GREATER SHELBURNE FALLS REGION Come for the opportunity, stay for the community
HAWLEY | HEATH | PLA INF IELD | ROWE | SHELBURNE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
PROFILE Information for Prospective Business Owners
ASHF IELD | BUCKLAND | CHARLEMONT | COLRA IN | CONWAY
Welcome...
Few places offer the quality of life and opportunities that we have here
in the ten town Greater Shelburne Falls Region, where you will find
that perfect balance between life, work and play. The region’s cultural
and recreational tourism industry is well established and brings nearly
$60 million dollars annually in domestic travel expenditures to the
region. Closer to home is an incredibly strong community of local
people working together. In addition to a strong history of family
owned businesses, this collaboration has blossomed into several
business clusters that include Recreation & Tourism, Arts & Culture,
Agriculture, Light Industrial, and Natural & Holistic Healing.
opportunity
Stay for the...
Love where you work and love where you live. Spend your days
growing your business in your own village store front, in a co-working
incubator space, or at a local café where you will be greeted by name.
Spend your weekends with friends and family at local festivals or taking
advantage of nearby recreational opportunities such as hiking, skiing,
bicycling or kayaking. Come be a part of our welcoming community of
business-people, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, outdoor
enthusiasts, and most importantly, good neighbors. You’ll find the
region affordable and in a setting of unmatched beauty, creativity and
uniqueness in each of the ten towns.
community
Come for the...
Located in the western portion of Massachusetts in Franklin County, the
ten town Greater Shelburne Falls Region lies in the foothills of the
Berkshire Mountains and in the Deerfield River watershed.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 12,450 (2010)
Number of Households: 5,312 (2010)
Median Household Income Range: $46,250 to $78,309 (2010)
Unemployment Rate: 6.1% (2011)
Age Distribution:
17 and under……………..19%
18—24………….……….....7%
25-44………………………20%
45-64………………………37%
65-74……………………...10%
75 and over:…………….....7%
REAL ESTATE
According to the Realtor® Association of Pioneer Valley, Inc., there
were 485 Franklin County single-family home sales in 2012 with a
median sales price of $170,000.
Typical storefronts in the village rent for $700 to $1,200 a month,
with many having been recently renovated.
Preserving scenic areas and agricultural land is important to the
region. The Franklin Land Trust has preserved over 13,400 acres of
land within the ten towns, and Massachusetts’ Agricultural
Preservation Restriction Program is active in protecting farmland in
perpetuity at an affordable price.
REGIONAL PROFILE
TRAVEL TIMES
15 minutes
Interstate 91
Greenfield, MA
30 minutes
Northampton, MA
Pittsfield, MA
Brattleboro, VT
45 minutes
Interstate 90
Springfield, MA
1 hour
Hartford, CT
Keene, NH
2 hours
Albany, NY
Boston, MA
ASHFIELD | BUCKLAND | CHARLEMONT | COLRAIN | CONWAY | HAWLEY | HEATH | PLAINFIELD | ROWE | SHELBURNE
Route 2
Route 116
Interstate 91
Shelburne Falls
NH VT
RI CT
NY
MA
Academy at Charlemont
Barnhardt Manufacturing
Company
Berkshire East Ski Area
Crab Apple Whitewater
Lamson and Goodnow/
LamsonSharp
Mohawk Trail Regional School
District
Poplar Hill Machine, Inc.
Shelburne Arts Cooperative
Zoar Outdoor
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES & MARKET INFORMATION
Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association: www.gsfaba.org
Mohawk Trail Association: www.mohawktrail.com
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce: www.franklincc.org
Franklin County Community Development Corporation: www.fccdc.org
Franklin Regional Council of Governments: www.frcog.org
Massachusetts Office of Business Development: www.mass.gov/hed/economic/eohed/bd/
AREA CULTURAL ASSETS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Attractions: Bridge of Flowers, Glacial Potholes, National Historic Districts, theaters, museums, covered bridges,
mountain scenery, and agricultural attractions
Outdoor Recreation: Annual Road Race & Pentathlon, skiing, biking, hiking, tubing, swimming, fishing, camping,
kayaking, rafting, and zip-lining
Arts & Culture: Art exhibits, Cultural District, studio tours, performances, and concerts
Community Events: Festivals, fairs, old home days, community dinners
TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
Highways: US Interstate 91 and State Routes 2, 8A, 112, and 116
Designated Scenic Byways: Mohawk Trail (Route 2), Route 112, and Route 116
Average Daily Traffic Volume: 10,700 vehicles per day on Route 2 at the Greenfield/Shelburne Town Line,
and 8,900 vehicles per day on Route 2 near Shelburne Falls
Passenger Rail: In 2014, Amtrak’s Vermonter service will be just 15 minutes away in downtown Greenfield.
