FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Chicopee is pleased to announce the release of the City’s new Interactive Public Geographic Information System (GIS) website. Partnering with regional engineering consultant Tighe & Bond, Inc. to develop and deploy the system, the City is excited to share a more comprehensive, streamlined and user-friendly interactive map and database with City residents, business owners, the development community and other parties interested in Chicopee’s geographic and demographic data.
The new GIS website vastly improves the user experience and contributes to the data that helps drive important decision-making across the City. The website will further the public’s understanding of the City’s assets and limitations across a variety of data sets. By providing enhanced accessibility to increased data sets, the City will add to a growing movement among all levels of government to support data sharing, public transparency and encourage community engagement.
“The City’s GIS allows City Staff to understand, question and visualize a variety of geographic data layers for planning and development purposes. Public access to this type of data is invaluable in understanding our neighborhoods and encouraging residents and developers to participate in the public process” said Michelle Santerre the City’s GIS Coordinator. Tighe & Bond hosts similar GIS platforms for other municipalities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New England. The firm’s commitment to accuracy, accessibility and aesthetics is apparent while using their products.
Chicopee selected Tighe & Bond for these reasons as well as their intimate understanding of the City’s unique characteristics and needs. The City is confident that this platform will serve as a tool for the expansion of citizen engagement and economic progress in Chicopee.
“It is an important level of technology to offer to our residents and businesses as well as a helpful tool for realtors and developers” Mayor Kos said.
The Interactive Public GIS can be accessed via the City’s Website on the Planning
Department webpage via the following link, http://chicopeema.gov/566/Geographic-Information-Systems-GIS
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