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. MA Vacant Storefronts Program (MVSP) Webinar
  
  Explore From the EDC Jul 20 2020 by Debra Boronski
  
  The Mass Office of Business Development (MOBD) will be holding a webinar to increase awareness of the Massachusetts Vacant Storefronts Program (MVSP). This program first became available through the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) in 2019, and can be used to help municipalities in their efforts to revitalize their downtowns and commercial areas.
  
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  Mentions: Massachusetts Office of Business Development
2. TARGETED FREE COVID-19 TESTING SITES
  
  Explore From the EDC Jul 15 2020 by Mike Kennealy
  
  Last week, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of free COVID-19 testing sites in eight communities from July 10 to August 14 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This “Stop the Spread” initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities that are above the state average in total cases and positive test rate, and have experienced a decline in testing levels since April. The initiative is being launched in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford. Residents of these communities can take advantage of the availability of these new testing ...
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  Mentions: MassDevelopment Massachusetts Department of Transportation
3. MASSACHUSETTS - PHASE III, STEP ONE TO INITIATE ON MONDAY, JULY 6TH
  
  Explore From the EDC Jul 6 2020 by Mike Kennealy
  
  The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that on July 6^th, Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan will begin and updates on gatherings will be in effect. For the City of Boston, Phase III and the gatherings order will take effect on Monday, July 13^th. The Department of Public Health (DPH) also issued updated guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
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4. Massachusetts link to resources
  
  Explore From the EDC Jun 30 2020 by Mike Kennealy
  
  Please find the link to MGCC’s small business survey mentioned on Friday. This statewide survey will be used to help MGCC formulate programs that meet the needs of the small business community as we proceed from reopening into economic recovery. Please encourage businesses in your circles to respond to this survey to inform that effort. Click here for survey.
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Provisions wine, craft beer, cheese and specialty food store moving into The Mill District in North Amherst
  
  Explore masslive.com 23 hours, 55 min ago
  
  Provisions – the wine, craft beer and specialty meat and cheese store in downtown Northampton – will soon open a second location in space at The Mill District in North Amherst. Both Mill District owner and developer Cinda Jones and the owners of Provisions – Bruce McAmis and Benson Hyde – announced the deal Tuesday afternoon.
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  Mentions: Springfield Amherst Northampton
2. Employers lose confidence; but see Massachusetts recovery outpacing national economy during COVID-19 pandemic
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 4 2020
  
  Business confidence fell in July, four months after the index suffered the largest one-time decline in its history a coronavirus hit followed by a modest spring recovery, Associated Industries of Massachusetts said Tuesday. Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Index fell 3.2 points to 45.8, showing a predominantly pessimistic outlook among businesses throughout the commonwealth, according to a news release Tuesday. Confidence was 16.2 points less than in July 2019.
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  Mentions: Associated Industries of Massachusetts
3. IT Bond Bill Includes $300,000 for Town of Amherst
  
  Explore BusinessWest Aug 4 2020
  
  State Rep. Mindy Domb announced designated funding in the amount of $300,000 for the town of Amherst for information-technology (IT) upgrades in the recently passed IT bond bill. Domb joined her colleagues in the state Legislature to pass the legislation, which authorizes up to $1.7 billion in spending for the improvement of IT equipment and related projects in Massachusetts.
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  Mentions: Amherst
4. State Allocates $50 Million in CARES Act Funding to Schools and Colleges
  
  Explore BusinessWest Aug 3 2020
  
  The Baker-Polito administration announced last week it will allocate more than $50 million in federal CARES Act funds to benefit education in elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. The funding from the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund will improve early literacy, expand remote learning opportunities, and cover costs associated with reopening certain schools and colleges, as well as boost financial aid for college students in greater need of financial assistance.
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5. Hampton Ponds Market, now open in Westfield, saw opportunity for a new supermarket
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 3 2020
  
  Jorge Alvarado and his wife, Rosana, moved to Westfield five years ago after working for years in supermarkets in New York City. They were close to her family here. And they started working for a demolition company in Holyoke while living near East Mountain Road near Hampton Ponds. Problem was, Jorge Alvarado said, there wasn’t a food store he liked really close by. He was thinking of a neighborhood-type place where busy commuters could stop by on the way home from work.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Holyoke Westfield
6. ‘It’s the survival of the fittest:‘ Massachusetts breweries innovate to stay afloat by adding outdoor space, expanding reach
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 1 2020
  
  Two weeks ago, a plumbing issue caused the taproom at Redemption Rock Brewing Co. to close early on a Saturday. Five months ago, that may have registered as a disaster. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, it amounted to a shoulder shrug.
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  Mentions: Springfield
7. As legislative session gets extended, Massachusetts lawmakers send $1.8 billion IT bond bill to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 1 2020 Information Technology
  
  The Legislature enacted a $1.8 billion information technology bond bill after lawmakers reached a deal on a finalized proposal late Friday. The bill now heads to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk. The IT bond bill offers cybersecurity and technology improvements to early child care, classrooms, law enforcement, the food industry and other areas — all in the midst of a global pandemic that has made internet access, teleconferencing platforms and secure, efficient websites crucial for remote work.
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  Mentions: Robert DeLeo
8. Small Businesses Need Support
  
  Explore BusinessWest Jul 31 2020 Retail
  
  The recent news that two small businesses located in the Shops at Marketplace in downtown Springfield — Serendipity and Alchemy Nail Bar — will be closing permanently due to a sharp decline in business from the pandemic provides more direct evidence of the damage being done to the business community from this crisis. A number of small businesses have already closed over the past four and a half months, and those numbers will surely rise as the pandemic continues to keep people in their homes. Many of these closings are seemingly unavoidable — they involve businesses, such as event venues, bars, and restaurants ...
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  Mentions: Springfield
9. Paul Belsito Eyes ‘Impact Philanthropy’ as He Takes Helm at Davis Foundation
  
  Explore BusinessWest Jul 31 2020
  
  Paul Belsito admits he’s struggling somewhat with Zoom and conference calls — not the technology, but the nature of those forms of communication. He’s a people person, and he likes meeting them face to face — and not on screen or over the phone. “I enjoy going to events and networking — that’s how I meet people,” he said, noting that there haven’t been any opportunities like that since he’s arrived, and he’s looking to the day when they return. “Zoom is OK, and I’m getting good at it, but it’s not the same.”
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10. BusinessTalk with Nancy Urbschat
  
  Explore BusinessWest Jul 31 2020
  
  Thom Fox chats with Nancy Urbschat, Principal at TSM Design. In 2019, TSM shifted to a remote business model – long before COVID-19. Nancy shares what she has learned in leading a remote team and managing her award-winning creative services agency through the pandemic.
  
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Picture Gallery

MA Vacant Storefronts Program (MVSP) Webinar From the EDC

TARGETED FREE COVID-19 TESTING SITES From the EDC

MASSACHUSETTS - PHASE III, STEP ONE TO INITIATE ON MONDAY, JULY 6TH From the EDC

Massachusetts link to resources 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

Provisions wine, craft beer, cheese and specialty food store moving into The Mill District in North Amherst masslive.com

Employers lose confidence; but see Massachusetts recovery outpacing national economy during COVID-19 pandemic masslive.com

IT Bond Bill Includes $300,000 for Town of Amherst BusinessWest

State Allocates $50 Million in CARES Act Funding to Schools and Colleges BusinessWest
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move