Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Featured News
1. MassMutual decision adds to Springfield's 'momentum,' Western Massachusetts development official says
  
  Explore masslive.com Feb 8 2018 Business Development , Workforce
  
  CRRC is about to open its rail car factory in East Springfield, MGM Springfield is seven months from opening its resort casino in the South End and now homegrown MassMutual will add jobs at its headquarters on State Street. "That is a lot of momentum, and it gets noticed," said Richard K. Sullivan Jr., president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. MassMutual plans to grow its workforce at its corporate headquarters on State Street by approximately 50 percent. The insurer will add 1,500 jobs there over the next four years, bringing the total number of ...
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno University of Massachusetts MassMutual
2. “Innovations and Opportunities in Green Technologies”
  
  Explore From the EDC Oct 3 2017 Green Region
  
  Join UMass Amherst and the Economic Development Council of Western Mass for an event to be held at the Design Building at UMass Amherst, 551 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003 October 17, 2017 from 8:30AM – 12PM. Green technology sectors offer business and employment opportunities stemming from clean energy, climate change mitigations, water innovation, and green building technologies. Join UMass Amherst and Western Mass EDC for an event on innovations in new sectors, their potential for growth, and how Western Mass and UMass Amherst are taking a lead in green tech developments. Network and make connections between UMass Amherst ...
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Amherst Holyoke
3. House Speaker DeLeo: 'Why don't you look at Springfield?'
  
  Explore masslive.com May 18 2017 Business Development
  
  DeLeo, D-Winthrop, described the conversation Thursday in a speech to the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. He said he asked about all the GE subsidiaries that might follow the home office to Massachusetts. Yes, he was told, various GE businesses might follow. "Why don't you look out west?" DeLeo told the executive. "Why don't you look in Springfield? That's where the real estate is going to sell for much less than what you are paying in the Seaport district." The EDC is a regional economic development organization that works to bring businesses to the region, helps ...
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  Mentions: Springfield Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts
4. Greentown/EDC Manufacturing Event - East is Coming Out West on June2
  
  Explore From the EDC May 9 2017 Manufacturing
  
  I am excited to announce that on June 2 we will be bringing a van of Greentown Labs Member Companies out to visit Western Massachusetts. The van will be leaving Greentown Somerville at 9:00 am headed West! We will be starting our day with a manufacturers luncheon in Springfield and ending our day with pizza and beer at New City Brewery in Easthampton. Between lunch and the evening we will be spending the afternoon touring a couple of Western Mass' premier manufacturing facilities.
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  Mentions: Springfield Easthampton
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From the EDC
1. VVM and Western MA help with Kauffman Foundation Springfield Survey
  
  Explore From the EDC Apr 19 2018 Entrepreneurship by Liz Roberts
  
  We have been working for two years to get VVM and Western MA on Kauffman Foundation's radar. We now have the potential to be part of nationwide investigation regarding startup community growth with Startup Genome and seeking a select group of metropolitan areas to join this effort and participate in data collection and analysis. Most cities pay for this diagnostic, but Kauffman is footing the bill for 10 smaller cities to have the same opportunity & Springfield has been selected to receive a free report.
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  Mentions: Springfield Valley Venture Mentors
2. MGM SPRINGFIELD F&B OPEN HOUSE EVENT
  
  Explore From the EDC Mar 22 2018 Tourism by Yomar Hernandez
  
  Come meet our Vice President of Food & Beverage, Anthony Caratozzolo, and Executive Chef, Nate Waugaman, to learn about all food and beverage opportunities.
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  Mentions: MassMutual Center Springfield
3. Baker-Polito Administration Supports Nine Community-Driven Initiatives
  
  Explore From the EDC Feb 20 2018 Business Development by Juan R. Vega
  
  Urban Agenda Grant Program builds on community-driven initiatives to create new economic opportunities for residents
  
  BOSTON, MA - February 12, 2018 - Today, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded $500,000 to nine projects through the Urban Agenda Grant Program. The program seeks to unlock community-driven responses to local obstacles, and promote economic development opportunities through partnership-building, problem solving, and shared accountability in urban centers. The competitive awards offer flexible funding for local efforts that bring together community stakeholders to pursue economic development initiatives. These awards will fund projects in Boston, Clinton, Framingham, Greenfield, Holyoke, Lowell, New Bedford, Revere and Springfield. Funding will support ...
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  Mentions: MassDevelopment Springfield Greenfield
4. MASSMUTUAL ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION AND REINVESTMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS
  
  Explore From the EDC Feb 8 2018 Business Development , Workforce by Rick Sullivan
  
  MassMutual to invest nearly $300 million in Commonwealth. Will add 2,000 jobs to state over next four years, including 1,500 at corporate headquarters in Springfield, and build new Boston campus on Fan Pier. MassMutual workforce in state to grow by 70 percent.
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  Mentions: Domenic J. Sarno MassMutual Springfield
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Western Massachusetts Business News
1. Panel Discussion to Focus on HCC’s Role in Valley’s Future
  
  Explore BusinessWest Apr 20 2018 Education
  
  Holyoke Community College is bringing together an all-star lineup of regional leaders for a panel discussion on April 25, focusing on the future of the Pioneer Valley and HCC’s role in it. That discussion, “Shaping the Future: HCC and the Pioneer Valley,” will be conducted over breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. in the PeoplesBank Conference Room in the HCC Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on the main campus, 303 Homestead Ave. The breakfast is open to the public. Community members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Community College Springfield Holyoke
2. Valley Opportunity Council wants to hire low-income and at-risk youth for summer
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 20 2018 Workforce
  
  The Valley Opportunity Council is taking applications for summer jobs for low-income and at-risk youth between the ages of 14 and 21. The program, which is done in collaboration with the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, offers a structured, well-supervised work experience where employees will learn a variety of job skills while earning a paycheck.
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  Mentions: Regional Employment Board of Hampden County Inc. Chicopee
3. Afghan girls education advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh to speak at Springfield Public Forum April 25 | masslive.com
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 20 2018
  
  Afghan women's rights advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh will speak before at the Springfield Public Forum on Wednesday, delivering a talk on her efforts to educate girls in her home country. Basij-Rasikh was born in Kabul and lived there under the Taliban, which had banned girls from attending school. To receive an education, she dressed as a boy to go to classes, the Springfield Public Forum said in a press release.
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4. Westfield State University partners with UMass on law program
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 20 2018 Education
  
  Westfield State University and the University of Massachusetts School of Law in Dartmouth are partnering on a new law program. Under the new initiative, called 3 Plus 3, students who complete the six-year program will obtain both a bachelor's degree and a law degree. The idea for the program was to include diverse majors, such as business, ethics, gender studies and English. This is in addition to criminal justice, political science and other majors related to law.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Westfield State University Westfield
5. From Lenox to Nantucket, 36 Massachusetts communities get state energy efficiency grants;...
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 19 2018 Energy
  
  Gov. Charlie Baker's administration awarded $4 million in energy efficiency grants to 36 Massachusetts cities and town during a ceremony at the Ware High School auditorium on Thursday. The money will be used by the municipalities' water and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and in some cases generate renewable energy. The announcement was timed to coincide with Earth Day, which will be on Sunday.
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  Mentions: Chicopee Westfield The Republican
6. Gov. Charlie Baker looks to spur investments in Springfield, other 'Opportunity Zone'...
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 19 2018 Business Development
  
  Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has recommended that Springfield and several other communities across the state be deemed "opportunity zones" -- a designation created under the GOP tax law to open municipalities to private, tax-free investments. Baker, in paperwork submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday, suggested that a total of 138 communities -- the maximum amount allowed for Massachusetts -- be considered for the "Opportunity Zone" program, according to officials.
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Northampton
7. Mayor Reichelt: West Springfield zoning changes could make city 'more exciting' for developers, beer-brewing companies
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 19 2018 Business Development
  
  With news that West Springfield is working to bring Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. to the city, the mayor has proposed changing zoning regulations to include recreational facilities, breweries, distilleries and wineries in the city's industrial zones. "We're in talks with a couple (of breweries) now, namely Two Weeks Notice, to relocate in town," said Mayor William C. Reichelt, who is petitioning the Town Council to approve changes to make the city's industrial sites "more exciting to developers."
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield
8. Westfield's special permitting process could be revamped
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 19 2018 Business Development
  
  The Westfield City Council's ad hoc Business Development Committee has been revived under Chairman Michael Burns (Ward 4) and plans to revamp the special permit process. City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell is working with the committee and said most communities' special permits go through the planning board. He said that makes sense because the planning board works with businesses every step of the process. But over the years, some Westfield councilors requested that special permits go before the council. "Different councilors felt it was their purview to issue special permits," said Mitchell.
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  Mentions: Westfield State University Westfield
9. Holyoke SPARK to offer social media tips to businesses
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 19 2018
  
  Business owners will get tips on how to make the most of a social media presence at a Holyoke SPARK event today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Holyoke Hummus, 285 High St. "Do you have burning social media questions you need answers to for the life of your business? Bring your questions and your knowledge and join the conversation," a press release said. SPARK stands for Stimulating, Potential, Accessing, Resource & Knowledge. The federal and state granted-funded program began in March 2015 to help entrepreneurs become business owners.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
10. Eastern States Exposition donates over $240K to Big E/West Springfield Trust
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 18 2018
  
  The Eastern States Exposition has donated over $240,000 to The Big E/West Springfield Trust Fund, the largest contribution since the fund was established 24 years ago. The sum represents 1 percent of the ESE's gross revenues for 2017. "This is a special year because it's the biggest check we've been able to give to the town," ESE President Eugene J. Cassidy said Wednesday, presenting a check for $240,198 to West Springfield Mayor William C. Reichelt. "Your success is our success," said the mayor, who is one of three trustees responsible for administering the fund ...
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  Mentions: West Springfield Springfield Eastern States Exposition
Picture Gallery

MGM SPRINGFIELD F&B OPEN HOUSE EVENT From the EDC

Baker-Polito Administration Supports Nine Community-Driven Initiatives From the EDC

MASSMUTUAL ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION AND REINVESTMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS From the EDC

MassMutual decision adds to Springfield's 'momentum,' Western Massachusetts development official says masslive.com

“Innovations and Opportunities in Green Technologies” From the EDC

House Speaker DeLeo: 'Why don't you look at Springfield?' masslive.com

Greentown/EDC Manufacturing Event - East is Coming Out West on June2 From the EDC

Panel Discussion to Focus on HCC’s Role in Valley’s Future BusinessWest

Valley Opportunity Council wants to hire low-income and at-risk youth for summer masslive.com

Afghan girls education advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh to speak at Springfield Public Forum April 25 | masslive.com masslive.com

Westfield State University partners with UMass on law program masslive.com

From Lenox to Nantucket, 36 Massachusetts communities get state energy efficiency grants;... masslive.com
Western Massachusetts- It's Your Move