Page 11 - BusinessWest June 27, 2022

this was their home and they didn’t want to leave.”
So, in 2018 Secure Energy found the right space a few doors down from the manufacturer Cartamundi on Shaker Road and bought the building that formerly housed the laser company Biolitec.
These stories are among many oth- ers that relate how East Longmeadow has become an increasingly popu-
lar home for families and businesses alike. As for the ‘why’ this is happen- ing — there are many reasons for that, including quality of life, a still-favor- able commercial tax rate, available land and property, and, overall, a pro- business approach that is prompting new businesses to settle there, existing businesses to stay, and entrepreneurs to find space there to get started, as we’ll see.
And while businesses owners are choosing to invest in the community, East Longmeadow is making invest- ments in itself.
The East Longmeadow Town Coun- cil recently passed the Fiscal 2023 budget, which includes funding for 19 capital projects in town. One promi- nent project involves a major redevel- opment of Heritage Park. According to
“They wanted to stay in East Longmeadow because they felt this was their home and they didn’t want to leave.”
Town Manager Mary McNally, the ini- tial design and permitting phase of the redevelopment will come from Com- munity Preservation monies. Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will cover the other 18 projects.
“They range from investing in the town’s IT needs to police cruisers, a fire engine and DPW trucks,” McNally said. “There are enough projects to stimu- late lots of economic activity in town, providing we can get the contractors and the materials to get it all done.”
For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, Business- West takes an in-depth look at how all these many kinds of investments are paying off for East Longmeadow.
Right Place, Right Time
After a renovation that Bissonnette described as “down to the steel beams” Secure Energy, which specializes in the procurement of natural gas and elec- tricity for its commercial and industrial clients, now has a modern, airy office with amenities for employees such as a kitchen, large gym, and an outdoor gathering space. And there is plenty of room for growth.
“We negotiate with the same sup- pliers the utilities use and lock in the price and a term for the energy com-
modity, whether it’s for 6 months or 60 months,” Bissonnette said.
As a result, a business can know what their energy will cost for the length of the term, a service more valu- able these days than ever before.
“Some clients will forget they extended their term beyond 2022 and will call us in a panic,” Bissonnette said. “Then we reassure them that our energy advisors grabbed the lowest prices months ago and locked in that rate. As a result, customers who were concerned are now very happy.”
Secure Energy is part of a growing,
E. Longmeadow
Continued on page 13
Alex McGill says his company considered other options, but decided
it wanted
to be in East Longmeadow
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
JUNE 27, 2022 11