GREENFIELD — Eric Paley, the new secretary of the state’s Executive Office of Economic Development, prioritized listening and learning over solution-based discussion about the region’s economic development during a meeting with county leadership on Thursday.
Paley, who was tapped by Gov. Maura Healey to lead the office in June 2025 and started in September, was given an introduction to Franklin County from the local legislative delegation, business owners, nonprofit executives, and municipal and education leaders, who spoke to the region’s unique strengths.
Paley noted he intends to return to the county with a greater understanding of its needs.
“For me, this is all an incredible education. That’s why I’m so glad you all showed up,” Paley said during the Thursday morning meeting. “If I’m not here at Franklin County, I’m not learning about it. If you’re not here teaching me, I’m not learning about it.”
To prime the larger roundtable discussion, Franklin Regional Council of Governments Executive Director Linda Dunlavy provided an overview of the county, including that it is the most rural in the state, with low annual wages and housing vacancies, and a projected population decline of 25% by 2050 that she said is the “largest challenge” for the region.
Still, Dunlavy said the county benefits from strong collaborations that support municipalities, small businesses, housing and infrastructure development, tourism and recreation, arts and culture, agriculture and workforce development, among other supports driven by the need for partnerships. She said that advocacy has been a strength, influencing rural representation on Beacon Hill, as can be seen through the creation of the Rural Policy Advisory Commission and reform in state aid formulas that have been known to disenfranchise rural areas.
“Because we are so small, we have to collaborate,” Dunlavy said. “It’s really the only way that we can get things done.”
Dunlavy also presented the highlights of economic sectors in Franklin County, along with what policy improvements could be made to support growth.
Four specific support categories were identified, including infrastructure to boost private investment and visitor spending; workforce development and industry support to bolster rural workforces; small business and downtown vitality to attract residents and visitors, thus generating tax revenue and creating better quality of living; and agriculture and food system resilience to support the sector that benefits the entire state. Franklin County is responsible for 13% of state agricultural sales.
“Rural economic development isn’t charity — it’s strategic investment in a diversified, resilient Massachusetts economy,” Dunlavy said to conclude, which prompted echoes of “here, here” from some of the attendees.
Roundtable participants were invited to ask Paley questions. To start, Amy Cahillane, director of Greenfield’s Community and Economic Development Department, asked Paley how the Executive Office of Economic Development could help modernize funding categories to make cities like Greenfield eligible for funding and designations that would benefit the city, and also the surrounding towns.
“Our barrier is not readiness,” Cahillane said. “We are shovel-ready. Our barrier is eligibility.”
Paley prefaced his response by acknowledging his “humility” in that he has more to learn about Franklin County and what can be done to support it economically. Reflecting on his experience thus far, he said economic support to communities is not a one-size-fits-all system, and those who know how to support their communities best are those with boots on the ground. He offered praise for the level of organization the county has, saying this helps make him more effective in offering support.
“The best answer I can think of is, the better we understand what’s most impactful, the better we can figure out how to invest in what’s most impactful,” Paley said.
Although Paley voiced a goal of listening and learning, and then later returning with better ideas for direction, he still emphasized some available avenues for support.
During the discussion of the child care desert in Franklin County, the roundtable delved into how child care impacts workforce retention and economic development. Kimberly Williams, who offers child care through JaDuke Inc., shared two challenges in workforce retention in child care that impact working parents, but also how, as a for-profit business owner, she’s thinking of ways to support community members who want their children to access their programming, but who may not have the means to do so.
Community Action Pioneer Valley Executive Director Lev BenEzra shared her perspective on the child care desert, saying early education programs like HeadStart and others have led to better economic outcomes.
Paley shared the idea that community scholarships could be an option to support access to JaDuke programs that could help the business grow. Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said Franklin County doesn’t have the means to support that concept as a primary means of access for families. Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, offered her perspective on how tax credits for employers offering child care could be an option.
“Is there a tax incentive you can offer employers who are willing to invest in child care?” she said. “So then you’ve got the government and the private sector working together, but for an individual benefit.”
Although the discussion touched on a number of subjects, time ran out before the topic of housing could be discussed. Erving Town Administrator Bryan Smith was slated to talk about housing with Rural Development Inc. (RDI) Executive Director Gina Govoni. Both the town of Erving and RDI are working toward the construction of 18 affordable senior apartments and eight multi-generational apartments along Care Drive.
Erving has received $2.34 million from the HousingWorks Infrastructure Program for this development. Smith noted that HousingWorks is offered through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and is modeled after the Executive Office of Economic Development’s MassWorks Infrastructure Program — a model that’s been “absolutely essential” for communities like Erving.
Smith said he would have conveyed the importance of housing and how it ties into larger themes around making towns like Erving a place for business and infrastructure development.
“A lot of the themes today absolutely impact Erving,” he said, “and we’re looking forward to having conversations further with the secretary’s office.”