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Date: 3/31/2021
NORTHAMPTON – With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly coming to an end, the Northampton Chamber of Commerce is hopeful that the future is bright for the rest of 2021.
To help plan for the year, Executive Director Vince Jackson said he continually refers to the chamber’s strategic plan that was implemented in 2019.
“I always go back to the strategic plan the chamber launched in 2019 as my backdrop and make sure that I am doing things that make the most sense and fit with that strategic plan. One of the bright sides of 2020 was that it forced us to power test our strategic plan,” he said.
As part of the plan’s five pillars, Jackson said the economy and community pillars are two of the most important for planning.
“The first two pillars in our plan are the economy and our community. We have in our mission a clear understanding that when our economy thrives, our community thrives and when our community thrives, our economy thrives so they are inexplicably linked so we look at everything through that lens,” he said.
Jackson said one of the bigger goals he has for 2021 is to establish a charitable foundation for education in Northampton.
“One of the ideas I have for this year is to establish a charitable 501(c)3 organization that allows the chamber to take advantage of grants we do not currently qualify for. If we had our own foundation, we could do greater good in our community by providing scholarships and workforce development training programs,” he said.
After outdoor dining became a necessity for many restaurants in 2020, Jackson said he expects it to be even more successful in 2021.
“With warmer weather and outdoor dining returning, we see that as a huge win for us. I think it gives a different kind of dining experience that people were almost forced to do but now are looking forward to it as things get safer,” he said. “We anticipate that outdoor dining will return in a way that is going to bring more people out with the vaccine, and hopefully it gives people an experience they truly enjoy.” he said.
Jackson said that he was hopeful a better relationship with the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development will lead to more grant opportunities for local businesses.
“We will probably continue to see great supporting programs from a number of organizations tied to the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. The pandemic forced a tighter collaboration and network with that agency. Because that relationship improved, I think we are better equipped to take advantage of federal and state opportunities to support small business,” he said.
One of the ways Jackson said the chamber will encourage to shop locally is through the 15th anniversary of the chamber’s Northampton gift card program.
“We will be celebrating that anniversary all year long by doing promotional activities that will help us reach our goal of having a Northampton gift card in every wallet or purse. We want to get more places to participate in that program so consumers have more places to shop, dine, and explore everything we love about Northampton,” he said.
In order to help drive the economy, Jackson said the chamber wants to incorporate more long-term events, including the 413 Takeout Pledge and its Nice Tuesdays programs.
“We want to do fewer one-off events and try to do big month-long to year-long campaigns that engage the community and drive the economy,” he said.
Despite only being just three months into the year, Jackson said it is already off to a great start.
“We are already a full quarter in, and it is off to a great start even though we have not completely turned the corner on the pandemic, but the road to recovery is bright and I see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.