FINAL 2019 CEDS Report web optimizedThe regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) does not spell out specific bicycle
and shared use path infrastructure, but it does identify their importance to the region’s economy (page
40).
The Pioneer Valley’s
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
2019 - 2024
Prepared by
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
60 Congress Street, Floor 1
Springfield, MA 01104-3419
June 2019
Funding for this project was provided through a Partnership Planning
Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Economic Development Administration.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Page i
Acknowledgements
This project was funded through a Partnership Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration.
The CEDS Plan for Progress Coordinating Council
Suzanne Beck, Executive Director, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
Debra Boronski, Western MA Regional Director, Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Timothy Brennan, Executive Director, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Ward Caswell, President, Beveridge Family Foundation
Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
Patricia Crosby, Executive Director, MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board
Dianne Fuller Doherty, Building Capacity Consultant
Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Dan Felten, Board of Directors, Northampton Chamber of Commerce
Martha Field, Ph.D., Professor, Economics & Business, Greenfield Community College
Brooks Fitch, Consultant
Thom Fox, Chief People Officer, Giombetti Associates
Jeffrey Hayden, Vice President, Business and Community Services, Holyoke Community College
Samalid Hogan, Regional Director, Western Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
David Howland, Regional Engineer, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Geoff Little, Consultant
Michael Malone, Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, University of Massachusetts/Amherst
Larry Martin, Director of Employment Services and Engagement, MassHire Hampden County Workforce
Board
Terence Masterson, Economic Development Director, City of Northampton
Laura Masulis, Transformative Development Fellow, MassDevelopment
Kevin Maynard, Attorney, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, and Chairman, Leadership Pioneer Valley
Russell Peotter, Advisor, WGBY – 57
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Page ii
Kate Phelon, Executive Director, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
Shayvonne Plummer, Senior Project Manager & Brownfield Coordinator, City of Springfield Office of
Planning and Economic Development
Jessica Roncarati-Howe, Executive Director, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
Christina Royal, Ph.D., President, Holyoke Community College
James Shriver, Chairman, Chamber Energy Coalition, Inc.
Christopher Sikes, Chief Executive Officer, Common Capital
Richard Sullivan, President/CEO, Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
Oreste Varela, Springfield Branch Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration
Mary Walachy, Executive Director, Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
Lora Wondolowski, Executive Director, Leadership Pioneer Valley
David Woods, Consultant
Katie Zobel, President, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
PVPC Staff
Lori Tanner, Senior Economic Development Policy/Analyst
Molly Goren-Watts, Principal Planner/Manager
Allison Curtis, Data Manager and Analyst
Todd Zukowski, GIS/Cartographic Section Manager
Ray Centeno, Graphic/Web Designer
Francesca Cigliano, Data and GIS Intern
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ i
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Purpose of the CEDS ................................................................................................................................. 5
Background and Process ........................................................................................................................... 5
Plan for Progress Coordinating Council ................................................................................................ 5
Outreach and Public Participation ........................................................................................................ 5
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) ................................................................................. 5
EDA Investments in the Region ................................................................................................................. 6
Integration with Other Plans..................................................................................................................... 7
Summary Background ................................................................................................................................. 11
SWOT Analysis............................................................................................................................................. 13
Strategic Action Plan ................................................................................................................................... 23
The Region’s Key Opportunities .......................................................................................................... 24
The Region’s Key Economic Challenges .............................................................................................. 25
CEDS Plan for Progress Goals and Strategies .......................................................................................... 26
Evaluation Framework ................................................................................................................................ 30
Economic Resilience .................................................................................................................................... 44
Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 45
Appendix A: Public Outreach ...................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix B: Summary Background Data .................................................................................................... 53
The People .......................................................................................................................................... 55
The Economy ....................................................................................................................................... 80
The Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................... 92
Appendix C: Committed Projects in the Region ........................................................................................ 105
Appendix D: Business Survey Results ........................................................................................................ 109
Appendix E: Economic Resilience Planning ............................................................................................... 117
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Executive Summary
As a region of 43 vibrant cities and towns that is home to both long-time major employers as well as to
thousands of small businesses, and which is the seat of 13 highly regarded colleges and universities, the
Pioneer Valley has recovered from the recession, is seeing renewed public and private investment, and
has a positive economic outlook. The region is witnessing increased economic activity in its cities and
towns as evidenced by construction activity and successful programs to support education,
entrepreneurship and career development. Unemployment has declined steadily and rapidly since the
recession, in a pattern similar to Massachusetts and the United States overall. However, there is
progress still to be made. Our region must retain its residents and employees by providing abundant
opportunities for education, training, employment and career growth as well as a consistently high
quality of life if the region is to continue to thrive with benefits accruing to all residents.
The Pioneer Valley’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) serves both as a guiding
vision and “blueprint” for the economic growth of the region and as a benchmark with which to
measure growth and success. It outlines long-term goals and strategies in four broad areas: Talent,
Business Development, Infrastructure, and Collaboration & Engagement.
The CEDS Plan for Progress Coordinating Council serves as the region’s “CEDS Committee” and is
designed to help guide the CEDS planning process and implementation. Members are drawn from major
regional stakeholders, such as the regional employment boards, institutions of higher education, and
chambers of commerce, as well as from community leaders and individuals who represent business and
civic interests. The CEDS development process also includes a wide range of public outreach and
participation opportunities, and these and the Coordinating Council’s efforts are supported by the
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission under a planning grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration.
Research and Public Outreach
For this Five-Year CEDS, a review of the region’s demographic and socio-economic trends was conducted
(Appendix B); a range of stakeholders were consulted for their input (Appendix A); and a SWOT analysis
was undertaken to comprehensively assess the state of the economy (p. 13). The region’s strengths are
many and varied, from its location at a major crossroads of southern New England to its 13 colleges and
universities and variety of living options from rural and village life to urban downtowns. The region has
an extremely strong healthcare sector and at the same time fosters numerous small businesses in fields
such as arts, agriculture, technology, and personal services. Many of these businesses, both small and
large, are growing due to the improved national economy, increased local investment, and new business
mentoring programs, presenting significant opportunities. The potential for continuing increased and
improved passenger rail service is another area of opportunity for the region, and growing interest and
investment in energy efficiency and clean energy alternatives bodes well for the Valley.
However, it is critical that attention is paid to weaknesses and threats as well. The Pioneer Valley
remains highly segregated, with low-income residents and communities of color largely separated from
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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moderate- to high-income and “white” population areas. The region’s infrastructure continues to
deteriorate, despite large improvement projects such as the I-91 Viaduct and numerous upgrades and
improvements conducted by individual municipalities. School systems are uneven in quality, and transit
services are insufficient. The population has remained stable, with slight growth only because of
immigration, while at the same time immigrants are not as welcomed as they should be. Land use
policies must be enacted to ensure that more prime farmland and critical natural ecosystems are not
lost to “sprawling” development, Small colleges are at risk of financial troubles, given declining
enrollment and higher costs.
Strategic Action Plan
The strategies in this Five-Year Plan are intended to address the region’s most challenging issues. A new
Action Plan was created with a dozen specific and detailed action steps outlined as priorities. As a theme
throughout these areas, as well as a specific strategy under the Infrastructure goal, economic resilience
is emphasized. A further theme and goal is to incorporate collaboration and engagement in each of the
objectives. See Table 1 for further details on these objectives.
Talent
Facilitate and pursue business and education partnerships that promote career exploration
programs for youth, based on existing models (such as Westfield Education and Business
Alliance).
Implement educational/career programs that present clear pathways for credential attainment,
career mobility, and wage advancement in specific occupational groupings in priority industries.
Improve early childhood education by completing and launching Educare Center in Springfield.
Business Growth and Development
Continue to network business support agencies to achieve a more coordinated and streamlined
system.
Conduct campaign to market our region to visitors, workers, and businesses.
Infrastructure
Advocate for funding to both support and expand current fixed route transit service, e.g. fund
the Regional Transit Authorities in fiscal year 2020 with a base of $90.5 million in state contract
assistance and increase this amount by an automatic inflator each subsequent year.
Complete East-West Rail Study, including potential scenarios including Palmer, Hilltowns, and
Berkshires.
Launch and test north-south pilot rail service to better serve Holyoke, Northampton and
Greenfield. Ensure that pilot services are sufficiently utilized by local residents.
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Complete broadband last mile to all underserved Pioneer Valley communities with the help of
state funding awards.
Expand ValleyBike Share membership and service area to include Chicopee, Hadley and West
Springfield including 22 new bike share stations.
Assist all Pioneer Valley towns with Green Communities designations and implementation of
energy efficiency projects for municipal buildings.
Help at least 75% of Pioneer Valley communities achieve Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness
(MVP) certification from the state.
Collaboration and Engagement
Conduct the above activities with inclusion of all, particularly those most immediately affected
by the outcomes.
Evaluation
The CEDS also provides an evaluation system with which to measure regional progress toward the long-
term goals of the Plan. The 24 evaluation measures together represent all four of the CEDS Plan for
Progress goal areas.
This year, the metrics show mixed outcomes in each of the areas. There have been significant
improvements in high school graduation rates and workforce training, and unemployment has
decreased, as noted above. Gains are still to be made in the levels of early education enrollment;
however this data is from 2017 so recent improvements in early education accessibility have not yet
been accounted for. In terms of the business environment, the number of employers and jobs has
increased slightly; however poverty levels increased, meaning that these improvements have not
extended into all communities yet.
Regarding infrastructure improvements of all types, the greatest challenges remain transit services, road
pavement conditions, and home ownership levels. Other transportation measures have improved, along
with levels of affordable housing and pollution reduction. Income inequality has improved somewhat in
the Hampden county area but not in Hampshire or Franklin counties. On the positive side, local aid from
the state has increased slightly, and leadership program graduation has jumped.
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Introduction
Purpose of the CEDS
The purpose of the CEDS is multifaceted. It is designed to provide key information to communities,
business leaders, nonprofits, regional organizations, civic groups, and other stakeholders for a variety of
uses, as well as to provide a “blueprint” for the economic growth of the region. It is also meant to
address economic resiliency in the face of potential disruptions to the economic base, whether from a
natural disaster or economic downturn. It can be viewed as one of many tools in the region’s economic
development toolkit.
Background and Process
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a regional planning tool that is updated
annually, with a new plan every five years, providing the region with socioeconomic data, background
information on the region, economic development strategies, and benchmarks. The Pioneer Valley
region was designated an Economic Development District (EDD) in 1999 by the U.S. Department of
Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is
the liaison with the EDA.
Plan for Progress Coordinating Council
The Plan for Progress Coordinating Council serves as the region’s “CEDS Committee” and is designed to
help guide the CEDS planning process and implementation. Members are drawn from major regional
stakeholders, such as the regional employment boards, institutions of higher education, and chambers
of commerce, as well as from community leaders and individuals who represent business and civic
interests.
Outreach and Public Participation
The CEDS development process included a wide range of public outreach and participation
opportunities. Details of the findings are included in Appendix A: Public Outreach, and Appendix D:
Business Survey. Over the course of late 2018 and early 2019, input was sought from diverse groups
throughout the EDD communities regarding economic development needs and opportunities. A business
survey was developed and administered to members of two chambers of commerce, and these results
are described in detail in Appendix D. The Economic Development Partners, a group representing
economic interests in the region, meets monthly and addresses topics of immediate concern to
communities and the region. These discussions provided significant insight into the progress of the
region as well as new and ongoing challenges. A statewide Rural Policy Advisory Commission that was
established in 2015 conducted listening sessions in each region of the Commonwealth in 2018, and
results from the Pioneer Valley region session were incorporated into the CEDS.
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC)
The PVPC provides staff support to the Coordinating Council, conducts public outreach, and prepares
the region’s CEDS document. Since 1962, the Commission has been the designated regional planning
body for the Pioneer Valley region, which encompasses 43 cities and towns in the Hampden and
Hampshire county areas. It is the primary agency responsible for increasing communication,
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cooperation, and coordination among all levels of government as well as the private business and civic
sectors in order to benefit the Pioneer Valley region and to improve its residents' quality of life.
Although PVPC is a public sector agency, it is not a direct arm of the federal or state governments.
Rather, it is a consortium of local governments that have banded together under the provisions of state
law to address problems and opportunities that are regional in scope.
EDA Investments in the Region
On an annual basis the Pioneer Valley Economic Development District, as has been designated by the
EDA, solicits proposals from the region for projects that may seek funding under the EDA’s Public Works
Economic Development Program. The region has been successful in prior years in receiving substantial
EDA funding awards for projects that create jobs and stimulate private investment in economically
distressed communities of the Pioneer Valley region. Among these awards and accomplishments are the
following:
The Town of Ludlow was awarded $3.1 million in 2018 for the Riverside Drive Infrastructure
Project at Ludlow Mills, to access a vacant, shovel-ready portion of the property for light
industrial development.
DevelopSpringfield was awarded $1.1 million in 2017 to develop the WorkHub at 77 Maple,
involving restoration of an historic building in Springfield as an incubator for small businesses.
In 2016, Holyoke Community College was awarded $1.55 million for the renovation of the
existing Cubit Building in Holyoke’s Innovation District to establish the Center for Hospitality and
Culinary Excellence, a state-of-the-art workforce training facility.
In 2014, the City of Springfield was awarded $1.3 million for the Springfield Job
Creation/Technical Training Facility, an 11,400-square-foot facility that provides space to
conduct work skills training in the precision manufacturing and construction trades industry.
In 2011, the Holyoke Gas & Electric Company was awarded $2.1 million for hydroelectric
infrastructure improvements that will support the development of the Holyoke Innovation
District anchored by the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center.
In 2011, EDA awarded the Caring Health Center in Springfield $500,000 for a new community
health center in downtown Springfield, in renovated historic buildings.
In 2010, the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund was awarded $500,000 from the EDA
towards a Western Massachusetts Revolving Loan Fund.
In 2008, EDA awarded the City of Northampton and MassDevelopment $750,000 for the Village
at Hospital Hill Business Park, a redevelopment of a former state hospital site.
In 2006, EDA awarded $1.6 million to the City of Holyoke for creation of the Crossroads
Industrial Park Roadway (Kelly Drive).
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Also in 2006, EDA awarded the City of Springfield $1 million for the Memorial Industrial Park II
project adjacent to the Smith and Wesson facilities.
In 2002, Holyoke Health Center and Medical Mall was awarded a $1 million grant by EDA to
complete Phase II of the project.
In 2001, STCC received the EDA’s National Award for Excellence in Urban Economic
Development.
In 1999, the EDA awarded $700,000 for the Latino Professional Office Center in Holyoke.
In the upcoming 12-18 months, the following projects are proposed to potentially pursue EDA Public
Works funds:
Community Project Name Project Type
Total Est.
Project Cost
# Perm.
Jobs
Created
Belchertown Carriage Grove Industrial
Area
Redevelopment of former Belchertown
State School $1 million 50
Chicopee Westover Air Park South Infrastructure improvements for 88-acre
industrial park $6 million 2,000
Chicopee Rivermills at Chicopee
Falls
Redevelopment of brownfields as mixed-
use neighborhood $25 million 50-100
Holyoke South Holyoke
Redevelopment
Commercial, residential and
infrastructure development TBD TBD
Holyoke Whiting Farms Road –
Parcel B
Infrastructure improvements to assist
with commercial development TBD TBD
Holyoke Victory Theater Redevelopment of downtown historic
theater for cultural & commercial uses $43 million TBD
Integration with Other Plans
The 2019 CEDS is coordinated and aligned with a wide range of other recently established regional
plans. Among these are the following:
Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint: A Regional Planning Initiative of the Massachusetts Workforce
Skills Cabinet. Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board and Regional Employment Board of
Hampden County, Inc., 2018. (Note: the Regional Employment Boards are now known as MassHire)
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2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Currently under development by the Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission for the Pioneer Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), to be completed July
2019.
Our Next Future: An Action Plan for Building a Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Pioneer Valley. Pioneer
Valley Planning Commission with support of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Sustainable Communities Initiative Regional Planning Grant Program, 2014.
Pioneer Valley Climate Action and Clean Energy Plan. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission with support
of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Initiative Regional
Planning Grant Program, 2014.
Westover Air Reserve Base Joint Land Use Study. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission with support of
the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, 2018.
A Massachusetts Rural Policy Plan is being prepared by the Governor’s Rural Policy Advisory
Commission, based on research and public input throughout the Commonwealth including the Pioneer
Valley. The plan will be completed in 2019.
These plans were developed by and in conjunction with Plan for Progress partners and have informed
and been informed by the Plan and the annual CEDS updates.
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Summary Background
The Pioneer Valley Region is maintaining steady economic growth amidst an uncertain national and
international economic backdrop. The region’s cities, particularly Springfield, are seeing significant new
investment, including from large new employers including MGM Springfield and the China Railroad
Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), as well as developers revitalizing centuries-old mill buildings or
building new on former brownfields. Other parts of the region are also experiencing a strong period of
growth and business confidence not seen since before the 2008 recession, including downtown
revitalization in several of the region’s smaller population centers. A list of major projects currently
under way in the region can be found In Appendix C. These investments are spurring workforce and
training efforts (such as Holyoke’s recently completed HCC MGM Culinary Institute and the Springfield-
based Gaming Training Institute) as well as tapping greater numbers and quantities of local products and
services.
A recent Baker-Polito Administration-sponsored and supported regional Workforce Development
Blueprint1 involving our region’s Workforce Investment Boards found that the top three industries most
important to the region’s economic success are:
1) Health Care and Social Assistance
2) Educational Services
3) Advanced Manufacturing
Other critical industry sectors are:
Finance and Insurance
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Accommodation and Food Services
Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems
These industry sectors have dominated for about the past two decades, with Agriculture and
Sustainable Food Systems re-emerging and growing with value-added manufacturing processing,
distribution, serving and selling, as well as managing food waste, animal care, and farm and nursery
management. Gaming-related occupations are brand new to the region and expected to remain steady.
The casino and associated hotel and other activities have increased demand for workers in food
preparation and serving, as well.
Cross-industry occupations include:
IT-related
Professional Services
1 Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint: A Regional Planning Initiative of the Massachusetts Workforce Skills
Cabinet. Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board and Regional Employment Board of Hampden County,
Inc., 2018. (Note: the Regional Employment Boards are now known as MassHire)
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Back Office Administrative Support
Logistics and Transportation
Trades
The strategies in this Five-Year Plan are intended to address the region’s most challenging issues. For
instance, the region’s overall population has increased only modestly over the past two decades, and
there is population decline in some of the rural towns. In fact, for the past 25 years, with the exception
of only two years (2002-3) there has been a net out-migration every year from the Pioneer Valley. If not
for in-migration of Puerto Rican residents of the United States and immigration of foreign-born
immigrants from a wide range of countries, the population of our region would have declined overall,
resulting in reduced state and federal funding for education and other services, diminished interest from
potential employers, and a stagnant economy. Additionally, the level of poverty remains high in the
Pioneer Valley, with a rate of 16.3% versus 11.1% for Massachusetts. Poverty is also drastically different
across racial categories. While the overall poverty rate in the region is 16.3%, the poverty rate in the
Hispanic and Latino community is nearly twice that rate, at 38.7%, and the poverty rate is over twice as
high for Black residents as it is for White residents (22.7% and 9.3% respectively). These disparities must
be reduced and eventually eliminated if the region is to experience true economic success.
Socio-economic data and a detailed analysis of the region’s economy is included in Appendix B.
Based on the data from the past decade or more; current public outreach conducted for this report; and
related economic plans at the local, regional and state level, the following SWOT Analysis (Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) examines the region’s economy in depth as a foundation for
the 2019 CEDS goals and objectives.
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SWOT Analysis
The following section analyzes the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats within and facing
the Pioneer Valley region.
Strategic location at the crossroads of southern New England.
Affordable cost structure for businesses and residents alike.
Scenic beauty, historic character, and outdoor recreational resources make the region a highly
desirable place to live, work and play.
Variety of living options from urban and suburban to small-town and secluded rural locations.
Growing number of employers, particularly small enterprises.
Improved high school graduation rates in the urban core.
Coordinated workforce development system with new Pioneer Valley Workforce Development
Blueprint; the Blueprint has state level support and will guide future state investments in
workforce development programs.
Downtown revitalization in region’s economic capital of Springfield. There is new/renewed
interest in downtown Springfield real estate with major new investment and an increased
critical mass downtown including Innovation District (especially Bridge Street) and the South
End (MGM mixed use development).
A diverse range of higher educational institutions, from community colleges to small liberal arts
colleges and large universities.
Increased and improved north-south rail service; new Hartford Rail Line serves Springfield to
New Haven with trains every 45 minutes
Strengths
(Region’s competitive advantages)
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Culture of innovation with a long history of inventions and enterprising activities.
Major new employers – MGM Springfield opened in 2018 with 3,000 employees; the CRRC rail-
car manufacturing plant opened in 2017 and by late 2018 had approximately 240 employees.
Expansion of MassMutual – The company consolidated its headquarters in Springfield, invested
$50 million in improvements, and plans to add 1,500 new jobs within several years.
Major investments in new or expanded facilities by existing employers including U.S. Tsubaki,
HP Hood, Agri-Mark, J. Polep, area universities and colleges, and Baystate Health (see list of
committed projects in Appendix C).
New early education programs are available and being developed. The MGM Head Start Child
and Family Center is a LEED Platinum-certified green building with 20 employees and serves 88
children. Educare Springfield, a nationally recognized pre-school model that is among just 24 of
its kind in the country is slated to open in late 2019.
New tourism draws – MGM Springfield, Dr. Seuss Museum, Gateway City Arts in Holyoke,
Pulaski Park in Northampton, Mill 180 in Easthampton, renovated Basketball Hall of Fame, and
annual additions to Six Flags New England. There have also been increases in attendance at the
Big E, Holyoke Parade, Springfield Museums in general, and the Basketball Hall of Fame as well
as general increases in tourism in the region according to the MA Office of Travel and Tourism.
Downtown revitalization occurring throughout region in addition to the urban core, including
ongoing mill redevelopments in Easthampton; new development in Amherst Center and North
Amherst; and two new residential/mixed use developments and Pulaski Park in Northampton.
Successful Federal Reserve Bank Working Cities Challenge projects in Springfield and Holyoke.
In Springfield, the SpringfieldWORKS program is a collaboration of diverse entities to connect
potential workers with employers as well as training opportunities, while SPARK EforAll Holyoke
is working to help accelerate economic and social impact through entrepreneurship.
Valley Venture Mentors program – The program is extremely successful and has expanded from
a small grassroots nonprofit to an organization with over a thousand community advisors
who’ve provided key assistance to more than two hundred startups. Those startups in turn have
generated more than $50 million in revenue and investment.
