Easton Receives Local Rapid Recovery Program Technical Assistance Grant From The Massachusetts Downtown Initiative

Press release from the Town of Easton:

March 14, 2021

The Town of Easton has received a Local Rapid Recovery Program grant from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI) under the Massachusetts Department of housing and Community Development. This grant provides technical assistance tailored to the unique challenges and COVID-19 impacts affecting Easton businesses and particularly its downtown and targeted economic growth districts.

As the program name implies, the program begins immediately and will be completed by the end of August. The focus of the program is to understand the unique impacts of COVID-19 on Easton businesses and to develop short-range, actionable projects that will help drive business and economic recovery and longer-range recommendations for economic sustainability and business resiliency.

The success of the program depends in large part on input and participation from the business community. In this regard, Easton has an advantage. Last November the Economic Development Council convened a business forum to brainstorm how local businesses could operate outdoors, in light of gathering and physical distancing limitations, brought on by the pandemic.

That forum sparked the Easton Outside campaign, spearheaded by local restauranteur, Neil Levine, co-owner of Maguire’s Bar and Grill. “We don’t need to figure out a way to set up an outside market, we need to let people know that local businesses are respecting the emergency health guidelines, and people can take advantage of outside dining, curbside pickup and delivery services”, Neil told the group. “We need to let people know it’s okay to go outside in the winter”. A core group of business owners, the Chamber of Commerce, civic leaders, interested residents and members of the Economic Development Council, let by Levine, launched Easton Outside, a video campaign that shows how businesses, residents, and visitors to the town “Easton Outside”.

This group will assist with ongoing engagement from the community in the Rapid Recovery Program. “This group of people have been amazing at how they have pulled this campaign together and are promoting Easton businesses”, said Marc Lamb, Select Board Member and chair of the Easton Economic Development Council.

This press release was produced by the Town of Easton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.