1. Featured Articles

    1-24 of 54 // 1 2 3 »

    1. Getting Down to Business: Playing Matchmaker

      Explore BusinessWest (Jan 17 2012)

      Getting Down to Business: Playing Matchmaker The full measure of his organization, Allan Blair will tell you, is pretty straightforward. “Three goals,” he began. Blair is president and CEO of the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Western Mass., and he explained that those goals to stimulate the regional economy are quality jobs, public and private investment, and bringing in additional visitors. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Allan W. Blair

    2. EDC to Host Industry Sector Series

      Explore From the EDC (Jan 12 2012) Manufacturing

        The EDC will host “New Market Opportunities for Photonics and Fiber Optics Companies” on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at 4:00 at the Springfield Technology Park. This will be the first in a series of presentations to be scheduled over the next several months focused on opportunities for manufacturing clusters we have identified as having growth potential for the region. Here is a link to the invitation, including RSVP information -- http://www.westernmassedc.com/photonics2012/ The series was spawned by the “Economic Development and Business Attraction Planning” report completed by CWS Consulting Group -- http://www.westernmassedc.com/cwsreport/ -- with the ... (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Springfield   Chicopee   Western Massachusetts Electric Company

    3. Thing5 LLC moves to downtown Springfield with plans to hire up to 500 workers

      Explore masslive.com (Jan 12 2012)

      Thing5 LLC moves to downtown Springfield with plans to hire up to 500 workers Thing5 LLC, a telecommunications company that provides call center services in the hospitality field, has opened a new, expanded location at the One Financial Plaza building in downtown Springfield and plans to create up to 500 jobs. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Domenic J. Sarno   Springfield   The Republican

    4. The Casino Era Begins

      Explore BusinessWest (Dec 6 2011)

      The Casino Era Begins Indeed, only a few seconds in, Blair, president of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., said that, while he had no official determination on the matter, he thought it quite fair to say that the resort casino due to be built over the next several years somewhere within the 413 area code will easily be the region’s largest development project ever. And he wasn’t just talking about dollars and cents, although the projected $500 million (minimum) project — at least twice the cost of Baystate Health’s $250 million Hospital of the Future — will certainly cover that aspect ... (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Domenic J. Sarno   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Mohegan Sun

    5. Springfield City Council approves special tax incentive for Custom Carbide; incentive for F.W. Webb undecided

      Explore masslive.com (Dec 5 2011)

      Springfield City Council approves special tax incentive for Custom Carbide; incentive for F.W. Webb undecided Councilor Timothy C. Allen, chairman of the council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, who was among councilors in favor of both tax incentive proposals, said he believes they benefit both the city and the local firms. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Smith & Wesson Corp.   Springfield City Council   Springfield

    6. Holyoke Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center completes first stage of construction

      Explore masslive.com (Nov 29 2011) Information Technology

      Holyoke Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center completes first stage of construction The so-called topping off ceremony is a milestone in the construction of the $168 million technology hub that is to join together five universities and two businesses, but the building is far from complete. It is expected to be another year before the computing center, being constructed at the site of the former Mastex Industries on Bigelow Street, will be finished. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   University of Massachusetts   Holyoke Community College

    7. Do You Have What Mestek Wants?

      Explore From the EDC (Oct 14 2011) Manufacturing

      Do You Have What Mestek Wants? The EDC is pleased to join with Associated Industries of Massachusetts (“AIM”) and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development to promote our second Buy Mass Day in western Mass. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Massachusetts Office of Business Development   Associated Industries of Massachusetts   Westfield

    8. $23 million Gulfstream project announced in Westfield

      Explore masslive.com (Oct 7 2011) Aerospace/Defense

      In Westfield, Gulfstream has already started hiring for the highly technical aviation maintenance and repair jobs that will fill the new hangar, Mark Burns said. “These are the kinds of jobs that can uplift a community,” Burns said. “We are very proud of that.” Westfield beat out sites in other states that were vying for the maintenance facility because of the quality of its workforce. “Our customers routinely tell us that this facility is the best,” he said. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Westfield   Daniel M. Knapik

