Page 38 - BusinessWest April 15, 2024

>>
>>
Greenfield
Continued from page 11
them to come out into the community.”
Meanwhile, several other properties downtown are
in various stages of bringing upper floors online for housing, Cahillane explained, adding that this move- ment will help ease a housing crunch — which she considers the most pressing issue in the community — and generate still more foot traffic, which should help bring more businesses to the downtown.
There are already some recent additions in that area, including a computer-repair store on Federal Street, and, on Main Street, Sweet Phoenix, an antiques and crafts store, and Posada’s, a family- owned Mexican restaurant that the mayor said is “always packed.”
Meanwhile, the plans for Aldi’s and Starbucks, both in the early stages, are generating some excite- ment, the mayor added, noting that the latter, espe- cially, will provide motorists on I-91 with yet another reason to get off in Greenfield and perhaps stay a while.
Getting Down to Business
These additions bolster an already large and diverse mix of businesses in the city, which still boasts some manufacturing — though certainly not as much as was present decades ago — as well as a healthy mix of tourism and hospitality-related ventures, ser- vice businesses, nonprofits (Greenfield serves as the hub for the larger Franklin County area), and several startups and next-stage businesses in various sectors, from IT to food production.
One of those long-standing businesses is Adams Donuts on Federal Street, now owned by Sabra Bill- ings and her twin sister, Sidra Baranoski.
Originally opened in the ’50s, Adams Donuts is an
Continued from page 19
institution, well-known — and in many cases revered — by several generations of area families. There have been several owners not named Adams, Billings said, adding that the one before her closed the establish- ment during COVID with the intention of reopening, but never did.
The two sisters stepped forward to keep a tradition alive — and work for themselves instead of someone else.
“It was kind of crazy; we’d never owned a business before, but here we were buying a shuttered business in the middle of a pandemic,” Billings said. “But it’s been really special to be part of the community, and what we call the ‘Adams community’; there are gen- erations from the same families that are customers.”
Thus, they’re part of what could be called a groundswell of entrepreneurship in Greenfield and across Franklin County, one that John Waite, execu- tive director of the FCCDC, has witnessed firsthand over the past 24 years he’s spent in that role.
He said there is a large, and growing, amount of entrepreneurial energy in Greenfield and across the county, largely out of necessity.
Indeed, since the larger businesses, most of them manufacturers, closed or left, the region and its larg- est city are more dependent on smaller businesses and the people who have the imagination, determina- tion, and ideas with which to start them.
And the FCCDC is supporting these business owners in many different ways. The agency has sev- eral divisions, if you will, including direct business assistance — everything from technical assistance to grant funds to support ventures of various sizes — to a venture center that now boasts six tenants, to the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center,
The backstage space includes a practice area, weight and cardio equipment, massage and physical therapists, wardrobe, hair and makeup stations, and more.
Staff Photo
visas and restrictions based on country of origin made it challenging to navigate through the pandemic and back again.
which boasts 66 active clients processing, canning, and jarring everything from salsa to applesauce to fudge sauce.
Overall, the FCCDC served more than 350 clients in FY 2023, loaned out nearly $3 million to 31 busi- nesses, and carried out work that resulted in the cre- ation of 70 jobs and the preservation of 114 jobs, said Waite, adding that one of its more impactful initiatives is its loan program.
The loans vary in size from a few thousand dol- lars to $300,000, and the agency can work with area banks if a venture needs more. They are offered to businesses across a wide spectrum, including hospi- tality, a sector where there is often need, Waite noted, citing the example of 10 Forward, a unique perform- ing-arts venue and cocktail bar on Fiske Avenue in the downtown.
“A lot of musicians need a place to play, and they’ll sign them up, and they’ll do comedy once in a while,” he explained, adding that the venue is part of an evolv- ing downtown, one that now has more things happen- ing at night and more events and programs to attract the young people who provide needed energy.
Meanwhile, Take the Floor, a CDC initiative that involves the entire county, is another avenue of sup- port. The Shark Tank-like pitch contest has attracted dreamers across the broad spectrum of business, and the top three performers at three different contests — the latest was in Orange — will compete for $10,000 in prizes in the finale at Hawks & Reed.
“Developing our entrepreneurial infrastructure is very important to this region,” Waite said. “We want to make sure people know where they can go for resources to help them succeed.” BW
Robust History
BAZZAR is the 43rd Cirque du Soleil produc- tion in 39 years. The organization currently employs almost 4,200 people worldwide, at six permanent sites and nine world-traveling shows.
The company asked Bishop, who has been with Cirque for 20 years, to create BAZZAR and bring
it to Mumbai and Delhi, India, where it played to sold-out houses in 2018. From there, it made stops in the Middle East, including Egypt, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai; as well as the Dominican Republic and South America, before the current 35-show run in Hartford. After that, it’s off to the Canary Islands for a year-long residency for the robust tourism market.
Both Bishop and Achampong told BusinessWest about the training center in Montreal where perform- ers train heavily for months before taking their skills to the stage. Performers will then have three to five rehearsals prior to each run.
When asked how they stay healthy during cold and flu season, Bishop said world-class chefs are on hand to prepare healthy and nutritious meals, and all performers and other staffers eat well, get plenty of exercise, and maintain healthy lifestyles. He added that BAZZAR has two or three prepared acts and backup characters in reserve in the event a performer is injured or ill, so that the guest experience, which is their priority, is not compromised. BW
Cirque
guests, takes eight days to set up and three days to take down. Once the team packs up, they hire local contractors to leave the site as they found it, or better, she explained, using the example of metal rods that are hammered into the concrete to stabilize the tent. When Cirque leaves, it makes sure those spots are fully repaired and repaved.
The event’s economic impact is significant. The BAZZAR team hires more than 150 local contractors, including laborers, concessions and wardrobe per- sonnel, barbers and hairstylists, massage therapists, security, kitchen staff, and more. In addition, the trav- eling team of 97 (including both performers and spe- cialists like plumbers, HVAC specialists, engineers, electricians, and others) stay at local hotels during the Hartford run, bringing even more business to the region. The total impact is estimated to be around $3 million, including transportation, lodging, food from local suppliers, marketing costs, construction, rentals, and permitting.
BAZZAR performers and staff hail from 23 coun- tries and speak 18 languages, with English being the way most communicate with each other, Achampong noted. The diversity of talent and origin made the pan- demic all the more difficult for Cirque. When COVID hit, Cirque shut down and laid everyone off at once. The company went bankrupt and was reorganized and bought out.
Achampong said about 51% of the staff and per- formers eventually came back, but after two years of being out of work with Cirque, many found other paths in life. And with people coming from all over the world to work with the organization, issues with
38 APRIL 15, 2024
<< CONTINUED >>
BusinessWest