In the News
Franklin County CDC in the News
2026
April 17, 2026, River Valley Co-op
Local Vendor Spotlight: Ahlbin's Fire Cider (Part 3), Behind Every Bottle
April 1, 2026, River Valley Co-op
Local Vendor Spotlight: Ahlbin's Fire Cider (Part 2), Growing the Business
March 28, 2026, River Valley Co-op
Local Vendor Spotlight: Ahlbin's Fire Cider (Part 1), A Story in a Bottle
March 10, 2026, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Pioneer Valley farmers talk challenges of agricultural economy with bank leaders
March 3, 2026, BusinessWest
MassDevelopment Announces $4,455,000 in Grants
January 15, 2026, The Recorder
'A critical investment': $200k state grant boosts reentry program, offering 30 more individuals a path to employment
2025
December 17, 2025, Business West
Franklin County CDC Announces Staffing Updates
December 4, 2025, Edible Berkshires
Local Businesses Get a Boost from Franklin County CDC
November 24, 2025, The Recorder
Chamber breakfast highlights community collaboration as key to overcoming farming challenges
November 15, 2025, The Recorder
Franklin County CDC celebrates 25 'wonderful years' under John Waite's Leadership
November 13, 2025, The Recorder
My Turn: Economics as if people matter — Reflections on 25 years with the Franklin County CDC
October 18, 2025, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Making News in Business
October 9, 2025, The Recorder
Double the dining: Cocina Lupita opens second restaurant in Turners Falls
October 1, 2025, 22News
MassDevelopment awards $900,000 to 31 restaurants for food aid
September 17, 2025, Athol Daily News
Athol committee hears update on biz development
July 29, 2025, BusinessWest
Christian LaPlante Named Franklin County’s Downtown District Coordinator
July 26, 2025, The Recorder
New role focused on downtown development
July 16, BusinessWest
Investing in the Future of Western Mass.
July 7, 2025, The Recorder
Three start-ups get funding boost
April 25, 2025, The Recorder
Lesbian bar opens in Greenfield
April 11, 2025, Boston Business Journal
Commentary: Tax credit presents an opportunity to invest in housing, workforce and communities
April 9, 2025, WRSI The River, "Emily's Interviews"
Food Insecurity Grant Program
March 25, 2025, The Recorder
$450k grant brings restaurant meals to food access nonprofits
March 21, 2025, Daily Hampshire Gazette
State pilot program puts restaurant takeout meals on food aid menus around region
March 20, 2025, New England Public Media's "The Fabulous 413"
A Hungry Public (segment starts at 17:17)
March 17, 2025, WWLP 22 News
Franklin County program supports restaurants, providing meals to western Mass. residents
February 14, 2025, The Recorder
Franklin County Chamber feature Meet the Member: Liz Buxton
February 12, 2025, WRSI The River, "Emily's Interviews"
WRSI's Emily Bourke interviews Racial Justice and Community Engagement Director Traci Talbert
Give Me the Business, Part 1
Give Me the Business Part 2
2024
December 6, 2024, The Recorder
$301k to upgrade food processing center
November 18, 2024, GCTV
FCCDC Annual Meeting
November 15, 2024, The Recorder
365 days, 365 entrepreneurs helped
October 4, 2024, MassLive
New UMass research: Small food ops still coming to grips with stringent 2011 food law
September 26, 2024, UMass Amherst News
UMass Amherst Researchers Find New Food Safety Rules Can Cost Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Big Money
September 11, 2024, Community Capital Live
Community Capital Live: Hannah Sobel and John Waite of PVGrows Investment Fund
August 9, 2024, The Recorder
Funding recipients speak to impact of PVGrows Investment Fund
August 5, 2024, The Recorder
Revamp of ShelburneFalls.com aids post-pandemic revitalization
August 3, 2024, Western Mass News
African-American community achievements celebrated at the Harambee Festival
July 31, 2024, WWLP
Greenfield awarded $925,000 in community grants
June 29, 2029, The Recorder
4 to split pitch contest's $10K
June 28, 2024, The Recorder
A goal of quality over quantity: Freedom Street Brewery runs full operation from 400-square-foot space
June 20, 2024, The Recorder
'We will not let them win': Greenfield celebration focused on work needed for racial equity
June 12, 2024, The Recorder
Franklin County CDC celebrates 45 years in Greenfield
May 29, 2024, BusinessWest
Franklin County CDC Block Party to Celebrate Entrepreneurs
May 18, 2024, WHMP's podcast "The Hustler Files"
Compassion Is the #1 Ingredient for a Second Chance
April 29, 2024, BusinessWest's podcast "BusinessTalk"
Business Talk with FCCDC Executive Director John Waite and Communications Director Kate Lawless
April 10, 2024, The Recorder
Info session to share pocket park design
March 30, 2024, The Recorder
$125K grant to Franklin County CDC funding biz assistance partnership
March 13, 2024, BusinessWest
Franklin County CDC Receives $125k from M&T’s Amplify Fund
February 17, 2024, MassLive
How Blueprint helps small Pioneer Valley businesses build success
February 10, 2024, The Recorder
$155K to expand workplace training for inmates
January 5, 2024, The Recorder
UPstart initiative to expand programs
January 2, 2024, The Recorder
Quotable Quotes from 2023
2023
August 10, 2023, The Recorder
Online tool helps businesses reflect on, address racism
August 4, 2023, WHAI
Racial Justice Reflective Journey Interview
August 2, 2023, MassLive
‘Racial Justice Reflective Journey’ aims to help businesses start conversations about race
June 22, 2023, Business West
Franklin County Thrives Through Connection
June 9, 2023, The Recorder
Franklin County CDC Celebrates Entrepreneurs with Block Party
April 29, 2023, The Recorder
Chamber highlights community partnerships
January 3, 2023, The Recorder
$94K grant to bolster program training inmates in food prep
2022
December 28, 2022, Capital Insight Podcast
Driving Community Investment for Sustainable Agriculture with PVGrows’ Rebecca Busansky
December 1, 2022, NEPM’s Connecting Point
Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center on Connecting Point
December 1, 2022, NEPM’s Connecting Point
A passion for farming leads to a career at the FCCDC
November 14, 2022, The Recorder
USDA grant to fuel food business incubator program
November 10, 2022, WRSI
Five O’Clocktails with Ahlbin’s Homemade
September 29, 2022, The Recorder
Investment fund supporting farmers, food businesses looks to attract investors
September 22, 2022, WHAI
PVGrows Investment Fund
June 27, 2022, NEPM
Small grocers do their part to eliminate ‘food deserts’ — but against considerable odds
2021
September 29, 2021, The Recorder
‘An unbelievable organization’: Community Development Corp.’s Western Mass. Food Processing Center named Manufacturer of Year
2018
June 22, 2018, The Recorder
Food justice program to come from $1M grant