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Economic & Community Development
Welcome to the Town of Middleborough's Office of Economic and Community Development.
Inception
The Middleborough Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) was created by the Town's Board of Selectmen in September of 1998. At its inception, the Department was funded through the U.S. HUD Community Development Block Grant program and was responsible for obtaining, implementing and administering grant projects for Town affordable housing, economic and community development efforts.
Role of the OECD
The role of OECD has expanded over the years and the department is now a permanent part of the municipality's infrastructure. OECD plans and implements the Town's economic development / revitalization goals and community development and affordable housing initiatives and services. It continues to obtain and administer CDBG, State and non-profit grants and their projects.
Programs & Services
Programs and services of the Office of Economic and Community Development therefore fall into two major areas:
Economic Development
The OECD provides a range of support in promoting economic development opportunities and addressing needs of existing businesses this includes:
- Business Advocacy
- Business Attraction and Retention
- Business Related Workshops
- Commercial District Revitalization
- Connecting Developers and Property Owners
- Grants Researching / Writing
- Infrastructure Improvements
- Job Fairs
- Retail Development
- Tracking Available Commercial Space
Housing & Community Development
Since 1998, the OECD has received more than $8 million dollars in economic and community development grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. These funds have been used to improve local infrastructure, support housing rehabilitation, create affordable housing units, and provide matching funds for economic development projects within the Middleborough downtown district.
Economic Sustainability
Housing and community development go hand in hand with economic sustainability. In addition to affordable housing initiatives and related CDBG infrastructure improvement projects, the OECD has responsibility for supporting overall economic development in the Town working collaboratively with the Town Manager's office and other Town departments.
Collaborating with Local Businesses
The OECD works collaboratively with local business and economic development groups such as:
- Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Attleboro-Taunton HOME Consortium
- Middleborough on the Move
- Middleborough Tourism Committee
- Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) Regional Economic Strategy Committee
More Information
Please feel free to stop by our office at:
20 Centre Street
Third floor
Middleborough, MA 02346
You can also email Janis K. Akerstrom or call 508-946-2402.
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Janis K. Akerstrom
Director
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Economic & Community Development
Physical Address
20 Centre Street
Middleborough, MA 02346
Phone: 508-946-2402
Located on the 3rd floor