GREENFIELD — With the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce settling in at its new home in Historic Deerfield, Community Action Pioneer Valley is preparing for its own expansion into the space on Main Street formerly occupied by the chamber.
“We never initially wanted the chamber to move, but we always said if they do, we were very interested in the space,” said Executive Director Clare Higgins. “We’re happy to do it, and we’re happy the space is available to us.”
After 36 years at 393 Main St., the Chamber of Commerce moved to Historic Deerfield in February to establish a new, expanded visitors center for the region.
“We knew they were thinking about something like this, and Community Action has always been optimistic we could have that space so we could decompress,” Higgins said. “Then COVID made that more important.”
Community Action Pioneer Valley, the local nonprofit that administers more than 40 social service programs — such as fuel assistance, food pantries and workforce development programs — provides critical services to lower-income residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties. The nonprofit currently rents office space next to the chamber’s old home at 393 Main St.
Higgins explained the additional square footage is an expansion of space, not necessarily of people.
“COVID meant we needed to give people more distance in the office,” Higgins said, noting some staff continue to work remotely. “We just wanted to keep some of those distances, and give people better space and room.”
She added that the new space will allow the nonprofit to create a better reception area compared to its reception area now, which is located in a hallway on the first floor.
Higgins said she expects there to be four of five employees occupying the additional space over time, between the reception area by the windows up front and the two offices at the back. Some office machinery also will be moved into the new space.
Overall, the agency has upwards of 300 employees, she said, a number that’s beginning to climb again after a decline during the pandemic.
Minor work is being done, preparing the space for employees to move in as soon as the end of thi month or early April.
“We’re fixing the windows and we’re giving it a nice paint job,” Higgins said.
New carpet will also be put down.
“We’ll miss having (the Chamber of Commerce) as neighbors,” she said. “We loved having them as neighbors.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.