Economic Development Plan, Economic Development and Industrial Corporation

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION,

TOWN OF ORANGE, 2020

Economic Development Plan

for the

Town of Orange’s Economic Development and Industrial Corporation

Prepared for Review by the Members of the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation

Fellow Local Officials of the Town of Orange

For the

Inhabitants of the Town of Orange

August 20, 2020

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Table of Contents

Contents Vision Statement ...... 7 Boundaries of the Area ...... 7 Orange’s Two Industrial Parks ...... 7 Business Districts within Orange ...... 8 Positive Media Coverage ...... 10 Activities in Orange ...... 11 Jumptown ...... 11 Hulu, Castlerock, Stephen King ...... 12 WW1 and WW2 Reenactments ...... 13 Municipal Management and Planning and Development, the EDIC, and Job Training via Ralph C. Mahar High School and LaunchSpace, Inc. Makerspace ...... 14 Municipal Management and Planning and Development Capacity ...... 14 Orange Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) ...... 14 Job Training: Ralph C. Mahar High School ...... 14 Job Training: LaunchSpace, Inc. Makerspace ...... 15 EDIC Board of Directors ...... 16 Plan Adoption...... 18 Orange: Friendliness, Distinct Community Areas and Local Governance...... 19 Business Friendliness within “The Friendly Town” ...... 19 Distinct Areas within the Community ...... 19 Government ...... 20 Demographics ...... 21 Population ...... 21 Population per Square Mile ...... 23 Number of Firms ...... 24 Poverty Rate ...... 25 Per Capita Income...... 26 Median Household Income ...... 28 Mean Travel Time to Work ...... 30

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Economic Indicators from the US Economic Census of 2012 ...... 31 Total Retail Sales per Capita ...... 31 Total Manufacturers’ Shipments ...... 34 Total accommodation and food services sales ...... 35 Percent of Population Age 16 Years+ In Civilian Labor Force ...... 36 Educational Attainment ...... 37 Educational Attainment – High School Degree ...... 37 Educational Attainment – Bachelor’s Degree or Higher ...... 39 Technology: Computers in the Home and Broadband Internet Access ...... 41 Median Gross Rent ...... 43 Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs with a Mortgage ...... 44 Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs without a Mortgage ...... 45 Median Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units ...... 46 Foreign Born Persons by Six Geographic Regions by Percent ...... 47 Population Change by Geographic Area from 2010 to 2019 ...... 49 Per Capita Income ...... 50 Businesses by NAICS in Orange and Athol ...... 51 Labor Force, Labor Force Participation, Employment and Unemployment Rates Pore over ...... 55 MA DHCD CDBG Program and Percent of Low to Moderate-Income (LMI) Families (Community Wide Needs Score) ...... 58 Health as it Affects Labor, Labor Force, and Unemployment ...... 60 Health ...... 60 Housing ...... 69 Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2014-2018 ...... 70 Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2014-2018 ...... 70 Median gross rent, 2014-2018 ...... 70 Housing Costs and Housing Cost Burden ...... 71 Education ...... 72 Estimated Birth Years of Students ...... 72 Enrollments by Grade for Mahar and ARSD ...... 72 Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the State Route 2 Corridor by Community ...... 74

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Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the State Route 2 Corridor by Expenditure per Year ...... 75 Plans of Graduating Seniors for Mahar, ARSD and Harvard ...... 76 “Choicing-Out” of Students by School District ...... 77 Drop-out Rates ...... 79 Job Training Facilities ...... 80 Vocational High Schools in the Region ...... 80 Franklin County Vocational Technical High School ...... 80 Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School ...... 80 Community Colleges ...... 81 Greenfield Community College ...... 81 Mount Wachusett Community College ...... 81 Taxes ...... 82 Tax Levies by Classification of Land Use ...... 82 Tax Rates ...... 84 Single-Family Tax Bill ...... 86 Highway Access ...... 89 Distance to Major Cities and Metropolitan Areas from Orange Town Hall ...... 90 Distance from Orange Town Hall to Municipal, Regional and International Airports ...... 92 Distances to all Known Incubators, Makerspaces Idea Labs and Hackerspaces ...... 93 Restaurants ...... 95 Railroad ...... 96 Utilities and Services ...... 96 Areas of Land Acquisition ...... 98 High priority vacant land for redevelopment include the following: ...... 99 Structures to be Demolished or Rehabilitated ...... 100 Structures Proposed for Demolition ...... 100 Structures Proposed for Rehabilitation ...... 100 Proposals for Development, Redevelopment and General Public Improvements ...... 101 Standalone Website for the Orange EDIC ...... 101 Potential Projects Under Consideration ...... 102 Whitewater kayaking training facility ...... 102 Expansion of existing waterfront park ...... 102

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Armory ...... 103 Orange performing arts center ...... 103 Butterfield Town Hall and Co-Work Space ...... 104 Proposed Zoning and Planning Changes...... 104 APPENDIX ...... 105 Appendix A: Town Map...... 105 Appendix B: CARD Map ...... 106 Appendix C: A Report on the Plan Prepared by the Municipal Planning Agency Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 107 Appendix D: A Statement Regarding the Proposed Method for Financing Each Project Covered by the Plan ...... 108 Appendix E: A Comprehensive Relocation Plan ...... 109 Appendix D: Town Certification Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 110 Requisite Public Hearing, Input and Record completed by local officials...... 111 Massachusetts Office of Business Development Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 112 Director, Department of Housing and Community Development Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 113 Any agency likely to have an interest in such plan in the opinion of EDIC Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 114 State Senators/Representatives who represent the economic development areas Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 115 Each community group supported by public funds whose territory coincides with the economic development area Needs to be completed by local officials ...... 116

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Vision Statement

Our vision is to grow business, develop housing, create job opportunities, and maximize quality of life for all. We will collaborate with businesses to transition into a modern and thriving community, encouraging interaction among generations, strengthening the community, and fostering engagement with the natural beauty that Orange has to offer.

Businesses and residents can enjoy a diverse transportation network, land and property ready for development, infrastructure and technology to support new business growth, expanding educational opportunities, growing recreational opportunities, social systems that readily support the needs of the local population, rich agricultural opportunities, and a rapidly developing business ecosystem.

Boundaries of the Area

The EDIC’s boundaries are the boundaries of the municipality (Map of the Town of Orange, Appendix A). Because of strict legal requirements, the EDIC is only authorized to plan for economic development projects in areas currently zoned industrial. Therefore, town, non-profit and regional economic development agencies and offices are strongly encouraged to plan for economic and industrial development in parts of the community outside the purview of EDIC.

As a part of the requirements MGL Ch. 121C, the EDIC certifies that occupants of the designated economic development area shall make every reasonable effort to hire residents of the municipality for employment opportunities for a period of 40 years following approval of the economic development plan.

Orange’s Two Industrial Parks

When the EDIC was established in 1996, a plan was prepared to guide economic development and industrial activities in the entirety of the town of Orange. While the Town Meeting authorized the EDIC to conduct all functions as described in G.L. of MA Ch. 121C for the entire community, the Plan at the time focused all of the EDIC’s efforts on the development of the Randall Pond Industrial Park (RPIP). In the 24 years since the EDIC was established, the Town has seen to the successful development of the RPIP; Orange obtained a grant/multiple grants to extend utilities to the park. At the time of this plans publishing, all parcels have been sold. There are three remaining parcels that appear on GIS mapping, however these are used for storm water management. Current property owners include, but are not limited to:

• Lot 2a, 153 Quabbin Boulevard o PHA Industries, 153 Quabbin Blvd Randall Pond Ind PK, Orange, Ma 01364 • Lot 2b, 159 Quabbin Boulevard o Richard C Inness, Clear View Composting, Po Box 556, Orange, Ma 01364

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• Lot 5a, 150 Quabbin Boulevard o Peter A. Gerry, 1 Laurel Hill Road, Athol, Ma 01331 • Lot 5b, Quabbin Boulevard o PHA Industries, 153 Quabbin Blvd Randall Pond Ind PK, Orange, Ma 01364 • Lot 6e, Quabbin Boulevard o George Hunt jr, 56 Magoon Rd, Orange, MA 01364 • Lot 7b, 61 R.W. Moore Ave o Echo Industries, 61 R.W. Moore Ave, Orange, MA 01364 • Lot 10, 50 R.W. Moore Ave o Dean Cycon, 50 R. W. Moore Avenue, Orange, MA 01364 • Lot 11, 34 R.W. Moore Ave o PHA Industries, 153 Quabbin Blvd Randall Pond Ind PK, Orange, Ma 01364 It should be noted here that the RPIP is Orange’s second industrial park. The first industrial park, created by the now-defunct Athol-Orange Industrial Development District Commission (AOIDDC) that was developed is a 1970s-era industrial development area located off of Daniel Shays Memorial Highway (between Exit 16, State Route 2 and Stone Road along Daniel Shays). The street name of Governor Dukakis Drive is an indicator of the era of the development of the Orange Air Park. The other two streets are Lucci and C Streets. Current firms located within the Air Park include the following:

• Princeton Forest Products INC • Orange Distribution Company LLC • Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts INC • Zybult Realty LLC • Quabbin Orange Realty LLC

Business Districts within Orange

Downtown Orange is comprised of a mix of commercial, industrial and mixed-use (commercial and housing) properties. The downtown is a Commercial Area Revitalization District (CARD); boundaries of which can be found at the end of this document (Appendix B).

The District Court (affiliated with the Franklin County Court system) is located in Downtown Orange among other notable shops such as Trailhead General Store including the Corner Café on-premises, Orange Antiques, Tech One and Slencil, Inc. At the northern peak of the district stands the Orange Center School, 34 North Main st, home to the Orange Dance Studio. The Center School is an underutilized, 5 story brick building, whose owners have begun plans to fill.

Additionally, there are three vacant Mill buildings, located at 50 South Main St, 58 South Main St, and 16 West River St. These buildings, if activated, would provide 120,000 square feet of commercial or residential property. The buildings are eligible for historic tax credits, which may entice potential developers.

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The Central Business District (CBD) has some vacancies which have been quantified, below. A small vacancy rate is an asset as it allows for expansions of existing businesses while a high vacancy rate can indicate one or more negative factors in downtown investment; such as, but not limited to, the high cost of repair needed to address local building conditions, code-compliance, market forces, and/or other factors The following is a list of the commercial and industrial buildings and their corresponding vacancy rates.

Building Address Total Commercial Total Vacant Units Total Housing Total Vacant Units Units Housing Units 18 Chase Court 2 0 0 0 1 East Main St 5 2 8 0 7 East Main St 3 1 4 0 12 East Main St 2 0 7 0 15-17 East Main St 1 0 11 2 18-25 East Main St 3 1 3 3 31 East Main St 1 0 0 0 12 North Main St 1 0 0 0 26 North Main 1 0 1 0 Street 31 North Main 1 0 0 0 Street 1-7 South Main St 6 3 0 0 9 South Main St 4 1 0 0 14 South Main St 1 1 0 0 18 South Main St 2 1 3 0 22 South Main St 1 0 0 0 26 South Main St 2 1 0 0 36 South Main St 1 0 0 0 57 South Main St 1 0 0 0 11 West Main St 2 1 0 0 2 West Main Street 2 0 4 0 8 West Main Street 1 0 0 0 17-19 West Main 2 0 7 3 Street

Total Units 45 12 48 8 Vacancy Rates Commercial: 26.7% Residential: 16.7%

Table 1: CARD Vacancy Survey

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Positive Media Coverage

There are many people that proudly call Orange, “Home.” Rightfully so. The Boston.Com Travel Section spotlighted Orange in a highly positive way. Some of the excerpts from recent coverage include the following:

• “A sign at the border of Orange welcomes you to ‘The Friendly Town.’ Situated in north central Massachusetts about 75 miles from Boston, it's a place you've hardly heard of, much less visited, but the town is often seen on Boston TV weather reports. Here's a look at the forecasters' favorite obscure little spot; • Orange is one of the many mill towns located along Millers River; • The town of Orange was established in 1810, and named for William, Prince of Orange. This is an office in the town hall; and, • Bob Lawton (left) delivers flowers to Carol Mayer (right) from her husband at Town Hall on Valentine's Day. The welcome signs at the town border that call Orange "The Friendly Town" seems to be true.”

