Report of the Economic Development

2010 was a very busy year for the EDC. Members have been involved with the rewrite of the existing Sign bylaws including participating in a public workshop to gage public input into the proposed changes. In addition the EDC has maintained and updated the unofficial website address www.southwickma.info which provides information on Southwick not found elsewhere in one place. This website is maintained at no cost to the Town of Southwick and no expenditure of staff of the Town. The EDC members have attended meetings of the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and other organizations to be kept aware of what is happening in Southwick. In addition members have attended Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce events in Westfield and Southwick to be aware of issues, and opportunities that may impact the Southwick business community. Information is shared with the public and business community through the website.

Plans were developed to conduct and manage a Home & Business Show in early February 2011 in Town Hall. The goal is to allow 25 Southwick organizations to exhibit to the public in the renovated Town Hall Auditorium. The purpose of this is to allow the business community and the public interact in an informal setting to increase business, maintain the business tax base in Town and potentially increase employment. With a major construction project scheduled to take place in Southwick with the reconstruction of Routes 10/202 it is important to share information with residents on how this will impact them during construction. The EDC plans on sharing information on it’s website and working with other parts of the Town government to make the construction process as painless as possible to the Community.

Respectfully submitted,

Southwick EDC
Michael McMahon, Chair
Randy Brown
Ken Haar
Fred Hanks
Richard Hauff
Janice LaFrance
David Rocoulle
Craig Samuelson