Foster Means of Regional Competitiveness

Number of Pre-Permitted & Shovel-Ready Sites or Buildings within the Region that are Ready for Development

Description:

Pre-permitting and shovel-ready designations are made to increase the expediency of development on properties by reducing the amount of work necessary between the purchase of land and the start of construction.  Sites with pre-permitting need only the final site plan review and permitting related to environmental preservation (if applicable).  This process can take up to 90 days to complete.  Sites are designated shovel-ready after all permits have been acquired and a complete build out analysis has been completed.  The only steps still necessary are acquiring a building permit and making minor amendments to prior permits if necessary.  This process takes up to 30 days. 

There was a 7.7% decrease in the number of sites that were pre-permitted and no change in the number of shovel ready projects in the Pioneer Valley between 2008 and 2009.  Of the three counties in the Pioneer Valley, only one had a change in the number of pre-permitted sites; Hampden County experienced a 9.1% decrease which represented an actual decrease of one pre-permitted site.

Data Source:  WestMass Development Corporation

Indicator Trend Pre-Permitted Sites Percent Change Rating -7.7%     Indicator Trend Shovel-Ready Sites Percent Change Rating 0.0%

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Annual Dollar Value of Transportation Improvement Projects Advertised for Bid that Rely on Federal and/or State Financial Resources

Description:

Transportation Improvement Projects included in this value are highway improvement projects identified through the Transportation Improvement Program report by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and advertised by Mass Highway.  Between 2008 and 2009, the total value of transportation improvement projects advertised for the Pioneer Valley increased from $41,530,689 to $141,234,444, representing a 240.1% change.  All three counties experienced significant increases.  Franklin County saw an increase of 92.3%, Hampshire a 520.5% increase, and Hampden a 323.8% increase.

The significant increase in the total value of transportation improvement projects in the Pioneer Valley region is a result of federal funds directed through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act money.

Data Source: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Franklin Regional Council of Governments

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 240.1%

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Access to High Speed Internet Service for Business & Residents

Description:

To measure high speed internet access, municipalities are broken down into three levels of available service which are: those where 10% or less of households have broadband access, towns and cities where 11%-50% of households have broadband access, and those places where greater than 50% of households have broadband access. Progress is measured by the number of municipalities that increased their access enough to be categorized at least one level higher.  Measurements for the previous years of 2007 and 2008 were based on estimates made by Western MA Connect with the data available at that time.  As of 2009, the accuracy of broadband access data has improved through survey and service modeling work conducted by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI).  The MBI will continue to monitor the status of broadband access over the next five years.  Level of access did not change in the Pioneer Valley between 2008 and 2009. 

For a more detailed breakdown of access to high speed internet, click here.

Data Source: Western MA Connect, Inc. and Massachusetts Broadband Institute

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 0.0%

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