Community colleges are increasingly involved and collaborating in workforce training efforts
including Adult Basic Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Broadband has been extended to nearly all communities in the region and is in the process of
reaching the final few rural towns.
Two major military bases in the region: Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee and the Barnes
Air National Guard Base in Westfield employ significant numbers and have a positive economic
impact.
Interstate 91 viaduct through Springfield has been repaired, with improved access ramps.
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Three institutions of higher education have located branches in downtown Springfield in the
past several years, including Cambridge College, UMass, and Bay Path University’s American
Women’s College.
The Holyoke Community College/ MGM Center for Culinary Arts opened in Holyoke in 2018
and serves as a pipeline for future chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, caterers, and culinary instructors
in the region. MGM alone has hired hundreds of culinary staff and food service workers.
Union Station multimodal transportation center and new train stations in Holyoke and
Northampton provide enhanced train and transit services along the Amtrak corridor.
Rapid increase in number of co-working spaces throughout the region.
The Wellspring Cooperative Corporation (WCC) has developed Springfield’s first commercial
hydroponic greenhouse and an upholstery repair business; the businesses serve major
institutions including Baystate Medical Center and UMass.
New England Knowledge Corridor Partnership – this interstate partnership fosters collaboration
across the Massachusetts/Connecticut state line, encompassing the anchor cities of Springfield,
Hartford and New Haven.
Leadership programs are graduating a new generation of community leaders. Programs include
Leadership Pioneer Valley, Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), and local
chamber of commerce programs in Springfield and Holyoke.
New regional bike-share program with electric-assisted bicycles began in five communities:
Springfield, South Hadley, Holyoke, Amherst, and Northampton. It will be expanding into
Easthampton in 2019.
Ludlow Mills redevelopment is well underway, with Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
(formerly HealthSouth), new market-rate housing, planned senior housing, planned Riverside
Drive accessing an available industrial parcel, and the publicly accessible Riverwalk.
Solar photovoltaic installations have increased, both residential and commercial. As more of
the region’s communities are certified as Green Communities, they are using the available state
funding for energy efficiency and solar installations.
Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley offers an ongoing successful program that has
worked with school systems, police departments, and other institutions and individuals.
Successful local agriculture due to good soils, relative lack of pollution.
Successful past and ongoing efforts to eliminate wastewater pollution in Connecticut River.
Significant progress of disaster preparedness planning and municipal vulnerability plan
certification.
Bradley International Airport, the second largest airport in New England, is within an hour of
most Pioneer Valley region communities. The airport offers numerous air carriers and flights
including a transatlantic link to Ireland with connections to Europe. The airport has modernized
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its facilities and increased non-stop flights, resulting in passenger growth of 23% over the past
six years.
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Shortage of educated, skilled workers for the available jobs.
Shortage of local farmworkers to support the local agricultural economy, requiring dependence
on temporary/seasonal immigrants with special visas that are difficult to obtain.
Insufficient support infrastructure for workers, including transit services, childcare, and
housing.
Continued high poverty rates and poor health outcomes, especially in the region’s urban core.
Still-evolving region-wide system of services for businesses including start-ups and
entrepreneurs.
Several urban core schools remain underperforming; graduation rates remain below desired
level.
Continued deterioration of the region’s infrastructure assets including roads and bridges,
public water and sewer lines, wastewater treatment facilities, and historic buildings.
Continued lack of high-speed broadband service in several rural communities (11 in Pioneer
Valley region)
Insufficient public transit services, particularly for older adults, persons with limited incomes,
and people with disabilities that prohibit driving.
Loss of population in some rural areas, particularly where there is limited high-speed internet
service.
Low population growth throughout the region.
Limited inventory of “shovel-ready” industrial land, particularly larger parcels.
Existing land use practices combined with a lack of sufficient water-management infrastructure
makes many communities vulnerable to flooding during and after major storms.
Weaknesses (Region’s relative
competitive disadvantages)
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Energy challenges: limited supply and distribution capacity for natural gas plus relatively high
electricity costs.
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Positive momentum created by a critical mass of growth, investments and interest in region’s
central city of Springfield – “unlike anything seen in decades” according to the region’s business
publication, BusinessWest (December 2018).
Major new employers and expansions with potential for regional job multiplier effects including
enhanced supply chain. Large companies in the region utilize goods and services from numerous
local businesses, and their employees also patronize local businesses.
Pilot of expanded north-south passenger rail service targeted for summer 2019; if the service is
sufficiently utilized after a two-year trial it will become permanent.
New East-West Rail study under way with 31-member advisory committee; the study is due by
the end of 2019.
Real estate market showing signs of growth, including higher numbers of inquiries, showings,
leases and sales.
Burgeoning agriculture and sustainable food systems ecosystem.
Incremental growth of small and medium sized enterprises and emergence of new startups.
Enhanced marketing of the region would draw more visitors, residents and businesses.
The cannabis industry may provide economic benefits to local municipalities and provide jobs.
State-designated and federally approved “Opportunity Zones” offer revitalization potential but
have yet to be utilized.
Pioneer Valley communities that are now state-designated “Green Communities” have access to
state funding to implement energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades.
Expanding network of bicycle and pedestrian routes and trails that contribute to the region’s
attractiveness and livability.
Opportunities (Potential positive
impacts)
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Coordinated policies and investments in areas of land use, economic development, housing and
transportation that can support a dynamic and competitive region.
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Loss of population in rural areas; towns struggling to maintain services and meet budget needs;
deteriorating infrastructure.
Potential for undercounting in 2020 Census.
Loss of prime farmland and forest to solar projects and other forms of development.
Negative impacts of reduced transit services on seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-
income workers.
Effects of import tariffs on local companies, particularly precision manufacturers and others
that provide links in the supply chains of industries affected by steel and aluminum tariffs; and
also including CRRC.
Financial challenges for small liberal arts colleges in New England, recently evidenced locally at
Hampshire College, which is seeking a merger partner.
Cannabis industry could potentially have some negative impacts.
The new gaming industry could potentially have negative impacts such as increased gambling
addiction.
Lack of desired population growth due to intensifying federal controls on immigration.
Antiquated formula for education assistance to public schools and school districts.
Loss of markets for recycled material which, in turn, is depleting a source of local revenue.
Climate change and resulting vulnerabilities that have been linked to Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions, particularly from the transportation sector.
Significant levels of poverty still concentrated in the Pioneer Valley’s urban core.
Threats (Potential negative impacts
from external factors)
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Declining college enrollment which can adversely impact the region’s higher education
institutions, especially the smaller private colleges.
A national opioid epidemic which in Massachusetts has elevated the opioid-related death rate
to surpass the national average with over 23 fatal overdoses for every 100,000 Massachusetts
residents.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Strategic Action Plan
The 2019 CEDS sets forth a vision of:
A strong, innovative, engaging, and vibrant economy and quality of
life that fosters prosperity and sustainability and is driven by
collaborative leadership.
This vision is expressed through four major goal areas, each with its own set of strategies and tangible
action steps to guide the plan’s implementation. In addition, six top priorities for the region are laid out.
All of the strategies are meant to be periodically revised in order to meet the region’s changing
economic needs, conditions, and circumstances. This plan examines the goals and strategies and lays out
new areas of focus as well as a dozen specific action steps for the next five years.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
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The Region’s Key Opportunities
Over the decade encompassing 2015-2025, the Pioneer Valley will steadfastly pursue its most promising
economic opportunities in the following ways:
1) Leverage New Connections That Significantly Enhance the Region’s Economic Competitiveness
Work in concert with government leaders and agencies at all levels, along with the region’s
business and civic sectors, to complete the reconstruction, reactivation and service expansions
along the Pioneer Valley’s principal north-south (Knowledge Corridor) and east-west (Inland
Route) rail corridors to accommodate both passenger and freight traffic.
Simultaneously tackle the remaining “last mile” phase required to build out western
Massachusetts’ new, “middle mile” high-speed broadband network, thereby allowing the
Pioneer Valley to realize the full range of potential economic and job creation benefits while
ensuring a favorable return on this substantial investment of public funds.
2) Lead the Commonwealth’s Clean Energy Transformation While Moving the Region Toward a
Balanced and Diversified Energy Portfolio
Maintain the Pioneer Valley’s efforts to lead multifaceted efforts by the Commonwealth to
significantly reduce our heavy reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the region’s transition to
emerging clean energy sources, broadly employing energy conservation measures and
technologies, and overall fostering the creation of a far more balanced, diversified, reliable and
affordable energy supply portfolio to support the Pioneer Valley and its regional economy. More
specifically, by 2025 strive to achieve parallel goals of: a) realizing over 600 million kWh of new
clean energy generation coupled with a cut of 3.2 metric tons of Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions emanating from Pioneer Valley sources, and b) growing our clean energy industry,
which has approximately 500 establishments and 7,000 workers, as a region-specific initiative
that is consistent with the most recent Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan.
3) Harness the Economic Development Potential of the New England Knowledge Corridor
Realize and tap the impressive and wide range of economic attributes and assets concentrated
in the interstate New England Knowledge Corridor (NEKC) encompassing the Greater Springfield,
Hartford and New Haven metropolitan areas, an economic region which boasts a population of
nearly 3 million; a workforce of more than 1.25 million; 215,000 college students enrolled in 41
colleges and universities; and in excess of 64,000 businesses; thereby making the NEKC the 20th
largest market in our nation. Correspondingly, utilize the NEKC with its combination of
academic power, strategic location, high productivity workforce and innovative talent pool to
elevate the NEKC’s visibility, reputation and combined strength to participate and successfully
compete in a global marketplace where critical mass, thought leadership, workforce talent and
the ability to collaborate are now essential to achieving sustained economic progress.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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The Region’s Key Economic Challenges
Over the decade encompassing 2015-2025, the Pioneer Valley will act to address its most pressing
economic challenges by addressing:
1) Talent Pool and Pipeline Challenges
Pursue a broad array of policy reforms and aggressive program initiatives and interventions that
work together to identify and implement actions that both retain and expand the Pioneer
Valley’s supply of educated, skilled workers by a target of +6% or the equivalent of 25,000
workers, while also striving to mitigate adverse impacts to the region’s higher education,
manufacturing, health care and technology clusters. Critical to this effort is the improvement of
educational outcomes and graduation rates in the region’s public school systems, particularly in
the urban core’s distressed cities.
2) Fragile Infrastructure Systems
Invest and leverage limited federal, state and local financial resources, as well as public-private
partnerships where possible, in order to address and resolve an ever-expanding list of the
region’s critical infrastructure system needs and deficiencies (e.g. roadway, transit, bridge, rail,
water and sewer, etc.). Simultaneously advocate for increased and multi-year infrastructure
funding commitments by the federal and state governments that are at levels of investment
commensurate with maintaining all forms of the Pioneer Valley public infrastructure in a state of
good repair.
3) Retention and Growth of Existing Businesses
Proactively respond to the critical importance of small and mid-sized enterprises to the Pioneer
Valley economy’s strength, vitality and potential for long-term jobs growth by enhancing the
system of business support services provided to them and developing new and more flexible
sources of growth capital. Provide these services in a way that is highly visible, accessible,
coordinated and aligned with the needs of those small and mid-sized firms that demonstrate the
potential to innovate, create and grow. As part of this effort, enhance supply chain and vendor
opportunities for existing Pioneer Valley businesses, with special attention to connections with
new major employers in the region.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
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CEDS Plan for Progress Goals and Strategies
To achieve the Plan’s vision and address its top challenges and opportunities, the CEDS Plan
for Progress sets forth the following four major goals, each of which includes a set of detailed
strategies, with short- and long-term action steps. Plan for Progress implementers will:
Strategy #1: Strengthen Regional Engagement and Coordination in Talent Development Initiatives
Strategy #2: Make the Implementation of High Quality Early Education an Essential Element of the
Region’s Economic Development
Strategy #3: Improve K-12 High School and Vocational School Achievement and Graduation Rates
Strategy #4: Improve Community and Four-Year College Programs and Graduation Rates
Strategy #5: Enhance Career and Workforce Training
Strategy #1: Retain, Attract, and Grow Businesses and Priority Clusters
Strategy #2: Advocate Efficient Regulatory Processes at All Levels of Government
Strategy #3: Market Our Region
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Strategy #1: Enhance High-Tech and Conventional Infrastructure
Strategy #2: Increase Use of Clean Energy to Reduce Business Costs and Improve the Environment
Strategy #3: Enhance Regional Approaches to Public Safety, Public Health and Disaster Resilience
Strategy #4: Develop an Array of Housing Options that Foster Economic Competitiveness
Strategy #5: Revitalize and Protect the Connecticut River and its Watershed
Strategy #1: Foster Equity and Economic Opportunity through Public Policy Decisions, Educational
Opportunities and Advocacy
Strategy #2: Engage, Convene and Collaborate with Diverse Groups to Maximize Regional Success
The 2019 CEDS Five-Year Action Plan designates a limited number of prioritized action steps,
identified in Table 1.
Table 1: A Dozen Top Objectives for 2019-2024
Goal Area Project Time Frame –
Short or Long-Term
Lead Implementers
Infrastructure/
Transportation
Advocate for funding to both support and expand current
fixed route transit service, e.g. fund the Regional Transit
Authorities in fiscal year 2020 with a base of $90.5 million in
state contract assistance and increase this amount by an
automatic inflator each subsequent year.
Short-Term: By 2020 Regional Transit Authorities
Regional Planning Agencies
MassDOT
Business
Growth
Continue to network business support agencies to achieve a
more coordinated and streamlined system.
Medium-Term: By
2022
MA Small Business Development Center
Valley Venture Mentors
EDC of Western Massachusetts
EforAll Holyoke
Talent
Facilitate and pursue business and education partnerships
that promote career exploration programs for youth, based
on existing models (such as Westfield Education and Business
Alliance).
Long-Term: By 2024 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Davis Foundation
MassHire agencies
Infrastructure/
Transportation
Complete East-West Rail Study, including potential scenarios
including Palmer, Hilltowns, and Berkshires.
Short-Term: By 2020 MassDOT with Advisory Council
Infrastructure/
Transportation
Launch and test north-south pilot rail service to better serve
Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield. Ensure that pilot
services are sufficiently utilized by local residents.
Short-Term: By 2021 MassDOT
Trains in the Valley
EDC of Western MA
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Business
Growth
Conduct campaign to market our region to visitors, workers,
and businesses.
Short-Term: By 2021 EDC of Western Massachusetts
Greater Springfield Convention and
Visitors Bureau
Hampshire County Regional Tourism
Council
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Goal Area Project Time Frame –
Short or Long-Term
Lead Implementers
Talent
Implement educational/career programs that present clear
pathways for credential attainment, career mobility, and
wage advancement in specific occupational groupings in
priority industries.
Short-Term: By 2020 Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet
Regional partners
MassHire agencies
Colleges
Talent
Early childhood education – Complete and launch Educare
Center in Springfield.
Short-Term: By 2020 Davis Foundation
City of Springfield
Infrastructure/
Communication
Complete broadband last mile to all underserved Pioneer
Valley communities with the help of state funding awards.
Short-Term: By 2021 Massachusetts Broadband Institute
Municipalities
Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Infrastructure/
Energy
Expand ValleyBike Share membership and service area to
include Chicopee, Hadley and West Springfield including 22
new bike share stations.
Short-Term: By 2021 Municipalities
UMass Amherst
Pioneer Valley Metropolitan Planning
Organization
Infrastructure/
Energy
Assist all Pioneer Valley towns with Green Communities
designations and implementation of energy efficiency
projects for municipal buildings.
Medium-Term: By
2022
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Municipalities
Infrastructure/
Disaster
Resilience
Help at least 75% of Pioneer Valley communities achieve
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) certification
from the state.
Short-Term: By 2021 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Municipalities
Designated lead implementers for each of the objectives above will develop or follow their own detailed plans. Funding sources and methods
will be determined by the entities involved.Page 29
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Evaluation Framework
Summary
The CEDS Plan for Progress Performance Indicators are a set of quantitative benchmarks that assist in
identifying economic trends and measuring progress towards the goals of the Pioneer Valley Plan for
Progress. In order to provide a highly objective, measurable method of accountability, this quantitative
system complements the qualitative assessments discussed above. The system does not attempt to
evaluate current year statistics in isolation (e.g. judging whether a specific unemployment rate is “good”
or “bad”), but rather looks at changes over time and the general trend, indicating whether a situation is
improving or not (e.g. observing whether the unemployment rate is increasing or decreasing).
This evaluation section includes a chart of all performance indicators with the current and previous data
as well as the percent change in data and the rating that this change warranted. Following this chart is a
list of all the performance indicators organized by strategy grouping with a summary of the data and
data source for each indicator.
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Rating Scale
Each indicator was assigned a rating of positive, negative, or neutral, based on the most recent annual
trend in the data available. Once benchmark data was collected for the most recent year available,
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) staff calculated percentage changes from one year prior (or
the most recent previous year possible if prior year data is not available). An improvement of at least
one percent is considered a positive trend, while a decline of at least one percent is considered a
negative trend. Between one percent improvement and a one percent decline is considered a neutral
trend.
Positive Trend
More than a 1% change in a positive direction.
Neutral Trend
Less than a 1% change in any direction.
Negative Trend
More than a 1% change in a negative direction
Regional Geography
Because we are partnering with our neighbors to the north in Franklin County on these indicators,
ratings for each indicator represent the current trend for the greater Pioneer Valley which includes
Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. This evaluation section includes a chart of all performance
indicators with the current and previous data as well as the percent change in data and the rating that
this change warranted. Following this chart is a list of all the performance indicators organized by major
goal area with a summary of the data and data source for each indicator.
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Goal #1: Develop and maintain a globally competitive and regionally engaged talent pool.
Measure Indicator Prior Data Year
Current
Data Year
Annual
Change Rating
Early Education Enrollment Enrollment In Early Education/Preschool Programs
For 3 &4 Year Olds 52.9% 2016 50.4% 2017 -4.7%
3rd Grade Reading Proficiency MCAS 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency 49.80% 2014 NA NA
no
trend
High School Graduation Rate 5 Year High School Graduation Rate 82.52% 2016 90.41% 2017 9.6%
Community College Graduates # Of Graduates From Community Colleges in
Region
2,153 2017 1,800 2018 -1.6%
Educational Attainment Of
Workforce % Of Workforce 25 And Older With 4 Year Degree 31.7% 2016 32.8% 2017 3.6%
Workforce Training Participation # Of People Served By Workforce Training
Programs
7,836 FY2017
8,056 FY2018 2.8%
Unemployment Unemployment Rate 4.4% 2017 4.0% 2018 -9.1%
Goal #2: Foster an environment where established, new, and growing businesses and organizations thrive
Measure Indicator Prior Data Year
Current
Data Year
Annual
Change Rating
Employers Total Establishments 25,549 2016 25,614 2017 0.3%
Jobs Total Jobs 297,871 2016 300,482 2017 0.9% l
Sites Ready For Development # Of Pre-Permitted Sites 7 2016 6 2019 -14.3%
Low Income and Poverty % Of Population With Income Below 200% Of
Poverty Line 30.9% 2016 31.3% 2017 1.4%
Notes: *Road Pavement Conditions only include Hampshire and Hampden Counties. Comparable data not available for Franklin County.
Income Inequality is measured by the Gini coefficient and ranges from 0 to 1. Numbers closer to one indicate more income inequality
Continued on next page.
Pioneer Valley Plan for Progress Performance Indicators - Pioneer Valley (3 Counties)
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Goal #3: Implement and enhance the infrastructure that connects, sustains, and ensures the safety and resiliency of the regio n and its
economy.
Measure Indicator Prior Data Year
Current
Data Year
Annual
Change Rating
High Speed Internet % Of Communities/Population With Access To
Broadband/High Speed Internet (25 MPS Download) 94.04 2016 94.96 2017 0.5% l
Bridge Conditions # Of Structurally Deficient Bridges 97 2015 95 2018 2.1%
Road Pavement Conditions**
Overall Condition Index (OCI) 77.6 2011 65.6 2015 -3.9%
Bike Infrastructure Completed Bike Facility Mileage 104.3 2018 112.8 2019 8.2%
Transportation + Housing Costs Combined Transportation And Housing Costs As A
Percent Of Income N/A N/A 52%
2008-
2012 NA
no
trend
Affordable Housing # Of Communities Meeting 10% Affordable Housing
Threshold 8 2017 9 2018 12.5%
Home Ownership % Of Housing Units That Are Owner Occupied 63.62% 2016 61.69% 2017 -3.0%
Combined Sewer Overflow
Reductions
Total # Of CSOs Feeding Into The CT River Or Its
Tributaries 59 2016 57 2018 -3.4%
Goal #4: Conduct economic development activities in a regionally responsible manner, prioritizing collaboration and engagemen t.
Measure Indicator Prior Data Year
Current
Data Year
Annual
Change Rating
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Gini Coefficient Of Income Inequality
Hampden County 0.452 2016 0.489 2017 8.1%
Hampshire County 0.464 2016 0.437 2017 -5.7%
Franklin County 0.463 2016 0.453 2017 -2.0%
State Funding - Non-School Local
Aid
Statewide Non-School Local Aid Per Capita That
Goes To The Region $232.46 FY2018 $240.91 FY2019 3.6%
Leadership Program Participation # Of Graduates From All Leadership Programs In The
Region 85 2017 97 2018 14.1%
Registered Voters Voter Participation Rates 85.26% 2016 84.48% 2018 -0.5%
Pioneer Valley Plan for Progress Performance Indicators (Continued) - Pioneer Valley (3 Counties)
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2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Goal #1: Develop and Maintain a Globally Competitive and Regionally Engaged
Talent Pool
Early Education Enrollment
Early childhood education helps provide the opportunities necessary for
positive development at this young and critical age. It is now supported
by extensive research that a high quality early childhood education
experience has significant long-term effects on a person’s life outcomes
ranging from their achievement in K-12 school, their economic success,
or the probability that they will be involved in the juvenile justice system.
Early childhood education is now recognized as a critical early phase of the cradle-to-career
pipeline that takes a comprehensive, long-term view of workforce and economic development.
The percent of all 3- and 4-year olds who are enrolled in any type of formal early education
program (public, private, family child care, center-based preschool) is examined in this indicator.
Between 2016 and 2017 the percent of children enrolled in early childhood education programs
decreased at a rate of 4.7% across the Pioneer Valley. Hampden county saw a decrease of
13.4%, while in Franklin County, the percentage decreased by nearly 55%. Hampshire County
saw an increase in 34.5%.
