The Cummington Cultural District’s I Love Cummington Photo Contest during the first three weeks of February encouraged Cummington residents to submit photos of their favorite local scenes and tell the Cummington Cultural District planning committee what they loved about the town, as well as their vision for more arts and cultural offerings they would like to see in Cummington. Online public voting resulted in favorite photos in five age categories.

The Cummington Cultural District is pleased to announce the winners:  Lysander Woodard, Potash Hill Farmstead (0-12 age group), Fionnghuala Reagan, sunset (12-16 age group), Joanna Jarcz, Night Skies (17-19 age group), Katy Eiseman, Sheep (40-59 age group), Paula Zindler, Cummington Clouds (60+ age group).

Congratulations!  And, thank you to everyone who participated by submitting a photo or voting.  Thank you also to prize donors:  Alice’s Kitchen, Old Creamery Coop, A2Z Science & Learning Toys, A Wing & A Prayer Nursery, Cummington water color artist June Ferrin, and the Cummington Fair.

 The Cultural District Committee is in the process of exploring a Massachusetts Cultural Council designation as a Cultural District – a distinct area known as a vibrant place with creative people and events -  which makes the district eligible for state recognition and arts and culture support.  The proposed district would give existing programs and events such as Friday Night Café, Hilltown Bash, Kingman Tavern Museum, the Cummington Fair and Project Art contemporary ceramics a new way to cross-promote events and build support for arts and culture in Cummington.

 The photo contest was part of the community engagement process for the application by which the committee asks for public input on priorities and the proposed program of work for the district.

Potash Hill Farmstead

By Lysander Woodard

Sunset

By Fionnghuala Reagan

Night

By Joanna Jaracz

Sheep

By Katy Eiseman

Cummington Clouds

By Paula Zindler

Age Category                  Winner                  Prizes                                                                                      

0-12                       Lysander Woodard, Potash Hill Farmstead        

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

12-16                     Fionnghuala Reagan, sunset      

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

17-19                     Joanna Jaracz, Night Skies                    

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

20-39                     None 

40-59                     Katy Eiseman, Sheep                    

$50 Gift Certificate to Alice’s Kitchen, Cummington                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

60+                         Paula Zindler, Cummington Clouds                    

Watercolor painting from Cummington artist June Ferrin, $50 Gift Certificate to Wing & a Prayer Nursery, Cummington

We sat down with Housing Director Paul Lischetti to learn more about the recent addition of the Chester Commons Building to our Housing program.

How did we come across the Chester building? ​Chester Commons is the former Chester High School building. It was converted to affordable housing for people over the age of 55 or who have disabilities in 1987. The Chester Library (the Hamilton Memorial Library) and the town's mineral museum are also located in the building. We had heard that the previous owner of the building was interested in retiring.

Why did we decide to purchase the building? ​Hilltown CDC wanted to make sure that if the building was sold, it would continue to serve the community as affordable housing.

What funding sources/agencies helped in purchasing the building? ​We obtained two loans from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), a Boston-based agency that provides loans and technical assistance for affordable housing work. One loan was to purchase the building. The other loan is used to pay for pre-development expenses including an appraisal, architecture and engineering, legal expenses, and environmental compliance.

What are some of the challenges of managing this new property? ​The building is in need of improvements including replacement of the flat roof and repairs to the sloping slate roof, brick and masonry repairs, window repairs and replacements, a new boiler and other energy conservation improvements, and handicapped accessibility improvements to meet current standards. We are also interested in adding an elevator if adequate funding can be identified, to improve access to the second and third floors for the building's elderly and disabled residents. Chester Commons is a contributing structure to the Chester Factory Village National Register Historic District and historic features of the building must be preserved as improvements are made.

What are our future renovation plans? ​Hilltown CDC has received funding awards from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and the State Historic Tax Credit program. Federal Historic Tax Credits are also being applied for. We have also submitted an application for funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the needed improvements. The process of applying for funds is competitive and usually takes more than a year to complete. Once funding has been lined up, the work can proceed.

For additional questions related to this project, please contact Paul Lischetti at paull@hilltowncc.org. To apply for housing in the Chester Commons or any other HCDC property, please contact Kristepher Severy at kristephers@hilltowncdc.org

Equal Housing Opportunity

Hilltown CDC, on behalf of the Town of Chesterfield, is seeking community input regarding potential projects to be included in the FY2021 Community Development Block Grant application. Typical programs included are: Housing Rehabilitation, Hilltown Elder Network, Health Outreach Program for Elders, Hilltown Food Pantry and It Takes A Village. If there are new programs/activities you would like to have considered, please let us know as well! Your participation and input on these programs is greatly appreciated.

