Page 5 - 2020 MVPC Annual Report

Community & Economic Development

MVPC unveiled an easy-to-navigate Data Portal, hub for distributing pertinent information to our busi-
bursting with data to aid communities with a variety ness community and planning partners regarding lo-
of projects, such as completing grant applications, cal, state, and federal resources related to COVID-19
conducting site selections, and understanding key recovery.
industry data. Previously, it would have taken hours
to gather and sort all of this data for each project,
now it is all accessible in one centralized location.
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
(CEDS) Committee meets regularly, bringing together
public and private sector stakeholders in quarterly MVPC teamed up with Essex County Community
meetings to implement an economic development Foundation, Elevated Thoughts, and Creative Com-
strategic plan to strengthen the regional economy, munity Builders to launch Merrimack Valley: Place
support private capital investment, and create jobs. and Meaning 2020, a cultural planning project.

MVPC was awarded $400,000 in federal CARES Act Through this year-long effort, MVPC produced a
funds to create a small business technical assistance crowd-sourced cultural asset map and an expression
program, help develop local economic development book made up of art submitted by creatives through-
projects, and produce a Recovery and Resiliency Plan. out the region. For more information go to:
As Merrimack Valley businesses recover from the https://bit.ly/3cWbYb7
COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has served as a

For more information on MVPC Community & Economic Development
https://mvpc.org/economic-development-and-planning/
programs visit: mvpc.org/economic-development-and-planning/

Lawrence artwork by David Jones

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