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Check out our Franklin Holiday Happenings and Gift Guide newsletter!

Keep It Local - Support Franklin Businesses

All Dressed Up for the Holidays

Franklin Downtown Partnership extends a big thank you to Eileen Mason, volunteers and the DPW for decking out our downtown for the holidays!

Look for Keep It Local Signs

As part of its Keep It Local - Support Franklin Businesses campaign, the Franklin Downtown Partnership is distributing these signs to local businesses. Please look for these signs on businesses doors or windows and support our local establishments!

Light Up Downtown Franklin and Beyond

FDP General Meeting Nov. 5

Join us for the FDP General Meeting on Thurs., Nov. 5 at 8:30 a.m. on Zoom. Join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89563299189?pwd=Mk5aMnhiSkg0dkpIZTh3RW4yOVFrUT09 Meeting ID: 895 6329 9189 Passcode: 184179

Attention Business Members We hope you join us Thursday when we will be discussing opportunities to partner with other business owners and share new ideas on how to attract customers during these challenging times.

Franklin Kindness Rocks Garden Finds New Life

 Franklin Downtown Partnership, Berry Insurance and other local volunteers are spreading kindness and positivity by breathing new life into the Kindness Rocks Garden located in the green space next to Rockland Trust in downtown Franklin. 

Originally installed in the summer of 2018, the Kindness Rocks Garden was a huge hit with people who took rocks painted with inspirational messages and pictures. Now, a new push is on to create more painted rocks to place at the Kindness Rocks Garden. 

“We’re excited to continue the new tradition of a Kindness Rocks garden in downtown Franklin. Together we can help spread more kindness one rock at a time.” said Kaitlyn Pintarich of Berry Insurance.

The project is an extension of a popular national initiative called The Kindness Rocks Project that has a mission of promoting random acts of kindness to unsuspecting recipients by painting and dropping inspirational rocks.

Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana is pleased that the Kindness Rocks Garden will offer just one more reason to visit the downtown area. “We hope that the Kindness Rocks Garden reminds people that our residents care and support others, especially during these challenging times.”

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Kindness Rocks Garden next to Rockland Trust, 58 Main St., Franklin, and take a rock. They are also invited to leave a rock as an inspiration to someone else. 

Fall Into Downtown Franklin

On September 16, members of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, Franklin Garden Club, resident volunteers and DPW decorated the downtown area with mums, pumpkins, and other autumnal decor from Hillside Nurseries and Franklin Agway.

“This year, we feel it’s more important than ever to roll out the red carpet to our downtown by beautifying it with autumn decorations,” said Roberta Trahan, vice president of the FDP. “We want to encourage people to shop local and support Franklin businesses.”

Long-time chair of the beautification efforts in downtown, Eileen Mason, said all the volunteers maintained appropriate social distancing and wore masks while installing the fall decorations.

“We wanted to make sure we beautified the downtown in the safest way possible,” said Mason. “Many thanks to our volunteers, Hillside Nurseries, the Department of Public Works and Franklin Agway for making this possible.”

Harvest Festival Canceled - New Initiatives Coming Soon

Due to the ongoing pandemic and its social distancing guidelines, the board of the Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) has canceled this year’s Harvest Festival originally scheduled for Oct. 3. Instead, the FDP is planning to have smaller events during the holiday season to encourage residents to shop downtown Franklin.

“These are challenging times for our local businesses,” said Lisa Piana, executive director of the FDP. “We are eager to help those businesses in whatever way we can. We have a list of exciting new initiatives for the coming fall and holiday season including our Holiday Happenings.”

Read More Here

FDP Sponsors Concert

THE BLACK BOX will present country singer Ayla Brown as part of its outdoor concert series in the theater’s parking lot on Sat., Aug.15 at 8 p.m. The concert is sponsored by the Franklin Cultural District Committee and the Franklin Downtown Partnership. THE BLACK BOX Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Dean Bank.

Tables will be socially distanced and masks will be required when patrons enter THE BLACK BOX building to access the box office, restrooms, and bar. Table groupings will be limited to six. Advance ticketing and payment are encouraged. Tickets are available online.

Read more here.

Map of Free Parking in Franklin

Business Reopening Information

The town of Franklin has provided the following information to assist businesses as they reopen.

• COVID-19 Control Plan
• Compliance Attestation
• Coronavirus Information Portal
• Reopening Resources

This is also a handy graphic regarding the Massachusetts Phase 2 Reopening:

Special FDP Meeting Addresses the Reopening of Franklin Businesses

The Franklin Downtown Partnership hosted a special general meeting on June 4 on the topic of reopening businesses following the coronavirus pandemic. State and local leaders discussed various ramifications of the pandemic on businesses and the path back from quarantine. 

Presenters in the online meeting included State Sen. Becca Rausch, State Rep. Jeff Roy, Susan Nicholl from State Sen. Karen Spilka's office, Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, and Franklin Health Director Cathy Liberty. 

An audio recording and notes on the meeting are available on Franklin Matters.

