Southwick Mass.

The Southwick Economic Development Commission on Thursday October 13, 2011 held a short information session on the College Highway construction project in the central part of the Town. This session is information sharing for the business community. It will be held at Town Hall from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

             8:00 - 8:15 a.m.           Informal conversation and coffee

             8:15 a.m.                     Informal presentation

             9:00 a.m.                     Back to the business of business

 A representative from the Southwick Dept. of Public Works with information of what the overall project is and what it will look like when it is finished. There is no registration or cost to attend. Further details on this and other activities can be found at www.southwickma.info

 Currently the website has information on Southwick for the business community, residents and potential new businesses/residents We are planning on the next Southwick Home and Business Show at Town Hall in March 2012. Information will be available on the website in January 2012. Over the coming months it is important to promote that Southwick is open for business.

 If you want information mailed to you about the Home and Business Show please email your name, mailing address and telephone number to: info@southwickma.info or mail it to:

             EDC Town Hall

            454 College Highway

            Southwick, MA 01077

 Thanks and please share this information with other businesses in town.

• Southwick  $ 13.44

• Agawam    $ 28.32
  

• Westfield   $ 29.13

For information on the history of Southwick click here

Listings and links to organizations in the local area that provide workshops/seminars for small business can be found on the last page of this website.

A  free Internet "Hot Spot" is available in Southwick at the Southwick Public Library at 95 Feeding Hills Road (Route 57).  It is available 24/7.  For more information click here.

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Convenient location and logistics:

Southwick is located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Mass. west of Springfield and on the border with Granby and Suffield Connecticut. The town is within the local commuting area of Springfield and Hartford (CT). In addition it is within several hours of Boston, Albany (NY), and New York City. The entire East Coast of the U.S. from Maine to Richmond (VA.) as well as Toronto (Canada), Buffalo and Cleveland is within a one day drive of Southwick.

Bradley International Airport (BDL) is less than 20 minutes from Southwick with service throughout the U.S. and Canada. on multiple major airlines including United, American, Air Canada, US Airways, Delta and Southwest Airlines.  Non-stop service includes service to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Toronto, St. Louis , Las Vegas, Memphis, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (National and Dulles).  Frontier Airlines has announced new daily non-stop service to Denver with connecting service to other points in the West as well as service to Canada and Mexico from Denver.  New air service to several cities including Cancun has been announced by Bradley Airport.  In November 2010 Jet Blue began new service from Bradley Int. Airport.  Check with the Airport or airline for the latest information.

Freight and shipping companies:

Major trucking companies and shipping companies as well as Fedex, UPS and DHL have facilities at Bradley International Airport. For more information click here.  Intermodal freight service is available from West Springfield to points nationwide.

Other airports:

General aviation services are available at both Bradley as well as at Barnes Airport in Westfield (MA.) north of Southwick.  In May 2007 Barnes Airport opened a new terminal for general aviation.

Amtrak Passenger rail service:

Passenger rail service is available in Springfield via Amtrak to the entire East Coast (including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Florida) as well as Boston, Chicago and Canada.  Amtrak also provides local service to Hartford and New Haven from Springfield and other suburban locations. In addition in New Haven connecting service is available via Metro-North.   The States of CT of MA have announced plans for expanded commuter rail service between the Springfield area and the Hartford and New Haven areas in the future. 

Intercity bus service:

Intercity bus service is available from Springfield and other communities in the area to Boston, Hartford, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Click here for information, schedules and prices for the Peter Pan Bus Company.

Highway systems:

Major interstate highways serve the area including I-91 which stretches from New Haven (CT) to Canada. I-91 is minutes from Southwick. Other major interstates include I-90 (Mass Pike) serves Boston, Albany, Chicago and the entire Mid-West of the U.S.  Other nearby road systems include U.S. 5 and U.S. 20 and in Southwick state routes 10, 57 and U.S.202.

Postal services:

Major U.S. Postal Services facilities (bulk mail, periodicals and two processing centers) are nearby in Springfield and Hartford.  The Southwick Post Office on College Highway is open six days per week click here.  For location and details of hours of operation click here at Bradley International Airport which is open extended hours seven days per week.

• Four golf courses

• Two camp grounds

• Lakes with year round recreation including swimming, boating, water skying, fishing, ice fishing

• Public parks

• Dedicated Open Space for hiking (contact the Southwick Conservation for details)
  

• Rail-to-Trail Park for walking, hiking (6+ miles of trail).  The Republican (Springfield newspaper) published an article about the Rail to Trail system in Southwick on September 24, 2011.  Click here to view the article
  

• State of Mass. Wildlife Management Area (off South Longyard Road)

Information on Town Government and Schools:

The Town provides public water and sewer services to residents and businesses in parts of the community. Natural gas service is provided by Bay State Gas. Telephone service is provided by Verizon. Cable television, telephone and Internet service is provided by Comcast. For specific information contact the providers.

For information on the Town of Southwick departments, calendar of meetings, etc. visit the Town website

For information on the local school system click here

The Board of Selectmen and Chief Administrative Officer are located in Town Hall at 454 College Highway (Routes 10/202) and can be reached by calling (413) 569-5995. 

A Community Profile developed by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is available in pdf format click here.

