Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Featured News
1. EDC BOARD CHAIR, KEVIN VANN BIDS FAREWELL
  
  Explore From the EDC Jul 21 2021
  
  The Economic Development Council of Western Mass (EDC) recently held its 2021 Annual Meeting at the Student Prince/Fort Restaurant in downtown Springfield. The in person meeting was a statement by the region’s business community that Western Mass is open for business. The highlight of the meeting was a heartfelt goodbye to outgoing Chair, Kevin Vann, Chair and Founder of the Vann Group and a welcome to the new EDC Chair Tricia Canavan, President of United Personnel.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods MassMutual Baystate Health
2. The EastWest Exchange “Sector Series” Event Video
  
  Explore From the EDC Jun 1 2021
  
  On May 24, 2021, The Innovation Institute at the MassTech Collaborative, in partnership with US Congressman Richard Neal and the Western Mass Economic Development Council, hosted the first event in the ongoing knowledge sharing series called the “The EastWest Exchange: Sector Series”.
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  Mentions: General Dynamics Congressman Richard E. Neal Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
3. EastWest Exchange Sector Series: Aerospace & Defense - May 24, 2021
  
  Explore From the EDC May 12 2021 Aerospace/Defense
  
  The Innovation Institute at the MassTech Collaborative, in partnership with US Congressman Richard Neal and the Western Mass Economic Development Council, hosts an ongoing convening and knowledge sharing series called the “The EastWest Exchange” to unite the industrial and technological strengths of Massachusetts to drive more commercial activity within the Commonwealth. The first EastWest Exchange, held in August 2020, highlighted the industrial and innovation strengths of Western Massachusetts and attracted major Massachusetts-based technology firms, such as iRobot, IDG, Wayfair, and General Dynamics to discuss their successful sourcing of talent and suppliers in the region.
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  Mentions: General Dynamics Congressman Richard E. Neal Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
4. 2020 Western Mass Developers 3D Virtual Conference
  
  Explore From the EDC Oct 28 2020 Business Development
  
  Western Mass professionals! If you missed the Western Mass Developers Conference, presented by MassMutual, the conference is still open until November 20th. Register by clicking the link below for access to the fully virtual Developers Conference - you can view the exhibit hall, watch all of the dynamic panel discussions in the auditorium, catch the keynote from Governor Baker, experience the lightning presentations, download resources, and more.
  
  Register today: developwesternmass.vfairs.com
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  Mentions: MassMutual
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From the EDC
1. Western Mass Economic Development Council announces new “Anchor Collaborative” focused on local, diverse sourcing and employment
  
  Explore From the EDC 8 hours, 40 min ago by Xiomara Delobato
  
  Over the last several months some of the region’s largest businesses have met to discuss how they can leverage their own institutional and operational resources to address problems caused by historic segregation and disinvestment in low-income communities and to grow the regional economy. As a result, Baystate Health, Big Y, The City of Springfield, The City of Holyoke, United Personnel, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Springfield College, Holyoke Community College, Comcast, and Bay Path University have formed the Western Massachusetts Anchor Collaborative through the leadership of the EDC. An “anchor” strategy is one where institutions commit to serving as place-based ...
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Holyoke Community College Big Y Foods
2. SBA’s National Small Business Week and Virtual Summit is this week
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 14 2021
  
  that SBA’s National Small Business Week and Virtual Summit is this week. Your members can still register for sessions of this three-day, free, online conference; this opportunity is suitable not just for business organizations, but also for individual small businesses. Businesses can expect educational webinars, updates on resources for small businesses, and a networking chat room for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. (See the Summit agenda and list of sessions here.)
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3. State of COVID-19 with Baystate Heath, Inc. and Mercy Medical Center
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 10 2021 by Xiomara Delobato
  
  On Thursday morning, September 9, 2021, over 60 executives and others gathered via zoom to hear from medical experts – Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, Inc. and Dr. Robert Roose, Chief Medical Officer from Mercy Medical Center on the state of COVID-19 in Western Mass. They issued a collective call to action on taking pertinent measures to combat the rising trend of COVID-19 cases. Legal expert Mary Jo Kennedy, Esq. with Bulkley, Richardson, and Gelinas, LLP, also joined the conversation and shared legal steps that executives should consider when issuing a vaccine mandate or other health protocols ...
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  Mentions: Springfield Amherst Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
4. ninth annual virtual CYBERSECURIT Y SUMMIT
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 8 2021
  
  THIS COMMUNITY VIRTUAL EVENT IS FREE
  FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 / 9:30 am – 11:00 am EST
  
  REGISTER NOW AT baypath.edu/cybersummit
  Registration for this event is required; details on how to join the webinar will be sent to registered participants before the event.
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Bay Path University Recognized by U.S. News for Innovation, Social Mobility
  
  Explore BusinessWest 7 hours, 3 min ago Education
  
  U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges ranks Bay Path University as a top-performing school for both social mobility and innovation in the Regional North Universities category. In the report released on Sept. 13, Bay Path is ranked 26th in Social Mobility, increasing its standing by 42 spots from 2021. Social mobility recognizes the university’s strength at helping economically disadvantaged students succeed and graduate. Bay Path also ranks ninth, moving up three spots, on the 2022 Best Colleges list of Most Innovative Universities in the North Region. In both of these categories, Bay Path was selected from ...
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2. Thunderbirds Renew Lease Agreement to Play Games at MassMutual Center
  
