Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Featured News
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. MGM Springfield - Grand Opening Information
  
  Explore MGM Springfield Aug 9 2018 Tourism
  
  Opening Day Information
  
  Kicking off the festivities at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of State and Main Streets, Downtown Springfield will be treated to a lively procession featuring the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales and other surprise entertainment alongside hundreds of the resort’s employees, construction workers and local dignitaries. Guests are invited to view the procession as it heads down Main Street and ends at the entrance to the property. Once the procession has arrived at MGM Springfield at approximately 11 a.m., doors will officially open, welcoming guests in to experience the energy and excitement of New England ...
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  Mentions: Springfield
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From the EDC
1. So what is a college degree worth?
  
  Explore From the EDC Jan 18 2019 Education
  
  So what is a college degree worth? The answer depends on whom you ask.
  
  Fewer than half of the adults surveyed in a Gallup Poll earlier this year had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the nation’s college and universities. When business executives and hiring managers were asked the question this past spring by Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, in a recently released survey funded by Newman’s Own Foundation, the answer was a world apart: 63 percent expressed quite a lot or a great deal of ...
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  Mentions: Westfield State University Mount Holyoke College Holyoke
2. MBAE Appoints New Executive Director
  
  Explore From the EDC Jan 14 2019 Education by Bill Walczak
  
  I am pleased to announce that the board of directors of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education has appointed Edward Lambert, Jr. our new executive director.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts
3. “Linking Digital Advertising to Business Growth” A training series for Western Massachusetts business owners
  
  Explore From the EDC Jan 4 2019 Business Development by Kelly Tiedemann Miller
  
  Common Capital is presenting a free training “Linking Digital Advertising to Business Growth” beginning on Friday, January 18^th, 2019. This grant funded training series is available to all businesses in Western Massachusetts. The goal of the program is to improve the digital marketing skills of small business owners and increasing their ability to bring in more customers and improve sales. This training will be presented on Friday mornings between 9 and 11 AM and will continue through May 2019. All participants will receive step by step actionable plans as well as guidance from experts to increase their success in ...
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  Mentions: Springfield Northampton Greenfield
4. The Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint
  
  Explore From the EDC Nov 30 2018 Workforce by David Cruise
  
  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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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Community Bank reopens renovated Tower Square office in Springfield
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 17 2019 Financial Services
  
  Community Bank cut a ceremonial ribbon Thursday to mark a renovation of its offices in the Tower Square retail mall, and announced $12,500 in donations to three local groups. Springfield Boys & Girls Club received $7,500 and YMCA of Greater Springfield and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County each received $2,500 in a brief ceremony attended by Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno at the branch office. The bank was once Nuvo Bank & Trust Co., which changed its name in May 2017 to Community Bank following a series of mergers that ended with Community Bank System buying Merchants ...
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno Springfield
2. Massachusetts thinks regionally about manufacturing workforce; ‘413’ gets $650K to school for jobs
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 17 2019 Manufacturing , Workforce
  
  Precision manufacturers recruiting workers with much-needed skills look across the region, not community by community. Now, with the most recent set of grants from the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Program, the agencies that train unemployed and underemployed adults for those jobs are thinking regionally as well. “We are going to be looking all across the 413 area code, which is not something that has been done before,” said David M. Cruise, MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board president and CEO. “We think this makes great sense because it consolidates the boards into regions, and the regions, we think, are reflective ...
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  Mentions: Springfield Technical Community College Greenfield Community College West Springfield
3. Springfield Works, with pilot program taking 2-generation approach to job readiness, wins 1 of 9 Massachusetts Urban Agenda Program grants
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 17 2019 Workforce
  
  The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts' Springfield Works program uses an online portal to match job seekers with opportunities and training to better their chances of landing a good job. Now, with the help of Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start and Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, Springfield Works will provide the early education programs needed for a whole family to work its way out of poverty. Springfield Works received a $75,000 grant Thursday from the state, one of nine programs sharing $500,000 from the Urban Agenda Program.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Community College Springfield Technical Community College Springfield
4. Staples to close East Longmeadow store | masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 17 2019
  
