Marlborough EDC Wins APA, MA Planning Award 2011

The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the recipient of the American Planning Association - Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) Planning Project Award 2011. MEDC submitted its “Marlborough Economic Development Master Plan: Building the New Marlborough Economy”, which was completed in September 2011.

Marlborough’s master plan, commissioned by the City of Marlborough and managed by MEDC,  was produced by FXM Associates in collaboration with The Cecil Group, Economic Development Research Group (EDR Group) and AECOM. The 383 page document is an analysis of existing economic conditions in the city and steps that need to be taken to spur further growth and expand the tax base.

APA-MA's awards program, the state’s highest honor for planning professionals, is a proud tradition established years ago to recognize outstanding comprehensive plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues. These efforts help create communities and neighborhoods of lasting value throughout Massachusetts.

The Planning Project Award, which honors a specific project, bylaw, ordinance, or document of unusually high merit, was awarded to both the Marlborough Economic Development Master Plan and the Concord Riverwalk project in Concord led by NOW Communities.

Arthur Bergeron, MEDC chairman said, “We hope this plan, focused strictly on economic development, will be a model for other communities facing today’s challenging economic realities.”

A total of twenty awards were presented at the APA-MA annual awards and holiday luncheon on December 16, in Boston. MEDC was represented by its chairman Arthur Bergeron, city council president and incumbent mayor Arthur Vigeant and MEDC board member Richard Tomanek.

For more information about the APA-MA Chapter, see www.apa-ma.org