    9. Western New England University opens pharmacy college, only one in Western Massachusetts

      Explore masslive.com (Sep 12 2011) Education , Health Care

      Western New England University opens pharmacy college, only one in Western Massachusetts The program is housed in part of Western New England’s $40 million Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy building, which opened in December. It’s one of just 125 schools of pharmacy in the country and one of four programs in the state, along with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Boston, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Worcester and Northeastern University – Bouve College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The University of Connecticut also has a program in Hartford. The Albany College of Pharmacy is the nearest program to our west. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   University of Massachusetts   University of Connecticut   Big Y Foods

    10. Massachusetts Avoids Political, Economic Fury in 2011

      Explore AIM Business Insider (Aug 18 2011) Energy , Health Care

      The political and economic battles that usually consume Massachusetts seemed to rage mostly outside the borders of the commonwealth. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Associated Industries of Massachusetts   Rick Lord

    11. In tight economy, Pioneer Valley experts look to fire up regional job engines

      Explore GazetteNET (Aug 17 2011)

      In tight economy, Pioneer Valley experts look to fire up regional job engines Though he called the regional economy "sluggish," Allan Blair of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, says companies here remain sound. They are, however, moving cautiously - holding off on hiring and watching what they spend - because of the volatility around the world. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Pioneer Valley Planning Commission   Coca-Cola   Springfield

    12. Lymtech Scientific, part of John R. Lyman Co., expands on Chicopee's Westover Road

      Explore masslive.com (Jul 19 2011) Manufacturing , Medical Devices

      Lymtech Scientific, part of John R. Lyman Co., expands on Chicopee's Westover Road The company has a total of about 100 employees, 18 at the old facility in Chicopee’s Cabotville Industrial Park. The remainder have worked on Westover Road since March, according to Wright. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Michael D. Bissonnette   Springfield   Chicopee

    13. Rebuilding Springfield

      Explore BusinessWest (Jul 19 2011)

      Rebuilding Springfield Jerry Hayes says that, while it might be tempting to say there isn’t a book one can turn to for help as Springfield goes about the process of rebuilding after the June 1 tornadoes, the truth is there are several. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   University of Massachusetts   MassMutual   Westfield State University

    14. Massachusetts tornado relief: Gov. Deval Patrick announces storm assistance centers

      Explore masslive.com (Jun 3 2011)

      Massachusetts tornado relief: Gov. Deval Patrick announces storm assistance centers "Our homeowners and business owners are the backbone of our communities and we are committed to connecting them with the resources that are available so they can rebuild," said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. "These centers will offer guidance on a wide array of assistance, from Small Business Administration funding to business relocation and reopening tools to tips on how to file insurance claims. We stand behind all of the people whose lives and livelihoods have been uprooted and we will not rest until everyone is back on their feet." (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Palmer   Springfield

    15. Governor Patrick Recommending Western Massachusetts

      Explore From the EDC (May 17 2011)

      I have heard Governor Deval Patrick present two keynote addresses in the last month. The first was at an international business conference at Brandeis University and the second was at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (“AIM”) Annual Meeting, both coincidentally in Waltham. On each occasion, the Governor wove in advice to the primarily Boston-area firms in the audience to look at western Massachusetts in lieu of North Carolina or Texas when seeking a lower cost alternative to the Boston market. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Raytheon   Liberty Mutual

    16. Pioneer Valley companies meet with Raytheon officials in hopes of generating ...

      Explore masslive.com (May 5 2011) Aerospace/Defense , Manufacturing

      Pioneer Valley companies meet with Raytheon officials in hopes of generating ... But Poplar Hill Machine was one of 15 companies invited to participate in matchmaking session organized by Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts and conducted at the Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center at Springfield Technical Community College Technology Park. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Raytheon   Springfield Technical Community College   Associated Industries of Massachusetts

