Vision for Easthampton

The Easthampton Development and Industrial Commission has been working on a variety of issues and projects which it believes will positively effect the town's image and economic well-being. In the process of doing so, it has become apparent to the Commission that the town has a wide range of events, activities, natural resources, and citizen-driven initiatives that have the potential to "put the town on the map." If these efforts are better leveraged through coordinated planning they will benefit all of our residents and businesses. The Commission's explorations along those lines have led to the conclusion that such leveraging is best achieved through informed, voluntary citizen input.

To that end, the Commission has explored possible approaches to developing a shared outlook and sense of direction for the town that will encompass all of Easthampton's key constituencies: industry, small business, downtown merchants, restaurateurs, schools, human services and social organizations, municipal services, residents of all ages and income brackets, etc. The Commission has concluded that the best possibilities lie in a broad-based "community visioning process" led by an experienced, professional facilitator.

An increasing number of cities and towns in our area have embarked on this type of process in their efforts to "redirect" or rejuvenate economic bases and downtowns that have suffered severe displacements from shifting markets and labor distributions. Many have been successful, some dramatically although these transformations take time, usually 5 - 10 years or more. Experienced facilitators have developed methodologies which maximize input and a sense of joint ownership within reasonably condensed time-frames. Similar "visioning" exercises are in different stages of activation and implementation in neighboring Holyoke, Northampton, and Amherst.

Easthampton, with its storied past, change-oriented present, and uncertain future, is classically positioned to benefit from such a broad-based visioning process. It has both resource/locational advantages and an inherent energy which are keeping the town and economy going - and which, linked together, have potential for tremendous synergies and community benefit.

With approval from Town Government, the Commission has engaged Walter Cudnohufsky Associates to lead Easthampton in a shared visioning process.