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. 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.
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  Mentions: General Dynamics Springfield Technical Community College Springfield
2. 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.
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  Mentions: Springfield Boston Fed
3. AMHERST AREA CHAMBER TO HOLD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PANEL & RECEPTION
  
  Explore From the EDC May 30 2019 by Claudia Pazmany
  
  The Amherst Area Chamber presents its first Economic Development Panel discussion on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 4-6PM at The Old Chapel at UMass Amherst. The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Bobrowski and Vickery, LLC and the University of Massachusetts Amherst and to make this event possible.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Amherst Ann Burke
4. Governor Baker to Brief Business Leaders on June 11, 2019
  
  Explore From the EDC May 29 2019 by Mary Walachy
  
  Springfield Business Leaders to Host Education Briefing with Governor Baker. I’d like to invite you to join Springfield Business Leaders for Education for a session with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. on the Center Court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where he will discuss public education and pending legislation on school finance reform with area business leaders.
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  Mentions: Springfield Holyoke Basketball Hall of Fame
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Hot Oven Cookies plans Agawam expansion; eyes Northampton, Westfield and additional Springfield shop
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 22 2019 Entrepreneurship
  
  Sheila Coon and her Hot Oven Cookies have made enough dough to fund making more dough. Coon's cookie-fueled expansion plan that will see Hot Oven Cookies open a manufacturing and production hub in Agawam in a former pizzeria at 369 Walnut St., probably in September that will work in tandem with a bakery Coon and her husband, David Coon, opened last year at 1597 Main St., in Springfield's historic Worthington Building at the SilverBrick Lofts complex.
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2. Agawam High School, Atlantis Charter School, Brockton High School and Burlington High School to launch ‘Innovation Pathways’ job training programs
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 19 2019 Education , Manufacturing
  
  Students at Agawam High School and three other Massachusetts schools will have the opportunity to get a head start on their career plans with the launch of Innovation Pathways programs that offer job training in fields from information technology to advanced manufacturing. Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the award designations Friday, bringing the state’s number of schools offering the programs to 25.
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3. Bentley Billiards/ Lambson Furniture in Westfield has new owner, $1M redevelopment planned
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 19 2019 Business Development
  
  The new owners of the old Bentley Billiards/ Lambson Furniture buildings on Elm Street in the heart of the city’s downtown business district plan to begin $1 million worth of renovations in as little as two weeks. "We want to clean the thing up immediately," said Eugene J. Borowski Jr. "Structurally the building is in great shape." Borowski, owner Beyond Builders, heads a group of investors who bought the buildings at 81-83 Elm St. and at 87-89 Elm St. for $275,000, according to a deed filed Monday at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
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4. Bradley Begins Construction on New Ground Transportation Center - BusinessWest
  
  Explore BusinessWest Jul 19 2019 Transportation
  
  Gov. Ned Lamont, state leaders, Connecticut Airport Authority officials, and project stakeholders held a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site of Bradley International Airport’s new Ground Transportation Center on July 18. “Undoubtedly, Bradley International Airport is rapidly rising in popularity and ridership, with more airlines and routes being added regularly,” Lamont said. “More and more people throughout New England are recognizing the multiple benefits this airport provides — a convenient, centralized location and growing amenities that make travel easier.
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5. WGBY changing its over-the-air frequencies on Monday - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 19 2019
  
  Public television station WGBY will be changing its frequencies on Monday. Over-the-air antenna users must rescan their TVs on or after Monday or they will lose the local PBS signal. Cable and satellite viewers are not affected. Approximately 1,000 television stations across the country will experience frequency changes between now and July 2020 because of a FCC plan designed to make room on the airways for new 5G and other mobile broadband services.
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6. Springfield eyes creating 2 historic districts around Innovation Center, ‘unusual’ house (photos) - masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 19 2019 Business Development
  
  The city is considering the creation of two local historic districts downtown, aimed at preserving the home of the Springfield Innovation center on Bridge Street and a deteriorated, “unusual” house at 60 Byers St. Both the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Springfield Historical Commission have approved the proposed districts in recent months, and the City Council added its first-step approval on Monday night. Final approval from the council is pending at a future meeting.
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7. Dunkin’ opens ‘next generation’ store in Holyoke
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 18 2019 Business Development , Retail
  
  Dunkin’ Donuts officially cut the ribbon on a “next generation” store at 473-489 Pleasant St. Thursday morning. The new Dunkin’ features a unique, modern design equipped with the latest in brewing and pouring technologies, including Nitro Cold Brew, a richer, foamier offering. Freshly baked donuts, muffins and bagels filled the shelves. Franchisees Derek Salema and Peter Martins welcomed Mayor Alex B. Morse and City Councilors David Bartley and Peter Tallman to the ceremony. Aides to state Sen. Donald Humason and state Rep. Aaron Vega presented proclamations to the owners.
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8. Toys R Us plans to reopen stores before Christmas
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 18 2019 Retail
  
  Toys R Us will be back in business in some locations just in time for the Christmas shopping season. The former toy retailer has teamed up with software retailer b8ta to reopen 10 Toys R Us stores across the country after the company went out of business last year. The first two stores will be located in Paramus, New Jersey, and Houston, Texas, according to b8ta. The initial stores will each be about 6,500 square feet, roughly a quarter of the size of a traditional Toys R Us store.
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9. New owner of Strathmore Paper mill in Russell works on cleanup, mulls plans after tax sale
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 18 2019 Business Development , Manufacturing
  
  The new owner of the old Strathmore Mill #2 in Russell has begun working on the property while he considers plans for reuse and redevelopment. “I really don’t have any 100% set plans,” said Jacob Trudeau of Pittsfield. “I really just want to get it cleaned out. The real goal is just to get it clean, get the outside clean and get it in better shape.” Trudeau said he’s been talking with experts in mill redevelopment and might have more to share in a few weeks.
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10. Edward Wingenbach, Hampshire College’s new president, ‘understands the challenges,’ say those who made the hire
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 17 2019 Education
  
  Hampshire College’s new president, Edward Wingenbach, has already raised morale at the beleaguered liberal arts college. Now he’s got to start raising money. “I think there is a new attitude and new energy here,” said Luis Hernendez, a member of the founding class of 1970 and chairman of the Hampshire board of trustees. “Sometimes, when you are in the midst of challenges, its easy to get down, to lose hope. In order to be a leader, you need confidence and you need to instill confidence that we’ll get through this.”
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Picture Gallery

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

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER TO HOLD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PANEL & RECEPTION From the EDC

Governor Baker to Brief Business Leaders on June 11, 2019 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

Hot Oven Cookies plans Agawam expansion; eyes Northampton, Westfield and additional Springfield shop masslive.com

Agawam High School, Atlantis Charter School, Brockton High School and Burlington High School to launch ‘Innovation Pathways’ job training programs masslive.com

Bentley Billiards/ Lambson Furniture in Westfield has new owner, $1M redevelopment planned masslive.com

WGBY changing its over-the-air frequencies on Monday - masslive.com masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move