It is important to note that these data points are estimates based on a sample of the population,
and there are margins of error associated with them. In this particular case, the margins of error
for all three counties are particularly large, so it’s quite possible that, while there was likely a
decrease in enrollment in Hampshire and Hampden Counties, and an increase in Franklin
County, it was not necessarily of the dramatic extreme that these estimates suggest.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year-Estimates
3rd Grade Reading Proficiency
In an educational environment increasingly requiring quantitative
measures of achievement and accountability, scores from standardized
tests are used to “identify the strengths and weaknesses in curriculum
and instruction” at the local level and to hold schools and school districts
accountable with respect to “established standards for performance for
districts that improve or fail to improve student academic performance.”*
Educational development standards indicate that students should be able to read proficiently by
the end of third grade, that is, have a wide vocabulary, comprehend, write logically, speak
coherently, read fluently and understand different types of texts. Beginning in fourth grade, all
these skills are necessary for them to progress with more challenging work.
Previously, the percent of all children in the third grade who received a score of “proficient” or
higher on the MCAS English language arts test was used to reflect early literacy skills achieved
during formal early childhood education. However, to further align testing with Common Core
Standards, in 2015 the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education began
administering a new test called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and
Careers (PARCC). This transition from MCAS to PARCC is an ongoing process. Although many
school districts are now using this test, some are continuing to use an updated version of the
MCAS, which includes only some elements of the PARCC. These changes make data difficult to
compare not only from year-to-year but also between communities. Thus, this indicator is not
included for this year, but will be included in future reports.
** In 2014, some third-grade students in the region took the PARCC test rather than the MCAS test. Only MCAS score results are presented in this report (thus, the sample size
in 2014 is smaller than it is for 2013.)
Source: MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Trend Rating
-4.7%
Trend Rating
Trend Data
Not Available
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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High School Graduation Rate
High school graduation rates are a vital component in assessing the
status of individuals and communities because educational attainment
has a strong influence on future work and earning potential as well as
the ability to constructively contribute to one’s community. Graduating
from high school has become a minimum requirement for participation
in most of our nation’s economy. The percent of all students enrolled in
grades nine through twelve who graduate within 5 years or less is measured in this indicator.
The rate is adjusted for students who transfer in or out of the schools, and thus measures only
those students who began at a given school and graduated from that same school.
Across the region, there was an increase of 9.6 percent in graduation rates between 2016 and
2017. All three counties experienced an increase in graduation rate. The urban core cities of
Springfield and Holyoke experienced an increase of 17.9% and 25.4%, respectively.
Source: MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Community College Graduates
Most of today’s well paying jobs require a credential beyond a high
school degree. Associate’s degrees and/or certificates are the most
accessible and promising route to a job with a living wage and a
genuine career path for many. This indicator measures the number of
people in the who complete an associate's degree in a given academic
year at one of the three community colleges in the region - Greenfield
Community College, Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community
College.
Between 2017 and 2018 the number of community college graduates in the Pioneer Valley
decreased by about 1.6%.
Source: Directors of Institutional Research at Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College, Greenfield Community College
Educational Attainment of the Workforce
Higher education is increasingly necessary for long-term access to well-
paying jobs. The extent of educational attainment, therefore, is
indicative of a population’s ability to function and excel economically
and an individual’s economic and social opportunities in life. While two-
year associate’s degrees meet the needs of many positions, the
bachelor’s degree is rapidly becoming a requirement for even some
entry-level positions. Because a solid educational background, typically achieved during high
school, is a prerequisite for getting a bachelor’s degree, this indicator also measures a
community’s ability to prepare their children for college. This indicator measures the percent of
the population over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Across the region, attainment of bachelor’s degrees remained fairly neutral, increasing slightly
from 31.7% to 32.8% between 2016 and 2017. Hampden County and Hampshire County
experienced increases of 3.2% and 3.3% respectively, while Hampshire County experienced an
increase of 6.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year-Estimates
Trend Rating
9.6%
Trend Rating
-1.6%
Trend Rating
3.6%
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Workforce Training Participation
Not all jobs require a bachelor’s degree to be effective, and not all
bachelor’s degrees teach the specific skills that each job requires.
People switch careers later in life and need specific training to learn
skills that will support that shift. The Plan for Progress recognizes that
a robust pipeline to a skilled workforce involves training people at all
levels of skill and experience for a wide variety of jobs. This indicator
evaluates the level of participation in programs that train people with specific skills to prepare
them for jobs in the workforce. Data includes the number of people who take part in job skills
training programs through the MassHire Workforce Boards or one of the three community
colleges within the region. The majority of these are non-credit courses through the community
colleges.
Between FY2017 and FY2018, the number of participants in workforce training programs
increased from 7,836 to 8,056, or about 3 percent. Hampshire and Franklin counties
experienced a small decline while Hampden County had a larger increase.
Note: Data is aggregated by fiscal year, and some duplication of totals is possible as the workforce boards and colleges may have
the same students.
Source: MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board, MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Unemployment
The unemployment rate, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not
have a job (the labor force is the sum of those who have a job and
those who are looking for a job). Unemployment rates are frequently
used to report on the state of the economy: a high unemployment rate
can indicate a shrinking economy. Furthermore, unemployment rates
give an idea of the portion of a community’s population that is financially insecure because they
do not have a job. It should be noted that because unemployment rates are calculated based on
a percentage of the people who are looking for work, it is actually an undercount of the total
number of unemployed people who may actually wish to be employed. The unemployment rate
does not include people who left the official labor force. This too is a significant factor as it
underscores the growing portion of the population who are no longer considered employable for
any number of reasons.
The unemployment rate in the Pioneer Valley was stable between 2017 and 2018 with none of
the three counties experiencing an uptick in unemployment. In the urban core, the
unemployment rate in both Springfield and Holyoke dropped 0.3% and 0.5% respectively.
Source: MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Trend Rating
2.8%
Trend Rating
-9.1%
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Goal #2: Foster an Environment Where Established, New, and Growing
Businesses and Organizations Thrive
Employers
Another method of measuring the strength of an economy and the
opportunities within it is to count the total number of employer
businesses that exist. When an economy is strong, there are
appropriate economic development supports, and when confidence is
high, existing businesses are more likely to stay operating and within
the region. What’s more, businesses from outside of the region are
more likely to relocate here, and local entrepreneurs are more likely to start to grow a business.
This indicator measures the total number of establishments in the area that have more than one
employee.
Between 2016 and 2017, the Pioneer Valley region saw an increase of 65 employers,
representing a rate of growth of 0.3%. While all three counties in the region experience similar
trends, the largest area of growth was in Franklin County. Holyoke was also somewhat strong
with a growth rate of 1.1%. As a note, these numbers do not represent the introduction of the
MGM Casino in Springfield, as they only take into account employers added up until 2017.
Source: MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Jobs
In addition to measuring the number of employers supported by an
economy, measuring the total number of jobs reflects the size and
strength of those employers. It gives perspective on the number of
employment opportunities that exist within the region. Additionally, the
number of jobs can add nuance to unemployment rates. For example,
increased unemployment coinciding with increased jobs may suggest
that a larger portion of the employment opportunities are part time and people are working
multiple jobs at the same time rather than more people getting full time jobs. This indicator
measures the total number of jobs that exist in an area.
Between 2016 and 2017, the Pioneer Valley saw a slight increase in the number of jobs by
0.9%. This trend was seen in each county, with all three experiencing slight increases in the
number of jobs throughout the year. Hampshire County saw the highest increase at 1.7%
Source: MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Properties Ready for Development
A critical component to a region’s economic competitiveness is
whether vacant commercial properties are available and ready to be
used by companies who may want to grow within, or move to, the
area. If properties are polluted or have buildings that need to be
demolished, the likelihood of new employer prospects choosing that
site are significantly diminished. This indicator measures the number
of commercial properties that are pre-permitted by WestMass Area Development Corporation
and are ready for occupancy.
Between 2017 and 2019, the number of sites ready for development in the Pioneer Valley
dropped by one. All pre-permitted sites are located in Hampden County in Ludlow and
Chicopee.
Source: WestMass Development Corporation
Trend Rating
0.3%
Trend Rating
0.9%
Trend Rating
-14.3%
2019 Pioneer Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Low Income and Poverty
Poverty rates are an important indicator of what portion of a
community’s population likely lacks the necessary resources to provide
for themselves or their families. The most widely used measure of
poverty is the federal poverty rate, which is the percentage of all people
who are living in households with incomes that fall below the federal
poverty line. The poverty line is established based on the current cost
of basic goods and services (such as food, housing, transportation, and other goods and
services), and what proportion of family income is spent on those items. While the threshold is
adjusted over time and is dependent on family size and ages of family members, it is
increasingly thought to understate the extent of poverty. The threshold in 2016 was $15,569 for
a two person household – a very low level of income given that a low-cost one-bedroom
apartment in western Massachusetts will typically rent for more than $8,800 per year.
Because the federal poverty line is so low and generally misses a large portion of the population
who are in economic distress, this indicator measures the percentage of the population living
below 200% of that line. Poverty rates are calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau based on the
income and number of people in each household.
Slightly less than one out of every three people in the Pioneer Valley live in households with
incomes below 200% of the poverty line (31.3%). The region saw a slight increase in the
number of these households in comparison to 2016 (30.9%). Hampden and Franklin Counties
saw growth in the number of these households, whereas Hampshire County saw a decrease of
12.7%. This may be connected to the growth in the number of employers noted above in
Hampshire County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year-Estimates
Goal #3: Implement and Enhance the Infrastructure that Connects, Sustains and
Ensures the Safety and Resiliency of the Region and its Economy
High Speed Internet
Without a modern, high quality network of infrastructure, a region
cannot sustain economic activity, retain its students and workers, or
attract visitors, tourists and investment. High-speed internet access has
become a core requirement for economic development well beyond
technology and business fields. It is now an expected service for most
businesseses, governments, and educational institutions, even for
activities like elementary school homework. This indicator measures the percent of the
population with access to high speed internet, as defined by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). In 2015, the FCC increased the download speed standard for broadband,
which is now 25/3Mbps.
Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of the population with access to high-speed internet
remained stable, increasing just 1% (from 94.04 to 94.96%). This rate is just under the
Massachusetts state average of 97.8%.
The FCC recently updated their standards and calculations on this measure. These new
standards are not easily comparable to previous measures. For this reason, there is only trend
data available between the years of 2016 and 2017.
Source: Federal Communications Commission Fixed Broadband Deployment. Released June 2017.
Trend Rating
1.4%
Trend Rating
1.0%
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Bridge Conditions
Safe and efficient transportation of people and goods are essential to
an economically vibrant region. The network of roads and bridges must
continue to be developed and maintained as both are degraded by use
and weather over time. Bridges are considered structurally deficient
through a rating system developed by the Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). A bridge is deemed
“structurally deficient” when it scores poorly on “structural adequacy, functional obsolescence
and serviceability” by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Since
2008, MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program sought to identify and reduce the number of
structurally deficient bridges across the state, several of which are located across the Pioneer
Valley. This indicator measures the total number of bridges deemed structurally deficient within
the region. The data was only available for bridges eligible for federal aid.
Since the last report in 2015, the number of structurally deficient bridges has decreased slightly.
In 2015, 100 bridges were noted as being deficient, whereas in 2018 there were 95, a 5%
decrease.
Source: MassDOT
Road Pavement Conditions
Similar to bridge maintenance, quality of road pavement conditions
affect freight deliveries, tourism, and daily commuters. Road pavement
conditions are measured using the Overall Condition Index (OCI). While
the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission collects data for all 43
municipalities in the region, the Franklin Regional Council of
Governments conducts a survey of road conditions in Franklin County
using a different system. Thus, a comparison between the two areas is not possible. OCI values
span from 0 to 100, where zero indicates that the road is impassable and 100 indicates that a
road in excellent condition. Average OCIs are computed for each community for the total
number of miles of road eligible to receive federal aid.
Most recently, data was collected for the Pioneer Valley Region (Hampden & Hampshire
Counties) in 2011 and again in 2015. During this time, pavement conditions across the Pioneer
Valley region worsened by an average of 3.9% annually. Trends were fairly similar in both
counties, though the decrease was more significant in Hampden County which experienced an
average annual drop of 4.4 percent. This data is collected and reported on over a four year
period. The next available data will be in 2019.
Source: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Transit Ridership
Public transit use and access directly reflect the degree to which a
regional transit network and its corresponding schedules meet the
needs of residents, workers, and employers. An effective public transit
system with extensive, regular ridership decreases traffic and travel
times, reduces pollution, and creates desirable places to live and work
for a diverse area of people. People who cannot afford cars or would
rather not drive them on a regular basis are more likely to live near extensive and efficient public
transit networks. In this scenario, businesses are also more accessible to employees and
Trend Rating
-5.0%
Trend Rating
-3.9%
Trend Rating
-4.5%
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customers. This indicator measures the total annual rides on the two major transit authorities
within the region (PVTA and FRTA) as well as Amtrak trains that service the region.
Between FY2016 and FY2017, ridership decreased significantly by 5.9%. Both bus and train
ridership decreased, although the decrease in bus ridership was much more pronounced at an
almost 6% reduction. This is a nationwide trend, but in the Pioeer Valley in particular, this
decrease is similar to all transit agencies in the Northeast, with likely causes including
Uber/Lyft, lower unemployment, and cheaper car loans.
Source: Amtrak, Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), and Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)
Bike Infrastructure
Bicycling is generally regarded as one of the most efficient means of
transportation, both for the user and the environment at large. Providing
and continually extending bicycle-friendly paths can assist communities
improve connectivity between destinations, provide transportation
options to all users, and reduce transportation impacts on the
environment. The availability of bicycle transportation is also an
important factor in individual health outcomes. This indicator measures the total number of miles
of on and off-road improved bike facilities. 'Bike facilities' is a broad term that encompasses
sign-posted in-road bike routes, bike lanes, shared use paths and paved bike shoulders.
There has been a steady increase in bike infrastructure, averaging annually to about 3.2%. In
2013, a total of 84.7 miles of bike facilities existed across the Pioneer Valley. Since that time,
many proposed bike facilities have been built, and the total has increased to about 113 miles.
Source: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, MassGIS
Transportation & Housing Costs
Transportation and housing are generally the two most significant
expenses for households. As a result, a region’s affordability is
increasingly being examined specifically based on the cost of these two
major domains. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) has developed a method of examining these
factors in relation to income by comparing these combined average
expenses as a percent of household incomes. This measure is called
the Location Affordabilty Index (LAI). For this indicator, the average household contains four
people, two of whom commute.
The LAI is not calculated annually, and the most recent data was published in 2012 based on
Census data from 2008-2012. At that time, an average four person household with two
commuters in the Pioneer Valley spent about 52% of the household's income on housing and
transportation costs.
New data is expected to be released later in 2019.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Location Affordability Index
Affordable Housing
The economic competitiveness of a region depends on the ability of
workers of all income levels to find reasonably affordable housing. The
state’s Comprehensive Permit Law, alternatively called “Chapter 40B”
was adopted in 1969 to address racial and economic segregation,
shortages in decent housing, inner city poverty, and exclusionary
zoning practices in suburban and rural communities. It compels
Trend Rating
8.2%
Trend Rating
Trend Data
Not Yet
Available
Trend Rating
12.5%
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communities to have at least 10 percent of all housing set aside as affordable housing that is
protected by long-term affordability restrictions. Communities below 10 percent must allow a
streamlined process for proposed housing developments on the condition that 25 percent or
more of the proposed units are reserved for low or moderate income households. This indicator
measures the percent of all housing units in a community that are designated as subsidized
housing units. Not included in this indicator is housing that is affordable, but does not have
established long-term affordability restrictions attached to the property.
In 2018, there were eight communities in the Pioneer Valley that met this requirement, including
many of the larger municipalities. For 2019, there were nine communities.
Source: MA Department of Housing and Community Development, Subsidized Housing Inventory
Home Ownership
Home ownership is a significant indicator of economic security. The
primary financial investment for the vast majority of people in the U.S.
is their home. Home ownership strengthens communities by building
a strong connection between people and the place they live.
However, the downside of a high owner-occupancy rate is that rental
options for young, old, or transitional populations are limited. A lack of
rental options, often supported by local zoning regulations, can also help to perpetuate socio-
economic segregation throughout the region. Home ownership is expressed as the percent of all
housing units that are occupied by the property’s owner. This indicator measures the
percentage of housing units (including condominiums, apartments, houses, and mobile homes)
that are occupied by the owner, as opposed to a renter. The American Community Survey
collects and analyzes this data, and provides estimates on an annual basis.
The percent of owner-occupied housing units in the Pioneer Valley decreased slightly from to
63.6% in 2016 to 61.7%. The percent of homeowners actually grew in Hampshire County by
4.5%, whereas it decrased in both Hampden and Franklin Counties by 6% and 0.3%
respectively. In the urban core, Holyoke decreased by 2.3% while Springfield declined by 1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year-Estimates
Combined Sewer Overflows
Ordinarily, storm water is sent to a wastewater treatment plant before it
is emptied to a river. However, during high rainfall events, treatment
plants may not be able to process all wastewater. Combined sewer
overflows (CSOs) were built as a way to deal with this excess
wastewater, essentially bypassing the treatment plant. However, the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is
working to reduce the amount of active CSOs across the state in an effort to reduce water
pollution. MassDEP’s Western Regional Office maintains a list of active CSOs within the region.
Between 2016 and 2016, the number of CSOs draining to the Connecticut River or its tributaries
fell from 59 to 57, for an average decrease of 3.4% per year. Both of the CSOs that were
removed were located in the City of Chicopee. All remaining CSOs within the region are located
throughout Hampden County.
Source: MA Department of Environmental Protection
Trend Rating
-3.0%
Trend Rating
-3.4%
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Goal #4: Conduct Economic Development Activities in a Regionally Responsible
Manner, Prioritizing Collaboration and Engagement
Income Inequality
In addition to educational, employment, poverty,
transportation, and housing indicators, the overall level
of economic inequality has important economic
development implications. A community with lower
levels of economic inequality is more likely to have
economic and social stability at a community-wide
level. Income inequality is a good way to provide a
snapshot of how income is distributed throughout a
region. The Gini Coefficient is one way to measure a
region’s level of inequality. This indicator is a measure
of how income is or is not equally distributed through a
particular area. The Gini Coefficient is measured on a
scale of 0 to 1, where 0 is complete equality and 1 is
complete inequality.
This particular indicator does not allow calculating income inequality across the entire Pioneer
Valley in a reliable way, but rates are available within each county area. Between 2016 and
2017, income inequality decreased 5.7% across Hampshire County and 2.0% across Franklin
County. Inequality grew in Hampden County by about 8.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year-Estimates
State Funding - Non-School Local Aid
Local aid provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to
municipalities is a significant source of budget revenue. While much of
this aid provides funding for the local school system, it also funds
veterans benefits, public libraries and general community programming.
Municipalities track their funding on ‘Cherry Sheets’ which are
maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Total non-school local aid increased 3.6% in the Pioneer Valley between FY2018-FY2019.
Increases occurred across all three counties in the region, with Hampden County experiencing
the largest increase of 4.6%. Hampshire experienced a more modest increase of 4.6% and
Franklin’s rate stayed the same.
Source: MA Department of Revenue
Leadership Programs
A key strategy of the Plan for Progress is to ensure the development
and mentorship of a new generation of collaborative, diverse,
professional and civically engaged leaders who will ensure that the
future of the Pioneer Valley continues to be bright. The region has a
few specific programs designed for supporting this type of leadership.
This indicator measures the total number of graduates from all
leadership programs within the region, including the Women’s Fund of Western
Massachussetts, Leadership Pioneer Valley, Leadership Holyoke which is run by the Holyoke
Chamber of Commerce, and the Springfield Leadership Institute which is run by the Springfield
Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Western New England College of Business.
County Trend Rating
Hampden
County 8.1%
Hampshire
County -5.7%
Franklin
County -2.0%
Trend Rating
3.6%
Trend Rating
14.1%
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The number of graduates from these leadership programs increased by 14.1% between 2017
and 2018.
Source: Leadership Pioneer Valley, Springfield Leadership Institute, Leadership Holyoke
Active Voters
Voter registration is one method to measure the level of citizen
engagement in the political process and the civic concerns of their
community. Low voter registration rates can be interpreted in many
ways. Some argue that low voter registration rates reflect a citizenry’s
lack of interest in the political process, a disconnection between citizen
and government, and a sentiment that participation does not affect
outcomes. Another interpretation of low voter registration is that this trend reflects a citizenry
that is satisfied with the status quo. Language and educational barriers also influence voter
registration rates by inhibiting participation. Voter registration rates are, in some ways, a better
indicator of civic participation than voter turnout rates because the former do not reflect as much
year-to-year variation based on the issues or elections on the ballot. This indicator measures
the total number of registered voters divided by the total population over the age of 18, which
approximates the voter registration rate.
Between 2016 and 2018, the voter registration rate decreased slightly, from 85.3% in 2016 to
84.5% in 2018. Decreases occurred across all three counties in the region.
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year-Estimates
Trend Rating
-0.5%
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Economic Resilience
The Economic Development Administration CEDS guidance points out that “it is becoming increasingly
apparent that regional economic prosperity is linked to an area’s ability to prevent, withstand, and
quickly recover from major disruptions (i.e., ‘shocks’) to its economic base.” The CEDS is meant to
address three aspects of disruptions: 1) the ability to withstand a shock, 2) the ability to recover quickly
from a shock, and 3) the ability to avoid the shock altogether. Again, as the EDA indicates, shocks and
disruptions to the economic base of a region are manifested in several ways:
Downturns or other significant events in the national or international economy which reduce
demand for locally produced goods and consumer spending;
Downturns in particular industries that constitute a critical component of the region’s economic
activity; and/or
Other external shocks such as a natural or man-made disaster, closure of a military base, exit of
a major employer, or the impacts of climate change.
The Pioneer Valley Region is engaging in numerous initiatives to protect its communities from shocks
and disruptions to the economy. A detailed assessment of activities under way in the region is included
in Appendix E.
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Appendices
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Appendix A: Public Outreach
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This Appendix details the public outreach process conducted for the 2019-2014 Pioneer Valley CEDS.
CEDS Committee
The CEDS Committee, called the Coordinating Council, meets six times a year and is open to the public.
Membership is comprised of representatives from public, private and civic sector entities and is
periodically re-evaluated, with new members recruited from major new businesses or from
organizations that are growing or evolving. Each year, issues of the highest concern for our region are
addressed and monitored by the Council. For the 2019 CEDS Five-Year Plan, a draft of the SWOT analysis
and the new objectives and action strategies was distributed in early March 2019 and discussed at the
Council’s March 20, 2019 meeting. A full draft of the CEDS was provided on May 1, 2019 for a 30-day
public review period, during which Coordinating Council members also provide feedback both at their
regular May 15th meeting and via email or other means.
