Holli Andrews
PHOTO/MATT VOLPINI
Holli Andrews holds the important role of connecting people to where they live: supporting capital improvement in Framingham's infrastructure; supporting existing businesses through this period of construction; recruiting businesses to diversify the economic base; getting out into the public and presenting the Framingham Downtown Renaissance's efforts.
And of that radiates from a central point: Framingham's rich past.
“Our goals are centered on preservation-based revitalization of our historic New England downtown,” said Andrews.
Framingham Downtown Renaissance, or FDR, is built upon promotion, design, organization and economic restructuring. Promotion is getting the word out about the businesses in Framingham, as well as the different amenities they have or are working to create. Design is bringing the downtown to its best physical condition. Organization is trying to get as many different people involved as possible. Economic restructuring is working with existing businesses to help them become sustainable.
Andrews has the challenging, yet exciting, task of making this four-point approach happen.
“It's kind of a holistic way to work on the revitalization and recognize that there are many important facets to that,” she said.
Andrews grew up near a little airport in Maine, in a town of about 4,000 people. Taking airplane rides with her dad and being able to see all the pollution that was in the air helped drive her to pursue a bachelor's degree in ecology.
“This job came up. It was exactly like a job I had in Maine while I was in graduate school,” said Andrews. “I thought, 'You know what? I'm ready; I've been working on this for a long time.'”
Even though being a 501(c)3 organization has its funding challenges, Andrews makes the best of the situation. And she hopes this optimism is contagious.
“You have to love it,” said Andrews. “You need that enthusiasm and passion in order to try and get people on board.”
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MetroWest 10 To Watch 2014 - Holli Andrews, Framingham Downtown Renaissance
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