Source, http://archive.boston.com/travel/explorene/massachusetts/galleries/orange/.

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Activities in Orange

Jumptown

Jumptown Skydiving is operated by the Massachusetts Sport Parachute Club (SPC), which is a not-for- profit organization that exists solely for the promotion and enjoyment of Skydiving and Sport Parachuting. Jumptown is a located at the Orange Airport. The facility offers both Tandem and Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) training. The Board of Directors prides itself on being dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable home for new and experienced skydivers. The facility dates back to May of 1959 when four sport jumpers put Jumptown (formerly known as Parachutes Incorporated) on the map as the very first purpose-built skydiving center in the United States. (Narrative for this paragraph borrowed from, https://www.jumptown.com/about/.) The community, well-known for Jumptown, is very proud of this history. So much so that a parachutist is even the moniker on the Police Department’s official uniform patch!

Source, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/255428434483880/photos/a.255428514483872/255428517817205/

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Hulu, Castlerock, Stephen King

Hollywood has come to Orange! To be clear, Hulu has been filming Castlerock, a creation of the novelist, Stephen King. Two seasons have been completed and a third has been planned. Downtown merchants have benefitted by the infusion of dollars into the economy due to dollars expended by Hulu and its affiliates while taping the program in Orange. Many local residents have also been hired to be both in front of and behind the camera, providing extra income for the populace.

Source, The Greenfield Recorder, https://www.recorder.com/Castle-Rock-films-in-Orange-12077120

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WW1 and WW2 Reenactments

For the past several years WW1 and WW2 reenactors have been visiting Orange and drawing many spectators as reenactments are performed. These history buffs have been cross-marketing the annual events to boost sales at local establishments, such as Anne’s restaurant, increasing sales and retaining employees in the service industry.

Source, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib-C2xHg1zE&list=PLRw- _k7M5_hGjCWfFXU4hum-XT1TXusGA&index=4

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Municipal Management and Planning and Development, the EDIC, and Job Training via Ralph C. Mahar High School and LaunchSpace, Inc. Makerspace

Municipal Management and Planning and Development Capacity

Recently, the Town of Orange:

• Increased its membership on the Board of Selectmen from three to five increasing local voices in these leadership positions; and, • Hired a new o Town Administrator, Gabe Volker; and, o A new Director of Community and Economic Development, Alec Wade.

Orange Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC)

In addition to the above, the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC):

• Initiated the creation of a new Economic Development Plan to be completed on accordance with the EDIC’s enabling statute (GL of MA c. 121C and charged Mr. Wade with writing the document under the direction of the EDIC and in close consultation with the new Town Administrator (Gabe Volker); and, • Revisited the original 1996 Town Meeting vote that created the EDIC and has begun the process of identifying new economic development projects and programs that will be included and implemented as a part of this new planning document.

Job Training: Ralph C. Mahar High School

The Ralph C. Mahar High School has inserted innovations into the school’s curriculum. According to the Athol Daily News, “Mahar continues to strive for innovation in classrooms” per an article that appeared in local media on October 20, 2018.

• “Last year Mahar Regional High teachers Ian Bashaw and Matt Parsons started a journalism course at the high school; this year when a new group of students returned, the course offered something a bit different – a new and improved space; • ”The whole space is brand new. Some of the tables were built from scratch, everything on the table is a white board to encourage students to jot down any ideas they have,’ said Bashaw;

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• Along with the new desks, students have access to televisions mounted on the walls, laptops, audio equipment and everything else they need to successfully produce the news. A row of clocks stretch across the wall hanging above the students’ heads that detail different times in other cities, mimicking the feel of a major newsroom; and, • Senior Honors Project allows students to create solutions to problems they see in their own communities right here in Orange. After completing independent, initial research, last year students were divided into three groups to tackle separate topics. One group created a running club for Orange elementary school students at Dexter Park to get more kids active, while another group ran a competition between local schools to see who could reduce the most waste in their cafeterias. The course is designed to bring problem solving straight to the hands of its students.”

In 2019, in an interview with Teri Thomas, outgoing Superintendent, she informed authors of this Plan that Mahar recently created a makerspace competition for students. Students, some of whom were on the verge of dropping out of high school, participated in the makerspace competition applying theory to practical inventions such as an electric bicycle and articulated costumery, whose creator, Ms. Thomas said, “has enough talent to work on Broadway next year.”

Job Training: LaunchSpace, Inc. Makerspace

Coincidentally, concurrent to the creation of a makerspace within the local high school, local residents and business representatives identified a culture of makers in the North Quabbin region, obtained a lease (with no payments for five years) for 13,000 square foot space located on the third floor of the Orange Innovation Center (OIC) located at 131 West Main Street. for the North Central Tier’s first makerspace east of Albany, NY, west of Somerville and Lowell, and north of Springfield and Worcester. LaunchSpace, Inc. (LSI), a non-profit organization, managed by unpaid volunteers, have obtained approximately $400,000 in state grants to build-out the internal infrastructure and acquire machinery and equipment for the following rooms: art, photography and textiles; information technology, robotics, and 3D design and 3D printing; a lounge; and, metal, wood, and pottery shops. As job training services provided by post-secondary educational institutions are scant to non-existent in the North Quabbin region, the creation of the LSI facility in Orange, and with its second campus in Athol, will provide off- campus locations for two-year educational institutions such as Greenfield Community College (GCC, Greenfield) and Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC, Gardner). The ongoing success of new innovations in education at Mahar and the opening and hoped-for success of LSI will both be critically important to expanding training opportunities for inhabitants of the Town of Orange at all age levels.

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EDIC Board of Directors EDIC Membership Name Affiliation Title Compliance

Marc Ostberg Assistant Vice Chair Financial Matters President / Branch Manager Hometown Bank, 90 Exchange Street Athol, MA 01331

Karl Bittenbender Former Finance Treasurer Industrial Development Specialist/Retired 110 Athol Road Orange, MA 01364

Gabriele Volker Town Administrator Director Experienced in Municipal Town of Orange Government 6 Prospect Street Orange, MA 01364

Richard Sheridan Former General Director Representative of Low- to Contractor/ Retired Moderate-Income (LMI) 1010 Daniel Shays People Highway Orange, MA 01364

Sara Lyman RealtorTM Director Real Estate Matters 41 Rogers Ave Orange, MA 01364

Mark Wright Human Resources Director Member at Large Director – MassGrow/Ascend MA 134 Chestnut Hill Road Athol, MA 01331

Vacancy Vacancy Director Member at Large Table 2: EDIC Membership Source: Local officials

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Plan Adoption

The EDIC Plan is being prepared with support from the following:

• Board of Selectmen • Orange Planning Board, Mercedes Clingerman, Chair and Members John McHale, Kelli Gervais, Casey Bashaw, and Todd Soucy • Director of Community Development, Alexander Wade

This Plan was presented by the EDIC to the Planning Board on September 2nd, 2020 following the opportunity for public comment at a public hearing that was held by the EDIC on August 25th, 2020.

The Plan was reviewed by the Planning Board on September 2nd, 2020.

The Plan is to be approved by Town Meeting on September 14th, 2020.

Local Economic Development Contacts Include:

• Alec Wade, Director of Community and Economic Development, 978-408-9453, [email protected] email

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Orange: Friendliness, Distinct Community Areas and Local Governance

Business Friendliness within “The Friendly Town”

• Orange is part of a regional Economic Target Ares (ETAs), the Franklin County ETA established in 1994. Since the establishment of the ETA, the town has approved 18 TIF Projects and one STA Project in accordance with the MA Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), G.L of MA Ch. 19. Firms that have received Certified Project designation include, but are not limited to: Pete’s Tire Barn, Echo Industries, PHA Industries, Innovative Cereal Products, and Rodney Hunt Company. • The Town has developed an expedited review process for applicants applying for Host Community Agreements. This crucial step in the Recreational Marijuana permitting process allows applicants to quickly begin their path to opening. This process was developed with recognition that the Cannabis Control Commission application period can be long and arduous. Applicants can expect to receive their executed HCA within two weeks of the date of application, allowing them to rapidly begin their state and local permitting process.

Distinct Areas within the Community

There are several unique geographic, residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use areas within the community. Some of them are, as follows:

• The central business district (CBD) or downtown is a quintessential New England, mixed-use district including red-brick manufacturing businesses (circa 19th century), commercial establishments, commercial-residential buildings, single-family homes, and institutional uses (i.e. local government [Town Hall/Memorial Building], former elementary school, Churches, Orange Historical Society, and open space, such as Veteran’s Park); o Notable streets within the downtown include East Main Street, West Main Street, North Main Street, South Main Street, East River Street and West River Street. • There is at least one large solar park located near Hunt Farm at the intersection of South Main Street and US Route 202; • There are two, notable industrial parks (Orange Airpark and Randall Pond Industrial Park discussed in some detail in this report; • North Orange is a small village that consists predominantly of a few homes and a great deal of open space; and, • Located south of the CBD, South Orange is a, primarily, residential part of the community, but also located here are the Municipal Airport, Mahar Regional High School, both of the industrial parks mentioned above, and future industrial park land. South Main street has been targeted for future commercial growth.

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o Daniel Shays Highway is a passing route through South Orange, approximately 2 miles in length. The route is frequently traveled by college students and family’s on their way to the Amherst area, exiting from Route 2 exit 16. The area is comprised of service, dining, and industrial businesses. A mini golf course and sports complex previously operated along the route.

Government

The government structure of the Town is as follows:

• Town Meeting • Five Member Board of Selectmen • Town Administrator

More information concerning municipal government, boards, and committees can be found at https://www.townoforange.org/.

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Demographics

Population

The estimated population of the Town of Orange for 2020 is 8,009 compared with 12,240 in Athol. Only 51 people live in “group quarters”1 while 133 are housed in this manner in Athol.

• Orange’s 2020 “total daytime population” of 7,406 consists of workers at 2,510 and residents at 4,896 compared to Athol’s total of 11,600 where 4,388 are daytime workers and 7,212 are residents.

• Orange’s 2025 population has been projected to decline by a fraction (-0.15%) while Athol’s may increase by less than one-half-of-one percent (0.43%).

Please see Tables 3 and 4 for population data for Orange and Athol, respectively.

Table 3 - Orange Population Data

Population Summary 2000 Total Population 7,518

2010 Total Population 7,839

2020 Total Population 8,009

2020 Group Quarters 51

2025 Total Population 7,950

2020-2025 Annual Rate -0.15%

2020 Total Daytime Population 7,406

Workers 2,510

Residents 4,896

Table 4 - Athol Population Data

Population Summary

2000 Total Population 11,299

2010 Total Population 11,584

1 Data Note: Household population includes persons not residing in group quarters.

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2020 Total Population 12,240

2020 Group Quarters 133

2025 Total Population 12,507

2020-2025 Annual Rate 0.43%

2020 Total Daytime Population 11,600

Workers 4,388

Residents 7,212

Sources for both tables, above: Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO) and U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 Summary File 1. Esri forecasts for 2020 and 2025 Esri converted Census 2000 data into 2010 geography.

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Population per Square Mile

Orange, Athol, Franklin and Worcester Counties and MA all have greater population densities, per square mile, than the entire US. Worcester County is more than five times more-dense than Franklin County even though the total land area in Worcester is more than double the land area of Franklin County. The land in Orange and Athol, at 35 and 32 square miles, respectively, is similar. However, there are more people, per square mile, in Athol than Orange; a difference of about 61%.