CEDS Goals and Strategies addressed by the Committee this year (2018-19) included:
Develop and Maintain a Globally Competitive and Regionally Engaged Talent Pool – The
Coordinating Council heard from and talked with Dr. John Cook, President of Springfield
Technical Community College (STCC), regarding the many ways in which STCC is implementing
goals of the CEDS Plan for Progress while fulfilling its mission as a community resource.
As part of these same goals, the Coordinating Council hosted a visit with implementers of the
Westfield Education to Business Alliance, a partnership of the Greater Westfield Chamber of
Commerce and the Westfield Public School District that is helping students learn about career
and employment opportunities in the region and helping employers find talented and qualified
employees.
Enhance Regional Approaches to Public Safety, Public Health and Disaster Resilience – The
Coordinating Council spoke with the Co-Chairs of the Public Health Trust Fund established by the
Massachusetts Gaming Commission about the economic and social impacts of expanded gaming
and advocated for the equitable distribution of funding resources to address them within this
region. The Council also heard from the research team from UMass Amherst that is tracking
impacts of expanded gaming.
Foster an Environment Where Established, New, and Growing Businesses and Organizations
Thrive – Lead implementers for the development of small business and entrepreneurship met
with the Coordinating Council to address the progress of Valley Venture Mentors and EforAll
Holyoke, two successful business mentoring and accelerator programs.
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Conduct Economic Development Activities in a Regionally Responsible Manner, Prioritizing
Collaboration and Engagement – Representatives from two urban core Transformative
Development Initiatives (TDI), sponsored by MassDevelopment, met and spoke with the
Coordinating Council about successful efforts over the past several years to partner with the
host cities of Springfield and Holyoke and with numerous other entities within the Districts.
Economic Development Partners (EDP)
The Economic Development Partners is a group of stakeholders convened monthly by the Economic
Development Council (EDC) of Western Massachusetts. The group includes about 25 members, including
municipal economic development staff, regional representatives of state offices, regional planning
agency members, workforce development entities, EDC staff, state university representatives and
others.
The group addresses issues of regional concern that affect many cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley,
by sharing best practices, hearing from business leaders, and learning about state programs that assist
businesses. Some of the concerns that communities are addressing now include:
Church vacancies and reuse strategies – Many area churches are now vacant due to smaller
congregations, and numerous church buildings have been “mothballed” or are slated for
demolition. Many of these are historic structures with architectural significance. Communities
are seeking ways to approach the issue, both with the Catholic Diocese and with potential
developers.
Opportunity Zone legislation – Cities and towns are seeking to utilize the benefits of opportunity
zones without jeopardizing the well-being of their communities. The first-time program is just
being rolled out and municipalities are in the process of learning about it. The Economic
Development Partners planned and hosted an event and workshop in April 2019 that sought to
match shovel-ready projects in Opportunity Zones with qualified investors.
Short-term rentals issues – Short-term rental properties have different levels of significance in
different parts of the region – in some places, they are a boon to tourism, while in others, they
can be a concern for pre-existing accommodations, particularly bed-and-breakfast
establishments and small inns. State-level regulations will take effect in July of 2019 and will
allow communities to levy an additional lodging tax of up to 6%.
Cannabis sales - permitting and siting. Both medical and recreational marijuana sales are now
legal in Massachusetts, although each community must regulate them individually. Cities and
towns are navigating the complex process, and several new cannabis outlets have opened in
western Massachusetts.
Rural Policy Advisory Commission (RPAC)
The Rural Policy Advisory Commission was created by the Massachusetts legislature in 2015, with a
mission to research issues “critical to the welfare and vitality of rural communities.” There are 29 rural
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towns in the Pioneer Valley Economic Development District, based on the state’s definition as having a
density of less than 500 persons per square mile. The RPAC is represented by members from each region
of the state, meets quarterly, and has conducted research and surveys of rural towns in Massachusetts.
In 2018, the RPAC held a series of listening sessions, including one in the Pioneer Valley, to gather input
from local communities. The December 11, 2018 session brought 21 attendees representing 9 rural
towns who spent about two hours discussing issues of concern in their communities. The most
significant concerns regarding economic development issues were the following:
Economies of scale in rural areas are too small to be viable. Businesses are extremely small,
most with less than five employees.
Small businesses lack access to services especially technical assistance. They have high
transportation costs and in many areas still lack broadband access.
Transportation needs innovative solutions, such as a public ride-hailing service, use of school
buses for transit, and coordination of senior services.
Economic resilience is threatened because of lack of sufficient and sufficiently robust
infrastructure, including flood management, power grid resilience, and water supplies not
dependent on electric pumps.
The tourism industry can have negative impacts at the same time that it brings investment to
rural areas.
Lack of broadband is a problem for existing businesses and also a disincentive for young people
to stay in the area and start new businesses.
The clean energy industry has created new challenges, such as needing expertise in permitting
and oversight and creating an incentive to cut down forested areas for large solar arrays.
Local agriculture and food production is viable, particularly with lack of air and water pollution;
however farmers who rely on seasonal farm workers have been affected by policies that affect
immigrants.
There is a lack of tradespeople to fill basic service needs.
The strengths of rural areas were identified as:
Natural beauty
Small-town “feel”
Innovation
Lack of pollution
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Can grow your own food
Businesses locate there for the sense of community not primarily for the financial rewards
Business Surveys
In the fall of 2018, the PVPC conducted business surveys at two local chamber of commerce events, one
in the City of Chicopee and one in the City of Westfield. The surveys were distributed to about 45-75
attendees in each case, and a total of 36 surveys were returned, for a response rate of about 30%. The
businesses responding included four in financial services/insurance, two manufacturers, two utilities,
two banks, and a wide variety of others. The top five issues of greatest concern for these businesses
were:
1) Health care costs for employer and employees
2) Finding qualified high-skill employees
3) Cyber-security
4) Employee training needs
5) Energy costs
A detailed summary of the results can be found in Appendix D.
Westover Air Reserve Base Joint Land Use Study: Public Outreach to Pioneer Valley communities of
Chicopee, Springfield, South Hadley, Ludlow and Granby.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) enlisted the assistance of the Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission (PVPC) to work with Westover Air Reserve Base (WARB), Westover Airport and the
surrounding communities of Chicopee, Springfield, South Hadley, Ludlow and Granby to update the
base’s Joint Land Use Study (JLUS), most recently completed in 2004.
The development of the JLUS update was a cooperative land-use planning effort to identify existing and
potential incompatibilities between activities occurring on the base and those in the surrounding
communities. The study also reviews the economic context and impact of the Air Reserve Base. The
recommendations developed from the JLUS provide the policy framework to support adoption and
implementation of compatible development near the military installation. This is typically most
effectively achieved through the use of local land-use planning and zoning regulations and improved
cooperation and communication between all parties.
The JLUS Update was a comprehensive and ongoing process which encouraged public input, including
soliciting comments through a public survey. The results of the Westover JLUS Community Survey are
available here.
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Appendix B: Summary Background Data
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AN ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Summary Background Data for 2019 CEDS Five-Year Plan
The Pioneer Valley Region
Located in the midwestern section of Massachusetts and covering 1,179 square miles, the
Pioneer Valley region and Economic Development District (EDD) encompasses the fourth
largest metropolitan area in New England. The region is bisected by the Connecticut River, and
it is bounded to the north by Franklin County, to the south by the state of Connecticut, to the
east by the Quabbin Reservoir and Worcester County, and to the west by Berkshire County.
The Pioneer Valley region constitutes the 43 cities and towns within the Hampshire and
Hampden county areas and is home to about 630,385 people including the urbanized areas of
Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke.
Springfield, the third largest city in Massachusetts, is the region's cultural and economic center.
Springfield is home to several of the region's largest employers, including MassMutual Life
Insurance Company, Baystate Health, and Big Y World Class Markets. Major cultural institutions
include the Springfield Symphony, the MassMutual Convention Center, the Basketball Hall of
Fame, and the Springfield Museums, including the Dr. Seuss Museum and National Memorial
Sculpture Garden.
The cities of Chicopee and Holyoke were the first planned industrial communities in the nation.
Merchants built an elaborate complex of mills, workers’ housing, dams, and canal systems that
evolved into cities. While many of the historic mills and industries are now gone, a number of
19th and 20th century structures are maintained and improved through municipal revitalization
initiatives, and new industries and small businesses are growing.
Unique within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley region contains a
diverse economic base, internationally-recognized educational institutions, and remarkable
scenic beauty. Dominant physical characteristics include the broad, fertile agricultural valley
formed by the Connecticut River, the Holyoke Mountain range that traverses the region from
Southwick to Pelham, and the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Prime agricultural land,
forests, and scenic rivers are some of the region's premier natural resources. Choices in lifestyle
range from contemporary downtown living, suburban neighborhoods, and rural environments in
very small communities—a variety that contributes to the diversity and appeal of the region. The
unique combination of natural beauty, cultural amenities, and wide range of opportunities make
the Pioneer Valley region an exceptional environment in which to live, work, and play.
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The People
Changes in Population
Between 2010 and 2017, the Pioneer Valley region’s population increased by about 1.7 percent.
While some of that growth occurred in the urban areas, many of the more rural or suburban
towns saw the most significant proportional increases. Conversely, other rural towns
experienced the most significant population decreases during the same period. Collectively, the
population of the more urban communities of Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield,
Westfield, and West Springfield grew just over 1 percent between 2010 and 2017, with much of
this growth occurring in Westfield and West Springfield.
Figure 1: Percent Change in Population (2007-2017)
Data Source: U. S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, 2007-2017
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Table 1: Changes in Total Population of the Pioneer Valley Region (2007-2017)
Source: U. S. Decennial Census, 2000-2017
Municipality 2007 Population Total 2017 Population Total % Change 2007-2017
United States 301,621,159 321,004,407 6.43%
Massachusetts 6,449,755 6,789,319 5.26%
Pioneer Valley Region 622954 630385 1.19%
Hampden County 467756 469188 0.31%
Hampshire County 155198 161197 3.87%
Agawam 28757 28748 -0.03%
Blandford 1310 1259 -3.89%
Brimfield 3841 3724 -3.05%
Chicopee 56088 55778 -0.55%
Cummington 967 860 -11.07%
Easthampton 16218 16051 -1.03%
Granville 1667 1660 -0.42%
Hampden 5355 5193 -3.03%
Holland 2592 2510 -3.16%
Holyoke 40820 40362 -1.12%
Huntington 2207 1977 -10.42%
Ludlow 22382 21331 -4.70%
Middlefield 553 464 -16.09%
Monson 9125 8803 -3.53%
Palmer 13276 12237 -7.83%
Pelham 1394 1277 -8.39%
Russell 1796 1330 -25.95%
Southwick 9822 9711 -1.13%
Worthington 1271 1253 -1.42%
Chesterfield 1280 1303 1.80%
East Longmeadow 15680 16156 3.04%
Granby 6271 6318 0.75%
Hatfield 3239 3305 2.04%
Longmeadow 15806 15876 0.44%
Northampton 28538 28548 0.04%
South Hadley 17160 17737 3.36%
Southampton 5819 6090 4.66%
Springfield 151342 154613 2.16%
Wales 1916 2009 4.85%
Ware 9850 9863 0.13%
West Springfield 28501 28671 0.60%
Westfield 40774 41667 2.19%
Wilbraham 14372 14553 1.26%
Williamsburg 2476 2481 0.20%
Belchertown 14129 14906 5.50%
Montgomery 736 802 8.97%
Amherst 35962 39880 10.89%
Chester 1331 1529 14.88%
Goshen 963 1096 13.81%
Hadley 4738 5301 11.88%
Plainfield 595 668 12.27%
Tolland 467 666 42.61%
Westhampton 1568 1819 16.01%
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Table 2: Hispanic or Latino Population in the Pioneer Valley Region 2000-2017
Sources: U. S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census and 2017 ACS 1-Year Estimates
Table 3: Population by Race 2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 1-Year County Population Estimates.
Because the U.S. Census Bureau considers Hispanic/Latino an ethnic category rather than a race category, all race categories include some people who are Hispanic or Latino
and some who are not.
Figure 1 depicts the pattern of population growth and decline between 2010 and 2017. The
populations of the Pioneer Valley Region’s urban communities have remained relatively stable
over the past seven years, with modest growth occurring in Westfield, West Springfield,
Holyoke, Springfield and Chicopee. Several suburban and rural communities, such as Tolland,
Chesterfield, Chester, and Westhampton, experienced significant population growth of over
14% from 2010 to 2017, while other small towns like Huntington, Russell, and Cummington
experienced substantial decline, with each town losing over 10% of its population.
The northern urban areas of Amherst and Northampton have experienced distinct growth
patterns since the early 2000s. While Amherst climbed back to well beyond its 1990 level, with a
population increase of 6.6% between 2010 and 2017, the population of Northampton decreased
slightly during the same period. The general pattern of large proportional increases happening
in smaller towns also occurred in communities around these northern urban areas, with Hadley
growing by 10.6% since 2000.
In a seventeen year time frame (2000-2017), the region’s Hispanic and Latino population grew
by 62.5%, a rate of growth that was slightly higher than that of the nation and lower than that of
the state (see Table 2). While the rate of growth in the Hispanic and Latino population has been
slower than that of the state, at approximately 19% of the total population, the Hispanic and
Latino population is actually significantly higher than that of the state. In this sense, the Pioneer
Valley region looks less like the rest of the state as a whole and more like nation-wide
demographics. Conversely, the proportion of the Pioneer Valley region population identifying
exclusively as White (82.9%) is closer to that of the state (78.5%) than to the nation (72.3
percent). (See Table 3.)
2000 2017 % Change 2000 2017 % Change
Pioneer Valley Region 74,409 120,936 62.5% 12.2% 19.2% 7.0%
Hampden County 69,197 112,302 62.3% 15.2% 23.9% 8.8%
Hampshire County 5,212 8,634 65.7% 3.4% 5.4% 2.0%
Massachusetts 428,729 760,177 77.3% 6.8% 11.2% 4.4%
United States 35,305,818 56,510,571 60.1% 12.5% 17.6% 5.1%
% of Total PopulationHispanic or Latino Persons
White
African
American
Native
American Asian
Pacific
Islander
Other
Races
Pioneer Valley Region 82.9% 7.7% 0.2% 3.2% 0.0% 5.9%
Hampden County 81.2% 9.3% 0.3% 2.5% 0.0% 6.6%
Hampshire County 87.8% 2.9% 0.1% 5.3% 0.0% 3.9%
Massachusetts 78.5% 7.8% 0.2% 6.6% 0.0% 6.9%
United States 72.3% 12.7% 0.8% 5.6% 0.2% 8.4%
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While the proportion of people who identify as White in the Pioneer Valley region is now slightly
higher than that of Massachusetts as a whole, the breakdown of people who identified as races
other than White were varied somewhat. The Pioneer Valley region was nearly identical to the
state in the proportion of people who identify as African Americans, Native Americans, or Pacific
Islander, 3.4% lower in the proportion of people who identify as an Asian race and 1% lower in
the proportion of people who consider themselves a race other than the main five classifications
recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Figure 2: Pioneer Valley Region Population Changes by Race and Ethnicity
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 1-Year County Population Estimates.
Note: In 2010, an additional Race category of "Some other race, not otherwise specified" was included in the category
of "Other, Not Hispanic" which contributed to the significant increase in that category.
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The age distribution of the population within the Pioneer Valley region mirrors the aging
population trends across the nation, and hints at some explanations for the type of slow
population growth that has occurred over recent decades. Between 2000 and 2017, the region has
seen increases in people of every age category except 0-4 years and 5-9 years, with the largest
increases seen in the 25-44 and 45-64 year old age groups. While many in the 45-64 year old age
group are still fully in their careers, it will be important to note this share of the population (23%)
who are likely to move out of the labor force and into retirement within the next decade.
Figure 3: Population by Age in the Pioneer Valley Region
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2017 1-Year-Estimates
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Demographics and Migration
Retaining the population base has been a challenge in the Pioneer Valley region. Although
trends of out-migration decreased between 1991 and 2002, it appears that this trend is
reversing. During the recession of the 2000s when the housing market crashed, net out-
migration decreased significantly, reflecting similar trends to those in previous economic
downturns. However, net-out migration has been increasing steadily since then. In 2011, net
out-migration was over seven times higher than in 2010. Although this trend reversed between
2016 and 2017, net out-migration in the Pioneer Valley region is overall on the rise.
Figure 4: Net Domestic Migration in the Pioneer Valley Region
Source: U. S. Census Bureau Population Division, 2017
The Pioneer Valley has always been a destination for foreign immigrants and this continues to be
the case. From 2000 to 2009 inclusive, a total of 13,656 new immigrants settled in the Pioneer
Valley region. In fact, if not for foreign born immigration, the Pioneer Valley region would have
experienced a net loss of population between 1990 and 2000. This trend of foreign immigration
has continued since 2010, which has seen an additional 14,663 people immigrating to the region
from another country.
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Figure 5: Foreign Born Persons by Year of Entry in the Pioneer Valley Region
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017 1-Year Estimates
A commonly cited concern about the region’s high level of international immigration is whether
there are adequate services for new arrivals who often enter the country with few resources.
However; with its history of immigration dating back to the industrial mills of the nineteenth
century, the Valley has historically demonstrated the capacity to readily absorb new immigrants
into the economy. For instance, in 2017 the poverty rate of the foreign born population was only
0.8% higher than the total population in the Pioneer Valley region (see Figure 6). This figure is
lower than state and national trends, which show the foreign born population with an observably
higher poverty rate than the general population (by 3.6% in Massachusetts and 2.6% nationally
in 2017).
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Additionally, data from 2017 show that once immigrants have become naturalized citizens, they
have a poverty rate in the Pioneer Valley region that is 4.7% below that of the population as a
whole. Immigration has been, and will continue to be important to the growth of the region’s
population and economy.
Figure 6: 2017 Poverty Rates for all Persons and Foreign Born
Persons by Citizenship Status
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
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Income and Poverty
To measure economic growth, we examine several indicators including per capita income,
median family income, and poverty rates. According to these measures, the Pioneer Valley
region experienced economic improvement consistent with national rates during the 1990s, and,
while growth was slower than the nation for the first part of the 2000s, the region’s economy
seems to have been less negatively affected by the recession than the state and national
economies.
Per capita income is a useful measure of economic growth because it controls for population
change by measuring total income as it relates to population size. Inflation is controlled by
converting the annual values to current year dollars using the Consumer Price Index for the
Northeast. As seen in Figure 7, the region’s per capita income is significantly less than the per
capita income for the Commonwealth and slightly below that of the nation. Much of the
economic growth is the result of economic changes in the 1990s. In 1980, the difference
between incomes in the Pioneer Valley and state, adjusting for inflation, was $3,685, but in 2017
it was $17,987. This difference exists despite significant regional growth, as evidenced by the
37.3% growth of per capita income between 1990 and 2017. However, in a comparable time
period, Massachusetts per capita incomes grew by 54.1%. Since 2000, this trend has shifted
and growth rates in the Pioneer Valley region have surpassed those of the state and nation: The
region’s per capita income gains have equaled 24.8% while statewide gains have been a more
moderate 23.82%.
According to 2013-2017 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, “real” per capita
income rose between 2000 and 2017 in 24 Pioneer Valley region communities (see Table 4).
Middlefield, Chesterfield, Belchertown, and Chester all experienced increases exceeding 15%.
In contrast, Amherst, Wales, and Springfield experienced double-digit decreases in per capita
income.
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Figure 7: Per Capita Income (Adjusted to 2017 $)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Information System, 1997-2017
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Table 4: Changes in Per Capita Income
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Decennial Census and 2013-17 American Community Survey Estimates
2000 Count 2013-2017 Estimate % Change
Massachusetts 38,821 39,913 2.7%
Pioneer Valley Region 30,033 29,127 -3.1%
Hampden County 29,231 28,072 -4.1%
Hampshire County 32,439 32,198 -0.8%
Agawam 33,750 33,297 -1.4%
Amherst 26,069 20,336 -28.2%
Belchertown 32,817 39,308 16.5%
Blandford 36,328 33,957 -7.0%
Brimfield 35,469 39,077 9.2%
Chester 27,073 32,045 15.5%
Chesterfield 28,751 36,177 20.5%
Chicopee 27,892 26,432 -5.5%
Cummington 32,241 32,170 -0.2%
East Longmeadow 41,375 38,320 -8.0%
Easthampton 32,793 34,038 3.7%
Goshen 33,240 35,419 6.2%
Granby 34,718 40,133 13.5%
Granville 33,381 34,208 2.4%
Hadley 37,315 41,575 10.3%
Hampden 39,925 39,634 -0.7%
Hatfield 37,118 38,574 3.8%
Holland 32,566 34,752 6.3%
Holyoke 23,804 22,625 -5.2%
Huntington 28,998 30,025 3.4%
Longmeadow 58,264 55,593 -4.8%
Ludlow 30,075 33,247 9.5%
Middlefield 36,106 45,630 20.9%
Monson 33,686 35,744 5.8%
Montgomery 38,807 37,029 -4.8%
Northampton 35,934 36,045 0.3%
Palmer 27,919 30,793 9.3%
Pelham 44,609 48,294 7.6%
Plainfield 31,092 30,631 -1.5%
Russell 31,890 30,928 -3.1%
South Hadley 34,005 32,070 -6.0%
Southampton 39,200 44,641 12.2%
Southwick 32,545 38,002 14.4%
Springfield 22,785 20,046 -13.7%
Tolland 45,065 40,435 11.5%
Wales 31,813 27,133 -17.3%
Ware 28,284 27,579 -2.6%
West Springfield 31,387 29,344 -7.0%
Westfield 30,815 29,092 -5.9%
Westhampton 37,936 37,453 -1.3%
Wilbraham 44,658 45,539 1.9%
Williamsburg 38,614 43,357 10.9%
Worthington 36,186 41,365 12.5%
Per Capita Income (in 2017 Dollars)
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Table 5: Changes in Median Family Income in the Pioneer Valley Region
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Decennial census and American Community Survey 2013-2017 5-Year Estimates
2000 Count 2013-2017 Estimate % Change
Massachusetts $91,263 $94,110 3.12%
Hampden County $72,900 $88,476 21.37%
Hampshire County $85,070 $71,205 -16.30%
Pioneer Valley Region $75,821 $65,994 -12.96%
Agawam $87,450 $84,789 -3.04%
Amherst $90,631 $94,449 4.21%
Belchertown $90,028 $99,450 10.47%
Blandford $87,875 $72,188 -17.85%
Brimfield $88,716 $94,444 6.46%
Chester $76,859 $80,469 4.70%
Chesterfield $84,894 $87,083 2.58%
Chicopee $65,321 $60,645 -7.16%
Cummington $72,150 $61,375 -14.93%
East Longmeadow $104,445 $100,979 -3.32%
Easthampton $80,382 $71,835 -10.63%
Goshen $86,950 $87,500 0.63%
Granby $85,295 $105,448 23.63%
Granville $87,644 $89,130 1.70%
Hadley $91,608 $81,786 -10.72%
Hampden $111,602 $92,460 -17.15%
Hatfield $91,178 $80,417 -11.80%
Holland $84,396 $90,852 7.65%
Holyoke $53,472 $46,940 -12.22%
Huntington $77,416 $78,056 0.83%
Longmeadow $129,858 $126,681 -2.45%
Ludlow $82,461 $82,874 0.50%
Middlefield $79,756 $106,250 33.22%
Monson $86,738 $95,444 10.04%
Montgomery $98,050 $94,844 -3.27%
Northampton $84,129 $91,707 9.01%
Palmer $73,050 $73,250 0.27%
Pelham $106,067 $98,750 -6.90%
Plainfield $68,142 $59,250 -13.05%
Russell $71,989 $76,111 5.73%
South Hadley $86,866 $80,227 -7.64%
Southampton $96,141 $115,500 20.14%
Southwick $95,395 $91,731 -3.84%
Springfield $53,702 $41,485 -22.75%
Tolland $96,817 $103,750 7.16%
Wales $76,411 $61,300 -19.78%
Ware $67,347 $76,085 12.97%
West Springfield $74,417 $70,262 -5.58%
Westfield $81,884 $75,483 -7.82%
Westhampton $98,605 $94,844 -3.81%
Wilbraham $109,261 $114,293 4.61%
Williamsburg $82,633 $94,167 13.96%
Worthington $88,995 $95,000 6.75%
Median Family Income (in 2017 Dollars)
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Figure 8: Median Family Income (2017)
Source: U.S.Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, 2013-2017
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median family incomes in the Pioneer Valley region
decreased by just over 6% between 2000 and the five year period between 2013-2017 (see
Table 5). Within the region there are significant income disparities (see Figure 8). For example,
while Longmeadow, Southampton, Wilbraham, and Middlefield have median family incomes
well above $100,000, Springfield and Holyoke median family incomes are less than $47,000.
