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Date: 1/11/2022
HOLYOKE – Jordan Hart, the new executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber, is excited for a fresh start.
Hart reported that she has been working in downtown Holyoke for almost 10 years. She explained, “It’s really important that we’ve become a stronger Holyoke. We’re seeing a fresh new energy with the recent election – which I had the honor to attend. There’s a new energy in Holyoke, and I can feel it’s like a new dawn, if you will, a new season for Holyoke.”
Hart explained that the goal of the chamber is “to strengthen the business community and bring a robust, prosperous, inclusive and growing environment to Holyoke and its surrounding neighbors.”
Recognizing that Holyoke has more than a 50 percent Latino and Hispanic population, Hart said it was important to be able to reach this sector of the business community who might not have felt included and supported in terms of a chamber or government in the past. She added that it was an important goal of hers “to unify the community and businesses.”
One of the ways the chamber has set out to achieve this is through its new multilingual website. She said she wanted to provide a safe and welcoming place for all members of the community and that the information available is in a language that serves them.
Bearing this in mind, Hart announced that they would continue with a second round of the “well-received” Spanish classes. The beginner Spanish class is $100 for 10 classes and will be on Mondays, beginning on Jan. 17 through March 14 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The class is limited to 12 people, and pre-registration is required.
Additionally, there will also be an intermediate level class which costs $100 for 10 classes and will be on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 19 through March 16 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. This class is also limited to 12 people, and pre-registration is required.
Looking ahead for Spanish speakers, the chamber will also be teaching an English class, and more information for that class will be announced.
As for the strain COVID-19 has had on businesses, Hart said it has also changed how the chamber typically hosts events because of changes in the workplace environment. She said because of this, they aren’t seeing the same attendance at events as before because businesses don’t have the budgets to put them on. Furthermore, she added that businesses don’t have the capacity of employees during the day that would allow employees to leave. To accommodate this trend, they shifted day events to evening ones and Hart reported they are now seeing much better attendance.
She said, for example, their holiday party is typically a brunch, but this year it was at City Sports Bar & Lounge located at 352 High St., Holyoke. In addition, the party included a toy drive for the Holyoke Police Department’s Christmas morning distribution and a food drive for Margaret’s Pantry.
Next, to come on Jan. 26, the chamber will host the Local Leaders Reception at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame for Holyoke’s newly elected leaders. Traditionally, every election season, the chamber hosts the reception to honor and congratulate newly elected officials in the city. There will be light hors-d’oeuvres, a full-bar and music by a jazz quartet. This year, state Rep. Patricia Duffy is the keynote speaker, and she’ll provide an update on what’s to come for the year. Mayor Joshua Garcia will also be in attendance and is expected to speak. Currently, they are still finalizing the details and will post them on their Facebook Page when they are available.
For more information, visit the Greater Holyoke Chamber’s website at https://www.holyokechamber.com/