If you have participated in, or know someone who has participated in any of these programs and would like to share success stories, or ways to improve the programs please contact Bea at beavh@hilltowncdc.org or 296-4536, ext 115. Similarly, if you know people who could use the program please share your support of the program by sending a letter to Hilltown CDC

Or, if you live in Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg or Worthington, please add your name to our petition and take the survey!

Throughout the pandemic, Hilltown CDC staff have continued working on behalf of our communities, our tenants, and our small local farms and businesses. Although it has been many months since we all gathered together in person, we are thrilled to have grown our family with the addition of two new staff to our Housing Team:

We are delighted to introduce Jennifer O'Connell who was recently hired as our Housing Services Coordinator.  Jennifer brings her skilled background in case management to our team and will focus on helping our tenants access needed services and support.  Before Hilltown CDC, Jennifer worked as a Case Manager at Swift River in Cummington and assisted severely mentally ill clients in Enfield, CT to be able to live independently in their community.

Jennifer earned her associates in Human Services from Asnuntuck Community College and trained as a Nurse's aide.  She has always enjoyed helping people and is happy to be able to work locally in the Hilltowns.  She lives in the Hilltowns with her partner and 8-year-old daughter, and her daughter's kitten, Pluto.  She loves being outdoors in the summer.

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Kristepher Severy is our new Property Manager, taking over for Stephanie Bean as she transitions to our Accounting Department. Kris spent the last nine years working with Pancione Associates, the property management company that services all of the apartments and buildings owned by Hilltown CDC. He also served as the Property Chair for Laurel Park in Northampton where he has lived for the past ten years.

Kris says he enjoys the dynamic nature of working with people on ever-changing projects. He enjoys architecture and likes to see improvement! Kris also has an art history degree and music background, and managed Raven Used Books bookstore in Northampton for 17 years. He enjoys reading, singing, kayaking, cycling, cider, and sculpture parks

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In addition, we also welcomed Clara Rowan to our finance department. She has worked in the financial field for the past 15 years at a few local housing authorities. In her spare time Clara likes to travel! Welcome to the family Jen, Kris and Clara!

Are you looking for an affordable apartment in Chester?

Hilltown CDC is currently accepting applications for one studio and one 1-bedroom apartment on the third floor of 1 School Street in Chester, MA. Tenancy is limited to those 55 years of age or older, or persons with disability. Rents are subsidized by Massachusetts Rental Vouchers. Subsidies are based on income.

Rent for studio (before subsidy): $774.00

Rent for one bedroom (before subsidy): $774.00

Incomes limits are set at 80% of area median, and may not be more than the amounts listed:

1 Person – $47,850

2 Person – $54,650

Complete applications must be received by 1/31/21. Tenancy expected to begin in February. Applications will be mailed or emailed upon request. For more information, call Kristepher 413-296-4536 ext. 105, or email kristephers@hilltowncdc.org

Equal Housing Opportunity

Hilltown CDC has received a three-year grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to build on and expand age-friendly walkability in their rural region. Walkable communities emerged as a priority from an age-friendly initiative in the Northern Hilltowns in the fall and winter of 2019: in town after town, meeting after meeting, older adults said they did not feel safe crossing the road or walking in their Village Centers. The project covers Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington, most of which have a state road bisecting their town center, sometimes carrying high-speed traffic. Hilltown CDC is partnering with Healthy Hampshire, the Northern Hilltown Council on Aging Consortium, and WalkBoston on the Healthy Aging grant.

Through the grant, Hilltown CDC and its partners will work to engage communities, conduct walk audits, identify opportunities to improve walkability, and advocate and collaborate on making improvements in each of the seven towns. They plan to take a different approach in each community, as some towns have already done substantial walkability work, while others are just beginning. While direct, in-person engagement with older adults was a critical piece of the original project proposal, project partners are currently working to revise their timelines to avoid in-person gatherings during COVID-19. They plan to begin by focusing on building strong relationships with the Select Boards in each town, as well as with MassDOT at the state level. They are also researching the possibility of engaging older adults virtually, although lack of broadband in the rural region poses a barrier.

“When we talk about transportation, walking really has a role. We believe that walking is very important – even in rural areas – for health reasons, for community, and for those businesses we do have in Village Centers, like the post office and the corner store. In rural communities as well, people can and should be able to walk to amenities. Hilltown CDC has had a longtime commitment to Village Center model, and this is a really important project to us from that perspective,” explains Kate Bavelock, Director of Community Programs at the CDC.

