Business View Magazine | June 2019

372 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JUNE 2019 stacking of state programs to bring economic development and mixed-use commercial into our mill district. “That resulted in a $3.5 million public infrastructure grant from the state that was leveraged to $43 million of private investment. That project will put 60,000 square feet of mixed- use commercial space and between 100-150 new residential units on the Easthampton market. It is centered 12 miles from the Mass Pike and Barnes Air National Guard Base with easy access to the five-college area and into Holyoke and Chicopee, where there are large industrial parks. This particular project caps off our mill district, which has four other mills that are mixed-use, including a retail cannabis dispensary, professional offices, and some rentals. It is accessible from the Manhan Rail trail and Millside Park has become a hub of events and activities which has helped attract developers looking at those opportunity zone parcels for mixed-use and light industrial.” BVM: What makes Easthampton attractive as a