Town seeks input to support Rapid Recovery efforts

Town Planner Laura Smead is working with a consultant, paid for by a state grant, to apply for additional state funding to help downtown merchants recover from the loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smead said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has included funds in his Rapid Recovery Program to assist targeted downtowns and commercial districts through the development of local recovery plans.

Such future grants could help with storefront improvements, parking management, marketing strategies, branding and signage, and additional outdoor seating.

Smead is working with consultant Mark Favermann to solicit input from Canton businesses and incorporate it into Canton’s application. An initial merchant survey generated 28 responses from 91 emails. Smead and Favermann would like to form a Canton Center Advisory Committee to gain additional business input.

Board member Lisa Lopez suggested that the group work with the Paul Revere Heritage Site for linkage and signage.

The Select Board hopes to examine a report from the group by the end of the summer.

In a related news item, three Canton restaurants — Thyme, Rosetta’s and C.F. McCarthy’s — are participating in a Regional Restaurant Week event (June 7-11) sponsored by the Neponset River Chamber of Commerce. More events like this were encouraged by Smead and Favermann.

In other news from the June 8 meeting:

* The Select Board will return to live, cable-aired meetings on Tuesday, June 22, at 5:30 p.m. If technologically feasible, a hybrid format will be implemented allowing people to connect via Zoom.

* The board decided to make June 19 a paid holiday for town employees in observance of Juneteenth, which recognizes the full emancipation of enslaved people and was recently declared as an official state holiday. The Canton Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CDEI) Committee will host a Juneteenth Celebration on that day on the outdoor patio of the Northern Spy restaurant, located at the Paul Revere Heritage Site. The event will feature musical and dance performances, spoken word artists, face and body painting and more. The event is free and all are welcome to attend …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Jun 12 2021. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.