Page 14 - BusinessWest May 16, 2022

plained about resources going to other towns while sections of Westfield are still without fiber optic internet. Flaherty said revenues from Whip City Fiber customers in Westfield and the hill towns will help pay for finishing the job in town.
“We have most of Westfield covered and we are tackling some of the more complex and costly areas now,” Flaherty said. Installing the fiber optic cables in apartment complexes and in areas with underground wiring is more complicated and expensive.
“During the pandemic, nearly 20 new businesses opened; that blew my mind,” he said. “These folks had made the decision to pursue their vision and were undaunted by the pandemic.”
“Officially, we hope to see 99% of Westfield with fiber optic access by 2025,” Flaherty said. “My internal goal is 2024.”
What’s in Store
Meanwhile, back in downtown Westfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eric Oulette reported that small businesses continue to open in Westfield.
“During the pandemic, nearly 20 new busi- nesses opened; that blew my mind,” he said.
“These folks had made the decision to pur- sue their vision and were undaunted by the pandemic.”
As COVID numbers get under control and the weather warms up, the chamber has returned to hosting in-person events.
“We thought that was important because it’s tough to network from behind a screen,” Oulette said. “When people can be present with each other it leads to more cli- ents and more job oppor- tunities. It even opens the door for us to meet busi- nesses who might want to join the chamber.”
While membership dropped off during the pandemic, Oulette is hoping to grow from the current 230 members
to 300 by the end of the year.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eric Oulette says nearly 20 new businesses have opened in Westfield during the pandemic, a sign of entrepreneurial energy in the city.
Several efforts are in place to encourage small business activity, such as a vacant-storefront ini- tiative, where the city will subsidize a new busi- ness by covering half their rent payments for up to two years. There’s also a façade initiative that involves repairing and restoring building fronts for businesses in the city.
McCabe has a vision for downtown that
emphasizes retailers who sell consumables. “That means taking a chance on offering
places with eclectic food and more diversity than what’s currently available downtown,” he said. The mayor also made a promise to himself
regarding the hole in downtown where the for- mer Newbury’s store
stood before it was destroyed by fire more
Westfield
Continued on page 40
The Royal Law Firm
is a Woman-Owned Corporate Law Firm Servicing New England
413.586.2288 www.TheRoyalLawFirm.com
A Certified Women’s Business Enterprise
CERTIFIED WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
The Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office
The United States Small Business Administration’s Federal Contracting Program The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
THE SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
is the voice of business for our members. We work together to create a shared vision for our region, strengthen and improve our economy, develop the region’s workforce, and provide legislative advocacy. For more than a century, the Chamber has promoted, supported, and enhanced the economic health of the region.
SUPPORT OUR REGION’S GROWTH.
JOIN THE CHAMBER.
GET TOOLS FOR TANGIBLE RESULTS
BENEFIT FROM PRO- BUSINESS ADVOCACY
CONVENE & CONNECT WITH TOP BUSINESS LEADERS
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
BUILD YOUR WORKFORCE
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER
UPCOMING EVENTS MAY4
Mayor’s Forum
MAY18
Fire & Ice Craft Cocktail Competition
JUNE 15
Annual Meeting
springfieldregionalchamber.com
14 MAY 16, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest