jessica atwood, tri-state region economic development initiative
TRANSCRIPT
Tri-State Region Economic Development Initiative
A Win-Win-Win: Collaborating Across Jurisdictional Boundaries
October 26, 2015
Jessica Atwood, Economic Development Program Manager,
Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Franklin Regional Council of Governments
§ RPA & municipal & regional services organization
§ 26 towns in Franklin County, MA
§ 71,000 population in 725 sq. mi.
Tri-State Region
Greater areas of
• Franklin County, MA
• Windham County, VT
• Cheshire County, NH
§ Total population of 191,000
Windham County, VT
Cheshire County, NH
Franklin County, MA
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY)
Photo from NRC.gov
Closing of a Nuclear Facility
Closure & Clean-up
• DECOM or SAFSTOR
• Radiological cleanup
• Non-radiological/ hazardous material cleanup
• Environmental impacts
• Public safety & emergency preparedness
Economic Impacts
• Loss of high wage jobs
• Loss of VY purchasing local goods & services
• Decline in local tax base
• Less general economic activity
• Real estate
Social Impacts
• Out migration of nuclear industry workers
• Loss of direct charitable donations to local organizations
• Loss of volunteer time
And more……
Collaboration Emerges
Collaboration Emerges
Figure 2. Worker numbers at VY site will decline as power generating operations end
and decommissioning phases begin
Economic impacts of the VY closure will further contribute
to a challenging economic landscape for this rural region that is already attempting to
recover from a natural disaster and the global
economic recession.
Event held at the School for International Training campus in Brattleboro, VT
L to R: Brian Kelsey, NADO; Linda Dunlavy, FRCOG; Chris Campany, WRC; Tim Murphy, SWRPC; Adam Grinold, BDCC
Time Period Key Activities
Fall 2013 VY closure announcement; Regional planning organizations begin communication
Winter 2013 Assistance sought from NADO
Spring 2014 Creation of Windham County Economic Development Fund; INHC summit on social & economic impacts of nuclear closure
Summer 2014 NADO’s economic assessment & potential next steps support
Fall 2014 Meeting of Regional Workforce Development Agencies
Winter 2014 Release of UMDI Economic Impacts of VY Closure Study
Spring 2015 May 5th Tri-State Region Stakeholders meeting
Summer 2015 Entergy grant for Monadnock business loan fund & planning; EDA award to BDCC for Tri-State collaboration building
Winter-Spring 2016
Regional Stakeholder events; Regional initiative development and grant application