What’s more, the lowest family incomes have continued to decline, particularly in Springfield (by
22.7%).This trend is not exclusive to large cities, as many of the region’s smaller towns like
Wales, Blandford, and Hampden experienced significant drops exceeding 15%. Cummington,
Plainfield, Holyoke, Hatfield, and Hadley also experienced significant proportional declines.
At the same time, several communities have experienced more positive trends. Middlefield and
Granby, for example, experienced large increases to their median family incomes (by 33.2%
and 23.6% respectively). In 1999, the median family income was $79,756 in Middlefield and
$85,295 in Granby (adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars). Seventeen years later, both median
incomes are both over $100,000, with Middlefield at $106,250 and Granby at $105,448.
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Figure 9: Poverty Rate in the Pioneer Valley Region, 2007-2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), 2017
Note: Poverty rates displayed in this figure may differ slightly from Table 6 and Figure 11 as different data sources were required
Poverty rate is another measure used to determine quality of life and economic well-being. In
the Pioneer Valley region, poverty rates amongst the general population climbed from 15.2% in
2007 to 16.7% in 2012. Between 2007 and 2010, poverty rates hovered consistently around 15
percent, dropping slightly in 2008 to 14.3% but then increasing in 2009 to 15.8% and again in
2012 to 16.7%, a rate higher than has existed for over a decade. However, since then, poverty
rates in the Pioneer Valley region have decreased to 14.6% in 2017 (as seen in Figure 9).
Despite lower poverty rates in recent years, the poverty rate in the Pioneer Valley region
continues to follow a decade-long pattern of exceeding Massachusetts’ overall rate by several
percentage points. In 2017, this difference was 9 percent. The poverty rate trends, and the per
capita income growth patterns previously mentioned, suggest that the region did not share
equally in the state’s economic growth at the end of the 1990s, nor in the middle portion of the
2000s. While in 2010 the total poverty rate in the Pioneer Valley region was lower than that of
the nation as a whole for the first time in over a decade, the current 2017 rate is about 1%
above the national rate.
In the ten year period from 2007 to 2017, child poverty rates in the region have been
consistently higher than those for the United States and drastically so in relation to
Massachusetts overall, as seen in Figure 10. Child poverty rates in the Pioneer Valley region
decreased from a high of 26.7% in 2012 to 21.9% in 2017. Still, since 2005, child poverty rates
in the Pioneer Valley region as a whole have exceeded 20% annually. This indicates that more
than one in five children in the Pioneer Valley region has grown up in households with incomes
below the poverty line.
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According to the U. S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2013-2017 5-Year
Estimates, disparities in the distribution of poverty amongst the municipalities of the region are
substantial. The major urban centers of Springfield and Holyoke continue to have the highest
poverty rates in the region, well above 20% in all categories (as seen in Table 6). Most
alarmingly, the rate of children living in poverty is 42.3% in Springfield and 45.6% in Holyoke.
There has been a significant increase in the number of individuals living in poverty in the Town
of Amherst. The Town of Amherst has surpassed both Holyoke and Springfield in the number
of individuals living in poverty in 2017. The large student population in Amherst is likely a major
contributor to the high poverty rate in town, a theory supported by the fact that family and child
poverty rates remain much lower than the individual rates. Still, this doesn’t explain why there
was such a large increase in the poverty rate in recent years. Holyoke, Springfield, Amherst,
Ware, and Chicopee all experienced significantly increasing percentages of children in poverty.
Among those communities close to the urban centers, West Springfield and Westfield have
managed to keep relatively stable family and individual poverty rates but experienced a
significant jump in child poverty (7.7% and 4.3% respectively).
Figure 10: Child Poverty Rate in the Pioneer Valley Region, 2007-2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), 2017
Note: Poverty rates displayed in this figure may differ slightly from Table 6 and Figure 11 as different data sources were required.
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Table 6: Changes in Community Poverty Rates 2000 to 2017
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census 2000, American Community Survey 2000-2017 5-Ye ar Estimates
2000 2017 2000 2017 2000 2017
Massachusetts 6.7% 7.8% 6.7%14.6%9.3%11.1%
Pioneer Valley Region 10.0% 11.9% 10.0% 23.9% 13.4% 16.3%
Hampden County 11.4%13.7%11.4% 26.7% 14.7% 17.2%
Hampshire County 5.1%5.9%5.1% 12.3% 9.4% 13.8%
Agawam 4.3%6.8% 4.3% 13.2% 5.6% 9.4%
Amherst 7.2%9.7% 7.2% 22.0% 20.2% 33.2%
Belchertown 5.1%2.7% 5.1% 4.8% 5.9% 5.8%
Blandford 1.7%6.6% 1.7% 18.8% 3.4% 7.1%
Brimfield 2.2%5.6% 2.2% 5.6% 4.4% 4.2%
Chester 2.9%3.5% 2.9% 9.5% 5.8% 6.4%
Chesterfield 3.4%3.2% 3.4% 4.0% 5.7% 5.9%
Chicopee 9.6%11.5% 9.6% 20.4% 12.3% 14.4%
Cummington 4.2%0.0% 4.2% 0.0% 6.6% 5.3%
East Longmeadow 2.1%3.4% 2.1% 7.6% 3.4% 4.5%
Easthampton 5.9%5.3% 5.9% 12.6% 8.9% 10.7%
Goshen 4.3%0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 7.9% 2.4%
Granby 1.0%3.1% 1.0% 5.2% 2.2% 5.5%
Granville 1.8%4.8% 1.8% 12.1% 3.4% 8.4%
Hadley 4.8%2.3% 4.8% 3.9% 6.9% 5.4%
Hampden 1.4%2.3% 1.4% 3.5% 2.2% 4.0%
Hatfield 1.4%1.9% 1.4% 1.5% 2.8% 4.4%
Holland 6.5%1.5% 6.5% 0.8% 7.3% 4.1%
Holyoke 22.6%24.7% 22.6% 45.6% 26.4% 28.6%
Huntington 4.4%4.7% 4.4% 13.1% 5.8% 8.0%
Longmeadow 1.0%2.7% 1.0% 4.7% 2.1% 3.6%
Ludlow 5.3%4.0% 5.3% 7.2% 6.4% 5.8%
Middlefield 7.3%6.9% 7.3% 7.0% 8.6% 7.1%
Monson 5.2%3.1% 5.2% 4.1% 5.6% 5.6%
Montgomery 1.0%2.1% 1.0% 4.9% 2.9% 3.7%
Northampton 5.7%7.7% 5.7% 15.7% 9.8% 15.0%
Palmer 5.8%11.5% 5.8% 17.8% 7.9% 14.1%
Pelham 2.6%1.1% 2.6% 0.0% 4.9% 4.0%
Plainfield 4.8%6.3% 4.8% 10.5% 8.0% 7.6%
Russell 7.1%4.4% 7.1% 11.3% 9.0% 7.1%
South Hadley 4.1%4.9% 4.1% 11.0% 5.9% 10.4%
Southampton 1.8%3.6% 1.8% 4.2% 2.4% 4.6%
Southwick 3.8%7.1% 3.8% 9.3% 6.1% 7.2%
Springfield 19.3%24.7% 19.3% 42.3% 23.1% 28.7%
Tolland 2.3%1.5% 2.3% 0.0% 4.2% 7.2%
Wales 1.8%5.0% 1.8% 8.0% 3.5% 5.7%
Ware 8.4%12.3% 8.4% 21.3% 11.2% 14.3%
West Springfield 8.7%8.4% 8.7% 16.4% 11.9% 12.1%
Westfield 6.9%5.5% 6.9% 11.2% 11.3% 8.5%
Westhampton 1.9%1.8% 1.9% 3.4% 3.5% 3.7%
Wilbraham 3.2%2.0% 3.2% 2.7% 5.1% 4.0%
Williamsburg 1.2%6.8% 1.2% 18.0% 5.5% 10.8%
Worthington 1.5%3.1% 1.5% 10.4% 3.5% 7.0%
Families in Poverty Children in Poverty Individuals in
Poverty
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Figure 11: Families in Poverty (2017)
Source: American Community Survey 2013-17 5-Year Estimates
It is important to note that the poverty rate is drastically different across racial categories in the
Pioneer Valley Region. While the overall poverty rate in the region is 16.4%, the poverty rate in
the Hispanic and Latino community is nearly twice that rate at 38.7%. Over one third of Hispanic
and Latino residents of our communities are living in poverty. The poverty rate is over twice as
high for Black residents as it is for White residents (22.7% and 9.3% respectively).
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Figure 11b: Poverty Rates by Race in the Pioneer Valley
Source: American Community Survey 2013-17 5-Year Estimates
Education
The 43 communities in the Pioneer Valley region are served by 39 municipal and regional
school districts and 11 charter school districts. Ten of these districts only serve students from
kindergarten through sixth grade (one is actually K-5). The four largest school districts are
Springfield, Chicopee, Westfield, and Holyoke, which together account for slightly less than half
of all the pupils in the region (see Table 7). In all of these districts, as well as many others
across the region, school enrollments continued to fall or remain stable.
Pioneer Valley school enrollment fell by 0.82% between the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school
years. During that time period, enrollment declined in 30 of the region’s 38 districts. Enrollment
dropped substantially in several areas, including Granby (7.3%), Westhampton (6.2%), Hadley
(5.9%), Hampshire (5.4%), and Monson (5.1%). In contrast, six districts had increased
enrollments above 1 percent. These districts were Longmeadow (1.3%), Northampton-Smith
Vocational & Agricultural (2.5%), Williamsburg (3.2%), and Southampton (5.8%).
It is worth noting that many of these rural communities with declining enrollments are places
where the population numbers as a whole remain fairly stable or are increasing (see Table 1).
For example, population growth was 14.8% in Westhampton and 2.4% in Hadley from 2010 to
2017, but school enrollments declined 11.6% and 25.5%, respectively, between the 2010-2011
and 2017-2018 school years. Between 2010 and 2017, the population of Granby, Monson,
Palmer, and Westhampton grew by varying amounts, with Westhampton increasing the most at
14.8% and Palmer increasing by 0.3%, while enrollments for school districts decreased by at
least 12% during the same period.
17.2%
13.8%
16.4%
21.6%
36.6%
22.7%
39.8%
20.8%
38.7%
8.1%
12.2%
9.3%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
Hampden County Hampshire
County
Pioneer Valley
Region
Total Poverty Rate
Black Poverty Rate
Hispanic/Latino Poverty Rate
White (Not Hispanic/Latino)
Poverty Rate
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Only 13 of the 38 districts have average per-pupil expenditures greater than or equal to the
state’s 2016-2017 average per-pupil expenditure of $15,911. The Pathfinder Regional
Vocational Technical district had the highest per-pupil expenditure ($23,502) out of all the
region’s districts serving students in grades K-12. On the other end of the spectrum,
Southampton’s Pre-K to 6th grade had the lowest average per-pupil expenditure at $12,068.
In today’s economy, a high school education is the minimum requirement to participate
effectively in the job market. While the region’s average high school dropout rate continues to
decrease, it remains slightly higher than the state’s (see Table 8). However, in the community
with the highest dropout rate (Holyoke) per-pupil spending is above the statewide average, a
factor that may help pull the dropout rates down over time.
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Public School District
Name
Cities & Towns in the
Pioneer Valley Region
Student
Enrollment
'16-'17
Student
Enrollment
'17-'18
% Change
'17-'18
Average Per Pupil
Expenditures 2016-
2017
Average
Teacher Salary
2016-2017
Pioneer Valley Region 90,237 89,499 -0.8%N/A N/A
Agawam Agawam 3,918 3,864 -1.4% $15,930.54 $69,650
Amherst (PK-6) Amherst 1,148 1,146 -0.2% $21,669.83 $73,844
Amherst-Pelham (7-12) *Amherst, Pelham 1,358 1,343 -1.1% $21,382.27 $82,327
Belchertown Belchertown 2,354 2,323 -1.3% $13,065.78 $65,670
Brimfield (K-6) Brimfield 285 286 0.4% $15,095.17 $73,615
Central Berkshire * Cummington-only 1,620 1,603 -1.0% $15,352.02 $71,924
Chesterfield-Goshen
(PK-6)Chesterfield, Goshen 140 136 -2.9%
$16,917.69 $76,768
Chicopee Chicopee 7,683 7,544 -1.8% $14,589.38 $79,321
East Longmeadow East Longmeadow 2,630 2,652 0.8% $14,943.82 $77,543
Easthampton Easthampton 1,562 1,541 -1.3% $13,023.44 $64,258
Gateway Blandford,
Chester,Huntington,
Middlefield, Montgomery,
Russell, Worthington 841 831 -1.2%
$17,108.27 $60,683
Granby Granby 756 701 -7.3% $14,748.33 $72,894
Hadley Hadley 562 529 -5.9%$14,902 $64,712
Hampden-Wilbraham Hampden, Wilbraham 3,107 3,060 -1.5% $15,242.80 $79,504
Hampshire Chesterfield, Goshen,
Southampton, Westhampton,
Williamsburg
741 701 -5.4%
$17,006.17 $69,105
Hatfield Hatfield 442 436 -1.4% $14,256.31 $59,376
Holland (PK-6) Holland 237 233 -1.7% $13,951.99 $62,171
Holyoke Holyoke 5,344 5,293 -1.0% $17,043.32 $68,779
Longmeadow Longmeadow 2,841 2,877 1.3% $15,248.55 $73,350
Ludlow Ludlow 2,661 2,649 -0.5% $15,754.96 $64,940
Mohawk Trail * Plainfield-only 965 925 -4.1% $16,773.77 $69,844
Monson Monson 979 929 -5.1% $16,433.94 $59,315
Northampton Northampton 2,675 2,658 -0.6% $15,088.46 $61,711
Northampton-Smith
Vocational & Agricultural
Hampshire County
486 498 2.5%
$21,702.97 $62,731
Palmer Palmer 1,427 1,400 -1.9% $14,655.80 $67,092
Pathfinder Regional
Vocational Technical **
Granby, Palmer, Monson,
Ware
618 614 -0.6%
$23,502.13 $74,207
Pelham (K-6)Pelham 132 127 -3.8% $17,186.26 $65,645
South Hadley South Hadley 1,869 1,887 1.0% $14,364.88 $74,979
Southampton (PK-6) Southampton 520 550 5.8% $12,068.02 $72,794
Southwick-Tolland-
Granville Regional
School District
Granville, Southwick, Tolland
1,549 1,519 -1.9%
$15,170.51 $63,507
Springfield Springfield 25,633 25,604 -0.1% $15,510.22 $64,844
Tantasqua (7-13) * Brimfield, Holland, Wales 1,839 1,788 -2.8% $13,568.91 $80,279
Wales (PK-6) Wales 164 161 -1.8% $12,877.26 $72,336
Ware Ware 1,226 1,213 -1.1% $13,859.12 $64,329
West Springfield West Springfield 4,094 4,114 0.5% $13,888.90 $67,259
Westfield Westfield 5,543 5,479 -1.2% $14,167.62 $70,275
Westhampton (PK-6) Westhampton 130 122 -6.2% $16,067.10 $66,082
Williamsburg (PK-6) Williamsburg 158 163 3.2% $15,785.15 $75,082
Table 7: Pioneer Valley Region School Districts Profile
Source: Massachusetts Department of Education, School District Profiles, 2018
*Enrollment data for regional school district includes all students who attend schools within the Pioneer Valley Region.
This includes some students who reside outside the Pioneer Valley Region.
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School District 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Massachusetts 3.8% 3.4% 2.9% 2.9% 2.8% 2.5% 2.2% 2.0% 1.9% 1.9% 1.8%
Pioneer Valley Region 5.4% 5.1% 4.0% 4.6% 5.0% 4.0% 3.2% 3.1% 2.7% 2.6% 2.4%
Agawam 4.4% 1.4% 2.2% 1.1% 1.9% 1.3%1.8%1.6% 0.9% 2.0% 1.0%
Amherst-Pelham 2.5% 2.1% 0.8% 1.5% 2.1% 1.6%1.0%0.7% 1.0% 1.5% 1.1%
Belchertown 1.6% 1.0% 1.4% 1.7% 1.1% 0.9%0.3%0.9% 0.7% 0.6% 0.8%
Central Berkshire 1.6% 1.5% 1.4% 2.2% 1.7% 1.7%1.3%1.8% 1.5% 0.7% 0.7%
Chicopee 6.0% 6.2% 5.7% 5.5% 5.4% 4.3%4.3%4.0% 3.9% 3.9% 2.9%
East Longmeadow 1.5% 0.9% 0.6% 0.7% 0.4% 0.6%0.3%0.5% 0.8% 0.1% 0.6%
Easthampton 2.1% 2.7% 2.0% 2.9% 2.9% 1.6%1.3%0.9% 1.8% 1.1% 1.3%
Gateway 4.3% 5.1% 2.4% 2.9% 2.4% 3.9%2.0%2.2% 2.4% 0.9% 3.2%
Granby 0.9% 1.1% 2.0% 1.1% 0.8% 0.0%0.3%0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 1.2%
Hadley 0.6% 0.6% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.1%0.0%0.6% 1.7% 0.0% 1.8%
Hampden-Wilbraham 1.2% 1.2% 0.7% 0.8% 0.6% 0.8%0.6%0.4% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7%
Hampshire 2.9% 1.5% 1.9% 2.4% 1.0% 2.0%1.0%0.4% 0.0% 0.2% 1.4%
Hatfield 0.0% 2.3% 2.5% 4.5% 1.6% 0.0%0.0%0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Holyoke 11.3% 11.6% 9.8% 9.5% 9.8% 7.7%9.1%6.4% 7.6% 5.4% 5.7%
Longmeadow 0.1% 0.0% 0.5% 0.7% 0.5% 0.2%0.0%0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Ludlow 1.7% 1.9% 0.9% 1.5% 0.8% 1.9%2.0%0.9% 0.8% 1.6% 0.9%
Mohawk Trail 6.2% 5.0% 4.6% 3.6% 2.0% 2.4%2.7%2.3% 2.7% 2.5% 1.6%
Monson 4.2% 0.5% 3.3% 2.7% 1.4% 1.2%2.8%2.9% 1.5% 1.6% 5.2%
Northampton 1.9% 2.1% 1.2% 1.6% 0.9% 1.5%1.1%0.9% 0.7% 0.8% 0.9%
Northampton-Smith 4.1% 1.8% 2.4% 1.3% 1.4% 1.4%1.2%0.5% 0.5% 1.1% 1.0%
Palmer 4.1% 6.6% 3.6% 4.9% 7.1% 2.7%2.2%3.4% 3.6% 4.9% 2.0%
Pathfinder Voc Tech 1.5% 3.1% 2.8% 2.6% 1.9% 1.4%2.1%1.1% 0.8% 1.5% 1.6%
Pioneer Valley Perf Arts 4.5% 4.0% 1.3% 5.1% 2.6% 1.5%0.7%1.5% 2.2% 1.9% 1.9%
Sabis International 1.5% 1.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.6% 0.4%0.2%0.4% 0.4% 0.9% 0.0%
South Hadley 3.3% 2.9% 2.0% 2.8% 2.0% 0.8%1.0%1.7% 1.1% 0.9% 0.0%
Southwick-Tolland 2.6% 1.8% 4.5% 0.7% 1.6% 1.7%2.0%1.7% 1.7% 1.1% 1.4%
Springfield 10.9% 9.7% 9.6% 10.5% 11.7% 10.0%6.5%7.2% 5.1% 4.9% 5.1%
Tantasqua 1.2% 0.7% 1.9% 1.2% 1.5% 1.4%0.4%0.9% 0.7% 0.7% 0.6%
Ware 7.3% 10.2% 3.6% 4.2% 5.4% 3.8%4.3%5.5% 5.4% 4.7% 1.8%
West Springfield 6.3% 6.0% 5.4% 3.4% 5.1% 3.1%2.1%2.3% 2.3% 2.2% 1.3%
Westfield 5.3% 3.2% 2.4% 3.3% 2.3% 2.0%2.2%1.2% 1.9% 2.2% 1.2%
**Enrollment data for vocational school district includes students who attend vocational schools within the Pioneer Valley Region.
This includes some students who reside outside the Pioneer Valley Region.
