Greater Easthampton chamber builds tools for business survival

more timely, appropriate city services to address the needs of our residents.

From a municipal planning viewpoint, 2023 brings the first coordinated review of our spending, division of labor, operations, and policies starting with the internal workings of City Hall. In early 2023, the city and School Department are undergoing an audit to identify inefficiencies, overlap, and undetected bias.

One deliverable will be an outwardly-facing dashboard with key community indicators. This will provide an extra layer of transparency that will allow residents to track outcomes along with city officials. This is just one of the ways we are looking ahead, planning for the time when federal funding dries up, doing our best to prepare for the “cliff effect” that is going to impact so many cities and towns. Ultimately a stronger Easthampton means more resilient businesses, organizations and people. Like any ecosystem, diversity ensures longevity and strength. We will only continue to grow as a resilient city if we continue to change, to adapt and to include more voices in the conversation. Change is not on its way; change is a constant. Let’s embrace it together for collective resilience.

Nicole LaChapelle is mayor of Easthampton. To learn more about the city and its economic development initiatives, visit the municipal website, easthamp tonma.gov.