  Explore BusinessWest 7 hours, 3 min ago Tourism
  
  The Springfield Thunderbirds and the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority announced a new lease agreement between the parties that will keep the MassMutual Center as home base for the Thunderbirds over the next four years, with the opportunity for a one-year extension. “We are proud and excited to keep the MassMutual Center, a/k/a ‘the Thunderdome,’ as our home for the foreseeable future,” Thunderbirds Managing Partner Paul Picknelly said. “The past four seasons have seen the building host some of the greatest nights in Springfield hockey history, and we could not be more excited to create even more memories for ...
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  Mentions: MassMutual Center Springfield
3. BusinessTalk with Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT
  
  Explore BusinessWest 9 hours, 55 min ago
  
  BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT and the presenter for a recent BusinessWest Webinar, sponsored by Comcast Business, called ‘Automation: The Time is Now.’ The two talk about the many ways businesses can benefit from automation of processes, everyday tasks, and more — especially during the ongoing workforce crisis — and how to get started. It’s must listening so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.
  
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4. PVTA launches Amherst to Worcester intercity service
  
  Explore WWLP 22 News Springfield Sep 17 2021 Transportation
  
  The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, in partnership with the Quaboag Connector, began operating Amherst to Worcester Intercity Service on Thursday. The Amherst to Worcester Intercity Route is set to operate Thursday through Monday with three trips daily on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday and two trips on Sunday. This will provide a direct route from Amherst to Worcester and allow riders from Western Massachusetts to connect directly with the MVTA’s Framingham Worcester Line.
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  Mentions: Springfield Amherst
5. Springfield Public Schools partner with Big Y to help vaccinate students, families and faculty
  
  Explore WWLP 22 News Springfield Sep 17 2021
  
  Springfield Public Schools and Big Y are hosting school-based vaccination clinics for middle and high school students, their families, and school staff. The first clinic is taking place at Central High School, located at 1840 Roosevelt Avenue, on Wednesday, September 22 for the duration of the school day.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Springfield Chicopee
6. Springfield Regional Chamber Partners with MassHire BizWorks on Free Webinar
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 17 2021
  
  The Springfield Regional Chamber (SRC) will partner with MassHire BizWorks, a division of the MassHire Department of Career Services’ Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, to offer a free educational webinar for businesses. On Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., participants will meet leading authorities and learn how the state’s economic-development programs can be applied to their businesses.
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7. $250 Million EPA Loan to Upgrade Infrastructure, Advance Renewable Energy in Springfield
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 17 2021
  
  At an event with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and other local officials, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox announced a $250 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. This loan will help improve water quality and reliability by rehabilitating aging infrastructure throughout the system while restoring a hydropower facility that will deliver renewable energy to the Springfield water-treatment plant.
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno Springfield Congressman Richard E. Neal
8. College of Nursing at UMass Amherst Receives $21.5 Million Gift
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 17 2021
  
  UMass Amherst announced it has received a gift of $21.5 million from the Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation. The university’s College of Nursing will become the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, named for the late UMass Amherst nursing alumna and bestselling textbook author Elaine Nicpon Marieb. The gift will advance the university’s innovative nursing engineering center and also provide support for student scholarships, an endowed professorship, and mentorship and research initiatives designed to further access, equity, and excellence in nursing education.
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9. Thunderbirds sign new lease agreement, will stay at MassMutual Center
  
  Explore WWLP 22 News Springfield Sep 16 2021
  
  The Springfield Thunderbirds will continue to make the MassMutual Center their home ice after signing a new lease agreement. The Springfield Thunderbirds and the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority announced the agreement on Thursday. The team signed on for the next four years with the option of a one-year extension.
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  Mentions: MassMutual Springfield
10. West Springfield Institutes Townwide Mask Mandate as Big E Begins - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 16 2021
  
  The West Springfield Board of Health instituted a mask mandate for the city starting Friday morning — the same day the Big E opens its 17-day fair, the Republican reported. The mandate requires face coverings in all indoor public places, as well as private places open to the public, regardless of vaccination status, for those age 2 and older.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield The Republican
Picture Gallery

Western Mass Economic Development Council announces new “Anchor Collaborative” focused on local, diverse sourcing and employment From the EDC

SBA’s National Small Business Week and Virtual Summit is this week From the EDC

State of COVID-19 with Baystate Heath, Inc. and Mercy Medical Center From the EDC

ninth annual virtual CYBERSECURIT Y SUMMIT From the EDC

EDC BOARD CHAIR, KEVIN VANN BIDS FAREWELL From the EDC

The EastWest Exchange “Sector Series” Event Video From the EDC

EastWest Exchange Sector Series: Aerospace & Defense - May 24, 2021 From the EDC

2020 Western Mass Developers 3D Virtual Conference From the EDC

Bay Path University Recognized by U.S. News for Innovation, Social Mobility BusinessWest

Thunderbirds Renew Lease Agreement to Play Games at MassMutual Center BusinessWest

BusinessTalk with Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT BusinessWest

PVTA launches Amherst to Worcester intercity service WWLP 22 News Springfield
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move