Amherst Installation: Soofa Smart City Infrastructure Expands to Western Massachusetts
After rapid expansion in the Greater Boston area, Soofa Signs have arrived in Amherst, MA, located two hours west of Boston. The Town of Amherst is helping to bridge the digital divide by bringing Soofa Signs and charging cores to Amherst’s downtown center.
Amherst is the first town in Western Massachusetts to incorporate Soofa Signs into its town infrastructure and the twelfth municipality in the state to adopt the use of Soofa technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the inequalities in access to technology and the information that comes with it—also down as the “digital divide.” Amherst is tackling these inequities by bringing Soofa Signs to public areas, displaying town messaging and emergency updates for all people to see, regardless of device or wifi access. In addition to the Soofa Signs, Amherst will also be placing three Soofa solar-powered charging cores throughout the downtown to provide free, convenient places for residents to charge their devices while other places that previously provided free charging services, such as libraries, remain closed.
“Our partnership with Soofa will allow us to communicate quickly and easily with our community, which is of huge importance as we continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brianna Sunryd, Amherst’s Communications Manager. “Our main goal is to make sure that every Amherst community member and visitor has access to the information they need to stay safe and informed.”
The Signs will contribute to Amherst’s larger wayfinding initiative throughout the Town. The Sign’s vinyl—a full-color sticker affixed to the back of the Sign—is carefully designed to match Amherst’s upcoming wayfinding package, complementing the colors and design specs of the Town’s signage.