Table 8: Annual High School Dropout Rate in the Pioneer Valley Region 2007-2017
Source: Massachusetts Department of Education, Statistical Reports, 2017
In 2017, 27 out of 31 districts had dropout rates that were either the same or lower than they
were in 2007. While most school districts in the region had dropout rates below the regional
2.4% mark, five districts had much higher rates. Holyoke saw 5.7% of its students drop out of
high school. Monson schools had the second highest dropout rate in the region at 5.2%.
Meanwhile, dropout rates in Springfield have decreased from a high of 11.7% in 2011 to 5.1% in
2017. Holyoke's dropout rate has remained below 8% for the past four years, down from 11.6%
in 2008. Chicopee, another of the region’s urban core cities, has reached its lowest dropout rate
in over ten years, falling to 2.9% in 2017.
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In 2017, just over 32% of Pioneer Valley residents aged 25 years and over had a bachelor’s
degree or higher (see Table 9). According to the 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-
year estimates, 11 of the Pioneer Valley’s 43 communities had a higher percentage of college
graduates than the statewide average (42.1%) (See Figure 12). In five communities (Amherst,
Longmeadow, Pelham, Northampton, and Williamsburg) more than 50% of the residents had a
bachelor’s degree or higher. In contrast, there were seven communities (Chicopee, Wales,
Springfield, Ware, Chester, Ludlow, and Holyoke) where the proportion was at or below 25%.
Given the region’s rich endowment of higher education institutions, some of these rates are
lower than expected. Other indicators, however, point towards the beginning of a positive trend.
There has been a 17% increase in the population 25 years and over who have attained a
bachelor’s degree or higher since 2007 (see Table 9). Additionally, the number of people 25
years and over who are high school graduates or higher increased by 7.5%.
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Table 9: Educational Attainment in the Pioneer Valley Region - 2000 and 2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2013-2017 1-yr Estimate
*Includes Equivalency
2007
Population
% of
Population
2017
Population
% of
Population
10 Year
% Change
Population 25 Years and Over
Hampden County 299,425 100.0% 318,892 100.0% 6.1%
Hampshire County 96,581 100.0% 99,606 100.0% 3.0%
Pioneer Valley Region 396,006 100.0% 418,498 100.0% 5.4%
Less Than 9th Grade
Hampden County 17,067 5.7%18,284 5.7% 6.7%
Hampshire County 2,704 2.8%1,110 1.1% -143.6%
Pioneer Valley Region 19,771 5.0%19,394 4.6% -1.9%
9th to 12th Grade, No Diploma
Hampden County 32,637 10.9% 29,563 9.3% -10.4%
Hampshire County 5,022 5.2%3,433 3.4% -46.3%
Pioneer Valley Region 37,660 9.5%32,996 7.9% -14.1%
*High School Graduate
Hampden County 107,194 35.8% 94,542 29.6% -13.4%
Hampshire County 25,111 26.0% 25,341 25.4% 0.9%
Pioneer Valley Region 132,305 33.4% 119,883 28.6% -10.4%
Some College, No Degree
Hampden County 49,106 16.4% 60,954 19.1% 19.4%
Hampshire County 14,777 15.3% 13,576 13.6% -8.8%
Pioneer Valley Region 63,883 16.1% 74,530 17.8% 14.3%
Associate's Degree
Hampden County 23,655 7.9%28,565 9.0% 17.2%
Hampshire County 7,630 7.9%9,058 9.1% 15.8%
Pioneer Valley Region 31,284 7.9%37,623 9.0% 16.8%
Bachelor's Degree
Hampden County 43,716 14.6% 53,019 16.6% 17.5%
Hampshire County 20,185 20.9% 24,783 24.9% 18.6%
Pioneer Valley Region 63,901 16.1% 77,802 18.6% 17.9%
Graduate or Professional Degree
Hampden County 26,050 8.7%33,965 10.7% 23.3%
Hampshire County 21,248 22.0% 22,305 22.4% 4.7%
Pioneer Valley Region 47,298 11.9% 56,270 13.4% 15.9%
High School Graduate or Higher
Hampden County 249,720 83.4% 271,058 85.0% 7.9%
Hampshire County 88,855 92.0% 95,024 95.4% 6.5%
Pioneer Valley Region 338,575 85.5% 366,082 87.5% 7.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
Hampden County 70,065 23.4% 87,058 27.3% 19.5%
Hampshire County 41,337 42.8% 47,114 47.3% 12.3%
Pioneer Valley Region 111,402 28.1% 134,171 32.1% 17.0%
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Figure 12: College and University Graduates
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2013-2017
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Table 10: Number of College Graduates from the Pioneer Valley Region's Higher Education
Institutions
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2017
Our region’s relatively low educational attainment rates, despite the existence of 13 area
colleges and universities (see Table 10), demonstrates the Pioneer Valley’s continuing struggle
to retain those locally college-educated persons who possess the skills and knowledge critical
for the health of the region’s economy. The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a leading
national research university, anchors the Five College area of the Pioneer Valley. The other
members of the Five College group are the prestigious Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and
Hampshire colleges. Complementing the Five College consortium is a collaboration of eight
area schools centered in the greater Springfield area. These include: American International
College, Bay Path College, Elms College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield College,
Springfield Technical Community College, Western New England University, and Westfield
State University. Together, these 13 colleges and universities afford the residents and
employers of the Pioneer Valley a multitude of opportunities and advantages that are unique to
the region. These assets will undoubtedly continue to aid in the region’s economic development
initiatives.
College or University Location 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
American International College Springfield 1,094 1,359 995 1,511 1,113
Amherst College Amherst 625 473 471 432 483
Bay Path College Longmeadow 744 819 797 947 975
College of Our Lady of the Elms Chicopee 415 527 545 523 576
Hampshire College Amherst 316 328 291 342 295
Holyoke Community College Holyoke 958 1,105 1,056 1,044 989
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley 619 598 662 576 577
Smith College Northampton 885 842 855 870 802
Springfield College Springfield 943 941 965 1,005 926
Springfield Technical Community College Springfield 1,099 1,116 1,105 1,051 1,077
University of Massachusetts Amherst 7,415 7,755 7,771 7,876 8,328
Western New England University Springfield 940 913 1,031 1,128 1,110
Westfield State University Westfield 1,362 1,447 1,463 1,428 1,389
Total Graduates 17,415 18,223 18,007 18,733 18,640
Graduates
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The Economy
The Workforce and Employment
After experiencing the highest unemployment in many years in 2010, the Pioneer Valley’s
economy has strengthened, evident in its decreasing unemployment rates. Unemployment rates
lowered from 9.4% in 2010 to 7.8% in 2012. Following a slight increase to 8.0% in 2013,
unemployment rates fell to 4.3%, the Pioneer Valley’s lowest rate since 2001, in 2018.
Meanwhile, employment levels fell from 2007 to 2013, reaching a low of 273,446 in 2013.
However, since then, employment has rapidly increased, reaching 314,493 in 2018.
Mirroring trends in the Pioneer Valley, unemployment has continued to fall both nationally and at
the state level. Nation-wide, unemployment reached a low of 3.9% in 2018 from a high of 9.6%
in 2010, and the Massachusetts rate fell from 7.3% in 2011 to 3.4% in 2018. These rates are
below 2007 figures, reflecting recovering national and state economies.
Figure 13: Unemployment Rates
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development, 2018
While the labor force gained strength between 2010 and 2011, rising to the highest levels in
twenty years (314,556 participants), this trend was followed by an overall decline in the
subsequent years, decreasing by 6.663 participants between 2012 and 2015. There was a
slight rebound in 2013, yet with fewer than 308,000 people, this was the second smallest labor
force of the Pioneer Valley since the year 2000 (see Figure 14). Between 1995 and 2005, the
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number of people who work in the Pioneer Valley rose from 273,692 to 294,446 (a gain of
20,774 jobs); however, between 2005 and 2015, the number of people employed fell by 5,375
jobs. While the labor force shrunk by 3.097 workers, between 2005 and 2015, the number of
people unemployed increased by 2,278 (see Figure 13). Since 2015, both the labor force and
employment have steadily increased, with labor force and employment increasing by 16,792
and 21,450, respectively, from 2015 to 2018.
Figure 14: Pioneer Valley Region Labor Force and Employment with Trend Lines
Source: MA Office of Workforce Development, 1994-2018
Unemployment claims have fluctuated greatly over the last few years, demonstrating the
unpredictable nature of the economic recovery. While there was a decline in the number of new
unemployment claims in 2011, there was an increase in unemployment claims in 2012. Data
available for the first portion of 2013 showed another decrease in new unemployment claims.
Though there was a downward trend in unemployment claims from 2008 to 2013, there were
overall more unemployment claims from 2015 to 2018.
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The number of individuals filing new claims for unemployment insurance tends to fluctuate
markedly by month, but December traditionally sees the highest number of new claims as
employers let go of workers they had hired for the holiday season. Therefore, comparing new
claims from December to December provides a helpful measure of economic health. In
December 2015, the number of new claims in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties was
7,322. In 2016, the December new-claims figure dropped to 6,747 and in 2017 it was down to
6,557. In December 2018, the number of claims were lower than December 2010, (6,146 and
6,361, respectively) hinting at a recovering economy (Figure 15).
Figure 15: New Unemployment Insurance Claims, 2008 to 2018
Source: MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Claims, 2003-2018
Note: This data is only available by Workforce Investment Board, so it includes Franklin County.
Additionally, data was not available from June 2013-June 2015
Employment Distribution
The region’s economy is in transition. Manufacturing was once the mainstay of the region’s
economy, employing more than 29 percent of the workforce in 1980. Like most of the nation,
service sector employment is increasing in the Pioneer Valley region while the number of
manufacturing jobs has decreased. Examples of professions in the service sector include
healthcare, education, and other industries that focus on customer-provider interactions:
automotive/household goods repair, beauty salons and barber shops, funeral homes, political
organizations, and pet care. From 1990 to 2000, the service sector’s share of total private sector
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jobs grew from 36.0 to 40.9 percent and as of 2017 the service sector comprised about 85.9%
of the private sector. Manufacturing’s share of jobs declined from 14.4 % in 2000 to 7.7% in
2017.
Between 2012 and 2017, the fastest growing industries in the Pioneer Valley region were
healthcare and social assistance, transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade,
construction, and administrative and waste services (Figure 16). Health care and social
assistance alone grew by 38%, and provided 24.1% of all employment in the Pioneer Valley in
2017. Transportation and warehousing grew by 14%, and wholesale trade grew by 13%. In
2017, the four largest industries in the Pioneer Valley region, by total employment, were
healthcare and social assistance, educational services, retail trade, manufacturing, and
accommodation and food services. These four sectors account for 65% of the employment in
the Pioneer Valley region.
Figure 16: Employment in the Pioneer Valley Region by Major Industry, 2012 and 2017
Source: Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, ES-202 Program, 2017
Note: Beginning with the first quarter 2013, a code change for employees from private households (NAICS 814110) into services for the elderly and persons with disabilities
NAICS 624120) moved 33,960 employees in Massachusetts in January 2013 on QCEW.
Despite the large number of people employed in manufacturing, employment in the industry fell
7% between 2012 and 2017. This decline represents the ongoing transition from a
manufacturing based economy to a service and knowledge based economy. Other industries
that experienced significant decreases were: other services (45%), information (14%), and
finance and insurance (4%).
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Figure 17: Change in Pioneer Valley Region Employment by Major Industry, 2012 to 2017
Source: Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, ES-202 Program, 2017
Work in utilities, finance and insurance, and management of companies and enterprises offer
the highest weekly wages. Each industry offers a weekly wage greater than $1,500 (see Figure
18).
Educational services and healthcare and social assistance, the region’s top employment
sectors, have average weekly wages of $1,015 and $877, respectively. One of the region’s
growing industries – accommodation and food services– is among the lowest paying with
average weekly wages of $359. The particularly low average weekly salary services may be
affected by a high rate of part-time workers in this industry.
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Figure 18: Average Weekly Wages by Industry in the Pioneer Valley Region, 2017
Source: Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, ES-202 Program, 2017
Regional Employment
Within the Pioneer Valley region, almost half (45.2%) of all employment is located in the
urbanized communities of Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, reaching a combined total
employment of over 123,000. The northern urban areas, Northampton and Amherst, employ
over 37,000 people. Other communities with high employment totals include the suburbs directly
around the region’s urban core, such as Westfield, West Springfield, and Agawam each
employing over 12,000 people. The City of Springfield alone is home to 29.8% of the region’s
jobs.
A comparison of average weekly wages and total wages for the region’s employment centers
reveals some discrepancies. The total employment in Springfield in 2015 was over 360% the
total employment of Holyoke, but the total wages paid was more than 430% of the amount paid
in Holyoke, indicative of the much higher average wages for jobs located in Springfield. This is
also shown in the $216 difference in the average weekly wages between Springfield ($1,045)
and Holyoke ($871). Although workers in Chicopee were paid a comparable average weekly
wage ($870) to those in Holyoke, the total employment was lower resulting in lower total wages.
There is a significant gap in total employment and average wages between the northern cities of
Northampton and Amherst. Both the total employment and average weekly wage is higher in
Northampton compared to Amherst. In Northampton, total employment was 19,873, and the
average weekly wage was $1,001. In contrast, total employment in Amherst was 17,508, and
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average weekly wage was a slightly lower $995. In a comparison of suburban towns located
near the urban core cities, like Agawam, East Longmeadow, and Ludlow, there are higher levels
of employment, but lower wages. Total employment was higher in Agawam (12,166) than in
East Longmeadow (8,034) or Ludlow (6,885). However, the average wage in Agawam was
slightly lower at $899 than in East Longmeadow ($914) but higher than Ludlow ($889).
Table 11: Pioneer Valley Region's Top 10 Employment Centers for 2017
Community
Average
Employment
Percent of Region's
Employment
Average
Weekly Wage Total Wages
Springfield
81,462 29.8% $1,045 $4,427,349,868
Holyoke
22,329 8.2% $871 $1,011,319,853
Chicopee
19,991 7.3% $870 $904,457,498
Northampton
19,873 7.3% $1,001 $1,034,329,700
Westfield
18,668 6.8% $937 $909,300,472
West Springfield
17,652 6.5% $822 $754,077,162
Amherst
17,508 6.4% $995 $906,056,086
Agawam
12,166 4.4% $899 $568,743,486
East Longmeadow
8,034 2.9% $889 $318,220,112
Ludlow
6,885 2.5% $889 $318,220,112
Source: Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, 2017
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The regional map showing unemployment rates by workers’ place of residence in 2017 (Figure
19) indicates that some of the region’s largest employment centers also have high
unemployment rates among their residents, suggesting that residents of some urban
communities are not benefiting from their proximity to the region’s leading employers.
Springfield, which had the greatest number of jobs in the region (as seen in Table 11) also had
the highest unemployment rate among residents at 6.4%. Holyoke ranked second for total
employment, yet their unemployment rate (5.6%) ranks second highest in the region for
residents of the community. Chicopee was the third largest employer in 2017, but had an
unemployment rate of 4.6% in 2017.
Figure 19: Unemployment Rates by Worker's Place of Residence, 2017
Source: MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development, 2017
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A comparison of the total employment in the top employment centers in 2017 (Table 11) and the
labor force (Figure 20) indicates that not all of the region’s employment centers are importing
workers from other communities. In communities such as Agawam, Amherst, Chicopee, and
Westfield, the number of workers living there were larger than the number of jobs – indicating
that these communities must export workers to other communities.
However, the total employment in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and West Springfield in
2017 exceeded the number of workers living in those cities in the same year. Therefore, those
regional employment centers are attracting workers from other cities and towns in the region.
The high unemployment rate for residents of the region's larger cities suggests that there is a
skills mismatch between the residents and the needs of employers in these communities.
Figure 20: Labor Force by Place of Residence, 2017
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2017
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Regional Employers
The Pioneer Valley region’s economy is rooted in small businesses. About 94% of businesses in
2011 and 2016 were firms of fewer than 50 employees (Figure 21), and approximately 70% of
firms had fewer than 10 employees.
Figure 20: Numbers of Employers by Size in the Pioneer Valley Region, 2011 and 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2011 and 2016
The percentage of firms employing between 100 and 499 people was 5.5% in 2017 and 0.6%
firms had more than 500 employees in 2017 (Figure 21). Among the region’s largest employers
are Baystate Health, Mercy Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and Holyoke Medical
Center. These large health service sector employers are located in three of the region’s top
employment centers: Springfield, Holyoke, and Northampton (Table 11). In addition, seven of
the region’s colleges and universities are also major employers, and some of the largest
employers in the region are firms with national name recognition, such as MassMutual Life
Insurance Co. and C&S Wholesale Grocers.
For more detailed information about commute trends around major employment centers in the
region, please see the Commute Trends digest at www.pvpc.org.
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For extensive analysis of the businesses that are growing in the region, please see the Pioneer
Valley Growth Business Study completed in 2013. The full study and executive summary are
also available on the PVPC website.
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Table 12: Major Employers in the Pioneer Valley Region in 2017
Company Name Location Primary Industry Code
Total
Employees
5,000-9,999 Employees
Baystate Health Inc Springfield General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 8,859
Massachusetts University-Amh Amherst Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 8,440
Big Y World Class Markets Springfield Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers 5,600
1,000-4,999 Employees
Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins Springfield
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related
Activities 3,500
Westover Air Reserve Base Chicopee National Security 4,600
Mercy Medical Center Springfield General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 3,415
MGM Springfield Springfield Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 3,000
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Northampton General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1,899
ServiceNet Inc Northampton Administration of Human Resource Programs 1,750
Westfield State University Westfield Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,550
Center for Human Development Springfield Administration of Human Resource Programs 1,500
American Outdoor Brands Corp
(formerly Smith and Wesson) Springfield Small Arms Manufacturing 1,480
Holyoke Medical Ctr Holyoke General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1,416
Smith College Northampton Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,200
Mt Holyoke College South Hadley Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,000
Springfield College Springfield Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,000
Verizon Springfield Communication Services 1,000
500-999 Employees
Holyoke Community College Holyoke Junior Colleges 939
J Polep Distribution Svc Chicopee Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers 925
Baystate Wing Hospital Palmer General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 913
Western New England University Springfield Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 855
Springfield Technical Community
College Springfield Junior Colleges 792
Peter Pan Bus Lines Springfield Transportation Services 750
Lenox
East
Longmeadow Machine Tool Manufacturing 650
ISO New England Inc Holyoke Utilities 580
TD Bank Springfield
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related
Activities 575
Baystate Noble Hospital Westfield General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 564
C & S Wholesale Grocers Inc Hatfield Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers 500
Hampshire College Amherst Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 500
Source: MA Department of Labor & Workforce Development, 2017
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The Infrastructure
Housing
Where homes have been built and will continue to get built, as well as the type and
characteristics of our housing, is a reflection of land use policies, the strength or weakness of
the housing market, mortgage lending practices, housing discrimination, transportation
networks, topography, and public infrastructure. Our settlement patterns and built environment
are also a reflection of structural issues such as economic security and educational attainment,
which taken together can promote or hinder self-sufficiency, mobility and residents' abilities to
obtain and maintain stable housing situations. One who does not need to worry about finding a
safe and decent place to live can devote time to other pressing concerns, such as education,
employment, personal health and community well-being. Housing is a basic human need and
one of the most significant expenditures individuals and families face. This region needs a full
range of housing opportunities that are affordable to households of all racial and ethnic
backgrounds, abilities, and income ranges to ensure that our region remains economically
competitive.
Housing Market
In the first decade of the 2000s, particularly between 2005 and 2007, housing prices rose in the
region as well as nationwide. Although the housing market crash impacted the region, with a
decrease in median single-family home prices by 14% between 2007 and 2012, the housing
market has since returned to pre-recession home prices (Figure 22). Between 2012 and 2017,
median single-family home prices increased by 14.6% in the region. The first signal of this shift
occurred in 2013 when the regional median sale price for a single family home of $191,382
surpassed the 2009 regional median sale price of $185,060. In 2017, this figure reached
$203,820. Figure 22 also shows how household incomes have not kept pace with increased
housing costs.
Our region has strong and weak housing markets which affect the cost of housing, the quality of
housing, and the demand for housing. Figure 23 demonstrates the significant variation of our
region’s strong and weak housing markets in the form of single-family home prices. The
communities with the strongest housing markets had median sale prices over $300,000,
including Amherst, Pelham, Hadley, and Longmeadow. At the same time, more than half of the
communities in the region had median sale prices under $200,000. The strong market
communities tend to be the most desirable communities in the region. Strong demand for
homes in these communities is driven by having good schools, low crime rates, and low poverty
rates. Housing in these communities tends to have higher sale prices, home values, and higher
rents, which has the effect of limiting the potential for a household with more limited economic
means from being able to afford to buy or rent in the community.
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The communities with weaker housing markets had median sale prices of single family homes
around or below $150,000. Cummington, Chester, and Springfield experienced the lowest home
prices in the region with Cummington and Chester at $113,000 and $137,000 respectively, and
Springfield at $143,000. Plainfield, Worthington, Chicopee, and Palmer also had lower median
sale prices at or below $175,000 levels in 2017 (Figure 23). Our weak market communities tend
to have low property values and high vacancies. The main revitalization challenge facing our
central cities are weak housing markets. Low property values create a disincentive for
homeowners and landlords to make capital or maintenance improvements to their properties
because the cost of these improvements can be greater than the overall value of the property or
does not increase the value of the property. Divestment from low property values has led to
vacant or deteriorating housing, which creates neighborhood blight and makes for unsafe living
conditions.
Figure 21: Median Household Income and Single-Family Home Prices in the Pioneer Valley
Region, 2007-2017
Source: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, American Community Survey 2017 1-year estimate
Studies conducted as part of the regional housing plan found that weak market cities and towns
in the Pioneer Valley would like to see their communities become desirable places to live—
places of choice—and see a greater variety of market rate housing options created in the vacant
or underutilized upper story spaces of their downtowns as well as on vacant lots and within
underutilized properties that would attract moderate, middle, and upper income households.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are young professionals, empty-nesters, or two person
households who desire to rent apartments or buy condominiums in our cities but are unable to
find housing that suits their tastes in areas they find safe and that have ready access to goods
and services.
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However, the depressed housing market makes it financially difficult to develop new housing on
infill lots or within existing mill and commercial buildings or renovate existing multi-unit
residential buildings for households that would pay market rent. Housing developers point to the
problem that current market rents are typically insufficient to support the cost of new
construction or significant rehabilitation of multi-unit housing. The limited state or federal public
subsidies that exist to help developers fill the financing gap require income-restricted housing as
a condition of receipt of these funds. These restrictions are good practice in many instances but
can also serve as one more barrier to attracting an economically diverse population to urban
neighborhoods and to increasing home-ownership rates.
