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 ...
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
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.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
  
  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 ...
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
  
  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.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
  
  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno Springfield The Republican
5. See all articles
From the EDC
1. Aer Lingus Off Season Sale
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 10 2019 Tourism , Transportation by Elizabeth Coppola
  
  Don’t be another tourist. To really see Europe, go when others don’t with Aer Lingus’ off season sale! Fly from Bradley International Airport to Dublin and connect to 25+ cities across Europe. Fares start at $399* roundtrip. Valid for travel November 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020. Book by October 3, 2019 only at aerlingus.com.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
2. Amherst BID hires Gabrielle Gould as new executive director
  
  Explore From the EDC Aug 22 2019 by Scott Merzbach
  
  A longtime Nantucket resident with extensive experience in starting businesses and fundraising is the new executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District. Gabrielle Gould, who moved with her family to Amherst in January after 20 years on the island, will assume the leadership role on Monday. Gould replaces Sarah la Cour, who stepped down in May after six years at the helm as the BID’s second executive director. Gould said she is prepared to work with downtown businesses and get ready for the annual Celebrate Amherst block party, which will be held Sept. 19. “My specific goals over ...
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
3. Manufacturing association to host event at STCC with Congressman Neal
  
  Explore From the EDC Jun 7 2019 Education , Manufacturing by Jim Danko
  
  Representatives of manufacturing companies in Western Massachusetts will host a workforce development discussion on Monday at Springfield Technical Community College featuring U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal as keynote speaker.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
  
  Mentions: General Dynamics Springfield Technical Community College Springfield
4. The Economic Development Council/Springfield WORKS seeking full-time Commonwealth Corp Service Members
  
  Explore From the EDC Jun 5 2019 Workforce by Anne Kandilis
  
  The Economic Development Council Western Mass/Springfield WORKS to host two full-time Commonwealth Corps service minded interns to serve as Community Alignment Specialists for the Springfield WORKS Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Working Cities Challenge initiative. The Commonwealth Corps Community Alignment Specialists will build and align partnerships to promote two generation and whole family approach to jobs with residents, employers, education institutions, City and community leaders.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
  
  Mentions: Springfield Boston Fed
5. See all From the EDC articles
Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Holyoke Medical Center Opens New Service Location
  
  Explore BusinessWest 8 hours, 54 min ago Health Care
  
  Holyoke Medical Center announced the opening of a new service location at 5 Hospital Dr., which will include the HMC Pulmonology Center, thoracic surgeons, the Lung Cancer Screening Program, and a new Pulmonary Function Testing Lab. The location opened Sept. 9. An open house has been scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. “Over the past six months, we have welcomed three new pulmonology physicians and have renovated the 5 Hospital Drive location to better meet the needs of our pulmonary patients. Bringing the services of pulmonology, thoracic, lung-cancer screening, and pulmonary functions tests together in ...
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
2. Women’s Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley to Present Awards on Oct. 24
  
  Explore BusinessWest 8 hours, 54 min ago
  
  The Women’s Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley (WBOA) will hold its 2019 Business Woman of the Year Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Patricia Banas, owner and president of Latka Printing in Westfield, will be named the 2019 Business Woman of the Year, an honor given to a member who has contributed to WBOA in a significant way and is a role model who inspires other women to be successful.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
3. Springfield gets $1.1 million grant to hire 8 new firefighters - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com 9 hours, 6 min ago
  
  The city will use a $1.1 million grant to hire eight new firefighters, allowing the Springfield Fire Department to add two firefighters to each shift. Officials announced the $1,138,310 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Raymond M. Sullivan Public Safety Complex on Carew Street Tuesday. The grant is awarded over a three-year period under the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) program, local officials said.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
4. Springfield Cultural Compact’s ‘Thank an Artist’ set for Saturday at MGM Springfield - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com 9 hours, 7 min ago
  
