Who We Are
 
          The Work We Do— Conduct Research
   



From time to time, as part of our program model, we identify areas that may need data or research in order for specific programs to be developed. To date, we have commissioned and funded consultants to provide such research in the areas of housing, transportation and community indicators. In addition we conduct ongoing, in-house research in several program areas each year.

Full Studies and Reports Commissioned

In-house Research

As part of our efforts to save the Dreamland Theatre we looked at many communities around the country that had successfully rallied support to rehabilitate structures that contained movie theatres such as Oakland California’s Fox Theater, the Raymond Theater in Pasadena and The Paramount Theater in Boston, to name a few.

  Nantucket Carrying Capacity


We were encouraged by the evidence that communities will support the redevelopment of historic structures to house viable community centers for the arts and helped form the Nantucket Performing Arts Center (NPAC). It is our hope that Nantucket will one day be the home of such a center. If the Dreamland developers change their minds about condos and a restaurant, we’ll be the first to suggest implementing Plan B on that site.

When the concept of a Business Improvement District (BID) was brought to our attention by our chairman, Wendy Hudson, we discovered that BIDs are being used in both urban and small town settings to provide commercial districts and their neighborhoods with a range of benefits.

In cooperation with the Nantucket Shellfish Association (NSA) and the Shellfish Harbor and Advisory Board (SHAB) we have been conduction ongoing research about shellfish management plans and shellfish marketing cooperatives. This information will serve to inform decisions about best practices to preserve the fishery and to enhance the marketplace for our local fishermen and wholesalers.

Ongoing research about Agriculture Commissions, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s), small-business development and student apprenticeship will continue to be part of our focus.