Page 10 - BusinessWest February 21, 2022

Community Spotlight
Agawam Copes with Present, Plans for Future
By Mark Morris
Like most area communities, Agawam continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, while also making plans for
the day when it is history.
That sentiment applies to the business com-
munity, the school system, infrastructure proj- ects, and the local chamber.
“Aswefindourwaybacktoa normal life, we are also trying to help people find new opportunities for success going forward. These are times when we are all learning and growing together.”
“As we find our way back to a normal life, we are also trying to help people find new oppor- tunities for success going forward,” said Robin Wozniak, executive director of the West of the River Chamber of Commerce (WRC), as she talk- ed about the present and the matter of preparing
for the future. “These are times when we are all learning and growing together.”
With that statement, she summed up the sen- timents of many in this community of roughly 29,000, which, like most area cities and towns, has suffered greatly through the pandemic, but has also seen COVID yield some opportunities, which have come in many forms.
These include American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which the city plans to use mostly on infrastructure projects (more on that later), some new businesses, and even an acceleration of the timetable for reconstructing the Morgan- Sullivan Bridge, which connects Agawam with West Springfield. The bridge work was to be com- pleted later this year, but wrapped up more than six months ago, due in large part to a $1.5 million bonus from the state to incentivize the general contractor, Northern Builders, to get the work done sooner.
But gaining the roughly four weeks on what would have been shutdown time if the 2020 Big E had not been canceled certainly helped in those efforts.
The bridge project was undertaken to improve traffic flow in and out of the city and, ultimately, spawn new business opportunities in that sec- tion of the community, Mayor William Sapelli
CELEBRATING 125 Years!
BUILDING HISTORY
SINCE 1897
Worcester Public Library, Worcester, MA Photography by CHODOS, Inc.
Jennifer Adams
Director of Marketing 413-584-0310 | www.dasullivan.com 82-84 North St., Northampton, MA
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10 FEBRUARY 21, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest
Agawam at a Glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1636
POPULATION: 28,692
AREA: 24.2 square miles
COUNTY: Hampden
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $16.11 COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $30.58
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $49,390 FAMILY HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $59,088 TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Mayor; City Council
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: OMG Inc., Agawam Public Schools, Six Flags New England, Whalley Computer Associates
* Latest information available