The current tax rate (November 2011) is $ 14.23 and the rate applies to all classes of property in the town subject to tax. This rate is lower than many other communities in the Pioneer Valley. For information on prior year tax rates and valuations of real estate in Southwick can be found via the Assessor's Office click here

Current and historical employment and unemployment data for Southwick from the State of MA click here

New items:

The Commission now has "links" to businesses located in Southwick. If you operate a business physically located in Southwick, MA. please send us an email with the Name of the business and a contact name, address, telephone number and website address to us. Click here

The list of Southwick businesses can be accessed from the Links page on this website.

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September 2011

The widening and reconstruction of College Highway (U.S. Route 202, 10) is underway from Tannery Road to just south of Town Hall.  This project will include a turning lane for most of this section of roadway as well as sidewalks, new traffic lights and drainage improvements.  A short briefing on the project will be held at Town Hall in October 2011 for the business community.  Watch this website for more details.

EDC Community Outreach

• Information on the 2012 Southwick Home & Business Show was displayed at the recent (December 11, 2011) Celebrate the Season sponsored by the Southwick Cultural Council and Southwick on Stage.

• Information on Southwick will be available at the Colonial Harvest Day in Westfield on Sunday September 25, 2011 including a restaurant list.

• An overview of EDC activities was presented at the October 12, 2011 Southwick Rotary meeting.

August 2010

The new CVS Pharmacy on the south side of town on College Highway has opened.  This brings to three the number of pharmacies in Town (Rite Aid, CVS, Big Y).

A feed store has relocated from Industrial Road to a new location on College Highway in part of the Chuck's Steakhouse location.

A parcel of apparently industrial zoned property near the corner of College Highway and Tannery Road is for sales according to a sign on/near the property. [Editor's Note: Spring/Summer 2011 the property has been sold and will be developed.  For more information contact the Planning Board]

Spring 2010

• The CVS building is under construction.

• The first half of the Rails to Trails from the CT state line to the middle of Southwick has been dedicated and is open.  Currently this  allows users to travel as far south as Farmington (CT). The final phase to the Westfield line is currently under construction.  [Editor's Note: September  2011 Phase II has officially opened]
  

November 2009

• According to published reports the Town of Southwick has purchased the former Suburban Chevrolet property.    

• The developer of the CVS development has purchased the property on College Highway.  (2010 update) The building is under construction.
  

September/October 2009

• The new Southwick Department of Public Works facility is expected to be purchased by the Town in the coming weeks at the site of the former Suburban Chevrolet. 
  

• The developer of the new shopping center in the southern part of Southwick on College Highway has purchased the property and has been obtaining approvals for signs for the new CVS Pharmacy.

• According to events at the Planning Board several new businesses are moving to College Highway including an Insurance Agency, an Antique Store and conversion of the former childhood center into office space for a new company in town.

• The 57 unit condo project near Depot Street has obtained various approvals from the town for their project.  The South Longyard Road project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in December 2009.
• The southern portion of the Rails to Trails project is completed.
  

June 2009

As a result of the approval of voters at the May Annual Town Meeting the Town is expected to purchase the former Suburban Chevrolet property for use as a Department of Public Works facility.  The Board of Selectmen's meeting on Tuesday June 30, 2009 is expected to discuss this issue.  The Board of Selectmen are also expected to discuss the $ 800,000 South Longyard Road project at the same meeting.  Construction could potentially start by Fall 2009.

September 2008

The State of Mass. has acquired a large parcel of land in Southwick and Suffield (CT) for use as a Wildlife Management Area.  Access to the property is from South Longyard Road in Southwick.  Currently a small parking lot is available for hiking on the property.  The State is currently working on the property for future public use.

The Rails to Trails in Southwick is currently under construction (Phase I) with eventual connection to Granby (CT) and Westfield. 

The Sewer Implementation Committee is conducting public meetings (August, September, October) to explain the current concept for Phase II and related issues.  Additional information is available on the Town website click here or contact the Selectmen's Office at 569-5995.   According to information provided at the August public meeting the sewer system would serve the Hudson Drive area as well as parts of College Highway. 

June/July 2008

Several projects are in the approval process or anticipated in Town including projects College Highway and the Hudson Drive area. Additional mobile/cell telephone service reception is anticipated with a new tower on Industrial Drive on the south side of Town under construction.   Also a new coffee shop has opened on College Highway near the Lutheran Church.

B & E Tool on Hudson Drive signed a multi-year contract with United Technologies Corp.(UTC)  for supplying parts for a new military fighter aircraft.  For more information contact B & E Tool. The company also indicated that additional building will be constructed on Hudson Drive as part of expansion plans later this year.

Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) announced that the company has been selected by the State of MA. as a vendor for purchases of computer equipment. 

May 2008

The rezoning of parts of College Highway has not been approved by voters at the Annual Town Meeting. The construction of the Tractor Supply store has begun.

March 2008

Construction on the Summer House Restaurant is completed. The Southwick Planning Board has proposed a change in the zoning for land along College Highway reaching to the Westfield town line. For further information contact the Planning Board.

January 2008

According to published reports in Business West the Summer House Restaurant has been issued a building permit for a $ 399,000 addition to their property on Collage Highway.

Several developments of single family homes and condos are currently under discussion according to upcoming meetings before the Southwick Planning Board. For additional information contact the Planning Board.

October 2007

According to reports in Business West a local business on College Highway has taken out building permits for more than $ 900,000 worth of new construction at 320 College Highway.

June 2007

The U.S. Census Bureau www.census.gov has released the estimated July 1, 2006 population figures for Southwick. The estimated 7/1/06 population is 9,603.

The Town of Southwick has built a new visitor's center located at the North Boat Ramp of the lakes. The visitor's center is open and local businesses are able to place brochures at the facility.