Westfield: Together we are better

AS WE EMERGE post pandemic, the city of Westfield is poised and ready to lean forward to tackle the issues all communities are facing. As a community we are mindful of the losses we sustained during the pandemic, and yet we accomplished a great deal in 2022.

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partners recognize the chamber as an invaluable collaborator when the opportunities arise.

I look forward to a full year of Chicopee chamber’s signature events: celebrating leaders in our community at our annual Shining Stars award gala on March 3; updating our membership about the past year at our annual meeting breakfast on March 23; uniting the business community for a fun day at the annual golf tournament on May 19; and connecting with the community through our fundraising Thriller 5K on Oct. 28.

As I continue to work on filling in the rest of our 2023 calendar, I aspire to ensure our events truly do unite the business community. I think this means not only spreading out events geographically within the city, but also having balance between highlighting new businesses like the Windsor Lounge and showcasing those that have been staples in our community like returning to Masse’s American Bistro for our holiday gathering next December. One of the best ways we can support our member businesses is to give them our business!

I’ve learned a lot during my first five months on the job, and I’m looking forward to supporting and building our Chicopee business community even more in 2023!

Melissa Breor is executive director of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the Chicopee chamber and its work, go online to chicopee chamber.org.

The city’s government focuses on quality customer service, improving roads and infrastructure, and creating a welcoming workplace for business, large and small.

During this difficult time, companies such as A. Duie Pyle, Advanced Manufacturing, C&S Wholesale, Columbia Manufacturing, Commercial Distributing, Lawry Freight, Lowe’s Distribution, Mestek, Prolamina and Sullivan Transportation kept their businesses open, providing much needed jobs and revenue for the city. These companies regularly fund and have representatives on the boards of local service organizations. They volunteer at events, and serve on the city’s boards and commissions.

Just recently, we celebrated the grand opening of the “Recharge Room” at West-

Chicopee focused on ‘thoughtful planning’

In 2023 Chicopee is ready to adopt a comprehensive plan to coordinate and provide smart development and growth in the city.

field Middle School. Elm Electric donated and coordinated donations of materials to design a relaxing space within the school, offering respite from the unique stressors faced by educators in last few years.

In Westfield, our banking industry is very generous. Particularly, Westfield Bank, PeoplesBank and Bank ESB have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding and hours of volunteerism. It seems no special event or program in the city is possible without their systems. Technology services and hardware will be replaced and upgrade to improve service to the residents. A better working environment and improved services is the goal for phase two.

John Vieau

Data has been gathered, and the community input has been reviewed with a draft comprehensive plan developed. The Planning Department is working to finalize the plan and move forward.

Taking part in the ceremonial groundbreaking on June 2, 2022, for the new Food Bank of Western Massachusetts headquarters in Chicopee are, from left, Big Y president and CEO Charles D’Amour, Chicopee City Councilor Joel McAuliffe, Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, and food bank executive director Andrew Morehouse.

Additionally, the city has completed the phase one project at City Hall and will be starting on phase two. The second phase plan will provide increased handicap accessibility, improved air quality, effective office locations and spacing, improved security and updated

Safety has been a concern for the city and measures are being developed and strategies are being designed to improve pedestrian safety. The Department of Public Works, along with the city engineer and our Police Department, are working together to implement safer streets. Use of flashing cross-walk signs, flashing stop signs, repainting lines and crosswalks, increased issuing of citations, potential addition of speed tables and other solutions are under consideration in a street-by-street review of problem areas.

Additional officers will be attending the police academy with the new academy open in Holyoke. This will reduce the