North Adams Partnership Relaunches Under New Leadership
North Adams, MA – December 18, 2024 – The North Adams Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering transformative downtown development and addressing housing and economic development needs, is excited to announce its relaunch under new leadership.
Founded in 2010 by a cohort of civic and community leaders, the North Adams Partnership’s mission is to “enhance the economy of the city of North Adams and establish and maintain the city's position as a small city center of commerce, culture, education, and innovation.” After several years of post-COVID dormancy, the Partnership has appointed Jenny Wright, former Director of Strategic Communications and Advancement at MASS MoCA and member of MASS MoCA’s Placemaking Task Force as Executive Director, bringing a renewed focus and energy to the organization’s mission. The renewed effort was made possible with support from Jack Wadsworth, a longtime investor in North Adams who developed the Porches Inn.
The newly constituted board of trustees includes local developer David Moresi (chair); Systems VP and COO of North Adams Regional Hospital Laurie Lamarre (treasurer); 1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development Ben Lamb (clerk); Executive Director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Amber Besaw, Director of MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists Blair Benjamin, and leader in the Berkshire hospitality sector Colleen Taylor.
“I am excited to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for North Adams,” said Wright. “By bringing together local and regional partners—including an incredible board composed of the people behind many of the city’s most recent success stories—the North Adams Partnership can create the capacity to help identify, fund, and implement transformative housing and economic development initiatives, using the Vision 2030 Plan as our guide. The Route 2 Overpass Study, the Hoosic River flood chute feasibility study, the North Adams Adventure Trail, and the recent passage of the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act are just a few of the major efforts currently underway. With strong partnerships with Mayor Macksey and her staff at City Hall, as well as with MASS MoCA, MCLA, BRPC, the North Adams Regional Hospital, nbCC, local businesses, and community members, we have everything we need to work together to create a vibrant, inclusive North Adams that has something for everyone.”
The revitalized North Adams Partnership has two areas of focus:
Connect homeowners, small businesses, and local developers to existing loan programs, grants, and incentives;
Partner with city, state, and federal agencies, community groups, business owners, and residents to help fund and implement economic development and housing initiatives.
Wright and the new board of trustees were appointed at a board meeting on October 16.
“Though we’re barely two months in, there’s so much momentum and creative energy in and around the city,” Wright says. “Our goal is simply to harness that energy and focus it on creating the conditions for North Adams to thrive.”
For more information, visit northadamspartnership.org or email info@northadamspartnership.org.
About the North Adams Partnership:
The North Adams Partnership is a nonprofit organization committed to driving economic and community development in North Adams, MA. By creating capacity to identify, fund, and implement transformative projects, the Partnership supports the goals of the North Adams Vision 2030 Plan and fosters a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community.
