Unpaved Roads Technical Assistance
The expansive network of rural unpaved roads (also referred to as dirt or gravel roads) throughout Franklin County is particularly vulnerable to the effects of changing precipitation patterns, flooding, and…
Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission
A Commission to study potential operation, governance and maintenance of expanded passenger rail in central and western Massachusetts was created by the Legislature in 2022. The FRCOG has a seat…
Housing Planning
Investment in new and existing housing is a critical need in rural towns, where a mismatch exists between current housing stock and current needs. A lack of housing production, old…
Climate Resilient Rivers & Watersheds
Untreated, unmanaged stormwater, along with shifts in river pathways due to natural or human causes, are all part of a complex set of stressors impacting our rivers and their watersheds.…
What To Do If You Test Positive or Were Exposed to COVID-19
Read up-to-date guidance at from the MA Department of Public Health on what to do if you test positive or were exposed. Check out this Covid-19 Quick Reference Guide.
COVID-19 Data
Up-to-date COVID-19 data can be found via the following links: Massachusetts Data (via Mass.gov) Cumulative reports on Massachusetts COVID-19 cases, testing, and hospitalizations. Additional reports include nursing facility data, cases…
COVID-19 Treatment
Free treatments for COVID-19 are available. They can help prevent hospitalization and reduce your chance for severe disease. Treatment is available for those who test positive for COVID-19 and have any…
Museum on Main Street
The Smithsonian Museum on Main Street, in partnership with Mass Humanities, are sponsoring a travelling exhibit “Crossroads: Changes in Rural America” through 2023. Launched in 1994, Museum on Main Street…
Hazard Mitigation & Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning
A changing climate is increasing the frequency and severity of damaging storms. Hazard Mitigation Plans and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Plans inform a community's long-term strategy to reduce damages from…
MA Special Commission on Rural School Districts
The report of the Commission on the Fiscal Health of Rural School Districts, “A Sustainable Future for Rural Schools” comprehensively documents how regional differences have translated into students in rural…
Transformation of the Local Public Health Structure in MA
For the last six years the FRCOG has been involved in a statewide movement to improve the local public health infrastructure. Currently Massachusetts has the most decentralized local public health…
Rural Policy Advisory Commission
The FRCOG plays a leadership role in the MA Rural Policy Advisory Commission (RPAC). The RPAC was created by the legislature in 2015, and is governed under M.G.L. Chapter 23A:…