Hilltown CDC is hiring!

We are looking for an Affordable Housing Property Manager and a Housing Services Coordinator to join our Housing Team. For more information on these positions and how to apply, please visit our Jobs page.

Hilltown CDC has partnered with our local retailers and farm stands to bring you Hilltown Food Bucks, a local effort to help HIlltown residents stretch their food dollars while supporting our critical local food businesses in a difficult time of social and economic stress.

Eligible participants can receive between $100-$125 food coupons per month for five months to be used at participating local stores and farms. The coupons double your spending power when you make a purchase, so a shopping basket worth $80 can be paid for with $40 of coupons and $40 of your own money.

To be eligible, you must live in one of the towns we serve through our Community Block Grant: Ashfield, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Plainfield, Williamsburg and Worthington. Program funding is limited, and will fill on a first come, first serve basis – we will let you know if a slot is available for you after we receive your application. If you are interested, please complete the one page application attached here. For questions on the Hilltown Food Bucks program, please contact Kate Bavelock, Director of Community Programs, at kateb@hilltowncdc.org or 413-296-4536 x 116.

Participating Retailers:

Blandford Country Store – 98 Main Street Blandford (NEW!)

Chester Village Market – 191 Rt. 20, Chester (NEW!)

Corners Grocery Store – 2 Packard Common, Worthington

Chesterfield General Store – 432 Main Rd, Chesterfield

Old Creamery Co-op – 445 Berkshire Trial (Rt. 9), Cummington

Moltenbrey’s Market – 44 Worthington Rd, Huntington

Williamsburg Market – 12 Main St, Williamsburg

Participating Farm Stands:

Crabapple Farm –100 Bryant St, Chesterfield

Cream of the Crop Farmstand – 601 Blandford Rd, Russell (NEW!)

Four Corners Farm – 27 Old North Rd, Worthington

Good Bunch Farm – 221 N River Rd, Shelburne Falls

Hart Farm – 585 S Shirkshire Rd, Conway

Intervale Farm – 106 S Rd, Westhampton

Sawyer Farm – 19 Sawyer Rd, Worthington (online ordering & curbside pickup only)

Applications are now being accepted!

Hilltown CDC, on behalf of the Town of Chesterfield and with potential funding provided through both their CDBG FY19 grant and a CARES Act grant has established a Micro-enterprise Relief Program (MRP) to help businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Program Summary

The Micro-enterprise Relief Program (MRP) is designed to assist businesses with 5 or less employees (including the owner) that have been negatively impacted due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program will provide one-time grants for business owners who need financial assistance to support business operational costs in order to keep the business sustainable. Grant funds must be used within two months of award. Applications are now being accepted. Funding will be awarded based on a first come, first eligible, completed application basis, subject to the availability of funding. 

Grant amounts will range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 to cover business losses incurred after May 10, 2020. 

Eligible Towns for CARES Act funds: Ashfield, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Plainfield, Williamsburg and Worthington.

Examples of potential allowable grant uses:

·         Operating costs – rent, mortgage, utilities, business insurance premiums

·         Inventory, materials or supplies

·         Small equipment/tools needed due to altering product or service to be provided

·         Personal protection equipment purchases or alterations to location to allow ease of reopening due to COVID-19

·         Payment for professional services needed to pivot business including but not limited to marketing related activities or website improvements

Examples of grant uses that are not allowable (not exhaustive):

·         Payment of outstanding debt incurred prior to COVID-19

·         Vehicle purchase / lease for business use 

·         Payment of any existing Tax liens

Your business may be eligible if:

-          You have been in business as of Jan 1, 2019

-          You have 5 or fewer employees (including yourself)

-          Your place of business has temporarily closed or has reduced hours due to COVID-19

-         You live and have a business in an eligible town (listed above).

-          The business owner’s family income falls within income guidelines (if more than 1 owner, each owners family income must be below 80% AMI) See application for income limits.

You are NOT eligible if:

-          You have a not-for profit business

-          Business owner’s family income is above 80% AMI income level

-          Business owner does not live within in an eligible town

-          You have received emergency funding through another source for the purposes for which you are applying

-          Assistance is for one of the following types of businesses: real estate rentals/sales, owned by a person under age 18, businesses that are chains, liquor stores, tobacco sales, pawn shops, weapons/firearms dealers, lobbyists or cannabis related businesses, adult entertainment or social clubs.

