Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Featured News
1. The Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint
  
  Explore From the EDC Nov 30 2018 Workforce
  
  As you know, the Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC) is requiring a Mid-Point Report be submitted to the WSC by December 15, 2018. We have been given a template to follow and are aggressively assembling the required collateral to form our narrative. We are excited about sharing with the WSC the progress that has been made since we began the Implementation phase in the late spring, 2018. As with the Blueprint, we expect the Secretary’s and/or their staff and others will review the Mid-Point Report and share their thoughts with us. We continue to believe that as we begin ...
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2. UMass water technology lab could spur new developments
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 15 2018 Education
  
  Thirty companies are in the pipeline, waiting to use a $3.9 million water technology demonstration center that could be built at the University of Massachusetts in as soon as two years. About 250 people attended the "Innovations and Opportunities in Water Technologies" conference Monday at the Amherst campus. Now the job is to get the money, already called for in a 2014 state bonding bill, and include it in a state spending budget, said Richard K. Sullivan Jr., president and CEO of the Economic Development of Western Massachusetts.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Amherst Clean Energy Center
3. MassHire: Employment boards, job centers take on new name, statewide brand
  
  Explore masslive.com Sep 7 2018 Workforce
  
  What used to be the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County is now the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. The former CareerPoint in Holyoke is now the MassHire Holyoke Career Center, and the former FutureWorks is now the MassHire Springfield Career Center. It is all part of a statewide rebranding of Massachusetts' 29 career centers and 16 workforce boards, which used to go by 45 different names. They're now part of the unified MassHire brand, with a consistent logo and themed website addresses and social media handles. It's statewide, so the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board is now ...
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno Springfield Holyoke
4. Pre-opening VIP party underway as MGM Springfield poised to launch $960 million casino resort
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 23 2018 Tourism
  
  Glitzy slot machines, expectations and the chatter of thousands of suited and gowned guests filled the gaming floor Thursday as the "MGM Springfield VIP preview party" got underway. Local officials like Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, the face of the seven-year pitch behind the project, and representatives of international giant MGM attended the celebration before the Friday opening of a $960 million casino resort. The development of 2 million square feet in the South End of the City of Homes is scheduled to open at 11 a.m. Friday.
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno Springfield The Republican
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From the EDC
1. Legislative Update - Paid Family and Medical Leave
  
  Explore From the EDC Apr 18 2019 by Nancy Creed
  
  I wanted to notify you that the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave has developed templates to assist you with the required notice to your workforce informing them of the PMFL program, contribution rates, benefits, etc.. The notice must be delivered to your current employees or self-employed individuals you are currently contracting with no later than May 31, 2019. The notice must be delivered to new employees within 30 days of date of hire or at the time of contract with respect to self-employed individuals.The notice may be provided electronically, but, if you choose to do so, it ...
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  Mentions: Westfield
2. The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts Announces Jury for the 2019 Creative Awards
  
  Explore From the EDC Apr 4 2019 by David Bosch
  
  The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, the area’s foremost non-profit organization celebrating creative excellence in advertising, video, photography, and design, today announced the creative leaders selected to serve as judges for the 2019 Creative Awards (www.adclubwm.org/events/creativeawards2019). Our jury represent more than fifty years of award-winning industry experience. They will judge work stretching from the Berkshires into the Pioneer Valley, and from Vermont to Connecticut. They have worked agency-side, client-side, in higher education and beyond. The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts is honored to host this panel of judges to help make the 2019 Creative Awards ...
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  Mentions: Northampton
3. MGM Springfield Brings Steve Martin and Martin Short
  
  Explore From the EDC Apr 3 2019 Tourism by Ellanje Ferguson
  
  MGM Springfield is pleased to announce comedic icons Steve Martin and Martin Short will bring their new comedy special “Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t” to Symphony Hall Thursday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. The comedy legends Martin and Short will present new material in a variety of musical sketches and conversations about their careers, most memorable encounters, and of course, their legendary lives in show business. The duo will be joined on stage by GRAMMY Award-winning bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers as well as Jimmy Kimmel Live! band member Jeff Babko.
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  Mentions: Springfield
4. Springfield Regional Digital Equity Walk
  
  Explore From the EDC Mar 27 2019 Entrepreneurship by Ryan Flynn
  
  Is the share of women in the computing workforce expected to increase or decrease in the future? Find the answer to this question and many others at the Springfield Region Digital Equity Walk. This event is a chance to explore how well Massachusetts does when it comes to digital equity – equitable access to the technology and computer science skills needed for full participation in our society and economy – and generate ideas about what we can do better.
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  Mentions: Springfield
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Pier 1 Imports could close as many as 145 stores this year - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com 13 hours, 42 min ago
  
  Pier 1 Imports could close up to 145 stores this year as the home goods retailer continues to struggle with sluggish sales. The company said in a statement this week that its net sales decreased by 19.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared to last year, with a net loss of $68.8 million. As part of its 2020 fiscal action plan, Pier 1 plans to close 45 stores with the possibility of shuttering 100 more.
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2. JA Celebrates 100 Years of Providing Life Lessons - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest 13 hours, 44 min ago
  
