Local Rapid Recovery Plan (Coolidge Corner & JFK Crossing)

Page last updated: 1/11/2022 at 7:00pm

Overview:

The Coolidge Corner & JFK Crossing Rapid Recovery Plan (RRP) is an actionable, project-based recovery plan tailored to the unique economic challenges and COVID-19 related impacts to Coolidge Corner and JFK Crossing. A quick reference overview of the projects included the Coolidge Corner & JFK Crossing RRP is available here.

March-October 2021, the Town of Brookline participated in the state's Local Rapid Recovery Plan Program (LRRP), a technical assistance program to support post-COVID small business and commercial area recovery, included in the economic development package announced by the Baker-Polito Administration in fall 2020. Brookline's LRRP study area is focused on Coolidge Corner and JFK Crossing.

A Capstone Presentation of the Rapid Recovery Plan hosted on 10/28/2021, which provides an overview of the RRP projects, is available here. 

Questions about Brookline's Rapid Recovery Plan? Contact Meredith L. Mooney, Acting Economic Development & Long-term Planning Director at [email protected].

Status Update:

The Economic Development & Long-Term Planning Division is currently working on implementing RRP projects. Identifying and applying for available grant funding - at the local, state, and federal level, as well as private foundation grant resources - is a top priority.

Program Goals:

• For Brookline and other participating municipalities:
  • A set of actionable, well developed projects that reflect COVID-19 recovery needs, community priorities, available resources and incentives, and the capacity to implement at the local level.
  • Primary data that can be used by municipal officials to measure COVID-19 impacts on the local business community
  • Opportunities for collaboration and networking among participating communities
• For the Commonwealth:
  • Ensuring that communities have data-driven plans to aid in COVID-19 recovery efforts
  • Standardized data to demonstrate COVID-19 impacts at the State-level
  • Ability to understand on-going needs to inform efforts to allocate public and private resources in support of COVID-19 recovery

Program Timeline:

LRRP Oversight Committees:

Town Economic Development Division staff and Brookline's LRRP Program Facilitator, Ann Burke, receive regular guidance and direction from the Town's Small Business Development Committee (SBDC) and Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) on the development of the Coolidge Corner and JFK Crossing Local Rapid Recovery Plan.

Previous and Upcoming LRRP Meetings and Activities:

• LRRP Kick-Off Meeting - Joint EDAB-SBDC Public Meeting (April 5, 2021)
  • Kick-Off Meeting Slide Deck
    

• Diagnostic Phase:

  • Survey Distribution: A survey was distributed to Coolidge Corner and JFK Crossing businesses in March and April 2021 to gauge the magnitude of COVID's impact on businesses and to gather feedback. 
  • The survey received 48 responses.
  • LRRP Survey Findings (Mar-Apr 2021) 
  • Site Visit: On April 30, Brookline's LRRP Plan Facilitator, accompanied by Economic Development Division staff, conducted a site visit to survey the study area.
  • Diagnostic Phase Findings Presentation: Key findings from the LRRP survey, data collection, and site visit observations were presented at a joint EDAB-SBDC meeting on May 26, 2021. 
    • May 26, 2021 LRRP Diagnostic Findings Presentation Meeting Recording
    •  May 26, 2021 LRRP Diagnostic Findings Presentation Slide Deck

• Focus Groups: In June, Brookline's LRRP Facilitator will conduct focus group discussions with several key stakeholder groups, including:

  • Property Owners
  • Restaurants
  • Retail and Service Businesses
  • Local Customer Base
  • Office/2nd Floor Workers
  • Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
  • + Community Forum

Additional LRRP Reference Materials:

• March 2021 LRRP Program Intro Presentation
• Brookline LRRP Study Area Map (2021)
• Local Rapid Recovery Plan Program Update - Select Board Memo (4/1/2021)

Educational Webinars Available to the Brookline Community:

One of the benefits of Brookline's participation in the LRRP is access to the Rapid Recovery Program Technical Assistance Webinar Series, a series hosted by the MA Department of Housing and Community Development to show case existing projects in certain topic areas as potential project ideas for our community. 

These webinars are open to the community members of LRRP "grant" recipients. Brookline residents, committee and board members are strongly encouraged to participate in or view as many of these webinars - which will also be recorded and posted to the Local Rapid Recovery Plan website - as possible given the valuable learning opportunities this series presents.