Please be sure to save your completed application and email it, along with required documentation to:

  Bea von Hagke at beavh@hilltowncdc.org

or mail to: Hilltown CDC, PO Box 17, Chesterfield, MA 0101

List of Required Documents 

This is a list of the anticipated documents applicants will need to submit in order to be considered for financial assistance.

 -         Completed Application

-         Copy of most recent tax returns

-         Current Profit and Loss statement

These additional documents may be needed due to individual circumstances.

 -         6 months recent bank statements

-         Pay stubs for household members over the age of 18

-         Investment income documentation

-         Child support received, if applicable

 All questions should be directed to: Bea von Hagke at beavh@hilltowncdc.org

The HUD Income Limits have just been released for FY20, with an increase over last year’s income limits. These brackets are used to determine eligibility for several of our programs including Housing Rehab, Childcare Subsidy, and the HEN Program. If you or someone you know previously applied for one of these program and were not eligible, we encourage you to apply again! This is a great opportunity to access services that may make a significant difference in your life or the lives of your neighbors. Call us today to make an appointment! 413-296-4536

Hilltown Mobile Market Farm Shares are available now for our 2020 Season! Fresh Hilltown-grown produce to fit every budget. Eat safe, local food this summer. Limited Shares are available!

July 23-October 9, 2020 in Blandford, Cummington, Huntington & Worthington

The Hilltown Mobile Market is coming back this summer with more farms, new locations, a longer season, and double the number of farm shares!  Your support during our pilot season last year resulted in increased grant funding to purchase a market vehicle and broaden our reach to more communities.  Starting in July, we will bring "pop-up" markets to Blandford, Cummington, Huntington, and Worthington each week for twelve weeks, stocked with the freshest Hilltown-grown produce.  Stop by and shop with cash, credit, debit, SNAP, WIC, or Senior FMNP Coupons, or sign up online now for a Hilltown Mobile Market Farm Share to support our farms and guarantee your pick of each week's harvest.   The Farm Share is an affordable option with a sliding scale between $5-20 per week and is also eligible for HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) reimbursements!  The market is supported by Healthy Hampshire, Hilltown Community Development and the Hilltown Community Health Center.  For more information or to sign-up for a farm share visit hilltownmobilemarket.info or call or email Caitlin Marquis at 413-588-5562 or cmarquis@collaborative.org.

It is anticipated that CARES (Corona Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funds will be available to our region soon. We at Hilltown CDC are trying to determine the best use of these funds in order to most effectively help Hilltown residents. Specific details of this Act have not yet been released by HUD. Thus far we have heard that the following types of assistance are eligible: interim assistance (rental/mortgage payment, utilities etc), micro enterprise assistance (less than 5 employees), and Public Social Services.

Please help us determine the needs in our area. Please also share the survey with others in the hilltowns who could provide input.

>>TAKE THE SURVEY<<

Thank you for providing your feedback!

Can you take a quick survey? We want to know what programs and services are important to you for our 2020 Community Development Block Grant application. Our application will be stronger with more community input. This funding supports many of our vital programs including the Hilltown Elder Network (HEN), Hilltown Food Pantry, Housing Rehab Program, and supports It Takes a Village. If you have used any of these services or believe that they are important to our community, please let us know!

Create your own user feedback survey

Notice of Public Hearing - CDBG FY2020

Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 6:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING for the planning of the FY20 CDBG Grant

Participating communities: Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Williamsburg and Worthington

Where: Town of Chesterfield Selectboard Meeting Room

When: Tuesday, January 21st 2020, 6:00 pm

Come Share your input on potential projects:

·       Housing Rehabilitation

·       Architectural Design for Worthington Senior Center

·       Social Services which last year included:

·       Hilltown Elder Network

·       Health Outreach Program for Elders

·       It Takes a Village

·       Hilltown Food Pantry

·       Or other programs of interest to you

______________________________________________________________________________                                                               

Contact:        

Bea von Hagke – CDBG Grants Manager

413-296-4536 ext 115 (phone)

413-296-4020 (fax)

Hilltown CDC, P.O. Box 17

Chesterfield, MA 01012

beavh@hilltowncdc.org

This year, Hilltown CDC has teamed up with AARP to become a certified AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax-filing help to those who need it most. We’re looking for compassionate and friendly individuals to join our team of local volunteers for the upcoming tax season. You’ll receive training and continued support in a welcoming environment. And, as our current volunteers tell us, you’ll not only learn new skills, but also get a great feeling from helping someone else.

