Community Profiles
Community Profiles
![Susan Wissler says visitorship is way up](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TourismWissler-768x432.jpg)
No Standing Still It may not stack up to Edith Wharton’s best novels, but it’s a compelling story. “We’ve had an incredibly good season, despite the challenge of staying in […]
![The west side of the Greens of Southwick](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Southwick2-768x576.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris When they talk about managing their town into the future, officials in Southwick emphasize the word “balance.” In order for the town to remain a […]
![Bob Boilard says infrastructure improvements, including a broadband plan for the town, have moved forward during the pandemic.](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WilbrahamBoilard-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris Robert Boilard credits people in town working together as the reason Wilbraham has come through the pandemic so far with minimal impact on the […]
![Mark Pruhenski says Great Barrington](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_1611-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris On a summer Friday night in Great Barrington, Mark Pruhenski simply enjoyed the sight of dozens of diners eating outside and the sound of […]
![The Greenfield Amtrak stop](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TrainGreenfieldStation-768x432.jpg)
All Aboard While a proposed east-west rail line between Pittsfield and Boston has gotten most of the train-related press recently, another proposal, to incorporate passenger rail service on existing freight […]
![Greenfield’s strides in municipal broadband](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RelocateAdams-768x432.jpg)
Small-city Living At a recent briefing about potential east-west passenger rail service through Greenfield, state Sen. Adam Hinds talked about how infrastructure investments — not just in rail, but in […]
![Mayor Nicole LaChapelle](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Nicole-LaChapelle-Ehamp-Mayor-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris While grateful that Easthampton is reaching the other side of COVID-19, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle understands there is still plenty of work ahead. Even though […]
![The final phase of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail in Westfield should be complete this fall.](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bridge-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris For Donald Humason, the phones ringing at Westfield City Hall is a sure sign the pandemic is nearing its end. While recognizing that some people […]
![Michelle Theroux](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_1391-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris For Mike Sullivan, the past 15 months have been a learning experience on many levels. As town administrator in South Hadley, Sullivan has learned […]
![Mayor John Vieau says better control of COVID and the ongoing economic reopening have Chicopee officials excited about progress in the city.](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ChicopeeMayor-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris After a year when everyone got used to pivoting — and got sick of that word — Chicopee Mayor John Vieau is happy to be […]
![](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PittsfieldCommunitySpotlightBW-768x503.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris As COVID-19 has encouraged many Americans to move out of large urban areas, a good number of them are moving to Pittsfield. In April, […]
![The former Willys-Overland building is now accepting lease applications](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Willys-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight The wording in the initial guidance that has come down on the $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, and, more specifically, the $130.2 billion designated for city and […]
![Palmer has a long history as a key train stop](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PalmerAerial-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight By Mark Morris As the nation recovers from a year of dealing with COVID-19, Palmer Town Manger Ryan McNutt looks to the future with optimism. While larger cities […]
![From left, Michael Meunier, owner Kendall Knapik, and Orpheus Barrows from Pioneer Valley Arms.](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Knapik-and-PVA-Staff-768x432.jpg)
East Longmeadow Focuses on Improvements By Mark Morris When Mary McNally reflects on 2020, it’s with no small amount of gratitude for how well her town has weathered the pandemic […]
![Tyler Saremi](https://businesswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WestsideCommonsInterior-768x432.jpg)
Community Spotlight When Tyler Saremi looks at what is considered downtown West Springfield — the Elm Street/Park Street area — he doesn’t see Northampton or West Hartford. But he can […]