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Date: 3/8/2022
EASTHAMPTON – In late February, Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle provided her state of the city address for 2022 through a pre-recorded collaboration with Easthampton Media.
In her speech, LaChapelle emphasized how the community has been an integral component of the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as we head into the spring. “Community has been the saving grace during the pandemic,” said LaChapelle. “In Easthampton, we have an even greater appreciation for what makes ours unique. Easthampton has seen growth and stability in the face of challenge, driven by a shared commitment to lifting the most disenfranchised…over 100 new quality jobs were created, [we] saw exciting development come online, and established programs specifically to help our local economy.”
LaChapelle addressed the Health Department’s importance during these challenging two years, especially when it came to hosting regional drive-through COVID-19 testing, as well as distributing high-quality masks and home tests. The department has expanded by implementing a public health nurse and community social worker, and the Police Department is currently piloting a co-response model with a trauma-informed clinician.
Additionally, LaChapelle noted how Easthampton’s government operations have not stalled, and as a result, the city has remained strong financially. “The city has expanded online services, and community notices through email and text services,” said LaChapelle. “We consolidate all city IT operations into one department to build technical infrastructure and protect against cyber threats. Though better positioned for whatever is next, the impact of the last 23 months is real and compounding.”
Using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, the city “proactively” created a rent relief program before state funds were widely available, according to LaChapelle, and the city was also able to welcome middle schoolers to the new Mountain View school at the start of 2022, while staying on time and on budget. “Over 100 new quality jobs were created, saw exciting development come online, and established programs specifically to help our local economy,” she said.
The city also plans to continue the City Innovation Ecosystem program, sponsored by the National League of Cities, in 2022. The program asks city leaders to commit one year to create the right policies, programs, and practices to ensure their communities can economically thrive. LaChapelle said that the city is working to create a procurement path that is more inclusive and better shared with the valley.
“If you are a small entrepreneurial or a small business owner in Easthampton or wanting to move to Easthampton, you know where you can find resources to get access to capital, to develop a network, to find mentorship all in one place,” said Philip Berkaw, the program director for the Center for City Solutions. “It’s one more city access [point] that will make Easthampton a really attractive place to start a business.”
Through the Blueprint Easthampton initiative, the city also launched the Business Blueprint Easthampton program specifically designed to support entrepreneurs professionally and personally. The second cohort begins in the summer.
Additionally, the city joined a coalition of local and statewide organizations to grow local businesses through a Community Empowerment Grant. “We are proud to work with the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Black and Pink, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the Hampshire County Sherriff Department to build authentic connections and trust,” said LaChapelle. “As promised, this coalition has opened an office in Easthampton’s Pleasant Street Mill District.”
The coalition, according to LaChapelle, focuses on a “much-needed” Western Massachusetts to eastern Massachusetts collaboration, rather than a Boston-centric one.
During her speech, LaChapelle also detailed what is ahead for 2022, including, the full opening of Mountain View School with the added elementary students, the physical transformation of Union Street, green infrastructure projects on Cherry Street, request for proposals on our three elementary schools, the physical mapping of municipal broadband, the release of the Mayor’s Pledge Implementation Plan, a new IT data center and police incident command software to meet public expectations.
“We have built networks in our city and across the state, leveraging resources and expertise for our community,” added LaChapelle. “COVID-19 and its continued impacts have taken so much away from us, but we refuse to let it stop growth in Easthampton.”