Table 5 - Population per Square Mile of Orange, Athol, Franklin and Worcester Counties, the Commonwealth and the Nation

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Population per square mile, 2010 223 359 102 529 839 87

Land area in square miles, 2010 35 32 699 1,511 7,800 3,531,905

Source: US Census, Quick Facts, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US,MA,orangetownfranklincountymassachusetts,atholto wnworcestercountymassachusetts,worcestercountymassachusetts,franklincountymassachusetts/PST04 5219

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Number of Firms

There is a total of 1,256 businesses in Orange and Athol with 31% (388) in Orange and the other 69% (868) in Athol.

Table 6 – Numbers of Firms by Six Geographies

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

All firms, 2012 388 868 7,469 61,953 607,664 27,626,360

Men-owned firms, 173 558 4,260 36,840 357,158 14,844,597 2012

Women-owned 161 260 2,436 19,245 199,210 9,878,397 firms, 2012

Minority-owned Data Data 395 7,583 89,967 7,952,386 firms, 2012 Unavailable Unavailable

Nonminority-owned 362 814 6,767 52,298 499,959 18,987,918 firms, 2012

Veteran-owned 63 101 754 6,519 58,339 2,521,682 firms, 2012

Nonveteran-owned 306 733 6,342 52,634 525,667 24,070,685 firms, 2012

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Poverty Rate

Essentially, one in five people live in poverty in the Town of Orange, Franklin and Worcester Counties, the State and Nation. Poverty is higher in Athol at 14.1%.

Table 7 - Poverty in the Six Geographies

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Persons in poverty, percent 10.5% 14.1% 10.6% 9.0% 10.0% 11.8%

Figure 1 - Poverty in the Six Geographies

Persons in poverty, percent 16.0% 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Per Capita Income

Of the six geographic areas examined, Massachusetts has the highest per capita income2 (PCI) at $41,794, which is $9,173 (or 28.1%) higher than the National PCI of $32,621. The PCI for Orange residents is slightly lower that their counterparts in Athol by about 4.6% ($1,275). For both counties in question, their respective PCI’s are somewhat higher than the National average, but lag behind the Massachusetts average.

Table 8 - Per Capita Income of Six Geographic Areas

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Per capita income in past 12 months (in $26,235 $27,510 $34,202 $36,169 $41,794 $32,621 2018 dollars), 2014-2018

2 Per capita income is the mean income computed for every man, woman, and child in a particular group including those living in group quarters. It is derived by dividing the aggregate income of a particular group by the total population in that group. This measure is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. For the complete definition, research, “ACS subject definitions, Income in the Past 12 Months, Per Capita Income." (Source, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/note/US/INC910218.) Stated more simply, “Per capita income is a measure of the amount of money earned per person in a nation or geographic region. Per capita income can be used to determine the average per-person income for an area and to evaluate the standard of living and quality of life of the population. Per capita income for a nation is calculated by dividing the country's national income by its population.” (Source, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/income-per- capita.asp#:~:text=Per%20capita%20income%20is%20a,a%20nation%20or%20geographic%20region.&text=Per%20capita%20income%20for%2 0a,national%20income%20by%20its%20population.)

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Figure 2 - Per Capita Income of Six Geographic Areas

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2018 dollars), 2014-2018 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Median Household Income

Generally speaking, the median household incomes3 (MHI) of the six geographic areas studied, included in this report, follow the trend of per capita income (or PCI) explained elsewhere in this Plan. Massachusetts’ MHI is at the top of the list followed by Worcester County and the US. The MHI in Franklin County is somewhat higher in both Athol and Orange; the towns fall 5th and 6th in rank from high to low, respectively as the data from the US Census shows, below in Table 9.

Table 9 - Median Household Income

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Median household income (in 2018 dollars), $46,228 $54,028 $59,522 $71,895 $77,378 $60,293 2014-2018

3 Income in the Past 12 Months - Income of Households: This includes the income of the householder and all other individuals 15 years old and over in the household, whether they are related to the householder or not. Because many households consist of only one person, average household income is usually less than average family income. Although the household income statistics cover the past 12 months, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of households refer to the time of interview. Thus, the income of the household does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the household during all or part of the past 12 months if these individuals no longer resided in the household at the time of interview. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside in the household during the past 12 months but who were members of the household at the time of interview are included. However, the composition of most households was the same during the past 12 months as at the time of interview. … The median divides the income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median income and one-half above the median. For households and families, the median income is based on the distribution of the total number of households and families including those with no income. The median income for individuals is based on individuals 15 years old and over with income. Median income for households, families, and individuals is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. For the complete definition, search online for, “ACS subject definitions Income in the Past 12 Months." (Source, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/note/US/INC110218.) … Or, more simply stated, “Median (household) income means that half of the people earn less than that figure and half earn more. It's actually a more accurate assessment of how well Americans are doing. With average income, a small number of people with very high salaries—America's growing billionaire class, for example—could increase the figures, so they look better than they really are.”

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Figure 3 - Median Household Income

Median household income (in 2018 dollars), 2014-2018 $90,000 $80,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Mean Travel Time to Work

Across the board, and in general, commuters are traveling from 24 to 31 minutes to work, daily. The average commute for people living in the US is more than 26 minutes. Those with the longest commutes live in Athol (30.9) followed very closely by their counterparts in Massachusetts (29.7) and Worcester County (29.2). Franklin County inhabitants, on average, have the shortest commute at 24.4 minutes. Orange’s commuters spend about 28.5 minutes in their vehicles each morning.

30 Minute Drive Time Map(above) Source: Esri Business Analyst

Table 10 - Mean Travel Time to Work

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers 28.5 30.9 24.4 29.2 29.7 26.6 age 16 years+, 2014-2018

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Figure 4 - Mean Travel Time to Work

Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2014-2018 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Economic Indicators from the US Economic Census of 2012

Total Retail Sales per Capita

The total retail sales per capita4 is higher in Orange (at nearly $8.7 million) than in Athol (over $6.6 million). Retail sales per capita in both towns is lower than in both counties, the Commonwealth and the Nation.

4 The retail trade sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are, therefore, organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. The 2012 Economic Census classifies businesses according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2012. … Sales include merchandise sold for cash or credit at retail and wholesale by establishments primarily engaged in retail trade; amounts received from customers for layaway purchases; receipts from rental of vehicles, equipment, instruments, tools, etc.; receipts for delivery, installation, maintenance, repair, alteration, storage, and other services; the total value of service contracts; and gasoline, liquor, tobacco, and other excise taxes which are paid by the manufacturer or wholesaler and passed on to the

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Table 11 - Total Retail Sales per Capita

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Total retail sales per capita, 2012 $8,663 $6,646 $9,836 $13,541 $13,980 $13,443

Figure 5 - Total Retail Sales per Capita

Total retail sales per capita, 2012 $16,000 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

retailer. … Sales are net after deductions for refunds and allowances for merchandise returned by customers. Trade-in allowances are not deducted from sales. Sales do not include carrying or other credit charges; sales (or other) taxes collected from customers and forwarded to taxing authorities; gross sales and receipts of departments or concessions operated by other companies; and commissions or receipts from the sale of government lottery tickets. … Sales do not include retail sales made by manufacturers, wholesalers, service establishments, or other businesses whose primary activity is other than retail trade. They do include receipts other than from the sale of merchandise at retail, such as service receipts, sales to industrial users, and sales to other retailers by establishments primarily engaged in retail trade. (Source, https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quickfacts/all-states/retail-sales-per-capita#map.)

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Total Manufacturers’ Shipments

Aggregate shipments for the Nation were nearly $5.7 trillion in 2012. For the same cohort in Massachusetts the number was nearly $82 billion. Shipments from Worcester County (of nearly $10.5 billion) dwarf those of Franklin County (at almost $1.7 billion). The value of shipments that left the town of Athol came in just under $125 million; this was about 1.6 times higher than the value of the shipments for the same time period in Orange of a bit below $76 million.

Table 12 - Total Manufacturers’ Shipments

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Total $75,841 $124,899 $1,682,516 $10,475,792 $81,927,799 $5,696,729,632 manufacturers’ shipments, 2012 ($1,000)

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Total accommodation and food services sales

In 2012, Foods and accommodations sales in Athol (at slightly more than $8 million) were 2.2 times higher than in Orange (at almost $3.7 million).

Table 13 - Total Accommodation and Food Services

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Total accommodation $3,674 $8,007 $85,472 $1,266,930 $17,508,975 $708,138,598 and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000)

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Percent of Population Age 16 Years+ In Civilian Labor Force

In round numbers, approximately six to almost seven people participate in the labor force in the six geographic areas that have been analyzed for this report. However, the labor participation rate in Orange and Athol, respectively, are at the lowest end of the scale at 59.9% and 60.8%.

Table 14 - Percent of Population Age 16 Years+ In Civilian Labor Force

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

In civilian labor force, total, percent of 59.9% 60.8% 65.0% 66.4% 67.1% 62.9% population age 16 years+, 2014-2018

Figure 6 - Percent of Population Age 16 Years+ In Civilian Labor Force

In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2014-2018 68.0%

66.0%

64.0%

62.0%

60.0%

58.0%

56.0% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Educational Attainment

Educational Attainment – High School Degree

Nine out of ten persons in Orange, Athol, Franklin and Worcester Counties, MA and the US have high school degrees. There are slight variations, by percent, but the variances are not statistically significant.

Table 15 - High School Degree, percent of persons age 25 years+

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

High school graduate 89.6% 89.7% 93.1% 90.4% 90.4% 87.7% or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018

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Figure 7 - High School Degree, percent of persons age 25 years+

High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018 94.0% 93.0% 92.0% 91.0% 90.0% 89.0% 88.0% 87.0% 86.0% 85.0% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Educational Attainment – Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

About one-in-five (20.1%) Orange residents hold a Bachelor’s Degree which is slightly higher than their counterparts in Athol, where the percentage is a bit lower at 18.9%. These numbers are very low when compared to the State’s rate of 42.9%. Franklin and Worcester Counties rates are impressive at 37.2% and 35.9%, respectively. Both counties and the State’s rates exceed the National average of 31.5%.

Table 16 - Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of 20.1% 18.9% 37.2% 35.9% 42.9% 31.5% persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018

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Figure 8 - Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018 50.0% 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Technology: Computers in the Home and Broadband Internet Access

Slightly more than eight-out-of-ten households in Orange have at least one computer in the home. While this statistic is significant, Orange residents lag somewhat behind their counterparts in Athol, Franklin and Worcester Counties, the State and the Nation where nearly nine-out-of-ten households have a computer (in Athol, the two counties and the US) while slightly more than 90% of homes across the Commonwealth include a computer.

Table 17 - Computers in the Home and Broadband Internet Access

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Households with a computer, percent, 81.4% 87.6% 88.2% 89.7% 90.1% 88.8% 2014-2018

Households with a broadband Internet 75.6% 78.4% 80.2% 84.0% 84.7% 80.4% subscription, percent, 2014-2018

Figure 9 - Computers in the Home and Broadband Internet Access

Chart Title 95.00% 90.00% 85.00% 80.00% 75.00% 70.00% 65.00% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Households with a computer, percent, 2014-2018 Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2014-2018

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Median Gross Rent

The average rent for a housing unit in the US is $1,023 while the average rent in Massachusetts exceeds the National average, at $1,225, by 19.7%. Renters in Orange benefit by having the least expensive rent when compared against Athol, and Franklin and Worcester Counties.

Table 18 - Median Gross Rent by Geographic Area

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Median gross rent, 2014-2018 $806 $885 $926 $1,027 $1,225 $1,023

Figure 10 - Median Gross Rent by Geographic Area

Median gross rent, 2014-2018 $1,400

$1,200

$1,000

$800

$600

$400

$200

$0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs with a Mortgage

Nationally, housing costs for those with a mortgage exceed $1,500. Owners’ costs in Massachusetts exceed all, other five geographic areas reviewed for this plan. All, monthly housing costs for those in Orange come in at $1,487, slightly higher than in Athol at $1,412.

