Community Development

Executive Order 418

In response to an increasing shortage of housing across the Commonwealth, both for individuals and for families with a broad range of incomes, especially those of low-, moderate-, and middle- income, the Governor of Massachusetts enacted Executive Order 418 (EO418) in January of 2000. A major component of Executive Order 418 is the Community Development Plan; a program designed to help local officials balance economic progress with preserving the quality of life in their communities.  Under this program, each community is eligible for up to $30,000 in technical assistance and planning services to assist in developing Community Development Plans.  

Pre-qualified List of Consultants
The Department of Housing and Community Development has selected the Institute for Regional Development at Bridgewater State College for inclusion in the list of consultants created pursuant to the Request for Responses for Consulting Services Related to Planning and Community Development.

Types of Consultant Services
The Institute for Regional Development provides seven types of consultant services related to EO418.

• Facilitator in the process of production of a Community Development Plan.

• Collector and analyzer of data needed for decisions involved in the production of a Community Development Plan.

• Economic development consultant for identification and evaluation of alternatives, and for recommendations and strategies necessary for consideration of actions and alternatives in the production of a Community Development Plan.

• Provider of GIS services, including production, training and evaluation.

• Market Analyst for assessment of potential growth, including identification of the various component forces, constraints, evaluations, and recommendations for alternatives and strategies for such growth.

• Open Space and resource protection consultant for identification and analysis of existing and potential open space, and resources and recommendations for alternatives and strategies for acquisition, protection, and management of such open space and resources.

• Transportation consultant for analysis of present and future transportation systems, identification and analysis of existing or projected transportation needs, and development of alternatives and strategies for meeting such needs.

Last Modified: November 16, 2005