    17. PVLSI opens new Breast Cancer Research Center

      Explore Daily Collegian (Apr 11 2011) Life Sciences

      PVLSI opens new Breast Cancer Research Center The Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) announced Monday that it has received a grant of $1.5 million from the cancer research organization Rays of Hope Walk Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer to establish a new Springfield center for breast cancer research. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   University of Massachusetts   Springfield   Greenfield

    18. Springfield's future lies in rails and ports according to a conference

      Explore masslive.com (Apr 4 2011) Transportation

      Springfield's future lies in rails and ports according to a conference More than 105 business people and others attended the 2011 Logistics Conference hosted by the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, the region’s economic development agency, and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, a Boston-based business group. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Bradley International Airport   Pioneer Valley Planning Commission   Associated Industries of Massachusetts

    19. Western Massachusetts: the next life sciences hub?

      Explore masshightech.com (Apr 1 2011) Life Sciences

      Windham-Bannister was a speaker at the forum along with Allan W. Blair, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of western Massachusetts, and Abigail Barrow, founding director of Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center. The forum also included local businesspeople and Smith faculty. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   University of Massachusetts   Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

    20. Do You Have What Raytheon Wants?

      Explore From the EDC (Mar 24 2011) Information Technology , Manufacturing

      Associated Industries of Massachusetts (“AIM”) manages the Buy Mass program and website for the Commonwealth. AIM and the EDC have been working on a new program for Buy Mass, which will connect small and medium-sized local firms with large OEM’s in the state. The first OEM to participate will be Raytheon, which will send a team of Purchasing executives to Springfield on May 5. The EDC is tasked with identifying and inviting firms from western Mass to apply for inclusion in the program. Any interested firm should review the invitation -- http://www.aimnet.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page ... (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Raytheon   Associated Industries of Massachusetts   Springfield

    21. Funding secured for Ludlow Mills project

      Explore masslive.com (Mar 14 2011)

      Funding secured for Ludlow Mills project The Westmass Area Development Corporation has secured $13 million in funding for the acquisition and initial development of the Ludlow Mills project. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   The Republican   Ludlow Mills

    22. Proposed Bills Could Rev Up Bradley International Airport as an Economic Engine

      Explore Windsor, CT Patch (Mar 10 2011) Transportation

      Proposed Bills Could Rev Up Bradley International Airport as an Economic Engine Bradley is also viewed as our airport in Western New England,” Alan Blair, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Western Massachusetts. “We regard Bradley as our portal to the rest of the world.” Blair said more autonomy would allow the airport to focus on route development which is a key to economic development. Blair said the airport currently has no route development specialist which hurts when there are companies that want to have routes to Bradley. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   Bradley International Airport   Northeast Utilities   Dannel Malloy

    23. Bad times still good for Pioneer Valley innovation companies

      Explore masslive.com (Feb 13 2011) Energy

      Bad times still good for Pioneer Valley innovation companies “The bioenergy sector is quite robust, and business is going great. We’re wrapping up a very strong year,” said Susan T. Hager, of Qteros Inc., an Amherst-born, Marlborough-based company developing a process to make ethanol production cheaper and more efficient. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   University of Massachusetts   West Springfield   Springfield

    24. Innovators hold key place in region

      Explore masslive.com (Feb 12 2011) Manufacturing , Medical Devices

      Innovators hold key place in region The Economic Development Council and its partners will continue to work hard this year to identify the innovators in our region and help them find the resources they need to succeed. There is never a better or worse time to encourage new ideas. Very often, it is during the slower economic times that innovators choose to strike out on their own to prove the validity of a new idea or process or product. (Read Full Article)

      Comment Mentions:   University of Massachusetts   Springfield Technical Community College   Springfield

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