Table 19 - Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Median selected monthly owner costs - $1,487 $1,412 $1,577 $1,891 $2,165 $1,558 with a mortgage, 2014-2018

Figure 11 - Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs

Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2014-2018 $2,500

$2,000

$1,500

$1,000

$500

$0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs without a Mortgage

Nationally, housing costs for those with no mortgage are less than $500. These costs exceed $500 for every other Massachusetts geographic area analyzed for this report. These costs in Athol are the lowest at $518 and in Orange they are $585.

Table 20 - Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Median selected monthly owner costs - $585 $518 $629 $715 $786 $490 without a mortgage, 2014-2018

Figure 12 - Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage

Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2014-2018 $900 $800 $700 $600 $500 $400 $300 $200 $100 $0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Median Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units

The value of homes is high in Massachusetts; the Massachusetts median value of $366,800 exceeds the US median of $204,900 by 79%. Median housing unit values are at the lowest end of the cost spectrum for Orange and Athol at $161,800 and $152,300, respectively. Values in Franklin and Worcester Counties are closer to the quarter-million-dollar mark at $229,300 and $269,900, respectively.

Table 21 - Median Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Median value of owner-occupied $161,800 $152,300 $229,300 $269,900 $366,800 $204,900 housing units, 2014-2018

Figure 13 - Median Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2014-2018 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Foreign Born Persons by Six Geographic Regions by Percent

With the exception of the presence of indigenous people in the western hemisphere, the vast majority of the people in the United States are either: immigrants; descendants of immigrants; indentured servants; or, were brought here by force. Both private and public sector organizations require people to produce the goods and services that are sold to others. The coupling of machines and people drives the economy.

Training the population is of vital importance to ensuring that the economic engine will operate at its highest potential, regardless of the geographic area. Without having a well-trained workforce an economy could falter.

The percentage of foreign-born people in Orange, at 2.8%, is very low when compared against the Massachusetts and National rates of 16.5% and 13.5%, respectively. Generally speaking, foreign-born inhabitants in the US tend to reside more in urban centers than in rural settings. However, over the past twenty years, their has been an increase in new immigrants and “second generation” families leaving the cities for towns; which is analogous to the Nation’s history during the steam-powered industrial revolution of the later 18th and early 19th centuries when first and second generation people moved into the cities from the rural farming communities to seek employment.

During the recent ten+/- years (after the Great Recession and pre-COVID-19-pandemic [commencing in January 2020]), companies in Orange, and elsewhere throughout Massachusetts, had been desperately- seeking people to fill jobs. Anecdotally, in the fall 2019, a local manufacturer advertised seven positions; all went unfilled for many months. But for the increase in population in Orange and its surrounding communities, local businesses will continue to struggle to find the employees, well-trained ones, to fill their local payrolls and deliver manufactured goods, sell products via retail establishments, and provide services.

Table 22 - Foreign Born Persons by Six Geographic Regions by Percent

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Foreign born persons, percent, 2014-2018 2.8% 4.1% 5.5% 11.9% 16.5% 13.5%

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Figure 14 - Foreign Born Persons by Six Geographic Regions by Percent

Foreign born persons, percent, 2014-2018 18.00% 16.00% 14.00% 12.00% 10.00% 8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

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Population Change by Geographic Area from 2010 to 2019

Franklin County lost 1.7% of its residents in the past decade; Orange lost nearly twice as many residents by percentage at 3.3%. Worcester County, Massachusetts and the US gained the most residents by percent at 4.0%, 5.3%, and 6.3%, respectively.

Table 23 - Population Change by Geographic Area from 2010 to 2019

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Population, percent change - April 1, 2010 -3.3% 1.3% -1.7% 4.0% 5.3% 6.3% (estimates base) to July 1, 2019, (V2019)

Figure 15 - Population Change by Geographic Area from 2010 to 2019

Population, percent change - April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2019, (V2019) 8.00%

6.00%

4.00%

2.00%

0.00% Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US -2.00% County County

-4.00%

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Per Capita Income

The Per Capita Income rate in Orange is so low, that Orange residents earn approximately four dollars for every 10 of those earned by their counterparts throughout the Commonwealth. Orange’s Per Capita Income of $22,823 is 26.8% lower than the Nation’s PCI of $ $31,177 and 42.8% lower than the State’s PCI of $39,913.

Table 24 - Per capita income compared to US and MA

United States Massachusetts Orange

Estimate Margin Estimate Margin of Estimate Margin of of Error Error Error

Per capita income in the past $31,177 +/- $89 $39,913 +/- $175 $22,823 +/- $1,865 12 months

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Businesses by NAICS in Orange and Athol

There is a total of 298 business in Orange and another 358 enterprises in Athol; there are 2,797 persons employed in Orange and 5,062 in Athol. According to Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO), in Orange 6% of the businesses are in manufacturing, 20.5% in Retail Trade, 5% in Finance, Insurance, Real Estate (FIRE), and 42.3% in Services. For these same, four cohorts in Athol, the numbers are 1.7%, 22.6%, 9.8%, and 39.9%, respectively. Tables 25 through 28, below contain additional data on other business categories.

Table 25 - Orange: Total Number of Businesses, Employees, Residential Population and Employee/Residential Population Ratio (per 100 Residents)

Data for all businesses in area Total Businesses: 298 Total Employees: 2,797 Total Residential Population: 8,009 Employee/Residential Population Ratio (per 100 35 Residents) Source, Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO)

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Table 26 - Orange Businesses by NAICS Description

Businesses Employees Number Percent Number Percent Agriculture & Mining 3 1.0 11 0.4 Construction 13 4.4 38 1.4 Manufacturing 18 6.0 375 13.4 Transportation 8 2.7 573 20.5 Communication 1 0.3 4 0.1 Utility 6 2.0 24 0.9 Wholesale Trade 11 3.7 87 3.1

Retail Trade Summary 61 20.5 623 22.3 Home Improvement 6 2.0 24 0.9 General Merchandise Stores 2 0.7 344 12.3 Food Stores 5 1.7 50 1.8 Auto Dealers, Gas Stations, Auto 10 3.4 58 2.1 Aftermarket Apparel & Accessory Stores 1 0.3 1 0.0 Furniture & Home Furnishings 6 2.0 14 0.5 Eating & Drinking Places 11 3.7 76 2.7 Miscellaneous Retail 20 6.7 56 2.0

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Summary 15 5.0 53 1.9 Banks, Savings & Lending Institutions 3 1.0 16 0.6 Securities Brokers 0 0.0 0 0.0 Insurance Carriers & Agents 1 0.3 5 0.2 Real Estate, Holding, Other Investment 11 3.7 32 1.1 Offices

Services Summary 126 42.3 881 31.5 Hotels & Lodging 4 1.3 28 1.0 Automotive Services 14 4.7 40 1.4 Motion Pictures & Amusements 10 3.4 37 1.3 Health Services 11 3.7 58 2.1 Legal Services 3 1.0 8 0.3 Education Institutions & Libraries 12 4.0 400 14.3 Other Services 72 24.2 310 11.1

Government 23 7.7 125 4.5

Unclassified Establishments 13 4.4 3 0.1

Totals 298 100.0 2,797 100.0 Source, Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO)

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Table 27 - Athol: Total Number of Businesses, Employees, Residential Population and Employee/Residential Population Ratio (per 100 Residents)

Data for all businesses in area Total Businesses: 358 Total Employees: 5,062 Total Residential Population: 12,240 Employee/Residential Population Ratio (per 100 41 Residents) Source, Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO)

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Table 28 - Athol Businesses by NAICS Description

Businesses Employees Number Percent Number Percent Agriculture & Mining 7 2.0% 29 0.6 Construction 20 5.6% 73 1.4 Manufacturing 6 1.7% 877 17.3 Transportation 10 2.8% 133 2.6 Communication 3 0.8% 8 0.2 Utility 0 0.0% 0 0 Wholesale Trade 14 3.9% 134 2.6

Retail Trade Summary 81 22.6% 1,093 21.6 Home Improvement 5 1.4% 91 1.8 General Merchandise Stores 6 1.7% 103 2 Food Stores 8 2.2% 436 8.6 Auto Dealers, Gas Stations, Auto Aftermarket 12 3.4% 51 1 Apparel & Accessory Stores 4 1.1% 20 0.4 Furniture & Home Furnishings 2 0.6% 9 0.2 Eating & Drinking Places 23 6.4% 262 5.2 Miscellaneous Retail 21 5.9% 121 2.4

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Summary 35 9.8% 221 4.4 Banks, Savings & Lending Institutions 6 1.7% 96 1.9 Securities Brokers 1 0.3% 2 0 Insurance Carriers & Agents 2 0.6% 16 0.3 Real Estate, Holding, Other Investment Offices 26 7.3% 107 2.1

Services Summary 143 39.9% 2,317 45.8 Hotels & Lodging 0 0.0% 0 0 Automotive Services 11 3.1% 45 0.9 Motion Pictures & Amusements 11 3.1% 43 0.8 Health Services 23 6.4% 832 16.4 Legal Services 4 1.1% 11 0.2 Education Institutions & Libraries 16 4.5% 888 17.5 Other Services 78 21.8% 498 9.8 0 0.0% 0 0 Government 24 6.7% 175 3.5

Unclassified Establishments 15 4.2% 2 0

Totals 358 100.0% 5,062 100.0% Source, Esri Business Analyst Online (BAO)

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Labor Force, Labor Force Participation, Employment and Unemployment Rates Pore over

These data points are mixed.

• The National economy has improved, slowly but steadily, over time. By 2018, Orange’s unemployment rate declined, as did Athol’s, to 3.6% as can be seen in Table 29, below. • Since the Great Recession (December 2007 through June 2009) the labor force is Orange has remained stagnant; in 2018 there was one less person in the labor force than in 2011. Whereas in Orange’s sibling community of Athol the labor force grew by 11% over the same period.

Table 29 – Orange and Athol Unemployment Rates from 2001 through 2018

Orange, MA Athol, MA

Year Labor Employed Unemployed Unemployment Labor Employed Unemployed Unemployment Force (#) (#) Rate (%) Force (#) (#) Rate (%) (#) (#)

2011 3,671 3,319 352 9.6 5,372 4,799 573 10.7

2012 3,752 3,415 337 9.0 5,205 4,729 476 9.1

2013 3,718 3,403 315 8.5 5,231 4,742 489 9.3

2014 3,522 3,256 266 7.6 5,645 5,215 430 7.6

2015 3,525 3,313 212 6.0 5,724 5,365 359 6.3

2016 3,485 3,314 171 4.9 5,678 5,381 297 5.2

2017 3,502 3,334 168 4.8 5,675 5,413 262 4.6

2018 3,670 3,539 131 3.6 5,962 5,746 216 3.6

Source: ______?

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Figure 16 - Labor Force in Orange and Athol from 2011 through 2018

Source: MA Division of Labor and Workforce Development

Figure 17 - Labor Force that is Employed in Orange and Athol from 2011 through 2018

Source: MA Division of Labor and Workforce Development

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Figure 18 - Unemployed Persons in Orange and Athol from 2011 through 2018

Source: MA Division of Labor and Workforce Development

Figure 19 - Change in Unemployment Rates in Orange and Athol from 2011 through 2018

Source: MA Division of Labor and Workforce Development

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MA DHCD CDBG Program and Percent of Low to Moderate-Income (LMI) Families (Community Wide Needs Score)

Due to the community’s low wealth indicators Orange is very well-positioned to apply for and receive Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This program was created in accordance with the 1974 Community Development Act engrossed by former President Richard M. Nixon. The CDBG program can be used for programs and projects within four general areas of eligibility:

• Housing; • Economic development; • Infrastructure; • Public facilities improvements; and, • Public services.

