City of Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester announced Friday the activation of Rockland Trust Plaza by F.A.M. Jam! Event Group, Inc., officially launching the plaza as a dynamic, creative public place connecting Worcester’s Downtown and Canal District neighborhoods.

Located at 45 Green St., the 18,500 square-foot parcel is adjacent to Polar Park and the planned mixed-use development of more than 1,000 units of housing, 200,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space, and more. Serving as a placemaking hub, the area includes several nods to its historical significance with a statue of Tobias Boland and Benjamin Wright, two men who helped build the original Blackstone Canal. Behind the statue sits a water fountain that serves as a tribute to the canal.

“The activation of Rockland Trust Plaza is an exciting moment for the city,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “We are excited to have a local operator, F.A.M. JAM! Event Group, Inc., bring our vision of the plaza being a hub of activity with events, food trucks, and vendors to fruition, bridging Downtown and the Canal District. Thank you to Rockland Trust for its continued partnership and commitment to economic vitality.”

Following a Request For Interest to operate the plaza, F.A.M. JAM! Event Group, Inc. was selected as the operator and will program at least 50 events this year. F.A.M. Jam will kick off programming Friday, March 28, coinciding with the Worcester Red Sox’s Opening Day and fifth season in the city.

“We are honored to be selected as the operator of Rockland Trust Plaza and excited to bring the Worcester Renaissance Project to life in this space,” said Geoffrey Killebrew, Founder of F.A.M. JAM! Event Group, Inc. “Our vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive public hub that celebrates Worcester’s cultural diversity, empowers youth, women, and ethnic minorities, and brings people together through art, music, food, and commerce. This movement is inspired by the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance — a period when culture, creativity, and community transformed the lives of Black Americans and reshaped the nation. In that same spirit, the Worcester Renaissance Project uses public space activation and small business incubation to help historically underserved communities benefit from development. Through arts and entrepreneurship, we’re creating opportunities for local talent to thrive as street vendors and performers, showcasing a model of cultural and economic development that we hope will inspire cities across the country.”