Building Community Through
Collaboration
Merrimack Valley Is Here for the Making
WeAreMV is a regional marketing and economic development initiative that features properties, projects, successes, and business opportunities in the Valley. Here you will find a one-stop resource with municipal contacts, zoning designations, community information, and properties available for sale and for lease. We are here to support businesses that create a prosperous and resilient economy in the Merrimack Valley. The Merrimack Valley Economic Development Corporation (MVED) is currently designated as a Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) charged with business development and assistance. The primary goal of the REDO is to enhance the overall economic well-being of the Merrimack Valley through attracting and retaining businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and fostering innovation. This work includes outreach to businesses across the region, learning about their operations and identifying challenge areas where the state and municipalities can provide assistance.
Our Partners
Our Mission
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) seeks to foster community and collaboration in addressing common, regional concerns. We facilitate joint planning and development for our 15 member communities as well as improvement of the general welfare of our city and town residents—all with the greatest efficiency, economy and coordination possible.
The Merrimack Valley Economic Development Corporation (MVED) is organized exclusively to manage and operate programs aimed at improving the economic and social conditions of the Merrimack Valley and its residents. As a nonprofit community development corporation, MVED provides business loans to both small and large employers throughout the region in an effort to foster long-term resiliency, job creation and retention, and local entrepreneurship.
Our History
Built upon the principles of history, industry and technology, WeAreMerrimackValley is the result of a collaboration between like-minded organizations. In 2004, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) was approached by the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce to develop a site to promote economic development in the City of Haverhill.
The project was launched as Haverhill Means Business. This initial project led to expanding the initiative with the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Merrimack Valley Means Business was then created to support the entire Merrimack Valley region, which included the original HMB site. This region-wide project resulted in an award-winning, technologically advanced website which proudly evolved into WeAreMerrimackValley.com - a revitalized logo, brand and website.
In 2018, the Merrimack Valley Gas Disaster generated an immediate need for business recovery assistance in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence. In order to address the challenges caused by this crisis, a new Targeted Economic Development Strategy (TEDS) program was piloted in 2020 with the help of the Essex County Community Foundation and the Lawrence Partnership. When the Covid-19 national emergency impacted the region, there was a greater need for business recovery assistance across the Merrimack Valley. In 2022, the MA Office of Business Development (MOBD) designated MVED as a Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) tasked with expanding this work to aid in the economic recovery of the entire Merrimack Valley region. This work continues today alongside our local and state partners to create long-term regional economic stability and resiliency.
Ongoing Support
The work of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is made possible thanks to an annual grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. EDA seeks to drive innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. As a Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO), we partner with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) to support businesses seeking assistance from the Commonwealth. Through this partnership we facilitate regional projects that grow businesses and the Massachusetts economy. We are proud to work with EDA and MOBD to support and promote business within our region.