Page 12 - BusinessWest September 5, 2022

Ludlow
town council Continued from page 9 format similar to what exists in East Longmeadow,” said Strange, who served
previously as director of Planning and Economic Development in Agawam and also as a selectman in Longmeadow, noting that the town has certain- ly outgrown its current format with five select- men, a town administrator, and town meeting.
“That’s a pretty big lift, and the town needs
to be on board with it,” he explained. “For now, we’re chipping away toward that goal and making small, incremental changes to get everyone work- ing in the same direction.”
“COVID taught us a lot of lessons on what works and what doesn’t, and it’s taught us that we can adapt quickly to whatever was coming down the pike.”
Meanwhile, the community is looking to fund improvements to the downtown area that greets those as they come over the bridge that links the city to Indian Orchard, said Strange, adding that, while Ludlow has a large and diverse business community, it is always looking to build on this base.
“There’s a sense of place there as you come over the bridge,” he said. “And we feel that this is an area that’s untapped and could be refreshed
a little bit in terms of the roadway infrastructure and facades.”
For this, the latest install- ment of its Community Spot- light series, BusinessWest turns its lens on Ludlow, a communi- ty that is a developing story in every sense of that phrase.
Growth Patterns
As she talked with Business- West outside the main entrance to Randall’s Farm, the business that her father started with what amounted to a vegetable stand, Karen Randall reflected on how much this enterprise — and the town of Ludlow itself — have changed over the past 60 years.
“None of this was here,” she said as she swept her hand in front of her and pointed
out the many businesses now located along Center Street. “Ludlow has grown, and we’ve grown with Ludlow.”
Elaborating, she said the
town benefits from its location
— off turnpike exit 7 and near
a number of growing residen-
tial communities, including
Wilbraham, Granby, Belchertown, and others — and from its own growth; it has seen a number of new residential developments in recent years that have brought many young people to what was an
Staff Photo
Karen Randall says the business started by her father 60 years ago, has grown and evolved, just as Ludlow has.
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12 SEPTEMBER 5, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
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