The City of Greenfield is the recipient of a “Green Communities” grant to support three green energy projects. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has awarded the city $100,302 to fund the following projects:
The Community Foundation hosted a celebration for outgoing President and CEO Katie Allan Zobel. In May, it was announced that Zobel would be transitioning out of her position that she has held for over 17 years. “It’s moving to be here and see all the partners, the people I have worked with colleagues, friends, people who have worked with me on the staff and volunteers, and people who have committed their own resources and time and energy. It gives me great faith in the future,” said Zobel.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is collecting information from communities across the Commonwealth. 22News found how the state plans to use this feedback from commuters. MassDOT set up tables in front of Union Station on Wednesday to hear what commuters think about the state of transportation in our state. The information being collected from people will be used in the state’s 2050 long range transportation plan, entitled Beyond Mobility. This information gathering session is one of many being held across the state.
The City of Holyoke held a news conference Wednesday to share the status of several pipeline projects. Some of the topics addressed included the repaving of High Street and a new committee formed to address urban blight. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia joined the Office of Planning and Economic Development to provide updates on several projects the city is working on including the repaving and revitalization of High Street and orders to address vacant buildings, which the mayor says can often be the site of criminal activity.
Construction at a long awaited new skatepark in Greenfield is underway. A 12,000 square-foot site in the northern portion of the parking lot between Chapman and Davis Streets in downtown Greenfield has been designated and fenced off as the new location for the skating paradise.
Rachel Romano says she started Veritas Prep Charter School after becoming frustrated as a middle-school teacher in Springfield with just how ill-prepared students were to succeed — at the next level in their education, and in general. She called it “unfinished learning,” and it was occurring at many levels, especially with reading.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved MassDOT’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plan, which was developed as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. FHWA notified MassDOT the state is among the first group of states to have its EV deployment plan approved. “The federal government’s approval of our plan is an important milestone in efforts to support the Commonwealth’s transition towards low-carbon transportation,” Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler said. “Implementation of the plan will help EV buyers know they will able to charge their vehicles on major highways in Massachusetts when they take ...
Hazen Paper’s 10th enshrinement yearbook cover for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield was anything but a repeat performance. The limited-edition 2022 cover, created with Hazen Holography, depicts an otherworldly, three-dimensional view of the panoramic Hall of Fame interior, illuminated with depth and light. According to Hazen President John Hazen, “though some of the visual elements — typography, portraits, logo — return, our holographic team flexes its technical prowess, amplifying the special effects each time to ensure the cover is more exciting than ever.”
The Springfield Regional Chamber will kick off its first Rise & Shine Business Breakfast of the 2022-23 season at MGM Springfield on Wednesday, Oct. 12, featuring presentations from MGM Springfield’s Executive Director of Finance Arlen Carballo and Director of Community Affairs Beth Ward. Carballo and Ward will address attendees over breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Celebrating the casino’s decade of commitment to the chamber and the Greater Springfield region, the pair will address MGM’s transformative economic impact on the region following the pandemic, the recent passage of sports betting that will lead to the opening ...
Professional Drywall Construction Inc. (PDC), a commercial drywall company headquartered in Springfield, raised $45,500 at its sixth annual PDC Charity Golf Tournament for Baystate Children’s Hospital. The event was Sept. 8 at Southampton Country Club. “It has been an honor to host this tournament for the past six years to help an amazing organization like Baystate Children’s Hospital,” PDC co-owner Nick Shaink said. “Giving back to our community is at the core of our values as a company, and being able help children here in Western Massachusetts with this tournament is very meaningful.”
A $30,000 donation has been renewed by Florence Bank, in an effort to give back to Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. “Florence is a very community-spirited bank, and we are a very community-spirited organization. Our missions align,” said Amy Landry, the director of resource development at Habitat for eight years. “Clearly, they have been a wonderful community partner for us.”
The Greenfield planning board approved the mayor’s proposal to expand the industrial development zone near Route 2. The decision initiates the process of rezoning 11 Parcels East of Kind Street and North of the French King Highway, which provides an area for mixed retail. The parcel will be zoned for manufacturing and industrial developments, in an effort to help advance manufacturing businesses and the city’s tax base. A joint public hearing will be held in the near future and then a final vote will need to be made by the City Council, to certify the changes.