A community creating a “block grant proposal” must link one of the aforesaid eligible activities along with one of three National Objectives. The National Objectives are:

• Providing a benefit to low- and moderate-income persons; • Reduction or removal of slum or blighting conditions; or, • Critical Community Need (or “Act of God”).

Affordable housing projects are eligible. In Massachusetts, under “Housing,” the rehabilitation of single and multi-family housing units is typically funded throughout the State.

“Economic development” projects typically take the form of the establishment of loan programs to improve signs and facades in central business districts and to fund small business loan pools for start-up businesses and other enterprises in “scale-up” mode. Generally speaking, build into the loan programs “repayment provisions.” It should be noted here that, to the bane of all downtowns and local administrations, many buildings in downtowns constructed from the mid-1800s and into the 20th century languish for a variety of reasons. One key obstacle in the redevelopment of downtown buildings is building code compliance. The costly necessity to install sprinkler systems, for example, can impede the redevelopment of buildings due to the high cost that must be borne by the property owner combined with the typically low rental rates that the market will support. Buildings suffering from cost- prohibitive code-compliance requirements can be found in Orange, Athol, Templeton, Gardner, Fitchburg and Leominster; this is truly “arrested development.” A CDBG-eligible community should take under serious consideration the creation of a small business loan fund, using CDBG dollars, for the eradication of code-compliance measures that inhibit start-ups and other businesses from establishing themselves in downtown buildings.

“Infrastructure” improvements are, generally speaking, repairs to and reconstruction of streets, sidewalks and all underground pipes such as drainage, water and wastewater and all appurtenances. Local community leaders are benefitted by, or challenged with, the installation of fiber-optic telecommunications systems within their communities, or lack thereof.

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Improvements to public facilities (municipal buildings and parks) are generally limited to planning and rehabilitation projects eliminating barriers to handicapped persons and ensuring compliance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Examples of public services include, but are not limited to, crime prevention and public safety, child care, health services, substance abuse services (i.e., counseling and treatment), fair housing counseling, education programs, energy conservation, services for senior citizens, services for homeless persons, welfare services (excluding income payments), down payment assistance and recreational services.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) manages the “small cities” CDBG program. DHCD has published a list of LMI percentages by community and a corresponding “LMI Needs Score.” Approximately 57.7% of the inhabitants’ incomes are below the HUD LMI limits and Orange’s LMI needs Score is 10; the highest score available, indicating that the town’s population requires a great deal of support from the CDBG and other local, state, federal and private programs.

Towns such as Orange are advised to contact the DHCD and local organizations such as the Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for further information on this program.

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Health as it Affects Labor, Labor Force, and Unemployment

Health

Not only must inhabitants of a community, region, and country be well-trained to perform their jobs, but they must also remain health to do so. After a one-decade-long recovery from “The Great Recession” of 2008-2009, Orange, Massachusetts, and the US were enjoying reasonably healthy employment rates. This changed, virtually overnight in March 2020 when, during the preparation of this Economic Development Plan for the Orange EDIC, a COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world.

The virus that originated on the other side of the world, in late 2019 in China, has raced around the world to virtually every continent and country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Globally, as of 3:37pm CEST, 20 July 2020, there have been 14,348,858 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 603,691 deaths, reported to WHO.” (Source, https://covid19.who.int/.)

Figure 20 - WHO COVID-19 Cases by Country Bubble Map

Source, World Health Organization (WHO), https://covid19.who.int/.)

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According to the US Center for Diseases Control (CDC), nearly 3.7 million people have been infected by the respiratory virus in the US and almost 140,000 have died (see actual figures in Figure 21, below).

Figure 21 - WHO’s COVID-19 Cases Tracking Summary for the US

Source, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html, July 20, 2020

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According to Johns Hopkins University, the world at least 14.5 million people have been afflicted by COVID-19 and there have been more than 600,000 deaths (as of July 20, 2020).

Figure 22 - Numbers of COVID-19 Cases in the World

Source, Johns Hopkins University, https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html.

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The northeastern portion of the US has been hit very hard, especially Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at least 106,000 residents of the Bay State have been infected with 8,000 deaths (as of July 17, 2020).

Figure 23 - MEMA Report on COVID-19 Cases as of July 17, 2020

Source, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

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When the virus hit China, a primary source of the vast majority of goods produced in the world, the Chinese government closed regions, cities and factories; the global economy came to a virtual standstill. According to the US Center for Disease Controls, COVID-19 entered the US through the states of Washington, New York, and other states. Following the Chinese model, generally speaking, many states’ governors instituted emergency powers and, in an effort to protect the lives of their respective residents, issued orders concerning the closures of businesses and stay-at-home or virtual stay-at-home orders. Only “essential businesses” in many states were allowed to remain open such as grocery and liquor stores, medical facilities, pharmacies, and gas stations. Manufacturing plants, restaurants, bars, recreation facilities (I.e. movie theaters, bowling alleys, etc.) were forced to close, temporarily. The impact upon the national and state economies was severe; unemployment skyrocketed. Both the Nation and the Commonwealth were enjoying virtual full employment of the labor force where unemployment rates were below 5% for several years as the table, below shows. On March 10th, Governor Baker issued a State of Emergency Order. Subsequent gubernatorial declarations closed all, non-essential businesses and then reopened thousands of businesses over four phases. Residents now out of work filed for unemployment compensation.

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Table 30 - Unemployment Rates for Massachusetts and the US from May 2019 through May 2020

Month Year MA US

May 2020 16.3 13

April 2020 16 14.4

March 2020 3 4.5

February 2020 3.3 3.8

January 2020 3.4 4

December 2019 2.4 3.4

November 2019 2.3 3.3

October 2019 2.4 3.3

September 2019 2.7 3.3

August 2019 2.8 3.8

July 2019 3.1 4

June 2019 3.1 3.8

May 2019 2.9 3.4

Figure 24 - Unemployment Rates for Massachusetts and the US from May 2019 through May 2020

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In mid-March, Massachusetts closed virtually overnight. Colleges sent students home in less than a month. Online classrooms, or “e-learning” became the primary method for teaching students at schools; not only the colleges and universities, but also K-12 schools. Local governments shuttered their facilities and, in many cities and towns in the Commonwealth, local leaders sent office workers home to work remotely (Insert a footnote here … not all town halls were able to send their employees home for the lack of computer infrastructure and telecommunications infrastructure in the rural communities).

The sudden closure of the vast majority of businesses throughout the state resulted in furloughs, layoffs, and a significant increase in the unemployment rates of municipalities, counties and states. Orange’s unemployment rate was in the single digits in May 2019 at 3.3%, but jumped to 16.8% in April 2020 and 15.3% this past May (as detailed in Table 31, below). When workers began filing unemployment compensation claims beginning in March, this resulted in a significant, virtual overnight increase in Orange’s unemployment rate; this was about a five-fold increase in the number of unemployed persons in under thirty days.

Table 31 - Unemployment Rates (by Percent) for all North Quabbin Communities for May 2019, April 2020, and May 2020

May-20 Apr-20 May-19

Orange 15.3 16.8 3.3

Athol 16.2 17.5 3.5

Erving 12.1 15.8 2.6

New Salem 8.4 10.8 2.2

Petersham 11.4 11.6 2.9

Phillipston 15.1 16.5 3.2

Royalston 11.1 12.2 3.1

Warwick 7.9 8.7 1.7

Wendell 14.7 15.3 2.1

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Figure 25 - Unemployment Rates for All North Quabbin Communities: May 2019 through May 2020

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Housing

Wealth in a community may be measured by the number (or percentage) of housing occupants who own their home versus rent a home or other type of dwelling unit (I.e. apartment, condominium). According to the US Census, “Household net worth, or wealth, is an important part of economic well- being in the United States” (Source, https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/wealth.html).” In 2017, the Huffington Post took a deep dive into the matter. It part, it reported that, “A child born into a wealthy family, for example, is six times more likely to become a wealthy adult than a child who grows up poor (Huffington Post cited a study by Brandeis University which is available here https://heller.brandeis.edu/iasp/pdfs/racial-wealth-equity/leveraging-mobility/web-of-wealth.pdf). Homeownership has long been a central part of this (wealth-equity) equation. In 2015, the average net worth of a homeowner in was $195,400, compared to just $5,400 for a renter, according to the Federal Reserve (https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrenceyun/2015/10/14/how-do-homeowners-accumulate- wealth/#71ba7f971e4b).” (Source, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/homeownership-as-a-key-driver- of-wealth_b_58f66a5de4b0c892a4fb7319.) When comparing homeownership against Athol, Franklin and Worcester Counties, MA and the US, Orange residents are more likely to own their homes; at least seven out of ten (71.4%) homes in Orange are owned by their occupants. Homeownership is nearly equivalent in Franklin County (at 69.3%) while occupants of domiciles in Athol are slightly less likely to own their homes (at (62.1%).

Table 32 - Home Values by the Six Geographies Examined

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

$ 161,800 $ 137,700 $ $ $ 366,800 $ 204,900 229,300 269,900

Difference $ 24,100 $ $ $(205,000) $ (43,100) in $ (67,500) (108,100)

Difference 18% -29% -40% -56% -21% in %

Source: US Census

While the median value of a home was about $161,800 in 2018, the value of homes in Orange are significantly lower when juxtaposed to four, other geographies used for this comparative analysis; the median home value in Orange at $161,800 was 56% below MA, 40% below Worcester County, 29% below Franklin County, and 21% below the US. When compared to neighboring Athol, the median value of a home in Orange exceeded Athol’s number by 18%.

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Although the median values of homes in Orange and Athol differed by about $24,100, the disparity between the home’s value in Orange is less than the average for Franklin County, $43,100 less than the national average of $204,900, and $205,000 lower than the state average of $366,800.

It is not much of a surprise that there is such as disparity between home values in Orange and Boston. Boston is the:

• Ninth most expensive city in the US where the “Cost of living: 51.2% above U.S. average” according to Quicken Loans (Source, https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/15-most-expensive- cities-in-the-us, September 20, 2019); • Fourth most expensive metropolitan area in the Nation according to Investopedia (Source, https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/080916/top-10-most-expensive-cities- us.asp, July 5, 2019); and, • 14th most expensive metropolitan region in the US in 2017 (as defined by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Source, https://taxfoundation.org/real-value-100-metro-2019/).

Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2014-2018

When comparing “median selected monthly owner costs” for those households with a mortgage, homeowners in Athol, Orange and the US are within $100 of each other. However, “median selected monthly owner costs” are much higher for Orange’s counterparts in Worcester County and MA where homeowners pay $404 and $678 more each month, respectively.

Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2014-2018

For the six geographies analyzed, "selected monthly owner costs” for those with no mortgage on their homes are lowest in Athol followed by the US and then Orange. Conversely, the same costs are the highest in MA and Worcester County. Franklin County’s homeowner costs fall nearly in the middle of the highest and lowest figures.

Median gross rent, 2014-2018

The average renter pays about $1,023 monthly in the US. Renters in MA and Worcester County pay virtually identical, but only slightly higher amounts, at $1,225 and $1,027, respectively. Renters in Orange pay the least amount of rent per month when compared to the other geographies, but are still cost-burdened. Rent prices in Athol (at $854) and Franklin County (at $926) are slightly above the cost of renting an apartment in Orange.

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Housing Costs and Housing Cost Burden

Orange Athol Franklin Worcester MA US County County

Housing

Owner- 71.4% 62.1% 69.3% 65.0% 62.3% 63.8% occupied housing unit rate, 2014- 2018

Median $ 161,800 $ 137,700 $ $ $ $ value of 229,300 269,900 366,800 204,900 owner- occupied housing units, 2014- 2018

Median $ 1,487 $ 1,407 $ $ $ $ selected 1,577 1,891 2,165 1,558 monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2014-2018

Median $ 585 $ 481 $ $ $ $ selected 629 715 786 490 monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2014-2018

Median $ 806 $ 854 $ $ $ $ gross rent, 926 1,027 1,225 1,023 2014-2018

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Education

Estimated Birth Years of Students

Generally speaking, and as illustrated in Table 33, below, a student in:

• 12th grade on October 1, 2019 (at about 17 years of age) would have been born in 2002; • Sixth grade (presumably 11 years of age) would have been born in 2008; and, • Kindergarten, at five years of age, would have been born in 2014.

