Page 10 - BusinessWest October 12, 2020

Community Spotlight
Hadley Faces Challenges While Planning for Future
By Mark Morris
efore the pandemic, up to 80,000 cars would travel on Route 9 in Hadley each day, bringing workers, students, and
customers to and through the town. Known for its agriculture, proximity to the
Five College community, and a robust retail cor- ridor along Route 9, Hadley has been challenged, like all towns, since the arrival of COVID-19. But
“This has had an impact on local businesses. Right now, we are doing as much as possible to keep people safe and to support our businesses.”
efforts by a group of town officials are meeting those challenges to keep Hadley viable today and well into the future.
David Nixon, deputy town administrator,
said area colleges play an important role in the local economy. Hadley’s location is central to
the Five College community, but Nixon actually sees it as a 30-campus community because that’s
how many colleges are within an hour’s drive of Hadley.
While some campuses are open, others have stayed closed, and some are taking a hybrid approach, mixing on-site classes with distance learning.
“This has had an impact on local businesses,” he said, noting that less activity at the colleges, most notably UMass Amherst, which borders Hadley, adds to the struggles many businesses are facing as they try to comply with pandemic restrictions and stay afloat. “Right now, we are doing as much as possible to keep people safe and to support our businesses.”
Hadley officials have reduced licensing fees and expedited the process for businesses that are adapting to state COVID-19 guidelines. For example, when restaurants had to amend their food and liquor license permits to allow out- door service, Nixon said the town was quick to respond to get the changes made.
“We’ve also expedited the inspections that are necessary when a business changes the footprint of their building,” he added, noting that coopera- tion among the town’s Planning Board, building inspectors, Fire Department, and Select Board ensured an easier process for the businesses involved.
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10 OCTOBER 12, 2020
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest
Hadley
at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1661
POPULATION: 5,250
AREA: 24.6 square miles
COUNTY: Hampshire
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $12.78
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $12.78
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $51,851
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $61,897
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Open Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Super Stop & Shop; Evaluation Systems Group Pearson; Elaine Center at Hadley; Home Depot; Lowe’s Home Improvement
* Latest information available