If you’re interested in making a difference in your community, we’ve got a role for you!

To sign-up as a volunteer, please contact Michele Kenney at 413-296-4536 x 100 or email michelek@hilltowncdc.org

FAQs

Who will you help as a volunteer?

We offer free tax preparation help to anyone, with special attention to older, low-income taxpayers. We understand that many individuals may miss out on credits and deductions they’ve earned because they can’t afford to pay for professional tax preparation.

Who volunteers?

Neighbors like you. And there's a role for everyone.

Good with the fine print? Be a volunteer tax preparer.

You'll work with taxpayers directly; filling out tax returns and helping them seek a refund. Experience isn't necessary — we'll provide training and IRS certification.

Love working with people? Be a client facilitator.

You'll welcome taxpayers, help organize their paperwork and manage the overall flow of service.

Skilled in all things digital? Be a technology coordinator.

You'll manage computer equipment, ensure taxpayer data security and provide technical assistance to volunteers at multiple sites.

Want to help get the word out? Be a communications coordinator.

You'll promote AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and recruit volunteers in your community.

Have a knack for running things? Be a leadership or administrative volunteer.

Manage volunteers, make sure program operations run smoothly, track volunteer assignments and site activities, and maintain quality control.

Speak a second language? You're urgently needed!

We have a big demand for bilingual speakers in all roles. We also have a need for dedicated interpreters who can assist other volunteers.

Get that great feeling from helping your neighbors in need by joining our volunteer team today!

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.

Join Over 300 hilltown businesses in the Hilltown Business Directory!
What will 15,000 hilltown households buy from you?

Now is the time to get your business listing and advertisement in the 2020 Hilltown Business Directory. The directory will be mailed to every household in the Hilltowns early next year. We are also redesigning our online searchable directory, available at www.hilltowncdc.com

The Hilltown Business Directory can include any business located in the Towns of Ashfield, Becket, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Dalton, Goshen, Granville, Haydenville, Hinsdale, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Peru, Plainfield, Russell, Washington, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Windsor and Worthington, or any business whose owner resides in these towns.

To register your business using our online form, visit https://hilltowndirectory.com/

For additional questions or to request a paper application, please contact Michele Kenney at michelek@hilltowncdc.org or 413-354-1055

LEARNING TO WALK THE RACIAL EQUITY TALK

Re-posted from MACDC The Notebook on October 30, 2019 by Vanessa Calderón-Rosado and Dave Christopolis

Ever since the civil rights movement gave birth to the community development movement in the 1960s, racial justice has been at the core of our work. At times, this commitment to racial fairness and equality has been front and center in our work; other times it has receded as practitioners have focused on getting deals done, securing contracts, implementing programs and managing the day to day business of implementing community development efforts. And throughout our 50+ year history as a field, we have struggled to recruit and retain professional staff that reflect the communities in which we operate.

In recent years, MACDC has undertaken a variety of efforts to address these shortcomings – from making racial equity an explicit core value of the organization, to requiring all staff to attend anti-racism training, to sponsoring a variety of initiatives designed to help people of color enter, advance and lead the community development field, and pursuing policies and programs that seek to address long-standing racial inequities in housing, employment, business and elsewhere.

However, as part of our strategic planning process, it became clear that we were not doing enough and more important we were not making adequate progress. We heard repeatedly from internal and external stakeholders that diversity, equity and inclusion had to be a core priority for our organization and our field. As a result, our new strategic plan, adopted in 2018, identifies racial equity as one of our core priorities for the next five years. We see this work as infusing every aspect of our organization including our staff, our board, our membership and all four major program areas where MACDC is active: member services, the Mel King Institute for Community Building; policy and advocacy; and research and innovation.

This special edition of the Notebook contains several articles by MACDC staff members about how we are working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the community development field and how we are attacking the deep and persistent racial inequities that pervade our society.

As the current and future board chairs of MACDC, we wanted to share a bit about how the Board of Directors is looking in the mirror and seeking to apply a racial equity framework to how we operate. In 2017 and 2018, the MACDC Board participated in the NeighborWorks America Excellence in Governance program as way to strengthen our overall board governance. We identified diversity, equity and inclusion as one of the areas where we needed to improve. We worked with our NeighborWorks coach to develop a specific action plan to improve the diversity of our board and to change our board culture in ways that would make it possible for everyone to fully and authentically participate. We also committed ourselves to developing a deeper leadership pipeline to provide more opportunities for emerging leaders of color to demonstrate their talents. 

