Jessica Atwood, Tri-State Region Economic Development Initiative

Tri-State Region Economic Development Initiative

A Win-Win-Win: Collaborating Across Jurisdictional Boundaries

October 26, 2015

Jessica Atwood, Economic Development Program Manager,

Franklin Regional Council of Governments

Franklin Regional Council of Governments

§ RPA & municipal & regional services organization

§ 26 towns in Franklin County, MA

§ 71,000 population in 725 sq. mi.

Tri-State Region

Greater areas of

• Franklin County, MA

• Windham County, VT

• Cheshire County, NH

§ Total population of 191,000

Windham County, VT

Cheshire County, NH

Franklin County, MA

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY)

Photo from NRC.gov

Closing of a Nuclear Facility

Closure & Clean-up

• DECOM or SAFSTOR

• Radiological cleanup

• Non-radiological/ hazardous material cleanup

• Environmental impacts

• Public safety & emergency preparedness

Economic Impacts

• Loss of high wage jobs

• Loss of VY purchasing local goods & services

• Decline in local tax base

• Less general economic activity

• Real estate

Social Impacts

• Out migration of nuclear industry workers

• Loss of direct charitable donations to local organizations

• Loss of volunteer time

And more……

Collaboration Emerges

Collaboration Emerges

Figure 2. Worker numbers at VY site will decline as power generating operations end

and decommissioning phases begin

Economic impacts of the VY closure will further contribute

to a challenging economic landscape for this rural region that is already attempting to

recover from a natural disaster and the global

economic recession.

Event held at the School for International Training campus in Brattleboro, VT

L to R: Brian Kelsey, NADO; Linda Dunlavy, FRCOG; Chris Campany, WRC; Tim Murphy, SWRPC; Adam Grinold, BDCC

Time Period Key Activities

Fall 2013 VY closure announcement; Regional planning organizations begin communication

Winter 2013 Assistance sought from NADO

Spring 2014 Creation of Windham County Economic Development Fund; INHC summit on social & economic impacts of nuclear closure

Summer 2014 NADO’s economic assessment & potential next steps support

Fall 2014 Meeting of Regional Workforce Development Agencies

Winter 2014 Release of UMDI Economic Impacts of VY Closure Study

Spring 2015 May 5th Tri-State Region Stakeholders meeting

Summer 2015 Entergy grant for Monadnock business loan fund & planning; EDA award to BDCC for Tri-State collaboration building

Winter-Spring 2016

Regional Stakeholder events; Regional initiative development and grant application