Page 11 - BusinessWest September 30, 2024

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Wilbraham
Mike and Barbara Trombley returned to Wilbraham for
its quality of life —andtobethe succession plan for the financial-services firm started by Mike’s father.
Continued from page 9
eclectic business community makes Wilbraham an attractive community, one where residents sometimes take all they have for granted but shouldn’t, Mike said.
“It’s very interesting seeing Wilbra- ham as an adult. I grew up in this town, then left to go to go to college and play baseball; we were away a long time and came back. To see it as an adult ... Bar- bara said to me, and it’s true, ‘Wilbra- ham is a charming town.’
“I’m a big fan of New England,” he went on. “And this is the quintes- sential New England town; any time anyone would go down Main Street and see Wilbraham & Monson Acad- emy and the Village Store ... it’s just a picturesque postcard driving through town, especially at this time of year, and I appreciate it much more as an adult.”
“We have many attractive selling points here in Wilbraham.”
This is the message the town’s Economic Development Committee is trying to put out — or, at least, part of the message.
Indeed, the commission has ramped up efforts to let it be known that this community of almost 15,000 people is open for business and has plenty to offer those who wish to set up shop here.
That list includes a single tax rate, one lower for businesses than neigh- boring Springfield (and some other communities, for that matter); busy Route 20, which is already home to dozens of businesses, with room for many more; access to other neighbor- ing communities; proximity to what will be a totally reimagined Eastfield Mall; that aforementioned quality of life; and, coming sometime soon, a town-owned fiber network that will bring faster and more reliable service to residents and businesses alike.
“We have many attractive sell-
ing points here in Wilbraham,” said Mike Mazzuca, chair of the Economic Development Committee. “And we’re going to work harder to make sure businesses are aware of all that we have to offer.”
For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, Busi- nessWest takes an in-depth look at Wilbraham and its ongoing, and quite
Wilbraham >> Continued on page 13
Wilbraham & Monson Academy
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.
Meet faculty, students, parents and coaches. Learn more about our programs and community. Tour our campus.
For families interested in grades 6-12, PG.
www.wma.us/openhouse
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