Alan Clayton-Matthews, an economist at Northeastern University's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, added the state can use public investment to shield the state's economy somewhat from global factors. For example, he said, the state can invest in educating people and building infrastructure. 'If the state manages the public economy well, it will help growth in the future,' Clayton-Matthews said.

Bay Path University's new Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center features a simulated emergency room where students in the physician assistant program can practice assessing patients and a model apartment where student occupational therapists can practice teaching people living with physical limitations how to perform everyday tasks.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said this week that a major renovation-expansion project at the Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center at Forest Park is ready to move "full steam ahead," after a New Hampshire company submitted the apparent low bid of $3.4 million. While the low bid was higher than the estimated cost of $3 million, the project is a priority and can be afforded, Sarno said. The city will borrow for the cost, but with most of the expense being covered by federal disaster aid funds, officials said. "Of course I'm in full support of that project, not ...

Construction of a $600,000 Riverwalk project at the Ludlow Mills will begin in early February, Kenn Delude, president and CEO of Westmass Area Development Corporation, said. A contract for the work has been awarded to Gomes Construction of Ludlow, he said. For this project there is construction work that can be done in winter, Delude said. He said there is a large pile of bricks behind the mill buildings which will be ground up and used to make the walking path. The Riverwalk is being funded through a partnership between HealthSouth and Westmass. The Riverwalk will offer public space ...

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union has opened a branch at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield following the credit union's merger with the Credit Union of the Providence System.  The branch is at the Mercy Medical Center at the Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield, at 233 Carew Street in Room 110.

Westmass Area Development Corp. announced that American River Nutrition, founded by former UMass Amherst Professor of Food Science and Nutrition Barrie Tan, has begun construction of a 25,000-square-foot office and manufacturing building at the Hadley University Business Park. With the coordinated permitting efforts of the Hadley Planning Board and Conservation Commission, construction is able to commence.

Baystate Health has financed $77.115 million in building projects – a new addition with operating rooms at Baystate Franklin in Greenfield and an inpatient pharmacy and 96 patient rooms in Springfield – by selling bonds through MassDevelopment.  Baystate plans to hold separate media events in Greenfield and in Springfield over the next few weeks detailing both projects. But an old release describing them can be found here.

We use a physical environment to tell a story,' said 42 Design Fab Studio co-owner Todd Harris.  And soon, that story will be Springfield's story. The owners and mangers of the Springfield Riverfront Redevelopment that includes the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame building has hired 42 Design Fab Studio to build rolling kiosks to replace the storefront William C. Sullivan Tourist information Center at the Hall of Fame's main concourse. The tourist center space has been taken over by an office tenant, and building management has hired 42 Design Studios to build the rolling kiosks with graphic ...

Springfield native and Longmeadow resident Seth Stratton, is set to take over the role of vice president and general counsel for the estimated $800 million downtown development, which is slated to hold a grand opening in 2017. In this new role, Stratton will be responsible for overseeing legal affairs and government relations at the casino, according to MGM.  MGM Springfield president Michael Mathis said that since the first day Stratton joined the team offering legal counsel, he has been a crucial part of the local efforts.

It's out with the old and in with the new for the downtown building that housed the Antique Centers of Northampton for nearly three decades.  Stakeholders of Click Workspace, a co-working enterprise that acts as a temporary home-base for entrepreneurs, techies and creative professionals, closed on the purchase of the 9,000-square-foot building at 9-1/2 Market Street in Northampton last week.  The three-story structure was purchased for just under $800,000 by Market9.5 LLC -- a company run by Click founders Ali Usman and Lisa Papademetriou and President Mary Yun.