Page 16 - BusinessWest March 7, 2022
P. 16

   Joshua Garcia Becomes Holyoke’s First Puerto Rican Mayor
Joshua Garcia says that, among his friends, family, and colleagues at various career stops, there was always an expectation that that he would someday run for mayor of Holyoke. And not just run, but win.
“Even when I was a kid ... people would say ‘this young man one day is going to run for mayor, should be mayor,’” he said, adding that it took a while before he eventually started believ- ing — and acting on what people were saying.
Born and raised in Holyoke, he attended city schools and spent much of his time at the Holy- oke Boys & Girls Club, where he would later work. Starting at an early age, he got deeply involved in the community.
That involvement included stints on the School Committee, the Fire Commission, Nueva Esperanza, an agency devoted to promoting
entrepreneurship and spurring economic devel- opment in the city, and other groups. Meanwhile, on the career side, he was gaining experience
in the management of municipalities, early on
at the Holyoke Housing Authority (while he was also earning a master’s degree in Public Admin- istration), then with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, which he served as municipal ser- vices coordinator, and later as town manager of Blandford, population 1,200.
That blend of professional growth and com- munity involvement would earn Garcia a 40 Under
Forty
 plaque
Continued on page 18
Mayor
 Hoyoke
Continued from page 15
cluster in Holyoke, which has a popular destina- tion because of its cheap electricity, location near major interstates, and large supply of old mill buildings, Vega said there are now more than 500 people working within the industry in Holyoke, many of whom have graduated from cannabis programs at area colleges (see related story, page 35), and many different kinds of facilities, from cultivation and manufacturing operations., to dispensaries, to a testing facility, Analytics Labs, which opened last year, on Appleton Street. It’s the first operation of its kind in Western Mass., and provides a vital service to businesses that are required to submit the cannabis to independent labs that run a number of tests, for potency, sol- vents, pesticides, pathogenic microbes, and more.
“We have several businesses already operating, and another dozen growth and manufacturing facilities that could be up and running by the end of the year,” said Vega.
But there are still many challenges facing those looking to enter this industry, especially the smaller ventures, he went on.
“I think there’s still a lot of challenges for these companies to get their financing,” said Vega. “The MSOs — the multi-state operators — are able to set up shop more easily than the locally owned companies, but they are starting to come to fruition.”
One development that may help some of these businesses get over the hump — and help Holy- oke as well — is the creation of what Vega called
Holyoke
Continued on page 19
   We’re here for local business.
 Tomorrow is already on its way, and our job is to set you up for success. As a local bank, we know what it takes to run a business around here. With personalized guidance and a suite of business products — free checking, online and mobile banking, cash management services and lending — we’re committed to helping your business grow and prosper.
Learn more at bankESB.com or call 855.527.4111
Member FDIC | Member DIF
  16 MARCH 7, 2022
COMMUITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest






































































   14   15   16   17   18