“We have these really eclectic businesses that have found a niche and are getting stronger, are getting bigger, and they’re really evolving to the times,” Mayor LaChapelle observes.“That captures another part of Easthampton. We’re capturing a specific niche. We are who we are. We’re not trying to put ourselves out there as something else. We win where we stand.” This philosophyisn’t mere rhetoric.The city’s economic development strategy focuses on supporting existing businesses rather than chasing relocations. With educational services and healthcare forming the employment foundation, the manufacturing sector adds diversity without dominating. The approach has sustained growth through economic cycles, with median household income rising 8.31% between 2022 and 2023 despite slight population decline. MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN EASTHAMPTON’S FUTURE A major state grant marks the beginning of Easthampton’s most ambitious infrastructure overhaul since the 1800s. The Transit and Infrastructure Project will reconstruct Main Street while preserving its historic character, balancing modern safety requirements with architectural heritage. The city can attribute some of the ongoing work that is underway to a long time partnership with VHB that has been delivering engineering expertise across a range of improvement projects. VHB collaborates closely with the city to develop innovative, costeffective design and bidding strategies while assisting in securing funding. VHB has helped with MassDOT coordination, complete streets planning and design, project development, pavement and roadway engineering, right-of-way coordination, environmental permitting, hazardous waste due diligence, bridge design, sewer and water system designs, book job designs, intersection improvements, and construction-phase support. The city has worked collaboratively with VHB on pivotal projects including the Rail Trail and complete street initiatives including Main Street, Ferry Street and other streets throughout the municipality. 137 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 EASTHAMPTON, MA
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