NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The state’s Secretary of Economic Development stopped by Northampton on Friday to get to know the city.

Secretary Eric Paley said the legislature is working on a ‘Mass Wins Act’ — which will invest in downtown communities, like Northampton’s.

He told us that the city’s funky, youthful energy makes it a great place for state leaders to learn about what is, and isn’t, working economically. Paley also told us about the improvements being done already to improve local development, “Northampton’s doing a lot to invest in. They’ve been utilizing our vacant storefront program in order to revitalize the storefronts that are not operating. There are buildings in town that could come back to life that would really bring even more energy to the community. Culture is a massive infrastructure to economic energy and excitement, and there are always more investments we can be making there. It’s classically underfunded, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to do through Mass Wins.”

The secretary also toured the Coca-Cola facility in addition to checking out the downtown area.