Enriching Lives in a Rural Economy
Who We Are
Hilltown CDC is a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the Hilltown region. We empower our rural communities through innovative programs that tackle pressing economic, housing, educational, and social challenges. Our mission is to foster sustainable growth while preserving the unique character and natural beauty that define our cherished Hilltowns.
What We Do
Affordable Housing Solutions: Developing and renovating homes and apartments tailored for Hilltown families, seniors, veterans, and first-time home buyers, ensuring safe and affordable living options for all.
Elder Support Programs: Empowering seniors to live independently by offering critical services through the Hilltown Elder Network (HEN) and Health Outreach Program for Elders (HOPE).
Childcare and Food Assistance: Providing childcare subsidies and essential food support through the Hilltown Food Pantry, helping families thrive.
Transportation Assistance: Offering affordable van transportation for seniors, ensuring access to medical appointments and essential services across five rural towns.
Small Business Empowerment: Boosting local businesses with workshops, networking opportunities, and the Hilltown Business Directory, fostering a vibrant economy.
Creative Economy Initiatives: Enriching the community by promoting arts, music, and culture while offering educational programs that drive the creative economy forward.
Food Access and Agricultural Support: Enhancing food accessibility and supporting rural agricultural producers through initiatives like the Hilltown Market and subsidized farmers markets, ensuring local growers thrive while providing fresh, affordable produce to all Hilltown residents.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
The Hilltown Market
is open for online ordering!
Or come visit us in person Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-4 at 19 Sawyer Road in Worthington.
From Raw Products to Packaged Goods
Thursday, April 16th 2-3:30pm
Validating your Value-Added Product Concept: This session introduces the foundations of value-added food production for farms. Participants will explore how to move from raw agricultural products to marketable packaged goods through market research, customer positioning, product differentiation, packaging considerations, and sales channel strategy. The workshop will also cover scalability and startup cost considerations to help farmers assess feasibility and readiness before investing in production.
This is the first in a two part session - keep your eyes out for part two: Manufacturing & Regulatory Compliance
Taught by Kate Minifie
VIRTUAL CLASS - Zoom Link Will Be Sent Via Email Before The Class
PLEASE SIGN IN TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS
Powerful Tools, Costly Mistakes: The Truth about AI & Canva in Marketing
Thursday, April 23rd 3PM
Quality. Fast. Cheap. — Why These Tools Fool You Into Thinking You Can Have All Three.
AI and Canva make marketing look easy. Write it. Design it. Post it. Print It. Done. But easy doesn’t mean effective — and small mistakes can quietly cost you real money. In this high-impact session, we’ll break down the most common (and expensive) marketing errors business owners are making with AI and DIY design tools — from generic messaging and brand inconsistency to costly print problems and weak calls to action.
The goal of this workshop is not to tell you to stop using AI or Canva. The goal is to teach you how to use these tools like professionals — so you get quality without accidentally sacrificing credibility, clarity, and revenue. If you’re using these tools — and most of us are — this workshop will help you use them smarter, protect your brand, and avoid the hidden costs of “fast and cheap."
Taught by Paul Stallman
VIRTUAL CLASS - Zoom Link Will Be Sent Via Email Before The Class PLEASE SIGN IN TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS
Grant Writing Essentials
Thursday April 30th 3-4pm
This workshop explores grant funding as a revenue stream for artisans, farmers and community-based organizations. We'll uncover common myths about grant funding, identify what types of grants are available for different types of organizations and how to find them, and discuss key components of putting together a competitive grant applications. We'll wrap up a Q&A session.
Join us in person or by zoom.
Taught by Tiffany Thibodeau
HILLTOWN CDC - 387 Main Rd, Chesterfield MA
VIRTUAL CLASS - Zoom Link Will Be Sent Via Email Before The Class PLEASE SIGN IN TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS