Andrew Melendez (at the microphone), founder of the Latino Economic Development Corporation, announces a community partnership that will help revitalize Main Street in Indian Orchard.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — State Rep. Orlando Ramos remembers a time when Main Street in Indian Orchard was a working-class hub for jobseekers and a bustling neighborhood that drew a bevy of people to its storefronts.
“Indian Orchard, at one point, used to be home to three of the biggest employers in Western Massachusetts,” the Springfield Democrat said. “We had Chapman Valve; we were home to Monsanto, as well as Indian Orchard Mills.”
While many families who worked at these locations remain in the neighborhood, Ramos said the vibrancy and uniqueness that engulfed Main Street has waned a bit.
“[Main Street] was something that was lively [and] something that was visited by thousands and thousands of people,” Ramos said. “Not so much in the last few years.”
That, however, may change soon, thanks to a recently secured $100,000 earmark from the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget.
The money, obtained thanks to the efforts of Ramos and the Western Mass. Legislative delegation, will jumpstart the Indian Orchard Restaurant District Pilot Program, a targeted initiative to boost small restaurant growth and neighborhood revitalization in Indian Orchard.
Ramos said the idea spawned from a letter-to-the-editor he wrote in 2018-2019 where he delineated an image of what an Indian Orchard dining district might look like.
“What we’re trying to do here is create the first dining district right here in the community of Indian Orchard to add to that tradition, to add to that history that we have,” Ramos said. “You see all these cars coming up and down from Chicopee, from Ludlow, from Wilbraham from Springfield, and they’re not stopping. We want to give these people a reason to stop in Indian Orchard.
The state representative is partnering with the Latino Economic Development Corporation, the Indian Orchard Council, landlords and other Western Massachusetts legislators on the new initiative. According to Andrew Melendez, founder of LEDC, the money will support three new food establishments by offering the first month’s rent, last month’s rent and security deposits to help launch in vacant storefronts.
Additionally, grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to current neighborhood restaurants to help them “upgrade, market or expand operations.”
The initiative will also help new and old businesses in the district with business coaching and accounting services through LEDC’s technical assistance team.
Melendez said the goal is to open new restaurants through this grant within the next three to six months.
“This is a great location that we’re trying to bring back,” Melendez said. “We want to bring more restaurants in this area and support the ones that are here as well.”
To draw businesses to the initiative, LEDC is embarking on a requests-for-proposals process. Melendez said small businesses that are interested, especially minority-run ones, must call 413-272-2200 and ask to apply for the Indian Orchard RFP grant.
“If you are an ice cream shop, a breakfast location; if you want to open up something unique like a taco [restaurant] or a candy store, let’s see all these creative ideas for Main Street Indian Orchard,” Melendez said.
There once was a time when the street signs inside the neighborhood wore purple to reflect Indian Orchard’s official color. While that may never happen again due to government regulations, community partners hope that this restaurant district initiative will add to the historic landmarks and traditions that already exist on Main Street, including the Titanic Historical Society and the neighborhood’s yearly food truck festival in the fall.
“There’s a lot of things going on here,” said Springfield City Councilor and Indian Orchard Citizens Council President Zaida Govan. “This infusion of capital, connections and support is going to be great.”
