About the Chamber of Greater Easthampton
Engage to succeed. This is the primary mission of The Chamber of Greater Easthampton. We serve as partners and resources to our members, providing as many opportunities as possible to engage and experience success in their businesses.
How do we do this? We promote the success of our member businesses through offering skills training, workshops, conferences, expos, other events that promote strong connections between businesses, web and social media services—and sometimes, the ability to just bounce ideas off someone else. Through our informal Listening Lunches, we gather input from certain groups within our membership, so that we can plan our future services to meet their unique needs more effectively.
Our members can choose to engage with us or one another in any number of ways that work for them. We also extend leadership opportunities in the form of volunteering for committees and events or becoming a member of our board.
In addition to working with our members, we also work closely with government officials and community groups to foster innovation, collaboration and community prosperity, by serving on boards and committees, supporting changes to laws, regulations and policies, and recommending new economic programs.
Who do we serve? The Chamber of Greater Easthampton serves member businesses located in Easthampton, Southampton, Westhampton and other surrounding communities. We welcome any business, regardless of location or size, that is interested in marketing in our region. Our members are diverse and range from large manufacturing companies to small brick-and-mortar establishments to sole proprietors and at-home businesses.
Interested in becoming a member? It’s easy! Go to our Member Center, where you can find out more about the benefits of membership and our Member Investment Packages, and then complete an easy online application to join. We welcome you!
City of Easthampton
The city of Easthampton is a residential and manufacturing community of 16,000, located in Hampshire County and bordered on the east by Mount Tom. The active downtown area maintains a New England village character, including historic Shop Row on Main Street and the new Cottage Street Cultural District.
New small- and mid-sized businesses thrive here, supported by a burgeoning arts community, a wide variety of shops and award-winning restaurants and cafes. Projects such as Eastworks, Mill 180, the Keystone Building, One Cottage Street and 15 Cottage Street all work to reuse existing mill space for new businesses and private residences. With national recognition for the high quality of its drinking water, Easthampton has also attracted the establishment of several microbreweries.
Easthampton’s many recreational opportunities include a newly constructed boardwalk around its central feature, Nashawannuck Pond, for fishing and boating; Nonotuck Park; Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, which is managed by the National Aubudon Society; and the Manhan Rail Trail.
Read more about the city of Easthampton at its website.
| Mayor’s Office | Building Inspector |
| Police and Fire Depts. | Zoning Board of Appeals |
| School Dept. | Easthampton City Arts |
| City Planner | Parks & Recreation |
Town of Southampton
The town of Southampton started out as a farming community and has retained much of that atmosphere through the years, even though there are few farms left. The community’s rural character and central location to Northampton, Westfield, Holyoke and Springfield make it a desirable bedroom community.
Although the center of town is small, the population of Southampton has increased over time (about 6,000 currently) and there is a high level of community involvement. Residents and guests proudly gather to celebrate the town's founding with Old Home Days, which includes picnics, parades, history lessons, children's story hour, art exhibits, car shows and dances. Previous residents from all across the country visit this three-day annual community event to share their stories and history. The Southampton Youth Athletic Association provides involvement for youth and gives them a sense of accomplishment outside the structures of the school system.
The town’s economy and attractions include antiques and craft stores, galleries, horseback riding, nature sanctuaries and trails, farm stands and orchards, and a golf course.
Read more about the town of Southampton at its website.
| Town Administrator | Building Dept. |
| Select Board | Planning Board |
| Police and Fire Depts. | Zoning Board of Appeals |
| Schools | Park Commission |
Town of Westhampton
The town of Westhampton is a small, rural community in Hampshire County. It is characterized by rolling hills and a country atmosphere, yet this rural town is quickly becoming an attractive residential community. Over the last 30 years, the town has nearly doubled in population and is now approximately 1,700 residents.
Wood products, lumber and farming are important town industries. There are several dairy farms and orchards that continue to operate full-time. Maple sugar houses can be seen throughout the town, and many residents engage in maple sugaring in the spring. The town center provides a picturesque setting with a library, town hall, church and town common. The nearby Westhampton Blacksmith Shop Museum continues to preserve the history of the town through a vast collection of memorabilia donated by residents.
Westhampton offers an elementary school, a library rebuilt in 2010 and a regional junior/senior high school located in the center of town that is shared with four neighboring towns. The town celebrates a fall festival each year that is popular with the surrounding communities.
Read more about the town of Westhampton at its website.
| Town Officials | Building Inspections |
| Police and Fire Depts. | Planning Board |
| Schools | Zoning Board of Appeals |