Page 8 - BusinessWest April 27, 2026

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >>
Greenfield Seeks Downtown Momentum
BY JOSEPH BEDNAR
[email protected]
Greenfield
at a Glance
Year Incorporated: 1753
Population: 17,768
Area: 21.9 square miles
County: Franklin
Residential Tax Rate: $19.31
Commercial Tax Rate: $19.31
Median Household Income: $33,110
Median Family Income: $46,412
Type of Government: Mayor, City
Council
Largest Employers: Baystate
Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield
Community College, Sandri
* Latest information available
For Nismah Osman, acquiring Greenspace
CoWork late last year with business partner
Sarah Little feels like a full-circle moment.
After relocating from Boston to Gill, her first
job in the area was at Hawks & Reed. She used
Greenspace, which Jeremy Goldsher and Jeff Sauser
launched in 2018, almost daily for printing and over-
flow work and felt drawn to the space from the start.
“When we learned the space might be available, it
just felt right,” Osman said. “Greenspace had already
played a role in my journey here. We wanted to honor
what Jeremy and Jeff created while expanding what’s
possible.”
Little, who grew up in Gill in a small business fam-
ily, sees the space as a natural extension of Franklin
County’s entrepreneurial culture.
“We want this to be a place where people can
build something meaningful — not just a place to sit
and work, but a place to connect, collaborate, and feel
supported,” she said.
Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin
County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism
Council, noted that entrepreneurs and remote profes-
sionals are an increasingly important part of Frank-
lin County’s economic future, and Greenfield is no
exception.
“We’re thrilled to see Sarah and Nismah leverage
their own venture to support other small business
owners,” Deane said. “Greenspace attracts career-
oriented professionals to downtown Greenfield who
might otherwise be working from home. That trans-
lates into increased foot traffic, stronger connections,
and more commerce for our local restaurants, retail-
ers, and service providers. It’s a win for Greenspace
CoWork members and for the entire downtown
ecosystem.”
“We want this to be a place where
people can build something meaningful
— not just a place to sit and work, but a
place to connect, collaborate, and feel
supported.”
That downtown foot traffic is something Hannah
Rechtschaffen thinks about a lot. As executive direc-
tor of the Greenfield Business Assoc. (GBA), she said
her organization’s efforts to drive and promote down-
town activity fall into a few buckets.
“First, we’re tending to what is visible on the
surface — downtown, but all over Greenfield, too —
Commercial mortages made simple
with experienced local lenders.
Chelsea Depault
VP, Commercial and
Municipal Lending
Adam Baker
VP, Commercial Lending
Mike Buckmaster
SVP, Commercial Lending
Jay Seyler
VP, Commercial Lending
Matt Donovan
Commercial
Lending Officer
877-682-0334
GreenfieldCoopBank.com
MEMBER FDIC
MEMBER DIF
8 << COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >>
APRIL 27, 2026
Business W est