GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Business Assoc., an advocate and partner for local businesses, announced it will relocate to a new office on Main Street in Greenfield on Aug. 1. This strategic move aims to enhance the association’s ability to support its members and the broader business community more effectively, and has been generously supported by partners at Cohn & Co. Real Estate, the city of Greenfield, Greenfield Community College, and the Franklin County Community Development Corp.

The new office, located at 278 Main St., Suite 204, offers a more central and accessible location for business stakeholders. With ample space for meetings and board retreats, the office will serve as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and growth, while doubling as an additional asset for member businesses to utilize. This move underscores the GBA’s commitment to providing improved support and resources to all businesses, and potential new businesses, in Greenfield.

“Our new Main Street location positions us at the heart of the business community,” said Hannah Rechtschaffen, director of the Greenfield Business Assoc. “This move makes us more accessible and responsive to the needs of our members and potential members, facilitating stronger connections and more robust support services. Particularly ahead of the pending Main Street redesign, it felt like a crucial step to stake our presence right downtown.”

In addition to providing a workspace for the association’s partners, the new office will host various events, workshops, and networking opportunities, further fostering the growth and success of local businesses by building, and rebuilding, their connection to one another. The space will enable standing office hours and additional services to be rolled out this fall.

“We are thrilled to see the GBA set roots in downtown and continue to stabilize and advance the organization toward a full-time directorship,” said Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. “The GBA is an invaluable partner in the chamber’s efforts in Franklin County, and this move will expand their role within Greenfield’s economic-development initiatives, which is great.”

The GBA looks forward to welcoming stakeholders to its new location beginning Sept. 1, and roundtable conversations resuming in August will focus on different business nodes and impactful projects, creating opportunities for business community feedback and more effective information sharing. Details can be found at www.greenfieldbusiness.org and accessed most effectively by following the GBA’s monthly newsletter.

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Business Assoc. (GBA) has hired Hannah Rechtschaffen as its newest association coordinator. With an extensive background in business development and creative placemaking, Rechtschaffen brings fresh energy to this crucial role in Greenfield’s business community.

Rechtschaffen will focus her efforts on growing membership for the GBA — partnering with the city of Greenfield, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, and others — to further define the role and value of the association in the greater ecosystem. As the county seat, the health of Greenfield’s business sector is a vital beacon for how the county as a whole continues to keep and attract residents, tourists, and business owners alike.

Growing up in Northampton, Rechtschaffen left in 2002 to attend college in Ohio and was away for almost 17 years. “When I returned to the Valley in 2018, I fell in love with a house in Greenfield, and I have never regretted locating here,” she said. “I have been waiting for the right time to make a professional move to this community, and I am thrilled to now be with the Greenfield Business Association, working directly for the growth and vitality of my city.”

Rechtschaffen did not wait for this position to open up to get involved in her community. She currently chairs the Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee, which supports the use and implementation of the city’s master plan. She is also a member of the Downtown Greenfield Alliance and the Local Cultural Council.

For the last four years, Rechtschaffen worked as director of Placemaking for W.D. Cowls, growing the Mill District project in North Amherst through events, social-media marketing, commercial tenant engagment, community development, and the opening of a local artist gallery. As a Greenfield resident, she is thrilled to bring her skills home to her city, getting to know the business owners and organizations more extensively and working for the sustainable advancement of the local economy.

“Big things are happening in Greenfield, and I am honored to be part of the momentum,” she said. “Keep an eye on us up here.”

Rechtschaffen is a former member of the Amherst Chamber Board, a member of the BusinessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2022, and a graduate of the Leadership Pioneer Valley class of 2021.