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Date: 1/25/2022
CHICOPEE – In its role fostering economic development and business networking across the city, Chicopee’s Chamber of Commerce continues to adapt to the ever-changing times.
Amidst the growing impacts of the pandemic and increases in inflation, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julie Copoulos continues to advocate for business partnerships across the city. “We’re seeing that partnerships are imperative to success…To have a strong network of business partners is really important because we’re having to change so quickly, so knowing where our friends and community is at is really important,” said Copoulos.
Copoulos noted several prosperous partnerships that formed in 2021, including a collaboration between the nonprofits Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) and Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen with the cannabis dispensary Theory Wellness. The three organizations collaborated to create a mobile food pantry for Lorraine’s, with the VOC helping to pilot the mobile program long-term while Theory provided a donation to jumpstart the project, according to Copoulos.
“Those are the kind of partnerships that are directly related to COVID-related disruptions and food insecurity, but it’s also a beautiful story of partnership that is helping the community,” said Copoulos.
Looking ahead, Copoulos said that inflation, supply chain disruption and work force issues remain central roadblocks across all business industries. “These are huge things impacting businesses right now. I would love to say that I could see these things going away in the near future, but I don’t anticipate them going away,” said Copoulos.
The chamber director shared several key approaches businesses can utilize to pivot from the growing challenges. Copoulos stressed that efficiency upgrades, technological advancements and an emphasis on programs supporting employee health and wellness are crucial to remaining flexible with the changing times.
“Not only will that stabilize an already vulnerable work force, but Generation Z is coming in and prioritizing work environments that have a little bit more work/life balance. Anything we can do to incentivize those younger employers would be beneficial to businesses,” said Copoulos.
The chamber is also in the early stages of developing a new community space in collaboration with the city. The project, which will re-purpose the former Chicopee Library space in Chicopee Center, will explore harboring and developing a positive community environment, according to Copoulos.
“We’re excited about the opportunity for it and we’re really taking the lead of the city. We’re asking a lot of community partners how this can be an effective initiative,” said Copoulos.
Readers can learn more about Chicopee’s Chamber of Commerce at https://www.chicopeechamber.org/.