Photo Credit: Pat Brough      

Welcome to Blueprint Easthampton

 

Mayor LaChapelle, City of Easthampton
Mayor LaChapelle

The City of Easthampton is seeking to better understand the components of a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem, and develop consensus on what a successful ecosystem should look like in the Easthampton area.

In early 2020, the National League of Cities selected Easthampton to be part of the City Innovation Ecosystem program, designed to drive regional entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

The initiative challenges city leaders to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and STEM education by partnering with key constituents in the community and making a commitment to strengthen regional innovation.

 

The city has named this effort Blueprint Easthampton.

In announcing the grant, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle noted the strong economic base upon which Blueprint Easthampton builds.

 

“Economic development has been a bright spot in our work over the last two years at a pace that exceeded even my hopeful expectations. I was proud to secure millions in grant money for Easthampton, and we’re seeing those investments come to fruition now. We have welcomed new businesses who have chosen to make this their home, and we have seen an increase in women-owned enterprises in particular.”

Mayor LaChapelle, City of Easthampton, MA

As part of Blueprint Easthampton, the city selected SourceLink® to work with them to inventory the region’s nonprofit, higher education and governmental support resources for entrepreneurship as well as lending and equity sources.  Additionally, SourceLink was asked to assess and benchmark how the city is doing with regard to available resources.

Information and research provided serves as the base to expand support for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the City of Easthampton. Resulting new assets for the community include: a business resource guide, an interactive online Resource Navigator and an entrepreneurship evaluation and findings report.

 

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