  The Springfield Cultural Compact is proud of the rich and diverse Springfield creative community, so to say thank you, it’s sponsoring a Thank an Artist event this weekend. “We want to recognize and showcase the work of all Springfield artists and create deep and lasting connections among Springfield’s creative community,” said Karen M. Finn, executive director of the Springfield Cultural Partnership.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
5. Amazon delivery contractor lays off hundreds in Massachusetts, Connecticut, state documents say
  
  Explore masslive.com 23 hours, 16 min ago Workforce
  
  A delivery service is ending its contract with Amazon and laying off 201 drivers in Massachusetts and another 74 who work out of Bristol, Connecticut. Urban Mobility Now, with offices in Boston and Bristol, told departments of labor in both states last week that the layoffs will be effective Oct. 9, according to documents made public under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The Massachusetts layoffs are in Chelsea, Dedham and Milford, according to WARN notices filed Sept. 12 with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
6. History lesson: Massachusetts must not retreat from education reforms that drove student achievement (Guest viewpoint) - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Sep 17 2019 Education
  
  If there’s one lesson we can take from the current debate about updating the Commonwealth’s public education funding formula, it’s the importance of understanding history. For over a decade, as memories of the success of Massachusetts’ 1993 Education Reform Act have receded, state policy makers have increasingly made decisions that reveal lack of awareness of what made it so successful. We must stem that tide if we are to get state education aid right.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
7. Consumer Demand Is High in Home Improvement — but Skilled Labor Is Elusive
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 16 2019
  
  With home-improvement demand surging in 2019, contractors say they can pick and choose from available jobs, which isn’t always ideal for consumers, who often have trouble finding a professional who can fit them in. In realty, most contractors would love to take on more jobs — but can’t because it’s not easy to find talent, especially young talent with the potential to grow with a company over the long term.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
8. Valley Solar Shines a Light on Benefits of Solar Panels
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 16 2019 Energy
  
  With green-energy usage in homes rapidly increasing, there is no shortage of competition in the solar field. Home and business owners are looking for ways to save money and protect the environment, and with 211 solar installers in the state of Massachusetts, there are plenty of options. This makes standing out even more important for companies like Valley Solar, which installs solar panels for families and businesses alike.
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
9. Sen. Eric Lesser Calls for East-West Rail at Western Mass. Transportation Forum
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 16 2019 Transportation
  
  State Sen. Eric Lesser said the biggest step toward unlocking the vast economic potential of Western Mass. is solving the region’s transportation crisis. In a keynote address Friday at the Food Bank of Western Mass. Transportation Forum, the senator outlined a modern transportation network that would finally connect Springfield and its surrounding areas to Boston. “In many ways, Western Mass. has an inverse challenge from Metro Boston. We have a fantastic quality of life; we have a lot to offer,” Lesser said. “Imagine if we had a one-seat ride — 80 minutes — from Springfield’s Union Station to Boston’s ...
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
10. Family Business Center Announces Two Events This Week - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest Sep 16 2019
  
  The Family Business Center’s (FBC) dinner forum on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke will address three issues that are critical to every business. The presenters are strategic partners of the FBC, including Ross Giombetti discussing “How to Not Go Off Track with Onboarding,” Lauren Ostberg of Bulkley Richardson on “Cybersecurity Is More Than Virus-protection Software,” and Tim Murphy of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. on “Your Employee Handbook: Is It a Ticking Time Bomb?”
  Read Full Article
  
  Comment
Picture Gallery

Aer Lingus Off Season Sale From the EDC

Amherst BID hires Gabrielle Gould as new executive director From the EDC

Manufacturing association to host event at STCC with Congressman Neal From the EDC

The Economic Development Council/Springfield WORKS seeking full-time Commonwealth Corp Service Members 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

Holyoke Medical Center Opens New Service Location BusinessWest

Women’s Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley to Present Awards on Oct. 24 BusinessWest

Springfield gets $1.1 million grant to hire 8 new firefighters - masslive.com masslive.com

Springfield Cultural Compact’s ‘Thank an Artist’ set for Saturday at MGM Springfield - masslive.com masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move