City officials toured the Mason Square building where Knox Automobile was built more than 100-years-ago, which will become a new apartment complex. Mayor Domenic Sarno along with Springfield’s Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan toured the redevelopment of the historic Knox building with the developer, First Resource President Gordon Pulsifer Monday morning. The Knox building is located on lower Wilbraham Road at Mason Square that will house 54 new apartment units for low and moderate-income families.
The challenges facing this region’s nonprofits — and cookies. Those are two of the many subjects that BusinessWest editor George O’Brien and Square One President and CEO Dawn DiStefano discuss on the next installment of the BusinessTalk podcast. There are many challenges confronting nonprofits, obviously, from finding talented help to fundraising. Which brings us to … cookies — the focal point of the agency’s new fundraiser, set for this fall. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
bankESB recently made a $5,000 donation to Behavioral Health Network Inc. toward the Katherine B. Wilson Staff Excellence Fund to support the career and professional development of the organization’s workforce. BHN is a regional provider of comprehensive behavioral-health services for adults, children, and families whose mission is to help individuals, families, and communities improve the quality of life for those with behavioral and developmental challenges. BHN serves more than 35,000 individuals annually at 40 locations across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Suffolk, and Berkshire counties, and employs over 2,300 people. The Staff Excellence Fund will provide support for ...
Western New England University (WNE) has been named among the best Universities in the Nation by U.S. News & World News. WNE has been ranked #234 in Best National University Rankings by U.S. News & World. Western New England University transitioned from the Regional to National University classification back in 2020. Western New England University is a private, nationally ranked, comprehensive university with a focus on preparing work-ready and world-ready graduates.
Puerto Rican residents of Massachusetts have been having issues acquiring state IDs because of complications obtaining their birth certificates from Puerto Rico. State Representative Carlos González co-hosted a workshop Friday in Springfield at the Economic Development Council of Western MA conference room, to assist impacted residents with navigating the legal challenges that pop up throughout the process. 22News spoke with González about what this seminar included and how it can help members of the community.
The Amherst BID Block Party is back! The Amherst Business Improvement District celebrated the return of their block party with over 5,000 guest. The annual party was cancelled the last two year’s due to the concern of spreading coronavirus. The event featured live performances, food, a beer garden and an open house for The Drake performance art venue.
The Smith College Board of Trustees has announced its new president. Sarah Willie-LeBreton has been named the college’s 12th president. She has been the provost and dean of the faculty at Swarthmore College where she has taught since 1997. She specializes in higher education, social inequality, community building, and African-American Culture. Willie-LeBreton will take office at Smith College on July 1st, 2023.
– MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, today announced the release of a video series promoting Massachusetts as a place to work and do business. The videos focus on the five regions of Massachusetts — West, Greater Boston, Northeast, Southeast, and Central— and Massachusetts as a whole.
A graduation was held in downtown Springfield for the participants of the Springfield business education program. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was in attendance to congratulate the 12 small businesses that participated in the RiseUp Springfield Business Education Program.
The Mass Cultural Council and its partners will be celebrating its fiscal year 2022 Cultural Facilities Fund grants awarded to cultural organizations throughout the state. Massachusetts Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt and MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera will join Hampshire County legislators and local officials at noon Wednesday at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Northampton. They received a $162,000 grant to renovate their space. The tour will continue at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for a roundtable discussion about the ArtsHub with members of the western Mass creative community.
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and Holyoke Community College (HCC) announced a partnership with Upright Education to offer training for skills in technology, including software development and design. College officials said they were excited to partner with Upright, a workforce-training company, to create more technical jobs, including in the growing information technology (IT) sector, and skilled-labor opportunities for the Western Mass. workforce. The colleges and Upright are offering online educational opportunities for adult learners looking for a new career in technology. No experience is necessary to enroll.
AMHERST — Francisco Perez, owner of Amherst House of Pizza (AHOP) at Riverside Park, is opening a second restaurant in the Mill District in North Amherst this fall. Cisco’s Café will feature Latino and American breakfast and lunch.
“We will have several types of breakfast burritos and sandwiches. Vegan and vegetarian options will be offered along with several meat and fish choices at breakfast and lunch,” said Perez, a native of El Salvador and 10-year owner of AHOP.