DEERFIELD — From education and affordable housing, to agriculture and federal funding cuts, area legislators at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative breakfast shared their priorities for this session.

Business and nonprofit leaders, as well as municipal officials, gathered at Eaglebrook School on Friday for the annual event where state Reps. Natalie Blais, Susannah Whipps and Aaron Saunders, and state Sens. Jo Comerford and Paul Mark provided insight into the work they’re doing for Franklin County and western Massachusetts. Koby Gardner-Levine, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern’s regional manager, also attended and gave remarks about developments on the federal level.

The legislators said they are fighting for increased equity for the rural parts of Massachusetts, protecting the Quabbin Reservoir, pushing for affordable senior housing and supporting farmers.

“We are fighting for everything. Here in western Massachusetts, literally as a delegation, we are fighting for everything,” Blais said. “Whether it’s public transportation, housing, agriculture, equitable access to public health, economic development … To see all the people in this room, here together working with us, makes it that much easier.”

On the housing front, Whipps said increasing the housing stock will benefit everyone. The Athol representative, herself a business owner, said more homes or apartments would allow workers to move closer to their jobs, keep aging folks in their communities and welcome young families, who can contribute to the tax base and enroll their children in area schools. She noted her community is undertaking the conversion of two schools into 55 apartments through public-private partnerships, which are essential, as the average return-on-investment for housing projects in rural areas often doesn’t entice developers.

“So many of our constituents are living in homes that they raised their families in. Some of them are on their own now and there is too much house, but they want to age in place,” Whipps said, adding that seniors who are still living in their homes often pay high taxes for a home that is far too big for them. “If we can focus on affordable, accessible, safe senior housing in local communities where people can age in place and stay in their communities, we will be opening up some beautiful family homes for young families to come.”

Regarding transportation, Blais touted the work she and other legislators did in securing $73 million for regional transit authorities, $10 million for microtransit programs and tens of millions for municipal road work, including a new formula for Chapter 90 dedicated to road mileage and $7 million for work on unpaved roads.

Elena Cohen, Comerford’s district director, who took the place of the senator due to a family emergency, noted transportation funding is an equity issue for western Massachusetts, as much of the state’s allocations often go toward the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

“Ninety percent of the governor’s proposed transportation funding was for the MBTA,” Cohen said. “That’s just not OK.”

Other topics touched on by the legislators included federal cuts and the elimination of grants, responsible stewardship of the Quabbin Reservoir and supporting farmers.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessye Deane thanked the legislators, as well as local advocates, for their work in bringing Franklin County’s challenges to the forefront at the State House.

“We face the same complex issues as other parts of the state with the exciting extra element of being the most rural county. … The good news is we’re also one of the scrappiest and most collaborative,” Deane said. “Thanks to the efforts of our community and the fierce advocacy and hard work of our legislative delegation, we’ve caught the attention of this administration and made it clear that rural priorities must be state priorities.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.