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. Opportunity Zone Presentation
  
  Explore From the EDC Oct 10 2019 Business Development by Brian Connors
  
  Opportunity Zone Presentation by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Secretary Alexander Stowe.
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2. Rosie Robotics of Agawam Fundraiser
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 26 2019 by Kristin Maier Carlson
  
  On October 9 from 6-9 pm at Agawam Axe House, we will be holding a fundraiser for Rosie Robotics of Agawam in the form of Axe Throwing! If you haven’t had the pleasure of throwing axes, it is a lot of fun and a great stress reliever! Rosie Robotics has gotten Mayor Sapelli of Agawam, Mayor Reichelt of West Springfield and The Agawam Axe House Summer League Champ Brandon Simmons all to participate as the “celebrities.” Plus some surprise throwers from what they have told me.
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3. Bay Path University to Hold 7th Annual Cybersecurity Summit
  
  Explore From the EDC Sep 24 2019 Education , Information Technology by Dr. Tom Loper
  
  Bay Path University’s 7^th annual Cybersecurity Summit will be held on Friday, October 4^th, in the Blake Student Commons on the Longmeadow campus. Networking will begin at 7:30 a.m., with presentations starting at 8:00 a.m., followed by a question and answer session. This event is free and open to the public with handicap accessibility.
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4. 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.
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Paragus It Ceo Delcie Bean to Speak at Talking Tech 2019
  
  Explore BusinessWest 8 hours, 29 min ago Information Technology
  
  Today, Oct. 17, the Assoc. of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) and the Department of Developmental Services will hold Talking Tech 2019, an event celebrating the promise of technology for empowerment and social inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Delcie Bean, CEO of Hadley-based Paragus IT, will be a featured guest speaker alongside other experts in a wide range of technological areas, including remote monitoring, staffing solutions, assistive technologies, cybersecurity, and more.
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2. SPARK EforAll Holyoke to Host Mentor Mixer for Prospective Volunteers
  
  Explore BusinessWest 8 hours, 29 min ago Entrepreneurship
  
  The entrepreneurship program SPARK EforAll Holyoke will host an informal networking event on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Unicorn Inn, 126 Main St., Holyoke. Anyone with a passion for entrepreneurship and helping local businesses is encouraged to stop by to learn more about becoming a mentor this winter. Accelerator mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and use their business and leadership experience to guide new entrepreneurs through the process of turning their idea into a growing business. Mentors work in teams of three and are matched with an entrepreneur based on schedule availability ...
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3. Hampshire College unveils new model for coursework, fundraising goal of $60M by 2025
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 16 2019 Education
  
  Still less than a year removed from nearly ceasing to exist, Hampshire College announced Wednesday plans to reinvent its curriculum in a bid to attract students as well as donations and support form philanthropic foundations.
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4. CRRC jobs in Quincy ‘troubling’ to Springfield Rep. Angelo Puppolo
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 16 2019 Manufacturing
  
  A Springfield lawmaker left a meeting with Chinese rail officials last week concerned that the headquarters of CRRC MA, where most of the high-salaried executives work, is in Quincy and not Western Massachusetts, where the new Red Line and Orange Line MBTA cars are being assembled. “This is troubling to me,” Rep. Angelo Puppolo wrote in a letter to CRRC’s Boston consulting firm Preti Strategies.
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5. Donna Levin to Speak at Bay Path’s Innovative Thinking & Entrepreneurship Lecture
  
  Explore BusinessWest Oct 16 2019 Entrepreneurship
  
  Donna Levin, executive director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and co-founder of Care.com, will deliver the 2019 Innovative Thinking and Entrepreneurship Lecture at Bay Path University on Thursday, Oct. 17 in the Blake Student Commons on the Longmeadow campus. There will be a networking continental breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m., with the lecture to follow at 8:15 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
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6. Baystate Health adds $1.7M upgrade to Mary Lane’s Imaging Center in Ware - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 16 2019 Health Care
  
  Baystate Health will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon and showcase the $1.7 million upgrade of a unit at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center that detects and treats breast cancer. The Springfield-based health care organization has inatalled 3D mammography at Mary Lane’s Imaging Center.
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7. Proposed Holyoke Mall movie theaters gets needed zone change
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 16 2019 Business Development
  
  The Planning Board and Ordinance Committee on Tuesday held public hearings tied to a height-variance special permit for the Holyoke Mall. Both boards recommended the zone change. The full City Council passed the zone change amendment 13-0. The mall wants to exceed the current height limitations, exceeding the 50-foot roof.
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8. Square One Receives $25,000 Grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation
  
  Explore BusinessWest Oct 15 2019
  
  Square One has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The grant is part $1 million the Tufts Health Plan Foundation is donating to area nonprofits that are focused on health equity and the social determinants of health in honor of Tufts Health Plan’s 40th anniversary and its longstanding tradition of giving back to the community. “It is a true honor to be recognized by Tufts Health Plan Foundation in such a meaningful and generous way,” said Joan Kagan, Square One President and CEO. “Each and every day, our families are impacted by health ...
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9. Verizon hands out iPads to 533 Holyoke middle school students
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 15 2019 Education
  
  Students at the Holyoke STEM Academy and Wm. R. Peck now have access to the latest technologies thanks to the Verizon Innovative Learning Initiative and Digital Promise. Verizon handed out new Apple iPads to 533 students from both schools, which includes free, roaming Wi-Fi and the latest educational apps. The company hosted a rollout celebration at the STEM Academy Oct. 10.
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10. L.L. Bean opens first Western Massachusetts store at Mountain Farms in Hadley
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 14 2019 Retail
  
  Inside the new L.L. Bean store in the Mountain Farms complex, shoppers seemed intent on buying gear for autumn in New England from the retailer. "Our only goal is to get people outside," said store manager Ben Klock. "It's not just about selling people merchandise. We want people to get the clothing, gear and tools they need to feel comfortable getting outside and enjoying that time with their families."
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Picture Gallery

Opportunity Zone Presentation From the EDC

Rosie Robotics of Agawam Fundraiser From the EDC

Bay Path University to Hold 7th Annual Cybersecurity Summit From the EDC

Aer Lingus Off Season Sale 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

Paragus It Ceo Delcie Bean to Speak at Talking Tech 2019 BusinessWest

SPARK EforAll Holyoke to Host Mentor Mixer for Prospective Volunteers BusinessWest

Hampshire College unveils new model for coursework, fundraising goal of $60M by 2025 masslive.com

CRRC jobs in Quincy ‘troubling’ to Springfield Rep. Angelo Puppolo masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move