to the owners and those interested in maintaining a food market in Williamsburg. Hilltown CDC will continue to support this effort. We see the value in having local food available to Hilltown residents as well as the revenue and local jobs it provides in our community. The Old Creamery Co-op is a food market that became a community-owned co-op in 2012 after the previous owners decided to move on. It provides local, healthy food and employment to Hilltown residents and is currently going through a transition in management and Board leadership. Our small business program is working with the Creamery to explore financial resources and business support going forward. Dave Christopolis, Executive Director Michele Kenney, Economic Development Coordinator Our Rural Economic Development Goals include: • Expanding Small Business support, training and advocacy • Promoting membership in the local Jacob’s Ladder Business Association • Offer free tax assistance to low income residents • Support needs of Select Boards/Town capacity • Expand housing options • Promote use of broadband to increase economic activity • Promote the social benefits of agriculture • Support agricultural expansion (production and retail), tourism and recreation • Focus in Town Center Development • Influence state policy to actualize smart rural development in the Hilltowns Read the newly released Massachusetts Rural Policy Plan prepared by the MA Rural Policy Advocacy Commission at hilltowncdc.org
Page 1 and 2: Enriching lives in a rural economy
Page 3: ENRICHING LIVES OUR PROGRAMS AND SE
Page 7 and 8: Housing Rehabilitation Our Housing
Page 9 and 10: HilltownArts & Culture Two initiati
Page 11 and 12: Social Services & Community Develop
Page 13 and 14: Donors $5,000-$20,000 Cooley Dickin
Page 15 and 16: FY19 Program and Operating Funds Lo

FY 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

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