Reports

Commercial districts need a high volume of foot traffic to support thriving small businesses. Supplemental district management services can dramatically increase this pedestrian activity. In recent years, there has been widespread interest in forming district management organizations (DMOs) to provide these services in all types of communities throughout the commonwealth. By unpacking the toolset Massachusetts currently has available to finance DMOs, this analysis reveals a lack of funding to help these initiatives launch and grow to an impactful size. Financial modeling suggests modest state investment will seed a vibrant district management sector to strengthen downtowns and main streets across the Commonwealth.