Table 33 – Grades by Presumed Birth Years for Enrollment Data as of October 1, 2019

12, 2002 11, 2003 10, 2004 9, 2005

8, 2006 7, 2007 6, 2008 5, 2009

4, 2010 3, 2011 2, 2012 1, 2013

K, 2014 PK, 2015

Enrollments by Grade for Mahar and ARSD

Enrollments range from 106 to 158 in grades K (enrollment of 125), 1 (125), 3 (121), 4 (126), 6 (158), 7 (126), 8 (110), and 9 (120) and average 126 students for the seven years. Assuming the above birth years are accurate for each grade, local births may have been higher in 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, and 2005. Higher birth rates in these years could have contributed to the higher enrollments in these grades as of October 2019. School Choice (or the “choicing-in” of students) into these grades could also explain higher enrollments in the grades identified, above. Further analysis is needed to determine why enrollments are higher in these grades than on grades PK, 2, 5, 10, 11 and 12. Regardless of the reasons for the higher enrollment rates could bode very well for the local economy, so long as the average number of students in these grades can be well-trained by the time that they graduate from Mahar, Orange will have an excellent pool of talent for current and future local employers.

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Table 34 – Total Enrollment by Grade in the Mahar and Athol-Royalston School Districts

District District PK K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Name Total

Mahar System 1,571 85 125 125 97 121 126 106 158 126 110 120 91 104 77 Schools

Athol- 1,520 68 124 132 143 126 125 116 126 113 119 75 79 87 80 Royalston

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

Figure 26 - Total Enrollment by Grade in the Mahar and Athol-Royalston School Districts

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the State Route 2 Corridor by Community

Below are listed per pupil expenditures by school district and community for the 13 geographies in Franklin and northern Worcester counties.

Table 35 – Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the Route 2 Corridor: In Alphabetical Order of District Name

School Districts Per Pupil Expenditures

Ashburnham-Westminster $13,131.12

Athol-Royalston Regional School District $14,257.07

Fitchburg $15,037.39

Gardner $13,562.20

Harvard $19,961.84

Leominster $14,748.94

Lunenburg $13,783.40

Ralph C. Mahar $17,596.02

Narragansett $13,447.76

Orange $14,220.18

Petersham $16,694.49

Quabbin $16,844.13

Winchendon $14,027.55

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the State Route 2 Corridor by Expenditure per Year

Of the districts per pupil expenditures listed in the below table, Mahar High School ranks second out of 13 while Orange lands at 13.

Table 36 – Per Pupil Expenditures of School Districts in Franklin County and North Central Massachusetts Along the Route 2 Corridor: Listed by Highest Per Pupil Expenditure Districts (1) to Lowest (13)

School Districts Per Pupil Expenditures Rank

Harvard $19,961.84 1

Ralph C. Mahar $17,596.02 2

Quabbin $16,844.13 3

Petersham $16,694.49 4

Fitchburg $15,037.39 5

Leominster $14,748.94 6

Athol-Royalston Regional School $14,257.07 7 District

Orange $14,220.18 8

Winchendon $14,027.55 9

Lunenburg $13,783.40 10

Gardner $13,562.20 11

Narragansett $13,447.76 12

Ashburnham-Westminster $13,131.12 13

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

There are significant differences between Mahar and Athol-Royalston School District (ARSD) seniors concerning their post high school plans.

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• Almost one-third (32%) of Mahar’s seniors had no post-high school graduations plans while all seniors within the ARSD had mad plans to further their education, go to work, enter the military or had some other plan in place; • ARSD students were five times more likely to go to a four-year private college than seniors from Mahar upon graduating; and, • ARSD students are almost twice as likely to attend a four-year public institution.

Plans of Graduating Seniors for Mahar, ARSD and Harvard

There are significant differences between Mahar and Athol-Royalston School District (ARSD) seniors concerning their post high school plans.

• Mahar seniors are nearly 2 and 3/4 more likely to attend a two-year public college than a senior graduating from the ARSD; • Only four (4.4%) in 100 seniors at Mahar were planning on going to work right out of high school while more than on-half (56%) of seniors from ARSD planned on working right after graduating; • Almost one-third (32%) of Mahar’s seniors had no post-high school graduations plans while all seniors within the ARSD had mad plans to further their education, go to work, enter the military or had some other plan in place; • ARSD students were five times more likely to go to a four-year private college than seniors from Mahar upon graduating; and, • ARSD students are almost twice as likely to attend a four-year public institution.

Table 37 – Plans of HS Seniors Upon Graduating

4 Yr. 4 Yr. 2 Yr. 2 Yr. Other Un Appren- Oth Priv. Pub. Priv. Pub. Post- Work Military kno ticeship er wn Coll. Coll. Coll. Coll. Secondary

Ralph C 0.4 32. 4.0% 8.0% 0.0% 12.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.4% 2.4% Mahar % 0%

Athol- 1.9 0.0 Royalst 21.3% 15.4% 0.0% 32.8% 5.8% 0.0% 56.0% 5.8% % % on

Harvar 0.0 3.6 55.3% 34.5% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% d % %

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Figure 27 – Post High School Graduation Plans of Seniors: Mahar, ARSD, and Harvard

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

“Choicing-Out” of Students by School District

The percentage of students that “choice-out” of the town of Orange has been equal to or higher than the state average of 7.4% from 2014 through 2018. The state’s average “choicing-out” rate for all schools in Massachusetts, by year, ranged from 7% to 8%. For this same period, the rates in Orange are trending upward from 7% in 2014 to 10%, 11%, 12% and 13% over the following, four years; averaging 10.6% for these five years. These percentages are somewhat higher than the New Salem-Wendell (5.2%) and Harvard (4.2%) districts, but not nearly as high in ARSD and Erving where the average percentage for students “choicing-out” over the five-year period is 21.2% and 38.2%, respectively.

Table 38 - Choicing-Out by School District: 2014 - 2018

State New Salem- Orange ARSD Erving Narragansett Harvard Average Wendell

2014 7% 7% 21% 44% 11% 4% 5%

2015 7% 10% 22% 46% 11% 6% 4%

2016 7% 11% 22% 46% 11% 8% 4%

2017 8% 12% 21% 43% 11% 3% 4%

2018 8% 13% 20% 42% 10% 5% 4%

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Figure 28 – Choicing-Out by School District: 2014 - 2018

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Drop-out Rates

The high school dropout rate at Mahar stood at nine in the 2018-2019 school year which was less than the 12 individuals that dropped out of school from the Athol-Royalston School District and the eight that left Franklin County Tech prematurely in the same school year. Monty Tech had a very low dropout rate of two students for the same period.

Table 39 - Dropout Rates for Selected School Districts

2018-19

To 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 Hig tal 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 h District Name School Name Dr ------Sch op 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ool ou Enr t oll Co me un nt t

Athol- 5. 5. 3. 1. 5. 3. 3. 3. 3. Athol-Royalston 335 12 Royalston 5 7 9 3 3 4 2 6 6

Ralph C 6. 6. 7. 3. 5. 3. 4. 2. 1. Ralph C Mahar 496 9 Mahar 4 0 6 7 5 9 6 7 8

Franklin County Franklin County Regional 0. 2. 1. 1. 1. 2. 1. 0. 1. Regional 494 8 Vocational Technical 4 0 2 5 5 0 4 4 6 Vocational Technical

Montachuset Montachusett Regional t Regional 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1,4 2 Vocational Technical Vocational 4 3 5 3 1 2 3 1 1 22 Technical

Source, MA Department of Secondary Education

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Job Training Facilities Vocational High Schools in the Region

Franklin County Vocational Technical High School

Franklin Tech’s published mission is, “To Prepare Students for Success through Technical and Academic Education.” Franklin County Technical School (or “Franklin Tech”) is a four-year, public high school located in Turners Falls, MA. Anyone can apply for admission. Since 1976, Franklin County Technical School reportedly has provided a valuable combination of technical training and academic education to students from its region. Franklin Tech provides a comprehensive student portfolio of academic and vocational work as a requirement for graduation in a safe and consistent environment. Career and technical education is offered in the following areas of: Automotive Technology; Carpentry; Collision Repair & Refinishing; Cosmetology; Culinary Arts; Electrical; Health Technology; Landscaping/Horticulture; Machine Technology; Plumbing/Heating; Programming & Web Development; and, Welding/Metal Fabrication.

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, located in the gateway city of Fitchburg, MA, is an independent regional vocational-technical school, serving more than 1,400 students from eighteen cities and towns, making Monty Tech the 2nd largest regional school district in the state. The school’s website boasts twenty-one different programs, ranging from Culinary Arts to Plumbing to Health Occupations, and that the school’s students are challenged every day to apply what they have learned in both their academic and vocational courses to real-life, real-world work scenarios, effectively preparing our graduates for both college and career pathways. A complete list of programs, follows: Auto Body/Collision Repair; Automotive Technology; Business Technology; Cabinetmaking; CAD/Drafting and Design; Co-operative Education; Cosmetology; Culinary Arts; Dental Assisting; Early Childhood Education; Electrical; Engineering Technology; Graphic Communications; Health Occupations; House Carpentry; HVAC & Property Maintenance; Information Technology; Machine Technology; Masonry; Plumbing; Veterinary Science; and, Welding/Metal Fabrication.

At Monty Tech students are continually challenged in diverse learning environments, ranging from traditional classroom settings to 21st Century science laboratories to innovative career and technical training shops. In recent years, Monty Tech emerged as a vocational-technical leader in the state, having led efforts to revise the Chapter 74 curriculum frameworks, and deliver statewide training to more than four hundred educators across the Commonwealth. By emphasizing rigor, relevance, and relationships, Monty Tech has successfully developed and delivered meaningful workforce training programs, making a difference in our community, and in the lives of our very talented students and alumni for more than fifty years.

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Community Colleges

Greenfield Community College

Greenfield Community College (GCC) is located in Greenfield, MA. GCC works closely with bachelor degree granting colleges of the Massachusetts public higher education system, including the University of Massachusetts, and with private colleges and universities, which enables this two-year, public institution to offer diverse transfer opportunities to its students. Career programs offered by the College prepare students to enter the work force or update their skills, while credit-free workshops and seminars are offered for personal enrichment. Day, evening and weekend classes are offered so that students who need a flexible academic schedule can be served. Annual fall enrollment of the College exceeds 3,000 students.

Mount Wachusett Community College

According to the MWCC website, “the Mount” provides programs for graduating seniors and adults returning to school to further their educations. A “dual enrollment” program is available for high school students. Located in Gardner, MA the Mount provides two-year degrees, certificate and non-certificate programs are available. Notable is the college’s one-year, eight-course manufacturing certificate program.

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Taxes

Orange has a single-tax classification, meaning that residential, commercial, and industrial properties are taxed by the municipality at the same rate

Information concerning the Tax Rate and Average Annual Single-Family (SF) Tax Bill, follow.

All data for this section was obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services, (Link, https://www.mass.gov/lists/reports-relating-to-property-tax-data-and-statistics).

Tax Levies by Classification of Land Use

Table 40, below includes all dollars taxed by each levy classification: residential, open space, commercial, industrial, and personal property. Total tax levies for Orange and Athol differ by about $2,560,844 (Athol’s Tax Levy of $14,237,095 less Orange’s Tax Levy of $11,676,251), but the ratio of total residential/open space tax levy to commercial/industrial/personal property is nearly identical in both towns as 85.1% of the properties in Athol are classified as residential/open space compared to 82.3% in Orange. Orange’s percentage of land taxed as commercial/industrial/personal property is slightly higher than Athol’s at 17.7% and 14.9%, respectively.