  The 100th Anniversary Gala for Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts will have a decidedly ’20s flair — as in the 1920s. In fact, the theme is “The Roaring ’20s are Back.” Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to come in period dress, a challenge that Jennifer Connelly, executive director of the local JA chapter, met (with considerable help from her daughter) by doing a hard search online that yielded the appropriate dress as well as a headband with a feather.
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  Mentions: MassMutual MassMutual Center Springfield
3. Tina D’Agostino Joins Mercy Medical Center in ‘Major Gifts’ Role
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 18 2019
  
  Tina D’Agostino has joined Mercy Medical Center as a major gifts officer in the Fund Development Department. In this role, D’Agostino’s responsibilities include expanding the Major Gifts Program by cultivating donors and donor prospects, coordinating major gifts as they relate to capital fundraising campaigns, and overseeing volunteers who support the department. D’Agostino joins Mercy Medical Center after 17 years in the arts and entertainment industry.
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  Mentions: Springfield Mercy Medical Center
4. ACC to Hold Open House for Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 18 2019 Education , Manufacturing , Workforce
  
  Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) will hold an open house for its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center on Saturday, April 27. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature a tour of the center. Walk-ins are welcome.
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5. Gov. Charlie Baker is this year’s UMass Amherst commencement speaker
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 17 2019
  
  Gov. Charlie Baker will be the featured commencement speaker at the University of Massachusetts Amherst next month, UMass announced Wednesday. Baker is expected to address a crowd of about 20,000 at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 10 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The university said about 5,500 undergraduates will receive their bachelor’s degrees at the at the ceremony.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts MassMutual Center Amherst
6. Could ‘ancient’ deed give Northampton a say in future of historic courthouse?
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 17 2019
  
  Selling the historic Hampshire County Courthouse to the state as its current owner, the Hampshire Council of Governments, winds down operations would be the “smoothest” outcome for a beloved building with a complicated ownership history, Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz said Wednesday.
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  Mentions: Northampton
7. Sports & Leisure Archives - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 17 2019
  
  The golf business has never been entirely about golf. There has always been a need a diversity in the form of food and beverage, weddings and other events, and even cross-country skiing in the winter. But at a time when clubs are being challenged by declining play and rising expenses, the need to create revenue streams and put all their facilities to use has never been greater.
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8. Hampshire Council of Governments plans to cease operations; hopes to sell historic Northampton courthouse - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 17 2019
  
  With officials expecting to run out of money as early as July, the Hampshire Council of Governments is working to cease operations and is trying to sell its largest asset — Northampton’s historic 1886 courthouse — to the state. Russell Peotter, chairman of the council, said the hope is to make about $5 million by selling the courthouse and liquidating the council’s electricity business.
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  Mentions: Northampton
9. For 150 Years, the YWCA of Western Mass. Has Been Helping Survivors Heal - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 17 2019
  
  Helping survivors heal. That’s been the mission of the YWCA of Western Mass. for 150 years. Today, the agency does this in a number of ways, some well-known, such as its 58-bed domestic-violence shelter, and others far-less-heralded but still important, such as helping area young people attain their high-school equivalency. In each case, the key is providing these survivors with the tools they need to achieve a higher quality of life.
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  Mentions: Baystate Health Springfield Holyoke
10. Springfield Regional Chamber Releases Legislative Agenda
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 16 2019
  
  The Springfield Regional Chamber (SRC) 2019 Outlook has released its legislative agenda outlining the priorities of its more than 500 members for the legislative session and the major issues it will focus on to strengthen business competitiveness, lower business costs and stimulate growth in the greater Springfield region. “Every other year, we survey our more than 500 members to gather feedback about the issues that are impacting their business, their success, their growth strategies,” said SRC President Nancy F. Creed. “We then determine our legislative priorities based on what matters most to them and this forms our advocacy roadmap for ...
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  Mentions: Springfield
Picture Gallery

The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts Announces Jury for the 2019 Creative Awards From the EDC

MGM Springfield Brings Steve Martin and Martin Short From the EDC

Springfield Regional Digital Equity Walk From the EDC

The Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint From the EDC

UMass water technology lab could spur new developments masslive.com

MassHire: Employment boards, job centers take on new name, statewide brand masslive.com

Pre-opening VIP party underway as MGM Springfield poised to launch $960 million casino resort masslive.com

Pier 1 Imports could close as many as 145 stores this year - masslive.com masslive.com

JA Celebrates 100 Years of Providing Life Lessons - BusinessWest BusinessWest

Tina D’Agostino Joins Mercy Medical Center in ‘Major Gifts’ Role BusinessWest

ACC to Hold Open House for Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center BusinessWest

Gov. Charlie Baker is this year’s UMass Amherst commencement speaker masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move