  Staples will close its store at 433 North Main St. in East Longmeadow on March 8. The Framingham-based office supply retail has other locations nearby in Enfield, Connecticut, on Boston Road in Springfield and at 129 Riverdale St, West Springfield. The East Longmadow store opened February 14, 2004 , company spokeswoman Jocelyn Thomas said in an email.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield
5. Café Du Jour auction planned; downtown Springfield location will become 2nd Delaney’s Market
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 16 2019
  
  The storefront will be home to a new Delaney’s Market location set to open in the early part of this year. Auctioneers Aaron Posnik & Co. of West Springfield will conduct the sale beginning at 11 a.m. Cafe Du Jour, in business since 1995 and owned since 2009 by the Saleh family, closed earlier this month. The Salehs had been on a month-to-month lease and the landlord, Glenn Edwards, of Chart Organization, of Lynbrook, New York, told them they would have to vacate.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Holyoke
6. MassHousing announces $50M in financing for Chestnut Park Apartments, part of a package of $87M
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 16 2019
  
  MassHousing, the state’s quasi-public housing finance agency, will provide $50 million in affordable financing to the owners of the long-troubled Chestnut Park Apartments in Springfield, part of an agreement that will raise $87 million to refinance the purchase and renovation of the complex. MassHousing approved the deal in December. Related Companies that month shifted ownership of Chestnut Towers between business entities it controls with the on-paper selling price of $12 million.
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  Mentions: Springfield
7. New Florence Bank branch in Springfield features fast cash-handling technology, coffee bar (photos, video)
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 16 2019 Financial Services
  
  Local officials, employees and stakeholders were on hand Wednesday to officially cut the ribbon on Florence Bank’s newest Pioneer Valley branch on Allen Street in Springfield. The new branch, which officially opened in December, has an open floor plan with two teller pods and technology for quick cash handling. The location also features a drive-up ATM with SMART technology for easy depositing and a comfortable waiting area inside with a coffee bar and free Wi-Fi.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Northampton
8. Holyoke City Council approves zone change to pave way for proposed 100-unit apartment...
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 16 2019
  
  The City Council on Tuesday approved a zoning change for a property near Whiting Farms Road, the proposed site of a 100-unit apartment complex. Developer Tom Adamczyk asked the city to change the zone for the parcel at 15 Holy Family Road from residential to multifamily, which allows the project to move forward. Adamczyk estimated the project would cost $10 million. The developer plans to build 76 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom market-rate apartments. The development includes several green spaces and a playground.
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  Mentions: Springfield Holyoke Westfield
9. Hampshire College Seeks Partner, Grapples with Future
  
  Explore BusinessWest Jan 16 2019 Education , Life Sciences
  
  Citing financial strain, Hampshire College on Tuesday outlined its desire to merge with another educational institution. The school is also evaluating whether to admit a freshman class for the fall. The news came in an e-mail from President Miriam Nelson. “I’m announcing today our intent to find a long-term partner that can help us achieve a thriving and sustainable future for Hampshire,” she wrote. “With the guidance and passion of Hampshire’s trustees we’ve begun a process to seek a strategic partnership to address the challenges we’ve faced as an underendowed institution, really from our very first ...
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  Mentions: Hampshire College Amherst
10. Smith & Wesson parent American Outdoor Brands buys laser sight, laser training company LaserLyte
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 15 2019 Manufacturing
  
  Smith & Wesson bought Crimson Trace for $95 million in 2016 before changing its name to American Outdoor Brands. Both moves, along with Tuesday’s purchase of LaserLyte, were part of a long-term strategy to diversify into hunting and camping equipment, shooting accessories and gunsmith tools and equipment.
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  Mentions: Smith & Wesson Corp. Springfield
Picture Gallery

So what is a college degree worth? From the EDC

MBAE Appoints New Executive Director From the EDC

“Linking Digital Advertising to Business Growth” A training series for Western Massachusetts business owners 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

MGM Springfield - Grand Opening Information MGM Springfield

Community Bank reopens renovated Tower Square office in Springfield masslive.com

Massachusetts thinks regionally about manufacturing workforce; ‘413’ gets $650K to school for jobs masslive.com

Springfield Works, with pilot program taking 2-generation approach to job readiness, wins 1 of 9 Massachusetts Urban Agenda Program grants masslive.com

Staples to close East Longmeadow store | masslive.com masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move