Economic Development Strategic Plan

Purpose

Hingham’s Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) will encourage low-impact, high-value economic development in its major commercial districts – South Hingham, the Hingham Shipyard / Route 3A Corridor, and Hingham Square.  EDSP results will help focus the town’s efforts to attract new investment, well-paying jobs, and long-term tax revenue – and protect Hingham’s high quality of life.

The Plan provides both short and long-term options to encourage economic activity while preserving community character. A summary table of the Plan recommendations is offered below. The full report can be viewed through the following links:

Summary Table

Background

The town completed major work imparting a foundation for economic development amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hingham’s Master Plan , completed in 2021, envisions responsible development in its commercial districts that will bring economic growth and a more diversified tax base to Hingham in the future. The Plan sets broad goals and policies that an economic development strategy must balance, including:

  • Goal 1 – Honor town character, with policies including prioritizing town historic buildings/resources, as well as open space/natural resources areas.
  • Goal 5 – Support a vibrant & resilient local economy, with policies including supporting local businesses, attracting new enterprises, attracting non-residential & mixed use development, and guiding development to desired locations.   

Hingham’s Sustainable Budget Task Force issued its Final Report in January 2022. The Town Administrator established a six-member Sustainable Budget Task Force to develop options to facilitate a sustainable five-year Financial Forecast for FY23 through FY27 for the town.  “Sustainable” is determined as a financial forecast that uses realistic assumptions for revenue and expenditure growth that allow the Town to 1) provide services that meet residents’ expectations, and 2) meet ongoing expenditure obligations through regularly occurring revenues.  The Task Force identified economic development as offering Hingham’s strongest opportunities for generating new revenue.   The Task Force also identified economic development as being a long-term enterprise. 

The EDSP will provide Hingham a path to new revenue opportunities that leverage the town’s strengths, protects its assets, and accounts for evolving business location strategies that were accelerated by the pandemic.

Next steps

The town will use key deliverables – its competitive position, realistic post-pandemic opportunities, and commercial district implementation plans - to prioritize follow on efforts.  These may include, for each commercial district:

  • Updating zoning 
  • Targeted infrastructure improvements
  • Marketing Hingham assets
  • Targeted business development efforts

Point of Contact

Please direct any questions to Art Robert, Assistant Town Administrator / Operations, at roberta@hingham-ma.gov. 

  1. 1 South Hingham Map
  2. 2 Hingham Shipyard Map
  3. 3 Hingham Square Map