Lindsay Hutchison’s year started with a whirlwind of activity. The 38-year-old mayor of Peabody – both the first woman to hold the office and the youngest in the city’s history – had less than a month to get 29 residents signed on to a grant application to provide money to preserve her community’s historic downtown district. With that financial boost, Hutchison and members of the Peabody Main Street Association could then rely on the biggest strength of any small community – its people. She and the Main Streeters had known for some time that their beloved buildings were in need of overdue repairs, many requiring major work and major cash. Throughout the month of January, she and the group used social media to mobilize residents in support of a large grant to help spur revitalization.
Source: KLC Journal
