EASTHAMPTON — The city and the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce have been awarded assistance from the state’s Local Rapid Recovery Planning program, which helps communities and their businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
With the award, the city has “a starting point” for addressing its businesses’ needs, according to Moe Belliveau, executive director of the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce.
The program helps communities identify short and long-term needs related to COVID-19, implement strategies to address these issues and create a sustainable plan for businesses after the pandemic, and create marketing and promotional campaigns.
While the award does not include financial support, it provides technical support and “direct assistance to develop a plan,” Belliveau said, including the help of a consultant who will assist the city in developing its own “Rapid Recovery Plan” in response to the unique ways that COVID-19 has impacted Easthampton businesses.
With assistance from this program, the chamber will soon embark on its first step of distributing a survey to businesses to gather “a more concise idea of what it is they’re in need of or looking for,” Belliveau said, “and we can develop our plan based on that information.”
Belliveau and City Planner Jeff Bagg have been working together on a COVID-19 response since the pandemic began a year ago, Bellieveau said, and applying for the award “seemed like a really logical progression.” They also worked with Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle to apply for the award.
“This award strengthens the already existing [relationship] between City Hall and the Chamber,” Easthampton LaChapelle said in a statement. “There is no question that we stand with our local economy and seeing our business owners through to the best possible result.”
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.