Daily Hampshire Gazette: Report: Challenging economic times remain in Amherst due to COVID’s impact
Even if the University of Massachusetts can function normally in the fall following the significant disruptions caused by the pandemic, Amherst’s economy may not bounce back right away, according to a Pioneer Valley Planning Commission analyst.
“The bottom line is we should be prepared for a lot more pain in the pipeline,” Douglas Hall, a Pioneer Valley Planning Commission data manager told the Planning Board and Town Council at a joint meeting last week.
Hall, an Amherst resident, was invited to give insights into how the pandemic has impacted the region, with a specific focus on the town where UMass, as well as Amherst College and Hampshire College, have, since fall, operated at both reduced on-campus capacities and with large amounts of remote instruction. There are also fewer people attending the area’s community colleges, with enrollment down 14% at Holyoke Community College and 8% at Greenfield Community College.