FRAMINGHAM – Courtney Thraen is leaving downtown Framingham Inc. (DFI).
At the organization’s annual meeting on March 4, the organization said it will feature the formal turnover between the outgoing and incoming executive director, in a press release.
Upon approval from the Board of Directors, Anthony Lucivero will assume the duties and responsibilities of executive director.
The son of two Worcester public school teachers, Lucivero understands the impact and importance of engaging multiple stakeholders to identify shared goals and values, said DFI in a press release.
Lucivero holds a Master in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University Extension School and a Bachelor in political science from UMASS Amherst. He has served as an Advocacy Fellow for the U.S. Green Building Council.
[broadstreet zone=”59945″]
At the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center, he served as a Transportation Planner and Community Planner. His non-profit experience includes supporting Oldways Preservation and Trust, where he worked as a Partnership Manager.
“I’ve always been extremely interested in urban planning and revitalization efforts, especially since taking a class in urban planning at UMASS Amherst. Downtown Framingham seems like a really great opportunity to contribute to the community. I grew up in Worcester, so I’m very familiar with the
community,” said Lucivero during his interview with DFI.
He will be supported by DFI’s Business Outreach Coordinator, Alex Paiva.
Paiva, whose family hails from Brazil, grew up in the downtown area and has worked at DFI for over one year, providing invaluable written and in-person translation support. Paiva continues his studies in business and finance at Framingham State University.
[broadstreet zone=”59948″]
“I’m very excited for the future of Downtown Framingham, Inc. and the progression of ideas and projects that can better serve the entire community, especially underserved populations. After the past eight weeks of training, I know Anthony is ready to serve businesses by providing individual technical
support and collective business area support to effectively advocate for these extremely busy business owners to the larger community and local government stakeholders,” said DFI Executive Director Thraen.
“I have to also give a huge thanks to the state leadership, including Senate President Karen Spilka and State Representatives Jack P. Lewis and Maria Robinson, for enabling DFI to receive state investment funds three years in a row. This mark of confidence in our community churned out remarkable results with lasting, positive impacts,” said Thraen.
Thraen, the current DFI Executive Director, will progress into the next phase of her already 15-year career in public service by seeking to study law in the New England area.
She said she is very grateful to the City of Framingham and its City Council for all the polices and projects that were collectively advanced to support downtown, including the sidewalk activation ordinance, loosening of entertainment license regulations, murals and window wraps, bracket signs, event beer gardens, and the Oktoberfest street festival, an event that required support from nearly all departments of local government.
[broadstreet zone=”53820″]
“It’s been so great to embrace and feed off all the activity downtown, which is reflected by a steadily decreasing commercial vacancy rate that is slated to be at 3% in the Central Business District by the end of the 2021 based on new business openings at 181 Concord St., 402 Waverly St., 407 Waverly St., and
428 Waverly St,” said Thraen.
“I’ve always dreamed about a sushi restaurant downtown, which is now going to happen at 181 Concord St. These micro-businesses have really banded together to help one another during COVID. Leaders like Elen Barros from Franklin St. Café, Marlene Dillon from Marlene Super Salon, and
Crys Cardoso from Viva’s Flower Shop have stepped up to ensure all the downtown businesses were aware of the local, state, and federal grant opportunities available. The active strength of the informal communication networks between the downtown businesses has been quite heroic in helping to keep the business lights on throughout the pandemic,” she said.
To attend the annual meeting at 5 p.m. on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88340922218#success
***
Photo submitted to SOURCE media
MetroWest Medical Center