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Table 40 - Levies by Land Classification for FY20 for Orange, Athol, and the Commonwealth

Residential Open Commercial Industrial Personal Total RO5 as CIP6 as a Space Property a % of % of Total Total

Athol $ $ $ $ $ $14,237,095 85.1% 14.9% 12,116,129 - 1,384,516 275,923 460,527

Orange $ $ $ $ $ $11,676,251 82.3% 17.7% 9,609,479 - 1,075,831 620,316 370,625

Figure 29 - Levies by Land Classification for FY20 for Orange, Athol, and the Commonwealth

Tax Levy by Land Classification for Orange and Athol in FY20 $14,000,000

$12,000,000

$10,000,000

$8,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,000,000

$2,000,000

$- Residential Levy Open Space Levy Commercial Levy Industrial Levy Personal Property Levy

Athol Orange

5 Total residential and open space tax levies, combined. 6 Total commercial, industrial and personal property tax levies, combined.

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Tax Rates

Orange’s single-class tax rate is $20.33 in FY20, down a small amount from the five preceding years (FY15 through FY19). (See Table 41, below).

Table 41 - Tax Rates for Orange and Athol from FY11 through FY20

Orange Athol

2011 $ 16.58 $ 14.14

2012 $ 17.69 $ 15.38

2013 $ 18.80 $ 15.48

2014 $ 19.74 $ 18.43

2015 $ 20.77 $ 19.03

2016 $ 21.70 $ 19.83

2017 $ 21.23 $ 20.40

2018 $ 21.94 $ 19.57

2019 $ 22.52 $ 17.45

2020 $ 20.33 $ 17.18

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Figure 30 - Tax Rates for Orange and Athol from FY11 through FY20

Tax Rates for Orange and Athol by Fiscal Year from FY11 through FY20 $25.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$5.00

$- 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Orange Athol Linear (Orange) Linear (Athol)

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Single-Family Tax Bill

Over the past decade (from FY11 through FY20) the average SF tax bill rose by $978, slightly more than the corresponding rise in taxes in Athol of 893. However, by percentage, Athol’s SF average tax bill rose by 42.5%; higher than the rise in Orange of 37.3%.

Table 42 - Average Annual Single-Family Tax Bills for Orange and Athol from FY11 through FY20

FISCAL YEAR ORANGE SINGLE-FAMILY TAX ATHOL SINGLE-FAMILY TAX BILL BILL BY FISCAL YEAR BY FISCAL YEAR

FY11 $2,625 $2,101

FY12 $2,684 $2,161

FY13 $2,780 $2,069

FY14 $2,803 $2,373

FY15 $2,867 $2,451

FY16 $2,991 $2,561

FY17 $3,100 $2,766

FY18 $3,217 $2,883

FY19 $3,456 $2,849

FY20 $3,603 $2,994

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Figure 31 - Average Annual Single-Family Tax Bills for Orange and Athol by Fiscal Year from FY11 through FY20

Average Annual Single-Family Tax Bill from FY11 through FY20 $4,000 $3,500 $3,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000 $500 $- 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Orange Athol Linear (Orange) Linear (Athol)

From FY11 through FY19, the lowest increase in the average single-family tax bill in Orange was $23 in FY13 and the highest was $239 (7.4%). Across the municipal boundary, in Athol, the town’s lowest increase was $60 (2.9%) and highest was $304 (14.7%). Athol experienced two, small decreases in FY 12 and FY18 of $92 (-4.3%) and $34 (-1.2%), respectively.

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Table 43 - Rises and Decreases in the Average Single-Family Tax Bill by in Orange and Athol by Dollars and Percentages

Orange Athol

Change in Change in Change in Change in $ % $ %

2011 $ 59 2.2% $ 60 2.9%

2012 $ 96 3.6% $ (92) -4.3%

2013 $ 23 0.8% $ 304 14.7%

2014 $ 64 2.3% $ 78 3.3%

2015 $ 124 4.3% $ 110 4.5%

2016 $ 109 3.6% $ 205 8.0%

2017 $ 117 3.8% $ 117 4.2%

2018 $ 239 7.4% $ (34) -1.2%

2019 $ 147 4.3% $ 145 5.1%

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Highway Access

From the Interstate Highway System (Interstate 91 interchange number 27 and Interstate 495 Exit 29B) Orange is accessed via Route 2. State Route 2 runs through Orange on an east-west access. Routes 78, 122 and 202 are also located in Orange.

• State Route 2 is an east-west passage which starts in Boston, MA to the east and passes through Greenfield to the west (connecting with I-91) and thence on to North Adams and Williamstown before crossing into New York State toward Troy and Albany; • State Route 2A connects downtowns Athol and Orange (and points beyond in an easterly direction) is sometimes referred to as the “old Route 2” by some townspeople who remember when “the bypass” (present Route 2) was constructed through this region in the 1970’s (this section of Route 2A has been designated as a Scenic Byway [see FRCOG report]); • State Route 78 allows travelers to head north into New Hampshire such as to Keene and other points (this is a very scenic ride); • State Route 122 connects Orange, on a southeasterly path, to the city of Worcester; and, • US Route 202 passes through a portion of Orange, in the southern part of town, before overlapping with Route 2, heading eastbound through Athol, Phillipston, Templeton, and Winchendon before crossing over into New Hampshire.

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Distance to Major Cities and Metropolitan Areas from Orange Town Hall

To the west of Orange

Greenfield, MA (City Hall), 19.2 mi Franklin County Seat North Adams (City Hall) 56.7 mi Albany, NY (City Hall) 124.5 mi

To the east of Orange

Gardner, MA 19.6 mi

Fitchburg/Leominster 30.7 mi Metropolitan Area (Exit 31 at State Routes 2 and 12) Cambridge, MA 70.3 mi Boston, MA (State House) 74.5 mi

To the southwest

Amherst, MA (Town Hall) 22.9 mi Northampton, MA (City Hall) 39.8 mi Springfield, MA (City Hall) 42.8 mi Hartford, CT (City Hall) 68.7 mi

To the southeast

Worcester, MA (City Hall), 55.4 mi County Seat

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Providence, RI (City Hall) 93.8 mi New York, NY (City Hall) 183.5 mi

To the northwest

Brattleboro, VT (City Hall) 32.7 mi

Burlington, VT (City Hall) 181.7 mi Montpelier, VT (City Hall) 146.3 mi

To the north

Keene, NH (City Hall) 28.9 mi

Montreal, Quebec Province, 441.4 mi CA Quebec, Quebec Province, 604.6 mi CA

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Distance from Orange Town Hall to Municipal, Regional and International Airports

Airport Name Location Distance from Town Hall, Orange

Orange Municipal Airport Orange, MA 2.0 mi

Montague Municipal Airport Montague, MA 13.4 mi

Gardner Municipal Airport Gardner, MA 18.6 mi

Worcester Regional Airport Worcester, MA 37.7 mi

Bradley International Airport Windsor Locks, CT 62.6 mi

Logan International Airport Boston, MA 83.0 mi

Manchester Regional Airport Manchester, NH 86.6 mi

T.F. Green International Airport Warwick, RI 103.0 mi

Source: Google Maps

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Distances to all Known Incubators, Makerspaces Idea Labs and Hackerspaces

Collaborative Workspaces Distance from Orange Town Hall

LaunchSpace, Inc. Makerspace 0.4 mi 131 East Main Street, Suite 204 Orange, MA

Greater Gardner Incubator “dba” the 20.1 mi Wachusett Business Incubator, Inc.,

35 Sanborn Street, Gardner, MA 01440

Make It So Makerspace 28.4 mi 12 Eagle Court, Keene, New Hampshire 03431

IdeaLab of Fitchburg State University 31.1 mi 717 Main Street (former theater building), Fitchburg, MA

The Hive Makerspace 34.1 mi 231 Main Street, Second Floor Greenfield, MA 01301

MAxT Makerspace 42.8 mi 49 Vose Farm Road Peterborough, NH 03458

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Technocopia 55.5 mi 44 Portland Street, Worcester, MA

Artisans Asylum 70.5 mi

10 Tyler Street, Somerville, MA 02143

Source: Google Maps

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Restaurants

• Anne's Dairy Drive In (seasonal) • Boiler Bar and Grille • Herrick's Tavern • Joana's Hotdogs • Pizza Factory • Subway • Tea House • Terry’s Corner Cafe • White Cloud Diner

Source, https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&rlz=1C1AVNE_enUS740US763&sxsrf=ALeKk00S_Ng5s2ZBzJ qqzMguOcZd03wRbQ:1596033450318&q=restaurants+in+orange+ma&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=4 2595620,- 72270625,4856&tbm=lcl&ved=2ahUKEwjq2Ov21_LqAhUjUt8KHWXpCy4QjGp6BAgMEFo&rldoc=1#rlfi=h d:;si:;mv:[[42.6409269,-72.1981777],[42.550314900000004,- 72.3167823]];tbs:lrf:!1m4!1u3!2m2!3m1!1e1!1m4!1u5!2m2!5m1!1sgcid_3pizza_1restaurant!1m4!1u5! 2m2!5m1!1sgcid_3seafood_1restaurant!1m4!1u2!2m2!2m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m2!1m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m 2!1m1!1e2!1m4!1u22!2m2!21m1!1e1!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e5!2m1!1e1!2m1!1e3!3sIAEqAlVT,lf:1,lf_ui:9

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Railroad

PanAM, an east-west line bisects the CBD. This line connects to the East Deerfield Maintenance Facility (Deerfield, MA), the Springfield Terminal (located in West Springfield), Boston to the east and Albany, Chicago and other points to the west.

Utilities and Services

Electricity, fiber optics communication, telecommunications, water and wastewater services are available in Orange. The town also has flexible residential and commercial solar regulations, with an estimated ten applications received per week. Below is a list of utility resources in the Town of Orange:

• Electricity is provided to residential, commercial and industrial customers by National Grid. • There are 6 commercial solar fields in the community owned by Clean Energy Collective, Navisun LLC, Borrego Solar, Standard Solar, and Oak Square Development, LLC. • Water is delivered to customers by the Town of Orange Water Department, https://www.townoforange.org/water-department. • Water is delivered to customers by the Town of Orange Wastewater Department https://www.townoforange.org/wastewater-treatment-facility. • Telecommunications Companies in Orange are provided by: o Spectrum Communications, https://www.spectrum.com/locations/ma/orange/104- new-athol-rd

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Areas of Land Acquisition

The EDIC will work diligently with all, appropriate public and private sector parties in order to identify appropriate areas for new development and redevelopment of commercial and industrial projects that lead to job retention and creation.

The EDIC will work cooperatively with the Planning Board and other local officials in order to identify and promote the orderly development of industrial areas for the benefit of the community.

The EDIC will encourage, foster, promote and develop properties for new and expanding enterprises.

High priority properties, with buildings on site, for redevelopment including but not limited to:

1. 94 South Main Street, former Butterfield School, originally constructed as the Town’s High School; this school was closed in 2014 and has been tended by janitorial services since. 2. Two contiguous lots on South Main Street totaling 71 acres. 3. 75 East Main Street, former “Wheeler House” for commercial reuse. 4. 95 East River Street, current municipal salt shed planned for relocation; date TBD 5. 300 South Main Street, the former McKinney’s Gas Station. 6. 28 East River Street, former blacksmith shop 7. 60 Roche Ave, the former Foundry Building 8. 46 Mill Street, former Rodney Hunt Factory

The EDIC will work cooperatively with representatives of the private and public sectors to encourage, foster, promote, coordinate and/or support redevelopment of the of the above-named properties. In some cases, the EDIC may acquire a property in order to facilitate property redevelopment. Regardless of whether or not the EDIC will acquire the above properties for redevelopment to be managed by the EDIC, the EDIC will support economic development projects that will be conducted in compliance with:

• This Economic Development Plan; • All local plans such as the community’s Master Plan (2005), Downtown Orange Riverfront Revitalization Study (2015), Open Space and Recreation Plan (2016), and other plans as they may be relevant; • Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Needs Strategy (CEDS) and; • All local zoning, subdivision rules and regulations and other local development requirements.