A weak housing market can exist in spite of an unmet need for housing that is affordable to
residents in that community. A key reason for this disparity is the very low incomes of residents
in our weak market cities and towns. There is tremendous demand for existing affordable
housing units, and these programs all maintain waiting lists. The strong demand for affordable
housing units and lack of sufficient supply of these units is a statewide issue.
Figure 22: Median Sale Price of Single-Family Homes in the Pioneer Valley Region (2017)
Source: The Warren Group 2015
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Housing Affordability
Declines in housing prices over the past decade have not solved the issue of housing
affordability, as incomes have decreased when inflation is factored in. It is generally accepted
that a household can afford a home up to a price that is equal to three times the household
yearly income. Households who pay more than this for a home are considered “cost-burdened”
and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical
care as well as saving for their future and that of their families. The median household income in
the Pioneer Valley in 2017 of $55,666 translates into approximately $167,000 of purchasing
power for a home. Only four out of forty-three communities in the region had median housing
prices equal to or less than that amount in 2017.
Springfield and Holyoke have many homes available for under $150,000 and are actively
promoting their affordable home-ownership opportunities through programs such as “Buy
Springfield Now” and “Buy Holyoke Now” as a way to attract first-time homebuyers into their
cities. At the same time, several communities such as Amherst, Pelham and Hadley have
remained consistently unaffordable to households that earn below the region’s median
household income.
Figure 23: Pioneer Valley Region Housing Affordability Ratio (Median Price/Median Income), 2007-
2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS; SAIPE; Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 2007-2017
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Another way to examine the problem is through the use of a housing affordability ratio (See
Figure 24). The Pioneer Valley’s housing affordability ratio can be calculated by dividing the
median price of a single family home by the median household income. Therefore an
affordability ratio above 3.0 is of concern because it means that, statistically, a household with
the median income in the region cannot afford a single family home at the median price. The
affordability ratio steadily climbed starting in 1997, and passed the 3.0 threshold in 2001.
Although the affordability ratio decreased between 2007 and 2012, it increased slightly from
3.46 in 2012 to 3.66 in 2017. This is an indication that the increase in housing prices between
2012 and 2017 has outpaced the concurrent increase in incomes, thereby limiting housing
affordability. A ratio of 3.66 is of concern. In the long run, the issue of housing affordability will
continue to be very important, especially if incomes do not increase or if increases in income do
not keep pace with rising housing prices.
Transportation
Vehicle Roadways
The Pioneer Valley area is considered the crossroads of transportation in western
Massachusetts. Situated at the intersection of the area’s major highways, Interstate 90
(Massachusetts Turnpike) traveling east-west and Interstate 91 traveling north-south, the region
offers easy access to all markets in the eastern United States and Canada. Major southern New
England population centers are accessible within hours.
The interstate expressways (I-90 and I-91) link most of the major urban centers in the region.
The basic highway network, including interstate highways, U.S. numbered routes, state routes,
and other traffic arteries, provides access to all municipalities in the region, both urban and
rural. The pattern of principal arterial highways in the region is radial, extending outwards from
each of the region’s major centers, a consequence of development and topographic influences.
Of the existing transportation facilities in the Pioneer Valley region, major bridge crossings
remain a focal point of regional transportation concerns, as many streets and highways
converge into a limited number of crossings over the Connecticut, Westfield, and Chicopee
rivers.
Table 13: Driving Distances and Times from Springfield to Select Urban Centers
Destination Distance in Miles Estimated Driving Time
Albany 85 1.5 hours
Boston 91 1.5 hours
Montreal 301 5.5 hours
New York City 140 3.0 hours
Philadelphia 260 5.0 hours
Washington, DC 400 8.0 hours
Source: PVPC, Regional Transportation Plan for the Pioneer Valley – 2016 Update
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Table 14: Major Interstate Highways Serving the Pioneer Valley Region
Interstate Highway
Principle
Orientation
Number of
Interchanges
in the Region
Road
Mileage in
the Region
Toll
Road?
I-90 East/West 6 46.08 Yes
I-91 North/South 22 31.17 No
I-291
Connector
(Springfield to I-90) 6 5.44 No
I-391
Connector (I-91 to
Chicopee/Holyoke) 6 3.82 No
Source: PVPC, Regional Transportation Plan for the Pioneer Valley – 2016 Update
In general, traffic on the region’s roadways has been increasing. Between 1999 and 2009 the
estimated number of daily vehicle miles traveled (DVMT) in the Pioneer Valley region rose
about nearly half of a million miles per day, from about 14.76 million to about 15.23 million. The
magnitude of increase is shared in the region’s rural areas. Table 15 presents the commute
times for each of the Pioneer Valley communities in 2000 and 2017. The 4.6% increase in
commuter times can be attributed to several major trends including a rise in vehicle ownership
and the onset of several major roadway improvement projects, such as the Great River Bridge
in Westfield.
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Table 15: Pioneer Valley Region Average Commute Times to Work
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census and 2013-17 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
2000 2013-2017 % Change
Massachusetts 27 29.3 8.5%
Pioneer Valley Region 21.8 22.8 4.6%
Hampden County 21.8 22.6 3.7%
Hampshire County 21.9 23.2 5.9%
Agawam 20.5 21.2 3.4%
Amherst 18 17.1 -5.0%
Belchertown 28.1 28.2 0.4%
Blandford 37.5 36.6 -2.4%
Brimfield 30.1 35.8 18.9%
Chester 38.9 35.7 -8.2%
Chesterfield 29.4 32.8 11.6%
Chicopee 19.3 19.1 -1.0%
Cummington 38.3 33.3 -13.1%
East Longmeadow 21.9 24.7 12.8%
Easthampton 21.1 24.2 14.7%
Goshen 31 32.1 3.5%
Granby 20.6 24.7 19.9%
Granville 29.5 34.6 17.3%
Hadley 21.9 19.9 -9.1%
Hampden 26.4 27.4 3.8%
Hatfield 20.9 21.3 1.9%
Holland 34.2 32.9 -3.8%
Holyoke 18.6 19.8 6.5%
Huntington 34.4 31.4 -8.7%
Longmeadow 20.3 22.9 12.8%
Ludlow 21.3 24.7 16.0%
Middlefield 41.6 38.3 -7.9%
Monson 29.5 28.8 -2.4%
Montgomery 29.7 30.1 1.3%
Northampton 20 21.6 8.0%
Palmer 22.9 28 22.3%
Pelham 22.3 23.6 5.8%
Plainfield 33.5 33.9 1.2%
Russell 28.1 29.6 5.3%
South Hadley 19.4 22.2 14.4%
Southampton 24.8 27.4 10.5%
Southwick 26.4 27.9 5.7%
Springfield 21.5 21.3 -0.9%
Tolland 39.4 38.8 -1.5%
Wales 36.7 35.1 -4.4%
Ware 25.8 28.1 8.9%
West Springfield 20.9 21.5 2.9%
Westfield 22.6 22.1 -2.2%
Westhampton 25.2 24.4 -3.2%
Wilbraham 24.3 26.8 10.3%
Williamsburg 23.3 25.6 9.9%
Worthington 40.5 39.4 -2.7%
Mean Driving Time to Work
(minutes)
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Transit Routes
The Pioneer Valley has a well-developed public transit system that includes local bus service,
ADA and senior paratransit van service, intercity bus service, and passenger rail. In addition,
there are formal and informal park-and-ride lots, as well as ridesharing and car rental services
that offer more options for accessing and leveraging transit services. Train service was
expanded to Northampton and Holyoke in 2015, and additional passenger rail services and
facilities are expected to begin operating in the fall of 2019. These will greatly enhance transit
capacity in the region. All of these elements are vital contributors to mobility options for the
region’s residents.
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), established in 1974, is the largest of the
Commonwealth’s 14 regional transit authorities. A total of 24 municipalities are members of the
PVTA service area. PVTA oversees the operation of 189 buses and 142 vans throughout
Hampden and Hampshire Counties, as well as two municipalities in Franklin County. The PVTA
system has 42 scheduled bus routes that provide service in urban centers, as well as outlying
suburban and rural areas.
Figure 24: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority System Wide
Annual Bus and Van Trips 2008-2018
Source: PVTA Annual Reports
Fourteen towns in the PVPC region (which are not members of PVTA) contract with the Franklin
Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) based in Greenfield, for senior paratransit service. These
towns are: Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield,
Montgomery, Plainfield, Russell, Southampton, Southwick, Westhampton, and Worthington.
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Intercity bus service in the region is provided by Peter Pan Bus Lines, Greyhound Lines and
Megabus. These companies operate a mix of routes to destinations within the region, as well as
connections throughout New England and the country. Other private bus carriers provide
charters and package tours.
The regional transit system includes the following bus terminals and hubs:
Springfield Union Station, an intermodal transportation center, is the major bus station in
western Massachusetts, serving as the hub for 20 PVTA Springfield-area routes, Peter
Pan regional service, and Greyhound regional routes.
Holyoke Transportation Center is the hub for 8 PVTA routes, as well as limited service
by Peter Pan.
Northampton Bus Terminal is served by Peter Pan and Greyhound, with connections to
10 PVTA and FRTA routes at the nearby Academy of Music stop.
Amherst, PVTA and Peter Pan service is available at the UMass Haigis Mall and
Amherst Town Common. VanGo also operates service from Haigis Mall to Boston during
the academic year.
Passenger rail stations for Amtrak service are located at Springfield’s Union Station (Lyman
Street), Northampton Station (Pleasant Street), and Holyoke Station (Main Street). Amtrak's
most frequent service is at Union Station, where 18 trains per day are available to and from
Springfield that provide extensive service within the Northeast. Passenger rail service is
provided on east-west (Lake Shore Limited) north-south (Vermonter) and regional (Northeast
Corridor) routes through the region.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently realigned Amtrak Vermonter service
north of Springfield to restore passenger rail service to the Connecticut River line through
Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield. The success of this service has spurred interest in
additional north/south passenger rail service. In the fall of 2019, MassDOT is expected to begin
a multi-year pilot service between Springfield and Greenfield.
In addition, the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s New Haven-Hartford-Springfield
(NHHS) commuter rail project began operating service on November 12, 2018. The new service
includes six additional trips per day (3 northbound and 3 southbound) between Springfield and
New Haven.
Commercial van shuttles serve an important segment of the region’s transit market. Many
operators focus on service to and from airports and rail stations in New England. Service to
Bradley International is provided hourly from most locations the Pioneer Valley. Service to
Boston, Providence, and New York is also provided, though not on a scheduled basis. Non-
profit organizations also operate shuttles, typically for their clients. Examples include municipal
councils on aging, day care providers and social service agencies.
There are more than 20 taxi companies operating in the region. Taxi companies provide a vital
link in the transportation system by offering mobility during times and at locations when public
transportation is not available. Ride-sharing services have also become more widespread in the
Pioneer Valley in the last several years.
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Non-Motorized Transportation
Bicycling and walking are popular transportation options in the Pioneer Valley. Historic town
centers, vibrant central business districts and a variety of destination are within easy walking or
bicycling distance from many residential areas. An expanding network of bikeways, sidewalks,
and accommodating roadways provide residents with a variety of transportation alternatives.
Many of the region’s city centers offer easily accessibility for pedestrians and are supported by a
strong transit network.
To support the increasing number of people who walk and bike, the Pioneer Valley Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) adopted a Regional Transportation plan that includes policy-
related actions and physical projects that local, state, federal and regional partners can
collaborate on to improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists. The plan includes
recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian features in the design and reconstruction of
roadway projects, sets goals for bicycle and pedestrian safety, and promotes bicycling and
walking through “Complete Street” initiatives.
The Pioneer Valley land use plan “Valley Vision 4” includes zoning and community development
tools to foster environments that support bicycling and walking. The Valley Vision plan (updated
in 2013) lays out a detailed strategy to promote bicycling and walking through compact, mixed
use growth in and around urban, town, and village centers.
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority supports a popular “Rack and Roll” bikes-on-buses
program to the entire region. All fixed route buses in the PVTA fleet (40 routes/180 buses) are
equipped with racks, allowing cyclists to transport their bikes on public service transit lines
throughout much of Hampden and Hampshire County. In 2017 the PVTA bike racks were used
62,778 times (excluding UMass shuttle trips).
In 2016 MassDOT launched the Complete Street Funding Program to incentivize municipal best
practice in Complete Streets policy and implementation. Thirty-eight (38) communities have
participated in MassDOT sponsored Complete Streets training, and 18 communities have
actively participated in the Complete Streets Program (as of 2/2019). Through the program our
communities have initiated projects to make local streets safer and more inviting for people to
walk, run, and bike. These efforts will improve the health of Pioneer Valley residents through
improved opportunities to stay active, reducing chronic disease. As of 2019 twelve communities
in the region have adopted Complete Streets Policies including: Williamsburg, Amherst, South
Hadley, Holyoke, Easthampton, Northampton, Holyoke, West Springfield, Agawam, Springfield,
Longmeadow, and Granville.
Locally, many Pioneer Valley communities have followed MassDOT’s lead by incorporating
“Complete Streets” concepts into the planning and design of local road projects. The City of
Springfield adopted a Complete Streets Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan while the City of Holyoke
and Towns of South Hadley and Amherst adopted their own bicycle and pedestrian plans.
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During the summer of 2018, several municipalities in the Pioneer Valley launched Valley Bike
Share, a bicycle sharing program. Fives municipalities currently have stations (Holyoke,
Springfield, Amherst, South Hadley, and Northampton) and the number is set to increase with
Easthampton adding to the system in 1019 and several other communities expressing interest.
With over 800 members, the Valley bike share logged 43,000 trips and 185,000 miles in the first
season. The bike share opened 2019 season with 54 stations and a goal of 540 bikes.
The region has an ever expanding network of off-road facilities ranging from traditional bike
paths to multi-use trails or linear parks. The PVPC assisted local municipalities on the
installation of more than 350 bicycle parking racks throughout the region’s urban cores with the
capacity to secure more than 900 bicycles. The PVPC also produced a series of instructional
bike-rack installation videos to assist communities and nonprofit organizations which are
available at the PVPC’s video hosting site: http://www.youtube.com/user/PVPCgroup.
Currently seventeen communities provide over 90 miles of bicycle lanes, multi-use paths or “rail
trails” in the region, while several communities have similar projects in the design phase.
The Pioneer Valley communities are active participants in “Baystate Bike Week” with dozens of
activities hosted during the third week of May each year (http://baystatebikeweek.org/). 2019 will
be the twentieth anniversary of this popular program in the Pioneer Valley.
The Norwottuck Branch of the MassCentral Rail Trail is one example of the region’s
commitment to bicycling and walking. The ten-mile Norwottuck Trail links the communities of
Northampton, Hadley, Amherst, and Belchertown, and facilitates travel to and from educational
institutions, downtown commercial areas, major employment centers and residential
neighborhoods. Weekend traffic counts show an average of 1,200 people per day utilize the
Trail during the peak season which includes when local colleges and the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst are in session. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR) and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reconstructed
the original 1992 “Norwottuck Rail Trail” (now part of the MassCemtral Rail Trail) in June 2015
after 2 years of construction. The reconstructed path is wider in most places, incorporate a
number of accessibility and intersection improvements including re-decked the bridges.
In 2018 construction was completed on a MassDOT tunnel project by Northern Construction
Services. The $4.4 million tunnel under the active north-south Amtrak rail corridor provides
significant connection between the MassCentral Rail Trail and the New Haven and Northampton
Canal Greenway and the Manhan Rail Trail.
In 2019 the Town of West Springfield opened the newest section of the Connecticut River,
addressing a need for visual access to the river while providing improved access to canoe
launch.
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Eighty-three (83) schools in the Pioneer Valley activity participate in the Massachusetts “Safe
Routes to School Programs.” Safe Routes to School (SRTS) promotes healthy alternatives for
children and parents in their travel to and from school. The program educates students, parents
and community members on the value of walking and bicycling and provides funding for
sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic calming measures. Funding for construction projects is also
available through the Safe Routes to School Program. School that have participated in this
program in the past include the William E. Norris School in Southampton, Jackson Street School
in Northampton, Doering and Robinson Park Schools in Agawam, Blueberry Hill School in
Longmeadow, and Bridge Street School in Northampton. The “revised” Safe Routes to School
program also includes funding for painting and markings in the “lines and signs” part of the
program.
PVTA Bike Rack Usage through 2017
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Appendix C: Committed Projects in the Region
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Major Committed Projects of Regional Significance
The following regionally significant projects are planned or under way in the Pioneer Valley region in
2019:
Project Key Implementer(s) Public
or Private?
Total
Estimated
Cost
North Square at the Mill District, Amherst Beacon Communities; W.D.
Cowls
Private $47.5 M
Ludlow Mills Clock Tower Building –
Mixed Use
Winn Development Private $40 M
One Ferry Street Mill Mixed Use
Redevelopment, Easthampton
Michael Michon Private $43 M
31 Elm Street Mixed Use Redevelopment,
Springfield
OPAL Development, Winn
Development, MGM
Springfield
Private $56 M
Big Y Foods Distribution Center
Expansion, Springfield Big Y Foods Private $35 M
Cabotville Mills Mixed Use Development,
Chicopee Silverbrick Group Private $45 M
Colvest Group Bank and Retail
Development, Holyoke Colvest Group Private $8 M
Educare Springfield
Davis Foundation; Holyoke-
Chicopee-Springfield Head
Start
Public/Private $14 M
Hotel and Indoor Climbing/Skydiving Pioneer Valley Hotel Group Private $37 M
J. Polep Expansion, Chicopee J. Polep Private $8 M
Burnett Road Hotel and Restaurant
Complex, Chicopee Dinesh Patel Private $45 M
Springfield YMCA Housing Renovation Home City Development Non-Profit $12 M
River Valley Co-op – Easthampton
location River Valley Co-op Private TBD
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CRRC Warehouse, Springfield CRRC Private $4 M
Way Finders Headquarters Way Finders Public/Private $16 M
RiverMills Assisted Living, Chicopee DS Development Private $25 M
MassMutual, Springfield Headquarters Improvements Private $50 M
Springfield Innovation Center DevelopSpringfield;
MassDevelopment
Public/
Private $7 M
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of
Fame Renovations
Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame
Private $30 M
Paramount Theater and Massasoit
Building, Springfield
New England Farm Workers
Council Public/ Private $41 M
Check Writers Corporate Headquarters -
former Clarke School Check Writers Payroll, Inc. Private $4 M
Lyman Mills Redevelopment Mount Holyoke Development Private $7 M
TOTAL COMMITTED FUNDS $574.5+ M
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Appendix D: Business Survey Results
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2018 Pioneer Valley Business Survey
In the fall of 2018, PVPC distributed a business survey to local businesses and organizations at two major
Chamber of Commerce events in Chicopee and Westfield. The survey sought input on the challenges
that employers and their workers are currently facing in the Pioneer Valley Region business
environment. In total, 49 individuals completed the survey, representing a diverse range of 36
businesses and organizations.
The most critical issue identified by organizations across both communities was the cost of health care
for employers and employees. This is not surprising given that most (17/36) of the organizations who
participated in the survey were small organizations with less than 25 employees. Other critical issues
identified by local organizations included finding qualified high-skill employees, cyber security
challenges, and needs for ongoing employee training and skill development.
The least critical issue identified by Pioneer Valley organizations was exporting products and services.
Over a third (17/49) of survey respondents work for non-profit organizations, which may in part
contribute to this low ranking. Disparaging media coverage of the community/region, available business
resources not serving the business, and finding financial/planning/legal business help when needed
were also identified as less critical challenges facing local organizations.
Survey respondents showed overwhelming support for efforts to expand east-west and north-south
railway connections, with only one respondent expressing that he or she would not support an
expansion. Many respondents emphasized their support for an expansion in the “Comments” section of
the survey, with one individual noting that the railway must be affordable for commuters. Other
comments touch on the hurdles that permitting, licensure, banking, and state employee regulations
create for businesses.
Though the findings from the 2018 Business Survey are limited to two communities, they still provide
important insight into significant concerns of Pioneer Valley’s businesses and organizations. Complete
survey results are below.
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Table 1: Name of Business/Organization (# of respondents)
A Plus HVAC Inc. (2)
A. Crane Construction LLC
Aflac
Alan J. Stearly, Money Concepts
Armbrook Village
Baystate Noble (2)
Caolo & Bieniek Architects
East Mountain Country Club
FitChics Unleashed
Forum House
Governor's Center (2)
HCS Head Start Inc. (3)
Liberty Mutual Legal Department
Liptak Emergency Water Removal
Lisa A. Vachon, CPA
Living Hope Church
MassHire Springfield Career Center (2)
Mercy Adult Day Health of Westfield
Mestek, Inc (6)
NAI Plotkin
Netlogix
Optimum Health Therapeutic Massage
Peppermill Catering LLC
Polish National Credit Union (2)
Pop Visa Inc.
Project New Hope Inc.
River Valley Counseling Center
Savage Arms
Sunshine Village (2)
The Chester Foundation Inc.
The Westfield News Group (2)
Tru by Hilton
United Bank
Vivid Hair Salon and Spa
WMDT
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Table 2: Form of Business/Organization
Form of Business/Organization # of Businesses/Organizations
Non-Profit 11
Corporation 10
LLC 5
Sole Proprietorship 4
No Response 3
Other 2
Table 3: Size of Business/Organization
# of Employees # of Businesses/Organizations
1-24 17
25-49 4
50-99 2
100+ 9
Other 1
No Response 2
Table 4: Located in a downtown/village center? # of Businesses/Organizations
Yes 16
No 13
Other 6
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Table 5: How significant are the following concerns for YOUR business?
Topic Weighted Average
Health care costs for employer and employees 2.17
Finding qualified high-skill employees 2.12
Cyber security (viruses, hacking, etc.) 1.87
Needs for ongoing employee training and skill development 1.81
Cost of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil 1.79
Transportation access and conditions, including roads, rail, and/or transit 1.78
Uncertainty over economic conditions 1.75
Staying up to date with computer technology and software 1.74
Reducing energy cost in a cost-effective manner 1.73
Mandatory paid family and/or sick leave 1.72
Finding low-skill/entry-level employees with good "soft skills" 1.67
Electricity cost (rates) 1.67
Government requirements (please note what specifically) 1.67
Access to high-speed internet 1.65
Ease of marketing your business products/services 1.48
Demand for business product or service has decreased over time 1.38
Environmental regulations 1.36
Want to expand but no suitable space available 1.33
Want to grow business but too many obstacles and don't know where to go for help 1.33
Finding business help when needed (financial, planning, legal) 1.33
Available business resources don't serve me or my business (why?) 1.32
Disparaging media coverage of community/region 1.27
Exporting products/services 1.09
Table 6: Do you support our region's ongoing efforts to
expand passenger rail connections north-south with New
York City and to establish an east-west rail link with
Boston?