One of the first things we did as a group was to participate in the YWCA Racial Equity Dialogue Series. This program involves five, two hour sessions with the board and staff where we learned about each other, gained a shared analysis and language for discussing racial equity and covered important topics like micro aggressions, implicit bias, and historic/structural racism. The sessions uncovered important areas for us to focus and brought us closer together as a group and as colleagues.

We were able to immediately put these sessions to work on April 25 when we met with Governor Charlie Baker as part of our annual lobby day at the State House. We had given the Governor the book “The Color of Law” at the MACDC Convention in October 2018 and he had expressed a desire to discuss the book with us at a future meeting. Sure enough, we had a terrific conversation with the Governor about the book, housing segregation and discrimination and what we need to do. Board members were able to speak from the heart and really challenge the Governor to take action. We believe this was made possible by the trust we had in each other, thanks to the YWCA sessions. As you’ll read about later in this notebook, the Governor has taken some important steps since our meeting to close the racial homeownership gap in Massachusetts.

As a woman of color from Boston and a white male from rural Western Massachusetts, we share a deep commitment to this work. We enjoy a certain level of privilege as professionals and community leaders. The success of our efforts will always be measured by our moral compass. It is imperative that whenever we are able to speak truth to power that we remind our privileged leaders of their responsibility to ensure equity for all Americans. 

We believe racial equity is relevant to community and economic development work, and we are united in our commitment to make sure that MACDC lives up to its aspirations and founding values. It is time for us to address racial inequality and put in place the policies and incentives needed to transform our communities to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

We encourage you to read the articles in this newsletter, to share with us your reactions, thoughts and suggestions, to work with us when you can and to challenge us when we fall short. Thank you!  

Hilltown Community Development is joining Healthy Hampshire and Grow Food Northampton to co-convene a regional two-day retreat to bring together all past, present, and future mobile market partners in Hampshire County and the Hilltowns to:

• Grow and strengthen relationships across the county,

• Determine objectives for a county-wide mobile market implementation plan,

• Prepare for future funding opportunities,

• Understand how our work relates to social justice and equity; and

• Identify opportunities for regional collaboration.

The Hampshire County Mobile Market Retreat will be packed with opportunities to learn, share ideas, and plan for the future, including:

• A Featured Speaker: Jessica del Rosario, Director of Community Initiatives, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, MA Department of Public Health

• Updates on the successes and learnings of past mobile market seasons from operators and customers

• Breakout sessions facilitated by key partners in Hampshire County mobile market work

• Opportunities to give input on our mobile market values and vision going forward

Three Hilltown farms have been recognized for their vital participation in and significant contributions to the Hilltown Mobile Market Pilot program earlier this year: Crabapple Farm of Chesterfield, Hart Farm of Conway, and Intervale Farm of Westhampton. The awards were given out at the Hilltown CDC Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 15th in Worthington. The event celebrated the growing Hilltown local food economy with a spread of delectable local foods prepared by Chef Hunt Chase at the newly reopened Rabbit Hole Restaurant in the Fiddlehead Inn.

Hilltown CDC was proud to partner with Healthy Hampshire and the Hilltown Community Health Center to launch the new Hilltown Mobile Market this summer, a 10-week “pop-up” farmers’ market in Worthington and Huntington offering fresh, affordable, Hilltown-grown produce to local residents.  “The market was not an easy program to launch with many administrative and regulatory hurdles,” explained Executive Director Dave Christopolis.  “But we have a very dedicated team of staff and community partners committed to improving access to healthy local food in our community and supporting our local agricultural economy.  Hilltown residents were incredibly supportive.  It was an inspiring success that we look forward to expanding next year.”

Kate Bavelock, Director of Community Programs, presented the awards to Maureen Dempsey of Intervale Farm, who received them on behalf of all three farms (the other two farms were unable to attend the event as regular vendors at the Northampton Tuesday Farmers’ Market). “We would not have been able to do this without our dedicated farm partners, who waited patiently even through May and June as we worked out how to set up HIP-reimbursable farm shares and enroll customers in the program,” said Bavelock. In response, Dempsey said she was was pleased to participate in the program and looked forward to future iterations.

The future of the Hilltown agricultural economy was a theme of the night, as well as larger goals around developing sound rural policy that ensures that Hilltown communities are not left out as the State works to address issues like education, transportation, and climate change.

“This year’s Mobile Market program was a very small drop in the bucket, but shows what is possible when multiple stakeholders come together to find solutions to community challenges.” said Chistopolis. “Local food touches on all of these complex issues, but it also brings us together.”