The Massachusetts Senate approved a budget amendment offered by state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, R-Weymouth, that will provide a total of $20,000 to local efforts to boost tourism and the regional economy.
The amendment provides $10,000 to the upstart Scituate Visitors Center and $10,000 to the Scituate’s Portion of the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail. The SVC is under the umbrella of the Scituate Economic Development Commission and is being established to increase the quality and quantity of the visitor experience to Scituate. The organization will provide an additional resource for businesses and visitors by creating a central location for online marketing efforts, event information, restaurant recommendations, community events and information on all the town has to offer.
“The SVC has a great amount of potential and I believe this funding can help further their mission and lead to more economic success for Scituate and the South Shore,” said O’Connor. “As we move forward, it’s important that we use every tool available to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
"We are delighted to have the support of the Massachusetts State House as we continue to build this integral tourism center for the town of Scituate that will benefit the entire South Shore,” said Geena Savage, chair of the Advisory Board to the Scituate Visitors Center. “State Sen. O'Connor has been instrumental in guiding us through the multitude of funding resources available for COVID-19 recovery efforts and this funding will enable us to launch our virtual presence this summer, at a key time for our local business community.”
The South Shore Irish Heritage Trail is a motor trail beginning in Weymouth and ending in Plymouth, and includes stops in Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. Member communities will identify their unique site to be part of the trail.
“Visitors might visit one or two attractions in a day, spend a weekend meandering the back roads of the South Shore, or spend the better part of a week immersing themselves in the Irishness of the region,” said Brenda O’Connor, president of the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail.
“The $10,000 in funding will further our efforts to make the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail a reality,” said O’Connor. “Signage is extremely important to projects like this, and these monies will enable sign development to comply with the multitude of town regulations as well as construction and installation of the signs. Among many other expenses are pamphlet design and production, maps, and special Irish Heritage Trail Passports.”
The idea for the SSIHT came organically through the Scituate and West Cork Sister City Committee to help celebrate and educate the populace about Irish-American contributions to life in Scituate and the South Shore.
“The Heritage Trail ties in directly to the economic success of the South Shore,” said O’Connor. “Every town along the route has a piece of history that ought to be celebrated and this trail is a great way to showcase that local history.”
The Senate’s FY22 budget will move to the Conference Committee where three members of the House and three members of the Senate will work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.
O’Connor represents the Plymouth and Norfolk district, which includes the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth. O’Connor and his staff may be reached at the State House via telephone at 617-722-1646 or by email at Patrick.O’[email protected].