The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is thrilled to welcome our newest staff member and addition to the Community and Economic Development program, Tyler Distefano. Tyler joins our C&ED team as one of our Community Planners. As a Community Planner, Tyler supports a variety of department and agency projects such as the Priority Growth Strategy (PGS) and Housing Production Plans (HPPs).

Tyler’s previous professional background includes working for various regional planning agencies and mission-driven non-profit organizations. As a former Transit Planner in central MA, he understands the intersection between development and transportation. Tyler is excited to expand on this knowledge and continue this work focusing on housing and land use projects across the MVPC region.

Prior to joining MVPC, Tyler earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire in 2022. His desire to explore professional opportunities beyond New England led him to pursue a year-long CivicSpark Fellowship through an AmeriCorps program in Denver, Colorado at a climate education and school innovation non-profit in 2023.

Tyler currently resides in southern New Hampshire. He enjoys watching movies, dining out at the seemingly endless local restaurants, spending time with loved ones, walking on the rail trail and hiking up in the Lakes region of New Hampshire. Tyler has familial roots in the Merrimack Valley and is grateful to support the growth of the region.

Please join us in welcoming Tyler! We look forward to the positive impact his perspective will have on our work. For more information bout the Community and Economic Development initiatives that Tyler will be focusing on, check out our program page.