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. Downtown Springfield Farmers Market NOW at Court Square on Fridays - Opening Day May 17th!
  
  Explore From the EDC May 16 2019 Tourism by Bridget Delaney
  
  From the rural farm to your urban table, the Downtown Springfield Farmers Market is gearing up for their best season yet, and it’s at a great NEW LOCATION! Kicking off THIS FRIDAY, May 17^th, the market is being held in beautiful Court Square in downtown Springfield, which will be able to accommodate the growth in vendors for this popular market.The market runs every Friday from May 17 – September 27 from 11am – 3pm.
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  Mentions: Springfield Health New England Springfield Business Improvement District
2. Regional Economic Development Planning Council Engagement Sessions
  
  Explore From the EDC May 7 2019 Business Development by Molly Bourque
  
  Over the next few weeks, the Baker-Polito Administration will hold several regional engagement sessions all across the Commonwealth including Greater Boston, Central Mass, Cape & the Islands, and Berkshire County. A full list of engagement sessions will be posted on our website at www.mass.gov/hed. If you have any questions, please contact Molly Bourque at molly.p.bourque@mass.gov.
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3. MassDOT Commuter Transportation Listening Session
  
  Explore From the EDC May 3 2019 Transportation by Rick Sullivan
  
  Due to the numerous responses the MassDOT Commuter Transportation Listening Session scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10am-11:30am has move to:
  
  NEW LOCATION…..
  Valley Venture Mentors Offices (VVM)
  276 Bridge Street
  Springfield, MA
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  Mentions: TD Bank Springfield Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
4. Bay Path Hosts Workshop to Help Women Re-Enter the Workforce
  
  Explore From the EDC Apr 24 2019 Education by Melissa Wert
  
  Looking to return to work after an extended absence? You need to understand your professional story – and how to tell it. On May 6, Bay Path University will host The Next Chapter: Transitioning Back to Work After an Extended Absence. This session, presented by Strategic Alliances at Bay Path University and Johnson & Hill Staffing, and in partnership with the Bay Path University Advisory Council is designed for women in all industries and at all levels of their career looking to make a return to the workforce.
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  Mentions: Springfield
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Massachusetts Communities Receive $647,000 for Middle-school Exploration Programs
  
  Explore BusinessWest May 24 2019 Education
  
  In Western Mass., Monson Public Schools will launch the Careers in the Middle program, providing students in grades 6 to 8 with classroom lessons, field trips, and events that will expose them to career-awareness opportunities. “Monson is thrilled to be chosen by ASA to partner to provide additional resources that focus on our middle grades,” said Robert Bardwell, director of School Counseling and School-to-Career coordinator. “This grant will give us the opportunity to do more for our middle-level students and collect data that tells us which activities are best to facilitate and encourage career development early on.”
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2. MASS MoCA Continues To Wear Many Hats As It Turns 20
  
  Explore wbur.org May 24 2019
  
  That’s how this world-class contemporary art museum located in the Western Massachusetts city of North Adams is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The jam-packed schedule sheds light on how the institution sees itself: as a center of advanced art and performance by nationally and internationally known artists, an incubator of new talent and experimental ideas, and an institution that is very much part of a local community.
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3. People in Business baytechIT Appoints a New Director of Operations: David Rooks
  
  Explore masslive.com May 23 2019 Information Technology
  
  Headquartered in Holyoke, baytechIT serves more than 155 healthcare clients and manages/monitors more than 16,000 endpoint devices. Since its founding in May of 2018, the company has worked to fulfill its mission to meet the increasing demand for diverse health care IT services by hospitals; medical practices large and small; clinics; and social services agencies.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
4. Marion A. McGowan named CEO of Health New England, VP for Baystate Health
  
  Explore masslive.com May 23 2019 Health Care
  
  Baystate Health announced Thursday that it will appoint Marion A. McGowan to the newly created position of president and CEO of Health New England and senior vice president of payer innovation for Baystate Health. "We are confident that Marion’s experience in strategy development, operations, and new business ventures — along with her background in new population health business, service models and value-based payment — will help us to improve the health and the health care experience for the populations we serve,” said Dr. Mark A. Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health and chair of the Health New England board of ...
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  Mentions: Baystate Health Springfield Health New England
5. Payless ShoeSource says all stores closing in June
  