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High priority vacant land for redevelopment include the following:

1. A 5.62 acre plot of land located on West River Street, Map ID number 108-29. The parcel of land is located in Zoning District A, which allows for commercial development by special permit. The parcel is owned by the Town of Orange. 2. A set of two contiguous lots totaling 71 acres located on South Main Street, Map ID numbers 250-26 and 253-43. Both parcels are located in zoning District B, a commercial friendly zoning district. These plots of land were a part of a visioning plan done in 2015, titled the Orange Innovation Corridor. The land is owned by ET&L Construction Corporation, based out of Stow, MA. The current property owner uses the land as storage for construction material and equipment.

These sites are placed in their order of priority. The vacant lot on West River Street has been prioritized because it is owned by the Town. Following the completion of market research, the parcel and selected project could be put out to bid. While the South Main Street parcels pose an exciting opportunity, the parcels are not readily available due to their private ownership.

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Structures to be Demolished or Rehabilitated

Structures Proposed for Demolition

Demolition will take place on properties that need to be assembled by the EDIC or another party for redevelopment. At the time of publication, there are no structures proposed for demolition.

Structures Proposed for Rehabilitation

1. 94 South Main Street, former Butterfield School, originally constructed as the Town’s High School from and then the Town’s elementary school until its closure in 2017. The building has been tended by janitorial services since its closure and a hazardous materials inventory was conducted following its closure. The building is known to harbor asbestos in several areas and lead paint in some rooms. At this time, no measures have been taken to mitigate the existing hazardous materials. The school is currently owned by the school committee, but transition of ownership to the Town of Orange is expected to occur once a reuse plan has been completed. The building is currently proposed to become a consolidated Town Hall office building. 2. 300 South Main Street, former McKinney Gas Station. This former gas station and auto body shop is currently being studied through FRCOG’s Brownfields Program. Located along the Town’s most densely and flexibly zoned road, this parcel could hold a variety of uses. Following the results of the brownfield study, the EDIC should explore reuse options. The building is eligible for tax taking. 3. 75 East Main Street, more commonly known as the “Wheeler Mansion.” Constructed in 1903, this building was once home to the industrial tycoon John W. Wheeler. In its prime, the building was known for its beautiful architecture, interior design, and arts collection. The building served as a nursing Home. Currently vacant and in need of major repairs. The former home was recently purchased. There is community support for the preservation and rehabilitation of the structure, community fundraising may be possible if a plan were in place. It is reported that the current property owner plans to preserve the structure and furnish repairs as they are able. At this time, the roof has been repaired, previously expected to be the most expensive of projects surrounding the building. 4. 28 East River Street, former Blacksmith Shop, a 4,800 square foot building currently vacant. The building is located across from the Riverfront Park in the CARD. The building is a current candidate for receivership and tax title. While it is unclear if the building is a feasible candidate for preservation, its proximity to Riverfront Park is ideal for several sectors of business.

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Proposals for Development, Redevelopment and General Public Improvements

Standalone Website for the Orange EDIC

To promote economic development in Town, the EDIC in partnership with the Department of Community Development will endeavor to create a standalone website aimed to provide information useful to potential developers and businesses. Websites such as these are becoming a tool of the modern era to attract business and promote the competitiveness of the region. Such a website could be designed by a consultant or by a student or group of students from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Economic Development Websites are a staple of competitive cities, towns, and regions; as such, a website should be developed to maximize Orange’s opportunity to communicate its intentions for its economic development planning and potential projects to the inhabitants of this community, state and federal agencies, and the private sector.

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Potential Projects Under Consideration

Whitewater kayaking training facility

One of the members of the EDIC has conducted some research into creating a whitewater kayak training area within the Millers River by installing underwater structures west of the South Main Street bridge. According to his data, such a training facility could draw many thousands of kayakers to the downtown. He has discussed this idea with the owner of the Erving Paper Mill; the owner may be a willing partner in this endeavor. The EDIC could pursue the concept with the completion of a market assessment, schematics with cost estimate, and hold conversations with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to learn if this potential project is feasible.

• Goal: If successful, thousands of people will visit downtown Orange on a regular basis providing patrons for merchants. Expected effects include boosted sales to retail and service businesses, sustainable seasonal employment, increased employment in multiple sectors, and stable tax revenue to the municipality.

Expansion of existing waterfront park

Having recently completed an ADA self-evaluation, through FRCOG, the EDIC and the Town of Orange should move to capitalize on the North Quabbin Region’s investment in the field of Ecotourism. In 2019, Billy Goat Boats opened at the community boathouse. The boathouse operator estimates that usership is roughly 1000 monthly users during peak season.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of this business, the town purchased the adjacent lot, making available 0.7 acres of land along the riverfront. A plan should be prepared for the lot, meant to better capture tourism into the region and capitalize on the ecotourism movement.

• Goal: If successful, thousands of people will visit downtown Orange on a regular basis providing patrons for merchants. Expected effects include boosted sales to retail and service businesses, Creation of new businesses, sustainable seasonal employment, increased employment in multiple sectors, and stable tax revenue to the municipality.

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Armory

As the Town begins to modernize and consolidate resources, the Orange Armory will require a reuse plan. The town intends to consolidate offices into a singular space, but no intention exists of allowing the current town offices to fall into disrepair. Collaboration with Preservation Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Historical Commission should be undertaken to preserve the historic architecture of the building. A preservation committee already exists for the building, having previously applied for the buildings addition to the National Registry of Historic Places.

• Goal: Centralizing the majority of municipal offices would improve efficiency in local government operations and, possibly provide space at the current Town Hall (6 Prospect Street) for future reuse of the Memorial Hall, such as a performing arts center, described, below. Existing office space has potential for conversion into commercial office space.

Orange performing arts center

The Orange center school has been operated in part as a dance studio since March of 2015 and has seen great success in its new location. The existing student body comes from across the Franklin County and North Quabbin Regions, indicating that Orange is in a central location for the industry. The current property owners have expressed their interest in collaborating with the municipality to establish a performing arts center. Additionally, the town begins to modernize and consolidate departments, personnel, and related resources. In order to complete this goal, the Orange Town Hall will require a reuse plan. The town intends to consolidate offices into a singular space, but no intention exists of allowing the current town offices to fall into disrepair. One option would be the conversion of the current town hall into commercial office space and the conversion of the current town meeting room into a performance space, run through the Orange Performing Arts Center

• Goal: Related to the consolidation of most of Orange’s municipal departments, mentioned above. The potential for converting the current Town Hall into a performing arts center was identified by residents as being one, potential use for this property in the Franklin County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Regardless of the future use of this building and associated parking lot, any future reuse, if not municipal, should be completed in harmony with zoning, complement other land uses in the central business district, and promote the retention and creation of jobs.

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Butterfield Town Hall and Co-Work Space

As the Town looks to consolidate the town hall office space into a more modern building, the Butterfield School building poses a great opportunity. The existing floor plan can accommodate a meeting room, gymnasium, and office space more than the municipal government needs. Excess classroom space could be consolidated into conference space and rentable offices; fulfilling a need for office space in the region. The rented spaces would allow revenue streams, with potential to cover all or a large portion of the building’s operating costs. Portions of the building, such as the council on aging and co-workspaces, could be funded through grants. The school board has already completed a hazardous building materials inventory, which would guide the rehab of an otherwise structurally sound building.

• Goal: Related to the consolidation of Orange’s municipal offices. Reuse would be achieved of a building recently vacated but still in good condition. Potential results include decreased town hall operating costs, increased commercial office space, and room for growth of the Council on Aging.

Proposed Zoning and Planning Changes

The EDIC proposes the Planning Board and the town’s Community Development Department review and explore the proposed Zoning Changes below. These proposals are intended to make the town more competitive and prepare it for commercial growth.

Adjustment of Dimensional Regulations in Zones C and D: Current zoning in Residential C and D allows for construction on lots no less than one and two acres respectively. Additionally, these districts also require 100 and 200 square feet of frontage. Proposed zoning could be to reduce the size of lot requirements or frontage requirements, to make development more palatable in these districts. For existing home owners, this opens the possibility for existing lot subdivision and sale of land.

Update of the Table of Uses: The current Zoning Bylaw Table of Uses includes several special permit designations. The special permit designation has often been cited as arduous for business owners and cite selection professionals. In order to attract new business and promote growth, the EDIC respectfully requests that the Planning Board consider amending the Table of Uses to contain fewer special permit designations and more by right or performance standard business allowances.

At the time of this reports publishing, the Town has hired a consultant to review existing zoning and its cohesiveness with the broad goal of economic development. The EDIC will be an active participant in this process and will use the projects proposed in this plan as a frame of reference for economic development goals.

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APPENDIX

Appendix A: Town Map

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Appendix B: CARD Map

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Appendix C: A Report on the Plan Prepared by the Municipal Planning Agency Needs to be completed by local officials

The review of the Planning Board must be documented, here. Yet to be completed.

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Appendix D: A Statement Regarding the Proposed Method for Financing Each Project Covered by the Plan

There are no proposals at this time that require financing.

Any and all future projects’ methods for financing will be documented by the EDIC through a written amendment to this Plan.

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Appendix E: A Comprehensive Relocation Plan

As there are no current development proposals, a comprehensive relocation plan is not needed.

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Appendix D: Town Certification Needs to be completed by local officials

EDIC statutory requirement: There must be included within the Economic Development Plan, “A Certification that Occupants of the Designated Economic Development Area Shall Make Every Reasonable Effort to Hire Residents of the Municipality for Employment Opportunities for a Period of 40 Years Following Approval of the Economic Development Plan.”

On August 25th, 2020 the EDIC of Orange voted that, “Occupants of the Designated Economic Development Area Shall Make Every Reasonable Effort to Hire Residents of the Municipality for Employment Opportunities for a Period of 40 Years Following Approval of this Economic Development Plan.”

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Requisite Public Hearing, Input and Record completed by local officials

Before an economic development project can be undertaken the EDIC must hold a public hearing on the economic development plan covering such project(s). Notice of the public hearing must be given to persons, groups and organizations who have made a written request to receive notice.

The Orange EDIC held several public meetings concerning the Draft Economic Development Plan. These meetings were held by the EDIC:

• October 31, 2019 • November 19, 2019 • December 17, 2019 • January 21, 2020 • April 28, 2020 • June 23, 2020 • July 21, 2020 • August 25, 2020

The Director of Community Development held attended meetings of other local boards and commissions to hear comments:

• August 22 2020, 5:30 p.m., Zoom Online Meeting. Meeting with the Board of Selectmen. • September 2 2020, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Online Meeting. Meeting with the Planning Board.

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Massachusetts Office of Business Development Needs to be completed by local officials

Obtain letter for inclusion with this ED Plan.

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Director, Department of Housing and Community Development Needs to be completed by local officials

Obtain letters for inclusion with this ED Plan.

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Any agency likely to have an interest in such plan in the opinion of EDIC Needs to be completed by local officials

Obtain letters for inclusion with this ED Plan from the:

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State Senators/Representatives who represent the economic development areas Needs to be completed by local officials

Obtain letters for inclusion with this ED Plan from Senator Gobi, Senator Comerford, and Representative Whipps.

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Each community group supported by public funds whose territory coincides with the economic development area Needs to be completed by local officials

recommends obtaining letters of review and support from the:

• North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce • North Quabbin Community Coalition • FRCOG

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