Air: Bradley International Airport is a little over an hour away near Hartford. An additional four international
airports, including the Boston Logan International Airport, are all within a 2.5 hour drive.
EDUCATION
Highly educated workforce with 25% of the adult population with an Associate’s degree or some college and 35%
with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
A range of public and private secondary educational institutions with graduation rates above state average.
In Franklin County, the Greenfield Community College offers 16 Associate’s degrees and 14 Certificate programs, as
well as workforce development and community education courses. Also, the Conway School of Landscape Design is
a 10-month intensive professional graduate program that attracts students from around the world.
Approximately 20 colleges and universities are within an hour drive of the region, including the esteemed Five
Colleges (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst).
Agricul ture The region has a strong history in agriculture, which contributes greatly to our quality of life and local
economy. In recent years, the number of small farms increased in the region, in part due to a strong market for
locally grown and processed food including organic products. The ten town region
has nearly 21,000 acres suitable for farming, particularly for pastures and
orchards. There are many venues to sell and purchase locally-produced foods and
goods, from farmers markets to grocery stores to restaurants. Quality local food is
a way of life here, and there are resources available to help farmers and food
producers seeking to establish and grow their businesses.
Recreat ion & Tourism Tap into our robust tourism industry which offers internationally recognized natural resources-
based recreational opportunities. The Deerfield River and its tributaries offer whitewater rafting,
kayaking, tubing, swimming, and fishing. While on land there is downhill and cross country
skiing, zipline canopy tours, mountain biking, road cycling, hiking, and camping. Local adventure
outfitters, professional guides, accommodations and dining businesses provide services to this
market. In 2010, the three largest outdoor recreation businesses estimated that they attracted between 120,000-
150,000 visits that year. As this industry grows, there is room to expand services and amenities to these visitors.
Arts & Cul ture The Greater Shelburne Falls Region is an arts and cultural hub featuring year-round events and
attractions such as community fairs and festivals, performing arts, galleries and artist studio tours.
Artists and craftspeople have been drawn to the region’s quality of life, affordability, and
proximity to major markets. As an example, the 2012 annual Crafts of Colrain Studio Tour had
eighteen artists displaying and selling their work in Colrain; while the Double Edge Theatre in
Ashfield saw a summer audience of over 3,000. The Village of Shelburne Falls was designated a Cultural District in
2012 by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, recognizing the village’s concentration of cultural facilities, activities,
and assets. Join photographers, potters, glassblowers, writers, fiber artisans, visual artists, game developers,
filmmakers, performers, woodworkers, and others who contribute to this flourishing Creative Economy.
Manufacturing With a tradition of manufacturing, the region has a knowledgeable workforce when it comes to making things.
Innovation and fine craftsmanship is evident in the region’s manufacturers. For example, Lamson & Goodnow
has handcrafted fine cutlery for over 175 years and continues to innovate and expand its knives and kitchen tool
product lines. New businesses have leveraged ingenuity and the region’s skilled workmanship, such as Eddie’s
Wheels, a company that has revolutionized the quality of life for disabled animals by fabricating strong,
lightweight carts to aid their mobility. The establishment of new businesses can be accommodated in historic
mills, vacant industrial space, converted barns, or in new commercial or industrial development.
