Page 12 - BusinessWest February 19, 2024

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >>
Change Is Coming to Northampton’s Main Street
BY JOSEPH BEDNAR
[email protected]
As executive director of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, Vince Jackson spends a lot of time talking to business owners, and what he hears is generally opti- mistic — to a point.
“Businesses are careful about using the term ‘fully recovered.’ For some retailers, their situation is better than it was in 2019,” he said, referring to the last pre-pandemic year. “Others say, ‘I’m open only three days
a week versus seven, but I’m making more money now.’ Then, for others, things are still tough because we don’t have as much day- time foot traffic with a lot of people working from home. So it’s a mix of anecdotes around town, but the overall sentiment is that things are good.”
At the chamber, one way to gauge activity downtown is through Northampton’s gift-card program, which supports local businesses and, for the third straight year, got significant financial support from Keiter (see story on page A22). Over this past holiday season, gift-card sales were up 9% from the previ- ous year, and spending by people redeeming those cards has been up 12%.
“People are spending, and that translates into how retailers are doing,” Jackson went on. “I will say, however, that some retailers say things are not as strong as last year, when people were anxious to get back out and do more traditional shopping.
“So you’re going to get varied comments, but the overall sentiment is that business is good. Businesses are still dealing with supply-chain issues and inflationary issues, driving up costs of goods, but over-
all, people appreciate having made it through the pandemic and are ready to move on with a whole new start.”
“Business owners and entrepreneurs are scrappy and resilient; they adapt well, and I think we’re moving into an era where we’re collaborating and coming together in different ways, figuring out how to share resources and how to come together as a community to set the next trend.”
Dee Dice, owner of Constant Growth, a marketing and consulting firm that works with many small businesses in the city and region, said there are supports in place in Northampton to help companies succeed, and new ones developing all the time, like the Sphere, a project of the Downtown Northampton Assoc. (DNA) that supports women entrepreneurs.
“I feel like the city has much to offer, and it’s a really good place
to start a business, for sure,” added Dice, who has become involved with the Sphere. “Is it ever the perfect time to start a business? That’s debatable, but Northampton is a good place to do it.
“I think Northampton values small businesses in the way they value artists and musicians,” she added. “They value that kind of rebel spirit, people who look to be different and take a risk. In that way, Northampton is great.”
The DNA recently launched a new series of downtown business owner meetings “to create an environment for businesses to come together and talk about what they face on the ground — what’s work-
Vince Jackson says Northampton retailers have mixed reports on the state of business these days, but are mostly optimistic.
Northampton at a glance
Year Incorporated: 1883
Population: 29,571
Area: 35.8 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $15.84
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.84
Median Household Income: $56,999
Median Family Income: $80,179
Type of Government: Mayor, City Council Largest Employers: Cooley Dickinson Hospital; ServiceNet Inc.; Smith College; L-3 KEO
* Latest information available
ing and not working, and how DNA can help,” Executive Director Jil- lian Duclos said.
“I think there’s a lot of hope and a lot of enthusiasm for the future. I think the pandemic was really hard because it was isolating in a lot of ways, but things are shifting and changing on a daily basis,” she added.
“Business owners and entrepreneurs are scrappy and resilient; they adapt well, and I think we’re moving into an era where we’re col- laborating and coming together in different ways, figuring out how to share resources and how to come together as a community to set the next trend. We’ve always been trendsetters here; a lot of communities follow in our footsteps, and now we’re resetting again.”
On the Road Again
And they’re doing so as a major Main Street road redesign looms ever closer, one that many business owners feel is necessary even as they fear the disruption it might cause once the actual construction work begins in 2025.
“Northampton is a city known for its resilience and community spirit. As we embark on the next phase of the Picture Main Street
12 FEBRUARY 19, 2024 << COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >> BusinessWest