FALL RIVER — As the town goes by way of a renaissance with the redevelopment of the waterfront, the pending begin of commuter rail and an eye fixed to revitalize downtown, the administration is investing in growing tourism in Fall River.
A element of that tourism plan is somebody to work with organizers to assist facilitate occasions within the metropolis and to step up city-sponsored happenings. Lifelong metropolis resident Samantha Barbosa is poised to assist fill the invoice as the brand new occasions sources coordinator.
“This job is supposed to function a liaison between people who find themselves attempting to prepare an occasion within the metropolis,” stated Barbosa, who has been on the job a couple of weeks. “So, I’ll be serving to them to prepare and to assist distribute metropolis sources.”
And pulling off an occasion normally means ticking off a number of bins on a to-do checklist that always contains coping with a number of metropolis departments to rearrange for police particulars, road closures and the wanted allowing and licensing that may usually confound organizers.
“I’ll be that center individual, serving to to attach “A” to “B,” and ensuring every thing falls into place the way in which it is purported to,” stated Barbosa.
She’ll even be concerned with executing and growing city-run occasions like this summer season’s Fourth of July celebration and vacation occasions.
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Lifelong Fall River resident’s perspective
Barbosa stated she’s “tremendous excited” to be a part of the brand new tourism initiative in Fall River particularly as a lifelong resident witnessing the town’s transformation.
“The adjustments within the waterfront are enormous,” stated Barbosa. “It’s thrilling — every thing is simply large open and delightful. That is new, we’re part of it and we live it to see the begin to end product.”
Barbosa isn’t any stranger to occasion planning having labored within the area for ten years, first on the Fall River YMCA and the final seven years on the Girls’s Heart in New Bedford, which serves girls and households affected by home violence and sexual assault.
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She was charged with fundraising for the company.
“This can be a good match,” stated Barbosa. “There’s a lot to placing on an occasion and I’ve seen it from the opposite aspect,” stated the brand new coordinator, who will likely be figuring out of the mayor’s workplace reporting to Chief of Employees Ann O’Neil Souza.
The administration’s tourism initiative
Mayor Paul Coogan stated he felt there was a necessity for the occasions coordinator place after what he noticed final summer season, post-pandemic, with occasions popping up all around the metropolis.
“We wished somebody solely targeted on tips on how to enhance these occasions, develop them and make them extra resident-friendly and usher in new occasions to the town. We wish to usher in new individuals (from outdoors the town) and have them spend their cash right here,” stated Coogan.
The mayor stated he simply acquired out of a one-hour assembly with Barbosa and others speaking about plans for the vacation season.
“We’re wanting forward,” stated Coogan.
ARPA grant funding the brand new place
Barbosa’s place is at the moment being funded by way of a $670,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant which was awarded to the native group Viva Fall River and beneath contract with One SouthCoast Chamber.
Barbosa stated she’ll be working with all native organizations within the metropolis together with planning occasions with the Fall River Public Library and the Narrows Heart for the Arts.
“I’m prepared to fulfill with anybody who has an important concept, and we are able to get it off the bottom,” stated Barbosa.