  Explore masslive.com May 23 2019
  
  Payless ShoeSource announced this weekthat its liquidation sales will continue through the end of June and its stores will close on a rolling basis throughout the month. The company announced in February that it would shut down all 2,100 Payless locations across the country. But that announcement left the actual date of closing a mystery.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Chicopee
6. Leadership Summit to Explore Trends Impacting Western Mass.
  
  Explore BusinessWest May 23 2019
  
  On Tuesday, June 4 from 5 to 8:30 p.m., dozens of local leaders will take an expanded collective view of the trends and forces affecting the business, social, and economic environment of the region at the Pioneer Valley Leadership Summit. Using the World Café method of small-group conversations, participants will create a context map of how current forces are changing how they develop and steer their organizations into the future. Ideas, concerns, and best practices will be exchanged in this highly interactive process.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
7. Amherst Area Chamber Welcomes John Page as Membership & Marketing Manager
  
  Explore BusinessWest May 23 2019
  
  Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Claudia Pazmany announced the recent addition of John Page as full-time Membership & Marketing manager. Page, who has been serving as an intern in this position for the last 10 months while completing his undergraduate studies, is already known to many, Pazmany said. “John has proven to be an invaluable resource to our chamber membership, and members know to turn to him for support and recognition. He is the best possible fit, and we are a better chamber for his commitment to the Amherst area.”
  
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  Mentions: Amherst
8. Church for sale: Congregation puts H.H. Richardson building in Springfield’s Mattoon Street neighborhood on the market
  
  Explore masslive.com May 22 2019
  
  The former North Congregational Church at the corner of Salem and Elliot streets in Springfield’s Mattoon Street neighborhood is for sale with an asking price of $600,000. The brownstone church at 18 Salem St. — which has gone by many names over the decades — dates to 1873 and features stained-glass windows from the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Fran Cataldo Jr.
9. White Lion Brewing to Debut Summer Beer Garden Today
  
  Explore BusinessWest May 22 2019 Tourism
  
  Starting today, May 22, White Lion Brewing will expand on its highly recognized White Lion Wednesday pop-up concept which was recognized in 2017 by Food and Wine magazine as a beer garden to visit. This year’s White Lion Summer Beer Garden is sponsored by MassLive and will operate on the corner of Bridge and Main streets each Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. “Springfield continues to witness an uptick in general attractions,” General Manager Ray Berry said. “There is a lot of creativity taking place in every corner of the ...
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  Mentions: Springfield
10. Study of east-west rail connecting North Adams, Greenfield and Boston passes Massachusetts Senate
  
  Explore masslive.com May 22 2019 Transportation
  
  As state Sen. Jo Comerford campaigned to represent Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester in the Massachusetts legislature last year, the issue of transportation connecting the state kept arising among voters. Residents in Central and Western Massachusetts spoke of an easier way to get to and from Boston. “It’s within people’s lifetimes that we had passenger service,” Comerford, a Northampton Democrat, told MassLive of the former rail service along the Route 2 corridor. The previous passenger service ran from 1875 to 1968, connecting Eastern and Western Massachusetts.
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  Mentions: Amtrak Springfield Northampton
Picture Gallery

Downtown Springfield Farmers Market NOW at Court Square on Fridays - Opening Day May 17th! From the EDC

Regional Economic Development Planning Council Engagement Sessions From the EDC

MassDOT Commuter Transportation Listening Session From the EDC

Bay Path Hosts Workshop to Help Women Re-Enter the Workforce 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

MASS MoCA Continues To Wear Many Hats As It Turns 20 wbur.org

People in Business baytechIT Appoints a New Director of Operations: David Rooks masslive.com

Marion A. McGowan named CEO of Health New England, VP for Baystate Health masslive.com

Payless ShoeSource says all stores closing in June masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move