The City of Northampton and UMassFive Bring Soofa Signs to their Community
The City of Northampton, in partnership with UMassFive College Federal Credit Union (UMassFive), has deployed Soofa technology in its downtown area to keep residents informed with up-to-date city information, community resources, and local events.
Northampton is the second community in Western Massachusetts to implement Soofa technology into its smart city infrastructure, following nearby Amherst.
Northampton is located in what is known as the “Knowledge Corridor”, a region that is home to several universities, including Smith College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the flagship and largest campus in the University of Massachusetts system. The City of Northampton is known for its bustling arts, culture, and academic scenes.
Pedestrians in the downtown Northampton encounter various restaurants, shops, cafés, and now, the newly-installed Soofa Signs.
The Soofa Signs can be found along Main Street in Downtown Northampton, with one near the recently-renovated Pulaski Park.
The City of Northampton has partnered with Soofa in an effort to increase street-level democracy in their community.
The Soofa Signs will share relevant local news and municipal updates. By making this information available on the street level, the City is helping to ensure all constituents have access to critical updates.
"By bolstering our communications infrastructure with Soofa's technology, we are able to bring important information into Northampton's outdoor areas and public spaces, making this information readily available to all residents," said Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz.
The Signs are custom-branded in UMassFive’s signature purple. The back of the solar-powered Sign highlights the Credit Union’s solar financing program and displays a city map of nearby sights.
The back also directs passersby to visit the City's website and social media channels to learn more about what’s happening in their community.
“UMassFive is thrilled to support the City of Northampton in leveraging 100% solar-powered electronic displays in the downtown area to better communicate local events and resources, and to help promote our local businesses,” said Craig Boivin, VP of Marketing at UMassFive. “We're a financial institution that's committed to sustainability, so helping our communities finance and embrace green technologies—especially in public spaces where everyone can benefit—is a natural fit for us.”
See how other communities are using Soofa technology.