# of Responses
Yes 37
No 1
No Opinion 6
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Table 7: Please provide any specifics or other comments below:
The Gateway Hilltowns need more promotion (and are working on a marketing campaign - "Gateway
Hilltowns - Naturally"), particularly beyond the Hilltowns. There is an unfair and uninformed view of
the Hilltowns from too many east of our boundaries. We welcome ideas, promotion, and assistance.
PVPC has been a great partner to the Hilltowns and Chester (my town) and we are sincerely
appreciative. We just need to get "the word" out more about our spectacular area. Thank you!! Oh,
and we NEED East-West rail service! Access to a train that runs between Boston and Pittsfield - with a
stop in Chester - will open up the hilltowns to more business, more residents, more awareness. We
welcome and encourage any support and assistance in this area. Thank you.
Increase in minimum wage - this will be a crisis for state funded non-profits as well as other low-
wage/minimum wage employers as well as seniors. It will impact the safety net provided to all citizens
throughout Western MA.; Paid Family Medical Leave Act (this will be a workforce issue as well as a
huge financial issue for the state and the business community); EMAC
One respondent entered multiple checks for "yes" in the "expanding passenger rail" question
Ongoing building code issues/changes; Constant permitting hurdles
(regarding government requirements) Licensure regulations creating additional increased
expenses/cost of staffing, operations and physical plant.
(regarding rail connections) Must be affordable for commuters.
Tough banking regulation that affect small financial institutions. These regulation came about from
what the too big to fail financial institutions and their ways of conducting business.
(regarding expanding passenger rail) "I think it will be great having ridden the train from Northampton
+ I wish it went more often!
(regarding the "governmental requirements" question) state employee laws
I think Insurance Commissioner needs to look at not allowing some insurance products to be sold 65
years old. Example some working wants Aflac accident policy is 65 years old can pay it. How many
people are working in mid 60's, CT allows to age 75. Mandatory sick time is bad for business and if
employees use it, could be penalized. Mandated on disability, I have a lot of examples. Aflac has 10
months for childbirth, someone starts work June 1, Starts disability July 1 and has baby on Feb 22, Aflac
will not pay. Now does the employee need to pay? Rail concerned about the cost for east west rail.
Problem - transportation clients
Changes to MassHealth/DMH funding Lack of public transportation for members in Hill towns and after
business hours
I would like to know how I can get my catering business presence in local Westfield businesses. I know
for a fact most of our local businesses are using Holyoke Caterers. Westfield should support Westfield.
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Table 9: Business/Organization Type
Business/Organization Type # of Businesses/Organizations
Social Services 6
Financial Services/Insurance 4
Nursing Home/Assisted Living 3
Manufacturing 2
Utilities 2
Bank 2
Health/Wellness 2
Construction/Architecture 2
Hospital 1
News/Media 1
Real Estate 1
Country Club 1
Legal Services 1
Hair Salon 1
Food Services/Catering 1
Computer Support/Services 1
Transportation 1
Hotel 1
Charity Organization 1
Church 1
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Appendix E: Economic Resilience Planning
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Disaster Resilience: Business and Economic Development Issues in the Pioneer Valley
The business community has a unique set of needs in disaster response, recovery and resiliency. It has
been reported that 40% of businesses never reopen after a disaster, and of those who do open, at least
25% fail within two years (U.S. Department of Labor). The business community and those who serve
them often experience gaps in disaster response coordination because many of the existing emergency
preparedness and response procedures and resources are primarily aimed at residents, municipalities
and large institutions. Issues include the need for emergency funds, relocation assistance, and technical
assistance to adapt business models to changing conditions. There may be language and/or cultural
barriers for many small businesses, and frequently in these cases, they may be underinsured.
The Pioneer Valley region experienced three significant natural disasters in 2011: a tornado that
destroyed a half-mile wide swath primarily in Hampden County; Tropical Storm Irene that caused flood
damage throughout the region particularly in the agricultural sector; and the “October Snowstorm,” a
severe winter storm that occurred while foliage was still on the trees. In response to these weather
events, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) announced major disaster declarations
for the communities which comprise Hampden and Hampshire Counties.
Many businesses needed months and years to recover from effects of these events, which included a
tornado, tropical storm, and severe snowstorm. Impacts of these events for businesses included damage
to buildings and equipment, loss of data or paper records, loss of inventory, loss of employees
(temporarily or permanently), and interruption of business for days or weeks (or longer). In many cases,
insurance is inadequate to fully cover losses and/or the company did not have business interruption
insurance. Ultimately, the event may result in business failure due to inadequate capital, impacts to the
supply chain, loss of customers and entire markets, competition, or overwhelming levels of debt
incurred in the effort to start up again.
For planning purposes, the most likely natural disaster events in the Pioneer Valley region as identified
in the Pioneer Valley Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan include hurricanes, dam failure, flooding,
and severe winter storms. Other potential disasters include tornados, drought, wildfires, and
earthquakes. The region has also experienced smaller scale but devastating events such as building fires,
gas explosions, building collapses, and micro-bursts. Regarding these smaller occurrences, most recently
there was a large gas explosion in downtown Springfield, a fire affecting 12 businesses in Hadley, and a
building collapse affecting numerous businesses in Holyoke. It is also possible that the region could
experience acts of terrorism, or chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear disasters.
In many of these cases, the needs and concerns of businesses are quite similar. This section of the CEDS
assesses the systems in place to assist private industry with disaster response and recovery from the
federal to the local level. Regardless of the event, what systems and procedures are in place that are
automatically activated?
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Existing Disaster Recovery Framework
Summary
The existing system is the result of a series of disaster recovery laws and policies, beginning with the
Disaster Relief Act in 1950 and most recently with the National Disaster Recovery Framework
established in 2011 by Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-8: National Preparedness). The new Framework
provides a continuum of support from the federal to the state and local level, and is particularly oriented
toward incidents that are large-scale or catastrophic.2
Six new “recovery support functions” include housing, infrastructure, economic recovery, health and
social services, community planning and capacity building, and natural and cultural resources. Each of
these utilize existing governmental agencies and partners to coordinate response efforts. Most relevant
to business and economic development needs, the federal government has now designated the
Department of Commerce as the lead agency for Economic Development Support, a suggestion made in
the past by IEDC and NADO3.
This section gives a brief overview of the main components of the system, including federal, state,
regional and local entities that are involved in assisting the business community.
Federal Disaster Recovery Framework: Economic Recovery Support Function
U.S. Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Small Business
Administration (SBA)
The Department of Commerce oversees numerous pre- and post-disaster recovery initiatives in
coordination with other federal agencies; those that are discussed here pertain to direct business
assistance and involvement. These federal response efforts are intended to provide technical assistance,
data, and seed funding to businesses after a disaster event in order to facilitate private re-investment.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is the coordinating agency on behalf of the
Department of Commerce for economic recovery from a disaster. The EDA and a diverse group of
partner agencies, including the Small Business Administration, assist affected communities primarily
through technical assistance and funding that leverages existing resources. Immediately following a
disaster, EDA staff is deployed to affected areas, working with Economic Development Districts and
other local and regional economic development practitioners, to collect on-the-ground information and
assess needs. When funding is available, it may be used for strategic planning and technical assistance,
disaster recovery coordinators, infrastructure design/engineering and construction, and revolving loan
funds. All of these may involve business assistance.
2 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security. National Disaster
Recovery Framework: Strengthening Disaster Recovery for the Nation. September 2011.
3 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and National Association of Development Organizations
(NADO), An Improved Federal Response to Post-Disaster Economic Recovery: Final Report. January 2010, p. 9.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with local organizations including SCORE, the
SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers) and local chambers of commerce, to conduct local
outreach after a disaster occur and provides direct assistance to businesses through its Disaster Loan
Program. For businesses, loans are available for physical damage and/or economic injury, with low
interest rates and very long repayment periods (up to 30 years). The SBA Office of Disaster Assistance is
able to expand capacity as needed to meet small to large-scale disasters, utilizing its network of district
offices and additional staff as needed.4
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA’s role is separate from most business-related concerns. However, businesses are required to
register with FEMA first following certain types of presidentially declared disasters, so that an accurate
assessment of damages can be made. They are then asked to register and apply separately to SBA for
loans. In other disasters, they may either not be eligible for SBA loans or may be able to apply to SBA
without going to FEMA first. Thus, the role of FEMA vs. the SBA is confusing to most businesses, and
they find it to be cumbersome to deal with both agencies.
Massachusetts State Agencies and Organizations
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED)
The EOHED is the state agency that addresses business needs, including disaster response and recovery.
The Division of Community Development within the EOHED administers Community Development Block
Grants (CDBG) and CDBG-DR or Disaster Recovery grants (see below), and the Office of Business
Development has regional staff that is available to assist in times of disaster. The EOHED Secretary or
staff conducts outreach to sites affected by major disasters, assesses needs, and coordinates response,
including setting up and participating in Disaster Recovery Centers. After the 2011 disasters, a
conference call protocol was set in place, originally initiated by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and
Tourism (MOTT). The call connects the state agencies including EOHED, MOTT, and MassDOT with
Regional Tourism Council (RTC) Directors, Chamber of Commerce Directors, and others throughout the
affected regions. State officials seek information and reports about what is happening in each region,
generally daily for a few days, then periodically as needed.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA)
The EOEEA has established a Climate Change Clearinghouse for the Commonwealth, called resilientMA,
providing extensive information and resources for all communities and regions. The EOEEA has also
initiated a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program for all communities in the Commonwealth,
and the PVPC is assisting many Pioneer Valley region communities to become certified.
4 U.S. Small Business Administration. Disaster Recovery Plan. July 31, 2010.
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Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD)
Under the Office of Housing and Economic Development, the regional office of the MOBD represents
the state when needed. Regional staff are available to assist at Disaster Recovery Centers and
conducting outreach to affected businesses.
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
CDBG-DR funds come from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development through the state DHCD, generally
well after the disaster event is over. These funds can be used for business recovery and economic
development. In order to obtain these funds, each community must apply to the state with project
proposals; therefore the intent to use funds for businesses must come directly from the municipality.
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for
coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters.
Among other responsibilities, MEMA provides leadership to “assist individuals, families, businesses and
communities to mitigate against, prepare for and respond to and recover from emergencies, both
natural and manmade.” Massachusetts communities are required to prepare emergency management
plans and submit to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The Electronic
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans, or e-CEMPs, are web-based programs that allow
Emergency Management Directors in each community to develop preparedness plans. Communities are
also required to prepare Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plans and submit to MEMA and FEMA in order
to be eligible for hazard mitigation funding. Emergency Management Directors in each community
communicate directly with MEMA during a crisis. Their information is collected and displayed in MEMA’s
Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). For western MA events, the EOC is in Agawam.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)
AIM is a statewide employer association with regional offices. After disaster events such as the tornado
and Tropical Storm Irene, AIM helps employers navigate human resources concerns such as how to
notify employees, pay requirements under disaster conditions, and special provisions for various
scenarios. AIM also posts blogs on their website and social media sites with updates and information
when there is no electrical power.
Regional and Local Entities
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC)
WRHSAC is a volunteer Council charged by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and
Security to administer and coordinate the State Homeland Security Grant for the four counties of
Western Massachusetts: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden. Funded activities are regional in
scope and build and enhance capabilities that enable the region to prevent, protect against, mitigate,
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respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risks. The project is
coordinated by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) as fiscal agent.
The members represent the first responder disciplines as identified by the Department of Homeland
Security but does not include economic development agencies or business leaders. WHRSAC operates its
own website plus www.westernmassready.org (READY stands for Rapid Emergency Action Depends on
You), a website devoted to helping residents and businesses prepare for and deal with an emergency or
disaster. The BusinessREADY section of the website provides basic guidelines for businesses. In 2008,
WRHSAC prepared and distributed a brochure called “Getting Back to Business: Establishing a Disaster
Preparedness Continuity of Operations Plan.” The brochure includes basic guidelines for preparedness
and recovery as well as links to additional resources. It is available online at
http://westernmassready.org/business-ready/make-a-plan/.
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG)
The FRCOG serves as fiduciary agent to the Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council
(WRHSAC) and also conducts extensive Emergency Preparedness planning for the region under contract
with WRHSAC. FRCOG has also assisted with the promotion of business continuity planning,
development of brochures, and outreach to the business community. After Tropical Storm Irene, FRCOG
also helped coordinate Business Continuity Workshops.
Community Development Corporations (CDCs)
Several CDCs serve the Pioneer Valley region: the Franklin County CDC, Valley CDC, and Hilltown CDC. A
non-profit organization formed to assist homeowners after the 2011 tornado in Springfield has been
certified as a new community development corporation, Revitalize CDC. In addition to homeowner
assistance, they have added a small business technical assistance program targeting the underserved
Latino community in the city. The CDCs provide technical assistance and have a small staff available to
assist after a disaster, particularly in coordinating with chambers and other service providers.
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC)
The western office of the MSBDC is located in Springfield. The MSBDC provides business advisory
services on an appointment basis and is generally not involved in disaster recovery efforts, given that
one of its sponsors, the SBA, plays that role. Funding for this office comes through the state and the
University of Massachusetts and is matched 2:1 by the SBA.
SCORE
SCORE is a national organization of volunteer business advisors, affiliated with the SBA. Its western
Massachusetts chapter has six locations. In several cases in the Pioneer Valley, SCORE advisors were
invited to help work with businesses after a disaster.
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Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce have no official or prescribed role in disaster preparedness or recovery.
However, in recent years, many chambers have been forced by circumstances to address catastrophic
events in their regions. Some chambers in particularly disaster-prone areas have developed special
programming and resources to help their members and other businesses to be more disaster resilient.
Chamber directors can reach their members easily; however, many businesses do not belong to the
chamber and will be left out of communication and assistance efforts. Chambers can also disseminate
information from affected business to potential clients and customers. For example, when the Deerfield
Inn was flooded in Tropical Storm Irene, the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau posted
information that they were temporarily closed. In some cases, businesses will help each other if they
already know one another; according to chamber directors, the hospitality industry is fairly well-
connected and will work out various arrangements among themselves.
Municipal Officials
Municipalities are responsible for coordinating activities within their jurisdiction and are required by the
state to prepare Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs). The guidelines for plan
preparation include provisions for assistance to businesses, but only as a relatively limited section of the
plans. Each community has a local Emergency Management Director (EMD) and Local Emergency
Planning Committee (LEPC) or is a member of a Regional Emergency Planning Committees (REPC). REPCs
and LEPCs are established in each community under federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations meant to control hazardous materials. They must complete emergency plans that are
consistent with other emergency preparedness efforts of the community.
Each community is different and has different needs after a disaster, particularly in this region of the
state, where municipal populations range from 500 to over 150,000. Smaller towns may have a fire or
police chief who is also the town’s emergency management director, and do not have planning,
community development, or economic development staff to assist businesses after a disaster. The
region’s cities, on the other hand, have emergency preparedness officials as well as additional staff that
can be deployed to help conduct outreach after a disaster.
Best Practices
The following are brief summaries of some of the best practices that have been utilized in this region
and others. Additional recommendations are provided in the Final Recommendations section.
Communication with Business Community
The best and most efficient means of communicating with most businesses is through the local business
association and/or chamber of commerce. In Buckland, MA, the Emergency Management Plan now
specifies that municipal officials will communicate directly with the Shelburne Falls Area Business
Association in times of disaster or crisis. For non-member businesses, the most efficient means of
communicating is via municipal officials, including the Chief Elected Official and the Emergency
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Management Director. This is much easier if a database of businesses has been compiled prior to a
disaster event occurring. Ideally, every municipality would have an easily accessible database of all
businesses within their borders. “Robocall” systems are also helpful for this, but businesses need to be
signed up in the community the business is in.
On Cape Cod, the regional chamber of commerce serves the entire county; in other areas, if the largest
regional chambers are able to extend and expand their reach temporarily and work with other
chambers, this collaboration and communication can be a lifeline for those in less populated areas.
Door to door outreach conducted in Springfield after the tornado and in Vermont after the flooding was
extremely helpful to businesses in terms of knowing possible avenues for support. In particular, the
ability of staff to speak Spanish was critical for some Latino business owners.
In Joplin, Missouri, which is significantly smaller than Springfield but larger than most Pioneer Valley
communities, a Joint Information Committee included not only municipal officials and the business
community but also schools, hospitals, non-profits and housing agencies. Even small communities could
convene as many of these groups as possible.
Social media was also used to excellent effect in Monson following the tornado, as well as in Joplin and
Cape Cod.
Emergency Loans or Grants
Because SBA loans take time to process and are not available to all, and building funds from a hospitality
sales tax takes even longer, even modest emergency loan funds created by the community can be
critical to helping businesses in the short run. In the 2011 disasters, the Amherst Area Chamber and CISA
were instrumental in raising and distributing funds to businesses who desperately needed them. Ideally,
such funds would be available from state agencies on an as-needed basis.
Designated Technical Assistance
If communities are able to obtain funding from EDA or other sources for a staff person to conduct
outreach and technical assistance specifically to disaster victims (as did Dover and Wilmington VT), that
can be a significant help in the medium to long-term, as businesses rebuild, relocate and re-evaluate
their market.
Other
Other strategies include:
When businesses register with the town clerk, give them emergency contact and resource
information.
Use Reverse 911 or Code Red system –if your business is in the town but you live elsewhere, you
need to be sure to sign up.
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Chambers must contact BOS and EMDs to insist on inclusion.
Chambers should also contact EMDs during the event to be sure that they are receiving accurate
and up-to-date information.
Chambers should use social media, including Facebook and Twitter, to post messages about the
storm or event and updates that affect businesses.
Emergency preparedness information can be included on chamber and municipal websites.
Educate EMDs in each community.
Use robocalls to contact businesses.
Think through statewide calls more; what are the expectations? Who should be on the calls?
Clarify roles of FEMA and SBA after disaster.
Recommendations
Many of the reports and analyses done addressing the needs of businesses in disaster response and
recovery have been very comprehensive and resulted in numerous recommendations for change. In
some cases, there are dozens of individual steps to be taken. This may be a further obstacle to
improvement, as change is too overwhelming. Therefore, here only three recommendations are made
for each level of government or business-related entity. The primary one in each case is to build
relationships, which are ultimately what all parties will rely upon in disaster scenarios.
TOP THREE recommendations for businesses:
1) Build relationships in advance. Strengthen your networks and establish relationships with
someone who can help if disaster strikes.
2) Make a simple plan for the worst case scenario – even a “back-of-the-envelope” plan. Think it
through.
3) Seek technical assistance after a disaster even if it feels like there isn’t time. You’ll need to re-
evaluate your business plan, including market area, supply chain and customer base.
TOP THREE recommendations for chambers, business service providers and local economic
development staff:
1) Be aware of potential disaster recovery needs and know that you may be called upon to help.
Know that businesses will need a variety of technical assistance and support after an adverse
event.
2) Build relationships! Discuss and address business continuity planning with your members and
clients. Understand that they will most likely not take extensive business continuity planning on
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their own and ask them pertinent questions to begin the process of thinking through key
preparedness actions. For chambers and providers, build and maintain relationships with local
officials.
3) Work with other providers on a regular basis and particularly in times of crisis, and consider the
possibility of starting a community-supported emergency loan fund after a disaster event.
TOP THREE recommendations for municipalities
1) Take opportunities to have conversations with municipal emergency response staff, local and
regional chambers of commerce, and state-level staff at the Executive Office of Housing and
Economic Development (EOHED), including the Massachusetts Office of Business Development
(MOBD) about disaster recovery issues.
2) Establish a database of businesses in your community, perhaps as part of the process of granting
permits and licenses.
3) Provide pertinent local disaster preparedness information (contacts, procedures, etc.) to
businesses, possibly at your city or town hall when they apply for business permits.
TOP THREE recommendations for state and federal government agencies:
1) Evaluate and streamline FEMA and SBA process at Disaster Recovery Centers established onsite
after a disaster has occurred.
2) Re-evaluate “unmet” need criteria and eligibility requirements for CDBG-DR business recovery
funding. Strive to make the funding available more quickly to greater numbers of affected
businesses.
3) Incorporate this subject into economic development seminars, conferences, etc., as part of
business resilience so that government officials, economic development practitioners, and
business providers can be more prepared.
Implementation Projects
1) Chambers of Commerce: Education and Outreach
The Fall 2011 Chamber Executive article, “After the Headlines: Chamber Execs Lead Disaster Recovery
Work,” is extremely useful and relevant and has been an excellent resource for chamber leaders. It
provides numerous examples of chambers of commerce dealing with natural disasters in their
communities, such as in Joplin, Missouri, and summarizes specific actions and approaches that can be
taken.
2) Municipal Emergency Planning and Preparedness
The PVPC has strengthened the emphasis on incorporating businesses and economic development
issues into Hazard Mitigation plans and E-CEMPs prepared for the region’s communities, because of the
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fundamental disconnect on the local level between the business community and emergency
planners/public safety personnel. During the Hazard Mitigation planning efforts, local governments and
emergency planners are encouraged by PVPC staff to begin to think about including local business
representatives more directly in their process and to ultimately develop more of a working relationship
with the business community.
3) Plan for Progress Coordinating Council
The Coordinating Council oversees the Five-Year CEDS and its annual updates. Economic resilience is
incorporated throughout the CEDS and specifically in certain goals and strategies. Coordinating Council
meetings address implementation projects in the region and have included resilience issues such as
extending broadband access, development of clean energy and clean energy storage capacity, workforce
training for local industries including health care and IT, and local emergency and disaster preparedness.
4) Collaboration: Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD)
A Pioneer Valley COAD organization was developed after the 2011 disasters. A COAD is an affiliation of
organizations that assist residents after a disaster, such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Food Bank,
etc. Chambers of commerce could help coordinate those needs and also be kept better informed in the
process. In our region, many residents have small home businesses and after a major storm or disaster,
their business needs are integrally linked with their needs as residents.
5) NADO Lessons from the Storm Case Studies on Economic Recovery and Resilience
NADO included the Pioneer Valley Region in a series of case studies on this topic. Entitled
“Southwestern Massachusetts: Strengthening Businesses and Communities through Disaster Recovery,”
the report documents efforts made in the region following the 2011 tornado, tropical storm and severe
snowstorm. PVPC staff assisted with information and writing for the report, which can be found at
http://www.nado.org/southwestern-massachusetts-strengthening-businesses-and-communities-
through-disaster-recovery-2/