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| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2023
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HERE WAS optimism a year ago among municipal and business leaders across Western Massachusetts, who predicted reinvention and resiliency would help carry the region as it worked to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, a year later, as hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal American Rescue Plan Act have been invested and millions more from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have headed our way, the
Outlook 2023
positive thinking continues up and down the Connecticut River valley. There are still struggles ahead, not the least of which are inflation and the ever-looming threat of a recession. The theme for Outlook 2023, “Survive & Thrive,” could not be more appropriate. While challenges
still remain, it is evident no matter where you go, whether it’s in Greater Springfield or north to Franklin County that people are thirsting to have their communities, businesses, educational institutions and life in general emerge from the shadow of the pandemic. They want to support local businesses, eat
local food and unite to help the region thrive. There are clear signs everywhere that not only did people find innovative ways to confront the challenges of COVID-19, but they evolved and resolved to be stronger than ever to be prepared for any new changes ahead. As it was a year ago, if you
need a job, there are plenty to be had. Health care, in particular, is confronting workforce shortages that approach crisis levels. Western Massachusetts’ manufacturers are ready and waiting to not just hire but also train the skilled employees they need to continue thriving.
The Springfield Regional and all of Western Massachusetts’ active and engaged chambers of commerce are united in their efforts to help and mentor the business community forward. For this Outlook 2023 edition of Business Monday, the mayors of all cities in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, along with the leaders of all the region’s chambers of commerce, were invited to share their perspectives on the theme and the strides made during 2022. Here are their submissions.
Building Springfield back is ‘collective priority’ for 2023
The Springfield Regional Chamber won the Best Chamber of Commerce award at the 2023 Reader Rave Awards celebration dinner in October at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Nancy Creed, retired president, and her successor, Diana Szynal, celebrate the achievement. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)
Chamber sees renewed sense of purpose, enthusiasm
The Republican’s annual Outlook edition provides me the opportunity to reflect on where Springfield, as a community, has been over the past year and to embrace our collective journey forward.
DOmeNIc J. SARNO
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HIS YEAR WAS filled with success, excitement and growth for businesses across Western Massachusetts. I was honored to step into my new role as president of the Springfield Regional Chamber in July, eager to build upon the strong reputation and success this organization has enjoyed. Despite a difficult three years, our region has continued to adapt – emerging more resilient, bold and strong. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the Springfield Regional Chamber’s goal was to ensure all our members were supported and had the tools and information they needed to continue thriving. Through virtual programming and timely and essential updates, our members and the entire Western Massachusetts region have emerged from the pandemic with a changing perspective, new opportunities and a renewed
The clock face on the Campanile in downtown Springfield. In the background is Interstate 91 and the Memorial Bridge. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)
DIANA SzyNAL sense of purpose and enthusiasm. As we enter 2023, an exciting area of opportunity for the chamber has been the ability to return to hosting in-person events highlighting industries, businesses and opportunities within the Greater Springfield region. We’re thrilled to have revived the chamber’s Rise & Shine Business Breakfast series, which provides an avenue for education and spotlights our members and their impact. Last year, we celebrated MGM’s 10th anniversary
SEE SZYNAL, PAGE B9
Demolition of the 50-year-old Civic Center Parking garage in downtown Springfield began on Sept. 16, 2022. It is among several projects targeting redevelopment of the city’s downtown; it will be replaced by a new garage that will include ground-floor retail and restaurant space. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Evolving workplace drives commercial real estate market By CAROLyN ROBBINS
return to the office,” Dill said in an interview, noting that more cars in the building’s JOHN DILL, adjacent parking lot signaled president and workers were returning to chief execudowntown. “But we’re still not tive officer of back to pre-COVID levels,” he Colebrook Realty Services, said. ”The question is what knew the office market was will the market look like when springing back to life after the it returns to ‘normal?’” COVID-19 pandemic when he Evan Plotkin, president and looked out his window at the chief executive officer of NAI 12-story TD Bank building at Plotkin Realty at 1440 Main 1441 Main St. and noticed the St., also noticed an uptick parking lot was beginning to in activity at his company’s fill up. headquarters on the 14th floor “We are seeing a gradual of the 17-story One Financial Special to The Republican
B. Evan Plotkin is the president and CEO of NAI Plotkin Realty in Springfield. He is seen here on one of the outdoor spaces at the 17-story One Financial Plaza property where his offices are headquartered. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)
As 2022 started, Springfield and its residents and businesses were still healing from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the city was recovering, thanks largely to the lifesaving vaccine, the sheer loss that was inflicted on our families, professions and human interactions remained. A year later COVID and its many variants remain, and, while concerning, we have thankfully learned to proactively adapt. Today, we view the pandemic and its ongoing inconveniences with a healthy sense of control that comes from the availability of vaccines and booster shots and daily life finally seems more normal and cautiously optimistic.
The work of building the city back from the pandemic economically and physically, with attention to equity and inclusion continues to be our collective priority in 2023. Springfield was provided $123.8 million in federal funding to respond to the impacts of the pandemic. My administration has awarded these funds to address the direct health and economic impacts of the pandemic, as well as to confront the underlying challenges that exacerbated the pandemic’s negative effects on vulnerable individuals, businesses, and neighborhoods. To date my administration has invested millions of dollars for this purpose, and
Plaza property. “Many of our tenants are telling us that half of their employees work in the office and the other half works remotely,” Plotkin said. “There is clearly evidence that the pandemic has changed the traditional workplace, and it remains to be seen whether the impact of the changes will be long-lasting.” In response to the evolving world of commercial real estate, Dill and Plotkin — each with nearly four decades experience in the field — say they have learned to be more creative as they navigate changes the market. Besides experience, both of them have strong local ties and are bullish on the future of Springfield.
Dill began his professional career in Springfield as the Springfield Institution for Savings executive in charge of the bank’s new six-floor 31,857-square-feet project. The building opened in 1982 as SIS’ Center Square. At the time Dill’s firm was spun off from SIS as the building’s leasing agent. Last year, Dill and a group of local investors bought the building for $5.2 million. TD Bank will retain its regional headquarters and downtown branch — with Colebrook remaining as the building’s leasing agent. The building’s current tenants include the Westmass Area Development Corp. Plotkin, who is the third-generation CEO of the company founded by his grandfather, is also an owner of 300,000-square-foot One Financial Plaza building, which offers sweeping views of downtown Springfield and the Connecticut River.
“There is clearly evidence that the pandemic has changed the traditional workplace, and it remains to be seen whether the impact of the changes will be long-lasting.” EVAN PLOTKIN, CEO, NAI PLOTKIN REALTY
SEE SARNO, PAGE B9
SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE B8