One of the topics covered during the meeting was the ability of restaurants to reopen with outdoor dining.

“I am very encouraged to learn that Franklin restaurants will soon be able to set up outside dining,” said Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “I appreciate town officials expediting the approval process so restaurant owners can take advantage of this opportunity, especially now that the weather is so pleasant.”

FDP Re-opening Businesses General Meeting

Join us for a virtual general meeting on Zoom on Thursday, June 4 at 8:30 a.m. This special "Re-opening Businesses" FDP General Meeting will feature updates from state and town leaders, including Franklin Town Administrator  Jamie Hellen, Susan Nicholl from State Sen. Karen Spilka's office, State Sen. Becca Rausch, State Rep. Jeff Roy, and Franklin Health Director Cathy Liberty .

The link to join the Zoom meeting is: https://zoom.us/j/96287098735

Meeting ID: 962 8709 8735

One tap mobile: +16465588656,,96287098735# US

2020 Beautification Sponsors

If you take a look at the planters on the bridge above the railroad in downtown Franklin, you'll notice these signs. It's our way of thanking these community-minded sponsors for their generous donations to the beautification effort!

Reopening Plan

The Baker-Polito Administration’s comprehensive plan to safely reopen the Massachusetts economy, get people back to work, and ease social restrictions while minimizing the health impacts of COVID-19 has been released. Read the plan here. 

Spring Beautification 2020

On May 15, downtown Franklin sprung to life with colorful plants added to barrels, planters and window boxes. The Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) and the Franklin Garden Club organized the planting of pink, blue and white flowers to beautify the community.

“This year we held a Covid-19 appropriate beautification effort in the downtown area,” said lead organizer Eileen Mason. “We had designated families or residents be responsible for certain locations. Everyone wore masks outside their family units and we maintained the appropriate distancing. We only requested adult volunteers this year in order to keep us all safe.”

Roberta Trahan, vice president of the FDP, said this project is especially meaningful during this time of social distancing. 

“The planting of flowers and beautification efforts give us hope that life goes on,” Trahan said. “It is a visual reminder to our community that we will get through this. Seeing the flowers brings some joy and growth into this difficult time in our lives.”

Thank you to the following sponsors provided financial assistance to make the beautification efforts possible: 

PLATINUM-Dean Bank, Fenton Financial Group, Glen Meadow Apartments, and Middlesex Savings Bank

GOLD-D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Eileen Mason of RE/MAX Executive Realty, Franklin Glass Company, Inc., Kelly’s Landscaping Inc., and The Enclave of Franklin

SILVER-Auerr, Zajac & Associates, Chestnut Dental Associates, Keefe Insurance, Oteri Funeral Home, and Vet Med Pet Supplies

BRONZE-Berry Insurance, Doherty, Dugan, Cannon, Raymond & Weil PC, and Roche & Roche Law Offices

“Thank you to all who helped pull the beautification effort together this year,” Mason said. “Special thanks to Fairmont Farms for the flowers, the Department of Public Works for helping with watering and mulching and to Melanie Hamblen, owner of Franklin Agway, for donating potting soil and distributing it to all of the containers.”

Special thanks to Vicario Studio for providing these photos.

View More Photos Here

Franklin Mask Precautions

Legislative Updates Regarding COVID-19

Updates from Sen. Pres. Spilka


• MetroWest Resources Webpage


• Information on Federal and State Actions (legislation, policy, etc.)


• Temporary Unemployment Benefits This is for four or eight weeks, and it is to be utilized if there is the intention to bring the employees back to work. Read an excerpt here.


Updates from Sen. Rausch and State Rep. Roy


Sen. Becca Rausch

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy

Business Assistance from the Commonwealth

The state is committed to partnering with the business community to navigate the outbreak of COVID-19. See resources and guidance for businesses on the Commonwealth’s website.

Business and Employee Support

The town of Franklin recognizes the impact the COVID-19 restrictions and closures are having on businesses and their employees. The town has compiled a list of resources to guide you through the changing landscape. This document will be updated as new information and updates become available. See the document here.

Sponsors Needed

The Franklin Downtown Partnership needs sponsors for its Beautification projects and Harvest Festival. In May, Beautification entails volunteers planting flowers throughout the downtown. During the holiday season, Beautification entails volunteers installing greenery around downtown. The Harvest Festival, a large community festival, will held in October. Check out the sponsor opportunities here and complete the sponsorship form.

Plans for Clark Cutler McDermott Property

If you weren't able to attend the February meeting of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, you might be interested in what is happening at the former Clark Cutler McDermott property. See the slide show that was presented at the meeting here.

Harvest Fest Registration To Open July 15

Next FDP General Meeting Feb. 6, 2020

Plan to spend an hour with us on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 8:30 a.m. for the next Franklin Downtown Partnership's general meeting. The meeting will be held in the Campanella Board Room of the Dean College Campus Center. 

Meet Partnership members, network with other business owners, and hear updates about the town, state and FDP. The meeting will last an hour.