NEW BEDFORD —The Downtown Vitality Act isn’t a law, at least not yet, but the establishment of the Downtown Vitality Fund would go a long way toward benefiting districts in Gateway cities and other low-income communities.
That’s the position of more than 80 individuals and cultural organizations throughout Massachusetts that have endorsed the Act, including the Massachusetts Cultural Council, MassINC, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Art Museum, Springfield Cultural Partnership, Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition, and Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District.
That’s according to the MASSCreative Action Network, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening downtowns and small business districts that rely on vibrant, walkable areas to attract sufficient foot traffic to succeed in a challenging commercial environment.
MASSCreative is co-hosting a Town Hall from 4 to 5 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Co-Creative Center New Bedford at 137 Union St. on the Downtown Vitality Act. The event is open to the public.
Both the House and Senate bills are currently before the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses and had a public hearing at the State House on Oct. 30.
What is the Downtown Vitality Act?
The Downtown Vitality Act would reinvest 5% of remote retailer tax revenue back into Massachusetts main streets and downtowns to support staffing and operations of cultural districts, business improvement districts, main street associations, and parking benefit districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income communities.
What are Gateway cities?
New Bedford and Fall River are two of the state’s 26 Gateway Cities defined as midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies around the state.
Who will speak?
Speakers include State Rep. Tony Cabral, D-New Bedford, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Andre Leroux, director of the Gateway Hubs program at MassINC, Executive Director Ashley Occhino of the Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition, and New Bedford Whaling Museum Director of Museum Experience and Community Engagement Jennifer Zanolli.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.