DNA says runway ending without more help

Other Committee · Meeting of June 15, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The Downtown Northampton Association told a City Council subcommittee its volunteer-run model cannot sustain programming past 2026 without more help. DNA board chair Amanda Shafi and vice chair Isaac, who also runs Familiars Coffee and Tea and the Pie Bar, said the group has operated without a paid executive director since its last one departed, relying entirely on volunteers. Isaac said local funders including Greenfield Savings Bank, Greenfield Co-op and Florence Bank are showing "donor fatigue," and said "the DNA's runway was coming to an end" with no clear plan for 2027 programming.

The DNA is studying a business improvement district, modeled on Amherst's four-event, four-staff BID, through a newly formed steering committee. No formal votes were taken on DNA funding or the BID study; the subcommittee's only recorded vote was a roll call to adjourn.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Committee Roll
• DNA Leadership Update: A Volunteer-Run Organization
• Chamber of Commerce Relationship and Dues Structure
• Registry of Deeds Project and Downtown Parking Concerns
• DNA Committee Structure and Outreach to New Businesses
• Summer on Strong: Sponsorship Fatigue and Noise Constraints
• Sustainability Outlook and Business Improvement District Feasibility
• POP, Picture Main Street, and Other Downtown Groups
• Future Business and Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,256 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of June 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.