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Date: 12/11/2015
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Allyson Manuel, West Springfield’s new economic development coordinator and assistant planner, has only been in Town Hall since October, but she already has an idea of where she wants the town to go.
Manuel, who recently completed her master’s degree in regional planning at University of Massachusetts Amherst, took over the role after Tara Gehring moved to a part time position with the department.
“I was lucky that Tara, who had the position right before me, is still here, so she’s been able to help me with the transition,” Manuel said. “I’m really grateful for her and all of the help she has given me so far.”
Though the job and the “direction” of economic development coordinator has changed over time, she said, Manuel helps the Planning Board when prospective businesses come in, helping if they need a location. She then guides them through the permitting process.
“It can be overwhelming at times, so I do my best to connect them to resources that would be helpful,” she said.
As time goes on, one of her priorities is to work with Mayor Elect Will Reichelt to make this process easier and more consistent in order to make new and existing businesses feel welcome in West Springfield. She and Marketing and Communications Director Bobby Bruso have been putting together a marketing package to try and attract new businesses.
“The number one priority is definitely to change our persona, being a bit more business friendly. I think that we are, but there’s more that we can do in so far as the process that someone has to go through to open up a business in town, just to make it easier on them, a little clearer and a bit more transparent, I suppose,” she said.
While working on her master’s, Manuel served as a consultant to the Front Street mill project, something she would eventually like to return to and convert to a mixed-use development.
At the end of the day, it boils down to fostering economic development in West Springfield and engaging both businesses and the community, she said. This means encouraging members of the community to get involved and feel comfortable when they do.
“I hope to be as much of a liaison as I can between businesses and the public government side of things in representing both interests and merging any gaps that come about,” Manuel said. “I think that everybody really wants economic development and wants to support businesses and they do the best that they can and maybe there’s just some extra little help that I can provide to make it happen.”
Now that she has had time to settle into the role, she said she hopes to make an impact on the way the town does business.
“I’m definitely excited to have more of a role as things move forward now that I do know enough to participate more fully,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to put my input into things and hopefully feel useful as I move forward and to feel like I’m making a difference.”