Taunton launches ‘Leading City’ initiative aimed at economic growth

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell announced Thursday the launch of the “Taunton Leading City” initiative.

The goal of the initiative is to build long-term economic success for the city.

O’Connell said that initiative will include programs to support local businesses, promote community and economic development, and provide residents with a help when needed.

“Today we are taking another major step forward in our goal to revitalize Taunton, generate more economic activity, and expand housing options,” O’Connell said.

The first program of the initiative will be the city’s Marketable Property Program, which will create a catalogue of all city-owned property as well as an asset management plan to determine the best use of the properties to create a recurring revenue source for the initiative.

O’Connell said the initiative’s account will be 50 percent funded via sales from the MPP.

The city’s Municipal Committee on Public Property will meet on July 18 to review properties in the catalogue and determine the best use of each parcel.

“Our new Taunton Leading City initiative is going to help small businesses and grow the city’s economy for decades to come,” O’Connell said.