Getting Down to Business in 2026
Editorial
Almost 42 years after John Gormally published the first issue of the Western Mass. Business Journal — which would later be rebranded as BusinessWest — the biweekly magazine continues to shine a spotlight on the Western Mass. business landscape, telling the stories behind the stories — of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and legacy companies alike — and sharing the trends, challenges, and opportunities that drive those companies and their industries, as well as sharing articles written by experts in a variety of fields.
And as the calendar turns to 2026, business leaders continue to rely on BusinessWest to illuminate not just present conditions, but what’s ahead for myriad sectors, from law to education; from finance to healthcare; from retail to technology — and so many more.
They’re emerging from a year of uncertainty — about the overall economy, costs, and interest rates; funding pressures from Washington (and a deeply divided electorate on matters economic and cultural); and concerns about what comes next. Those funding challenges have landed hard in Western Mass., impacting higher education, healthcare, the broad nonprofit sector, and startups like Sublime Systems, which continues to cope with the loss of an $87 million federal grant last spring that would have helped fund a new manufacturing plant in Holyoke.
But almost six years out from a crippling pandemic, many companies recorded strong years in 2025, and entrepreneurship — a critical and robust element of the economy in the 413 — continues to produce new, and inspiring, successes.
What is certain is that BusinessWest will continue to reflect the current times, trends, and stories from a local perspective — that is, through the eyes, minds, and experiences of business owners and economic experts throughout the 413.
In the Jan. 5 issue, we’ll present our annual Economic Outlook, once again featuring the voices of dozens of regional business leaders from many different sectors. And on Jan. 19, we’ll reveal our 30th annual Top Entrepreneur.
Two issues after that, we’ll unveil our 18th annual class of Difference Makers, the first of four very popular recognition programs throughout 2026, along with 40 Under Forty in April — marking its 20th year of honoring high-achieving young professionals — Healthcare Heroes in September, and Women of Impact in October. BusinessWest accepts nominations for all four programs all year long.
This year will also bring a broad mix of feature stories, as well as returning favorites like each issue’s Community Spotlight, shedding light on economic development, municipal projects, tourism, and quality of life in individual cities and towns; and the quarterly Where Are They Now? — each installment visiting with a past winner of one of the four awards mentioned earlier, detailing how their life and career have evolved since. All that is, of course, on top of our regular coverage of dozens of industries.
And look for our annual Book of Lists early in the year as well, a comprehensive resource guide to the businesses and sectors that drive this region’s economic engine.
As 2026 takes shape, with all the challenges and successes it might produce, we’re excited to bring all that, and more, to you — on the page, through our podcast conversations with local business owners, at our recognition events, and at businesswest.com. Happy New Year.
