Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Select Board Association will host its third Western and Rural Massachusetts Municipal Conference on Saturday, April 1, in Holyoke. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will deliver a keynote address.
The event will bring together regional stakeholders, including municipal officials, planning agencies and legislators, from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties to address the challenges facing the region, with a specific focus on rural issues.
Conference goals are to promote sustainable cross-governmental partnerships across western Massachusetts, to share strategies for addressing challenges facing rural communities in the region, and to improve rural advocacy efforts.
The conference will open with a legislative panel with Rep. Natalie Blais and Sen. Joanne Comerford focused on rural priorities.
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio will lead a session covering her office’s priorities for rural communities, with an opportunity for attendees to provide input and feedback.
The conference will conclude with small group roundtable discussions about goals and priorities for the newly created Director of Rural Affairs within the Executive Office of Economic Development.
The conference will be held at the Delaney House, located at 3 Country Club Road in Holyoke. Registration and networking will begin at 8 a.m. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Boxed lunches will be available with the option to participate in a networking lunch or take lunch to go after the conference.
More information and a detailed agenda will be made available in the coming weeks.
The registration fee is $35.
The MMA is advising in-person meeting attendees to keep up with the latest COVID vaccines for which they are eligible. We highly recommend that attendees take an at-home rapid antigen test prior to attending, and not attend if they have any COVID symptoms or if a household member has tested positive for COVID. These protocols are subject to change based on the latest public health data and guidance.
8-8:25 a.m.
Registration and Networking
A light breakfast will be served
8:25-8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks and Overview
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Rural Policy Legislative Agenda
Representative Natalie Blais
Senator Joanne Comerford
9:30-10:15 a.m.
Keynote Speaker
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Rural Priorities in the State Auditor’s Office
State Auditor Diana DiZolgio
Ben Tafoya, Director of the Division of Local Mandates, Office of the State Auditor
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Roundtable Discussions
Goals & Priorities for the Director of Rural Affairs
12:15-1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
Location
The Delaney House, Holyoke
Contact
MMA Senior Member Services Coordinator Isabelle Jenkins, ijenkins@mma.org
Massachusetts Select Board Association