Pandemic Highlights “Calling Cards” of the West .: The State House News Service
As Massachusetts works to claw its way back from the economic upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, business leaders in the western part of the state see an opportunity to generate new interest in the region’s offerings. Several speakers at a virtual panel event on Thursday said many of the most appealing parts of western Massachusetts — including its more rural communities, comparatively low cost of living, and outdoors-oriented lifestyle — could become even greater strengths in the wake of the viral outbreak.