Community Partnership Meeting to Discuss a New Forest Designation

Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 7:00 pm

Please come to learn about and discuss an opportunity for your town to increase natural resource-based economic development and forest conservation

The Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and Berkshire Regional Planning Com- mission (BRPC), with the assistance of the Franklin Land Trust, are conducting public outreach to determine the level of interest in a new model of assistance and involvement by the State and the U.S. Forest Service which could provide federal funds to expand forestry activities on privately- owned land and to support tourism-based businesses. The purpose of this initiative is to conserve forests, increase economic development that is based on sustainable forestry and recreational tour- ism, and improve the fiscal stability of municipalities. With enough interest from communities, the U.S. Forest Service could be requested to designate an area which would be eligible to receive this assistance.

The FRCOG will be holding meetings through mid-April in the following Franklin County towns: Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Rowe, and Shelburne. Meetings are open to the public and municipal officials, residents, business owners, landowners, and foresters are encouraged to attend the meeting scheduled for your town.

Snow Date, January 29, 2014