Page 10 - BusinessWest Sept. 29, 2021

Community Spotlight
Northampton Looks Ahead with Caution
By Mark Morris
As Northampton works through the vari- ous stages of the pandemic, one term best describes any discussion about looking ahead.
“I’ve used the phrase ‘cautiously optimis- tic’ hundreds of times in the last several weeks, never mind the last year and a half,” said Amy
“We need businesses open for customers. Otherwise, the engine that drives Northampton isn’t going to run.”
Cahillane, executive director of Downtown Northampton Assoc. (DNA) — cautious because the city reimposed mask mandates before many other communities did, and optimistic because, despite all the challenges, Northampton can point to many successes.
Janet Egelston, owner of Northampton Brew- ery, said the last 18 months have been an ongo- ing process of pivoting, adapting, and learning,
adding that “we call what we’re going through ‘pandemic university.’”
Northampton enjoys a long tradition as a dining destination. With more than 100 places to eat in the city, restaurants are a key sector to Northampton’s economy. Vince Jackson, execu- tive director of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, said economic studies have shown that, when restaurants are thriving, other busi- ness sectors do, too.
“Every job a restaurant creates results in another job in the community,” he explained. “Think about a typical date night — go out for dinner, go see a show, and then maybe a drink at the end of the evening.”
That’s why the pandemic, and the business restrictions that have accompanied it, have been so disruptive to the city’s economy. And the dis- ruptions have come in waves; earlier this spring, when vaccines became widely available and COVID-19 infection numbers began to decrease, Northampton, like many communities, was able to relax masking requirements. Once vaccina- tion levels began to plateau and the Delta variant of the virus kicked in, infections began to trend back up.
And when the city’s Health Department found several breakthrough cases that forced a couple
Friday-Saturday Oct. 1–2, 2021, Northampton, MA northamptonjazzfest.org
Jazz Strut, Fri. Oct. 1, 4–10 pm
Live jazz at downtown Northampton restaurants, breweries, and bars
No cover, no minimum.
Masks required when not eating or drinking.
Jazz Fest Day, Sat. Oct. 2
Free live music all around town 11:30 am –6:30 pm
Masks must be worn at all inside and outside venues.
JAZZ ABOUNDS DOWNTOWN
Sullivan Fortner
11:30 am– 1:30 pm CLICK Workspace
Alex Hamburger Quartet
11:30 am–1:30 pm Center for
the Arts
Manduca Sexta 2–3pm Pulaski Park
Lioness
3–5 pm First Churches
Cocomama
5–6:30 pm Pulaski Park
ZT Amplifiers Artists Showcase
2:30–4:30 pm Center for the Arts
The Art Blakey Centennial Celebration
Sat. Oct. 2, 7:30 pm Academy of Music Tickets: aomtheatre.com
A multi-generational ensemble of musicians led by members of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers
COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN
10 SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Northampton at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1883
POPULATION: 28,483
AREA: 35.8 square miles
COUNTY: Hampshire
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $17.37
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $17.37
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $56,999
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $80,179
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Mayor, City Council
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Cooley Dickinson Hospital; ServiceNet Inc.; Smith College; L-3 KEO
* Latest information available
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