TESTIMONIALS
“When it was time for Eddie's Wheels to expand and establish a permanent home, we wanted
to be part of the magical mix of arts, industry and tourism that characterizes the village of
Shelburne Falls. Ours is a very family centered business, building wheelchairs for disabled
dogs and cats, so we didn't want to be separated from the fabric of the community by
locating in an industrial park. Our spot, right on the corner of the major artery, the Mohawk
Trail, gives our customers and vendors easy access to us;, plus it allows our clientele to
make a visit to Eddie's Wheels part of a pleasant journey to one of New England's
quintessential villages.” Leslie Grinnell, Eddies Wheels, Shelburne
“I’m celebrating my 20th year operating Maple House Bed & Breakfast in Rowe. We chose the Shelburne Falls area for
our business after coming out for a ski vacation and falling in love with the folded hills and valleys, the quaint villages
of Rowe and Shelburne Falls and the small school system. The support of the SFABA and the Mohawk Trail Association
and the Rowe Camp and Conference Center has made promoting our place easy; we pay for very little other advertising.
Our guests find that we are centrally located for days of fun, being just over a half hour drive to the Berkshire County
tourist towns, southern Vermont ski mountains and Deerfield.” Rebecca Bradley, Maple House Bed & Breakfast,
Rowe
“Established in 1863, Sawyer News Co. is Shelburne Falls' oldest continuously run business, which
makes us the newest links in a long chain of proprietors. That has proved an excellent way for
newcomers to the village like us (we moved here in 2004) to become part of local life. We get to meet
local people, provide items they need and want--from daily newspapers to toys and computer paper--
and participate in community events such as Moonlight Magic.” Ellen Eller, Sawyer News, Shelburne
“Founded in 1972, Pine Hill Orchards is a 75 acre family owned and operated farm. We grow apples, peaches, plums,
nectarines, and much more. We make our own cider and sell local products at our store located at the orchard. We have
expanded our business to include a bakery and restaurant open seven days a week and pride ourselves on excellent
customer service.” Lisa Shearer, Pine Hill Orchards, Colrain
“We located Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont because of the Deerfield River and its surroundings. As an
outdoor adventure resort, we bring people to the area for a change of pace and that begins with a visual
change of pace from their more urban/suburban landscape to our forested hills and river valleys.” Bruce
Lessels, Zoar Outdoor, Charlemont [Recognized as a Massachusetts Premier Tourism Attraction at
the 2012 Governor’s Conference]
“Foxbard Farm’s history dates back to the 1770’s when Enoch Bardwell and his son settled in the Foxtown area. Since
then the Bardwells, the Andrews and now our family have raised dairy and beef cattle, pigs, hay, apples, vegetables,
tobacco, berries and a variety of other local crops. The gentle, rolling hills, the rich soils, the warm summers, and the
increasingly mild winters are ideal for young farmers wishing to work on the land. Our grass-fed beef is in steady
demand, outstripping our supply every year. Our forests produce a rich variety of hardwoods and softwoods, helping to
remove excess carbon and providing quality building materials for homes and businesses.” John Payne, Foxbard
Farm, Shelburne
GREATER SHELBURNE FALLS AREA ASHFIELD | BUCKLAND | CHARLEMONT | COLRAIN | CONWAY | HAWLEY | HEATH | PLAINFIELD | ROWE | SHELBURNE
This publication was created for the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business
Association (GSFABA) by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. All
photos have been provided by the GSFABA. December 2012.
For more information about business development opportunities and resources in the area please contact:
Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association: www.gsfaba.org 75 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA (01370) | Phone (413)625-2526
Franklin County Community Development Corporation: www.fccdc.org
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce: www.franklincc.org
Franklin Regional Council of Governments: www.frcog.org
Nestled in the hills and valleys of the ten-town Greater Shelburne Falls Region are several
picturesque village centers. Space is available in these centers that range from traditional store
fronts and general stores, to former church buildings prime for a creative reuse, historic homes with
commercial possibilities, and mill buildings that could house new industries or uses. Outside of the
village centers, opportunities arise in the form of historic buildings located along Route 2 from the
auto-touring era or in old barns and homes on scenic roads that are ideal for use as an artist
workshop or small office. New or seasoned farmers may find what they are looking for in available,
permanently protected farmland, or in a retiring farmer eager to see their land and business
continue to the next generation.
New business opportunities in the Greater Shelburne Falls Region include providing needed
services and amenities to the growing number of visitors as well as to residents, or supporting the
region’s agriculture and growing food system. Or an existing business may be searching for a
skilled workforce and a high quality of life for its employees. Whatever the business idea, we urge
you to take a closer look at our region and the opportunities and resources available.
