Page 10 - BusinessWest April 4, 2022

Community Spotlight
Greenfield Keeps a Sharp Focus on the Future
By Mark Morris
When it comes to her city, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner takes the long view.
“In five years or less,” she said, “you will not recognize Main Street in Greenfield because so many good things will be happening.”
Two notable projects in the works involve the
“These two big investments at each end of Main Street show the city’s commitment to making Greenfield a desirable place to do business.”
building of a new, $20 million library on the east end of Main Street and a new, $18 million fire sta- tion on the west end.
“These two big investments at each end of Main Street show the city’s commitment to mak- ing Greenfield a desirable place to do business,” Wedegartner said.
That commitment also includes a $5 million
project to address parking on Main Street. Right now, the street has a mix of angled as well as par- allel parking. When complete, Main Street will have all parallel parking and a bike lane.
“Businesses are rightly concerned about the disruption from the work, but we have lots of parking downtown, so their shops will still be accessible,” the mayor said.
Danielle Letourneau, Wedegartner’s chief of staff, said the plan is to modernize more than the parking.
“During the redesign of Main Street, we want to replace the old pipes and infrastructure under the pavement,” Letourneau said. “That way, the redesign will get a couple things done with only one disruption.”
The street project is expected to begin in the fall, Wedegartner said. “By making investments above ground and on the infrastructure below ground, we are showing that we believe in the future of Greenfield and of our downtown.”
In 2021, Greenfield was one of 125 communi- ties in Massachusetts that took part in the state- sponsored Rapid Recovery Plan (RRP), a program designed to help local economies recover from the impact of COVID-19. Based on input from city officials and businesses, the state put togeth- er a formal plan for Greenfield titled “The Delib-
10 APRIL 4, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest
Greenfield at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1753
POPULATION: 17,768
AREA: 21.9 square miles
COUNTY: Franklin
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $22.32
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $22.32
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