Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), in partnership with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and the Franklin Land Trust (FLT) is conducting a planning and public outreach process to explore interest in a new partnership with State and Federal agencies for 21 towns in northwestern Massachusetts. The partnership could lead to a new designation by the State and U.S. Forest Service which could provide state and federal funds and technical assistance to expand forestry activities on privately owned land and to support tourism-based businesses. This potential designation would focus on forest-based economic development like recreational tourism, forest management, and research on new forest related manufacturing technologies.