Business Directory and Community Information Kiosk Debuts in Downtown Greenfield
community information kiosk will serve as a year-round hub for Greenfield residents and visitors alike to
discover the breadth of businesses, restaurants and events featured throughout the city. The kiosk debuted on
Friday, June 23, at the Greenfield City Common and will promote additional engagement for businesses and
community events.
Developing an accessible information center was recommended by the Massachusetts Local Rapid Recovery
Planning Program in 2021. The kiosk project was initiated in Spring 2022 when the city received a $47,500
Regional Economic Development Organization grant from the Economic Development Council of Western
Massachusetts. Greenfield’s Community and Economic Development Department spearheaded the project,
utilizing the funding to purchase a kiosk and perform additional electrical work in the city common. Some
financing from a MassDOT Shared Streets grant also helped upgrade the electrical supply on the common.
The Community and Economic Development Department intends the kiosk to provide several benefits. Activity
in Downtown Greenfield was greatly impacted by COVID-19’s onset, causing a delay for many in returning to
their normal habits. The economic landscape in Greenfield has also changed, with new businesses opening in
the area while others shuttered their services. With the information kiosk, patrons returning to Greenfield’s
downtown and first-time visitors can quickly acclimate to the robust assortment of options through this
convenient resource.
Downtown Greenfield features dozens of establishments, including various retail shops, restaurants, cultural
venues and other organizations. A comprehensive directory lets patrons learn about the area quickly and helps
drive additional economic activity to local outlets. It also promotes a sense of discovery, allowing visitors to
learn about new locations or re-discover a business they used to visit.
HootBoard designed the kiosk, which spotlights a 65-inch screen that is weatherized for year-round use. The
kiosk integrates with the city’s VisitGreenfieldMA.com website, a digital database dedicated to the wealth of
commerce and culture dispersed throughout the city. Visit Greenfield features several intuitive features, such as
informational displays of local businesses and a detailed calendar continuously updated with the latest events.
“This kiosk builds on the success of the visitgreenfieldma.com website that the city launched last summer,” said
Community and Economic Development Grant Assistant Christian LaPlante. “It provides visitors to downtown
with a new way to discover our local businesses and will be an important tool as we implement our recently
completed downtown revitalization plan."