Page 13 - BusinessWest May 16, 2022

Westfield
Continued from page 11
airport for business aviation, which has Willenborg looking for even more han- gar development. Work has also begun for what Willenborg called a “major project in the pipeline.”
“We have a $15 million to $20 mil- lion taxiway project going out to bid next year,” he said. “It’s in the design phase now and will involve relocating and widening one of our taxiways.”
On the military side of the airport, Westfield currently houses a fleet of F-15 fighter jets. Last year the Depart- ment of Defense invited air bases to make their case for hosting F-35 jets and Barnes made its bid. The DOD is expected to decide by May or June.
“The most important thing about this process is that Barnes will be get- ting a new fighter jet,” Willenborg said. “We will either bring the F-35 here
or we will get the brand-new F-15 EX fighter. Either way, we are anxiously awaiting their decision.”
Developments at Barnes are just some of the newsworthy projects in the northern, industrial end of the city.
“Right now, there is a waiting list to store aircraft at Barnes,” Willenborg said. “The leases, fuel fees and other associated costs will all generate revenue for Westfield.”
Indeed, another growth area for Westfield involves James Hardie Build- ing Products, which will soon move into the former Old Colony Envelope building. Hardie manufactures con- struction siding products such as back- er board, a drywall-type sheet used in wet areas such as bathrooms.
Meanwhile, off Route 202, both Home Depot and Lowe’s maintain dis- tribution centers for the region. Anoth- er major retailer will soon join them as Target is planning a warehouse in the same area.
The city has been able to attract these large distribution centers — and become the preferred site for the hyper-scale data center — because
of its location, inventory of land and available properties, and the abun- dance of cheap power and high-speed internet.
Those last two selling points come courtesy of the Westfield Gas & Electric and Whip City Fiber, a division of the G&E continues to install its fiber optic high-speed internet infrastructure in Westfield and many small towns. Tom Flaherty, general manager for the G&E, said Whip City is on track to have 85% of Westfield covered by this time next
year.
At the same time, the company is
bringing high-speed internet to 19 towns in Western Mass where no inter- net infrastructure previously existed. For towns like Cummington, Windsor, Heath, and others, it’s an economic boom.
“Real estate agents are using access to Whip City Fiber as a selling point to sell homes,” Flaherty said. “Because they now have internet access, one town official told us they are building five new houses, where before they were lucky to build one house every other year.”
Critics of Whip City Fiber have com-
Tom Flaherty, general Manager of the Westfield G&E says his internal goal is to see 99% of the city with fiber optic access by 2024.
Celebrating
100 years
of United Way of Pioneer Valley
1441 Main Street, Suite 147 Springfield, MA 01103 www.uwpv.org | 413.737.2691
Over the last 100 years, United Way of Pioneer Valley has invested over $193 million dollars toward essential support services to keep the community stable and whole. UWPV has always provided a helping hand – not a handout – to those most in need, moving families and individuals from dependency to self-sufficiency.
On June 2nd, we are hosting a FREE luncheon to celebrate these past 100 years and look ahead to our second century. Former First Lady
of New York City and Pioneer Valley Native, Chirlane McCray, writer, editor and advocate for mental health and social justice will join us as our keynote speaker.
Register, sponsor, or donate today!
BusinessWest
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
MAY 16, 2022 13
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uwpv.org/100th
Staff Photo