All Articles from Mike Plaisance, The Republican -Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Articles from Mike Plaisance, The Republican

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1. Holyoke Innovation District hears from Gerardo Ramos on coral, Simple Diaper and Linen, on their creativity in Holyoke
  
  Explore masslive.com Feb 1 2014 Entrepreneurship
  
  "My name is Gerardo Ramos and I'm an entrepreneur with a passion for coral," Ramos said at the Jan. 30 annual meeting of the Holyoke innovation District. The meeting brought together the creative-minded, business operators and city and state officials to discuss what they do in the continuing effort to highlight innovation and economic development anchored by the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Kathleen G. Anderson
2. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse touts grant opportunities, benefits to city of attending mayors' conference in Washington, D.C.
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 23 2014
  
  Mayor Alex B. Morse said a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors helped the city because he established and strengthened contacts with officials that can spur receipt of grants. "The conference is a great opportunity to connect with mayors all across the country, from small cities to big cities, and learn best practices. Also, (mayors) have access to nine federal cabinet secretaries while here to discuss federal grants and programs," Morse said in a text message Thursday.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Alex Morse
3. Holyoke City Council considers proposal to limit utility department's ability to buy, sell property
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 21 2014 Energy
  
  The Holyoke Gas and Electric Department would need approval of the City Council and mayor to buy or sell property under a proposal the council referred to committee Tuesday. The proposal filed by council President Kevin A. Jourdain follows concerns in the past few years about the possibility that a so-called big-box store like Walmart or Lowe's could open on a parcel of nearly 19 acres on Whiting Farms Road the department owns.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
4. Holyoke Creative Arts Center moving to downtown site near other arts-related ventures
  
  Explore masslive.com Jan 2 2014
  
  The non-profit Creative Arts Center opened nearly a century ago with a mission of teaching the creative arts and trades. Classes can last several weeks or consist of one-day workshops in crafts like quilting and upholstery to wood-carving and making of cupcakes. The center, at 400 South Elm St., is an independent non-profit that has received city funding to help with its rent since county government stopped funding such centers statewide. Funding from the city for this year is $42,000, said Bianchine, who is president of the center's board.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
5. Holyoke sets public hearing on zone change for site formerly proposed for a Big Y
  
  Explore masslive.com Dec 10 2013 Retail
  
  A public hearing will be held Tuesday on a proposed zone change for property at Lower Westfield Road and Homestead Avenue formerly occupied by the Atlas Copco factory and once targeted for a possible Big Y supermarket.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Holyoke Westfield
6. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse participates in 'Innovation for Growth' forum with state officials in Worcester
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 28 2013
  
  Holyoke is one of 26 gateway cities, which the state defines as cities that add to the state's "overall economic success by taking advantage of their distinctive ability to be desirable locations for innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses and places where people with choices choose to live." The event was held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Alex Morse
7. Dean Tech's $5.7 million upgrade in Holyoke showcased during state treasurer's visit to Western Massachusetts
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 17 2013 Education
  
  State Treasurer Steven Grossman and authority Executive Director Jack McCarthy were among officials at Dean. They saw equipment that included science experiment stations for students equipped with gas and water, ventilation systems and cabinets of goggles, fire extinguishers and other safety supplies.
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  Mentions: Springfield Holyoke
8. Holyoke to host design contest on ways to be innovative using energy
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 12 2013 Energy
  
  The city has been chosen as the focus of a design competition dealing with innovation in energy consumption. "The competition invites student designers to envision ways Holyoke could lead the way as a sustainable city of the 21st century by using renewable energy and energy efficiency to fuel an economic revitalization," said Marcos A. Marrero, director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development. The competition is organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, an organization founded in Greenfield in 1974 that works on efficient building techniques and finding ways to bring clean, renewable energy into everyday use.
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  Mentions: Greenfield Holyoke
9. Holyoke Health Center opens children's dental care wing with $2 million federal grant
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 8 2013 Health Care
  
  Holyoke Health Center at 230 Maple St. held a grand opening Sept. 20 of its Pediatric Dental Wing, which features 13 dental chairs for children in the renovated fourth floor. The goal is to get families patterned into children receiving dental care at an early age by forming "dental homes" of regular visits to the dentist, said Jay A. Breines, Health Center executive director.
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  Mentions: Holyoke
10. Holyoke Creative Economy Coordinator Jeff Bianchine marks busy first year linking City Hall with entrepreneurs of art, culture, innovation
  
  Explore masslive.com Oct 1 2013
  
  Artists made $4,000 in a three-day "pop up" store on High Street before Christmas last year. Businesses seeking new sites are helped through the permitting process daily. About $100,000 in grants are helping artisans and merchants. The City Council Redevelopment Committee Thursday will review these steps and others that officials said are part of the first year of work of Creative Economy Coordinator Jeffrey C. Bianchine. The City Council in voting 11-4 to establish the position in June 2012 insisted on two conditions: the coordinator be a city resident and a review be done to ensure the job ...
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11. Holyoke gets $247,000 grant to remove asbestos, other hazards from former Hart Wool Combing factory, 216 Appleton St.
  
  Explore masslive.com Sep 30 2013
  
  The property is key to market and redevelop because it is in the Arts and Innovation District downtown that features the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, said a press release from Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Office of Planning and Economic Development. The factory is across the canal from the computing center.
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  Mentions: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Holyoke
12. Walmart withdraws controversial plan for Holyoke supercenter, citing site pollution
  
  Explore masslive.com Sep 18 2013
  
  The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce hadn't taken a position on the plan from Walmart. Representatives of the retailer were due to present the plan to the chamber Oct. 24, President Kathleen Anderson said. "I suppose if there were environmental issues for them there would be environmental issues for someone else also. It's also disappointing that the (Walmart) jobs won't come," Anderson said.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Kathleen G. Anderson
13. Holyoke teens paint murals and learn restoration at Gateway City Arts
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 21 2013 Education
  
  The windows' revivication will cost $400,000. Grants, donations and fund-raising have covered $320,000 and the hope is the youths' murals will be another way to direct attention to the windows' restoration to raise the remaining $80,000, those involved in the project said. "I think this is the beginning of showing how capable our young people are and if they get the opportunity, to show it, they can do amazing things," said Vitek Kruta, artist, muralist, art restorer, set designer, teacher and founder of Gateway City Arts at 92-114 Race St.
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  Mentions: Springfield Amherst Northampton
14. Holyoke Public Library about to unveil $14.5 million renovation featuring 15,000-square-foot addition
  
  Explore masslive.com Aug 13 2013
  
  Skylights and a different entrance are among the new features brought to the soon-to-reopen Holyoke Public Library thanks to $14.5 million in renovations. The star attraction is the 15,000-square-foot addition built onto what was the rear of the original, 111-year-old, 25,000-square-foot library.
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15. New Holyoke Medical Center CEO Spiros Hatiras vows to work with public schools, discusses tenure at Hoboken hospital
  
  Explore masslive.com Jul 18 2013 Health Care
  
  The new boss at Holyoke Medical Center pledged his vision for the hospital will include working with the public schools, such as a collaboration with the city's vocational school and scholarships. "I think it's not (just) a nice thing to do, it's a must do," Spiros Hatiras, president and chief executive officer, told The Republican and MassLive.com Thursday at the hospital.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Medical Center Holyoke The Republican
16. Mount Tom Power Station in Holyoke has no plan to close, official says
  
  Explore masslive.com Jun 25 2013 Energy
  
  Seventy-five rail cars of coal were delivered to the Mount Tom Power Station this week in a sign the plant isn't planning to shut down, a spokesman said Tuesday. "I know some people have been misinterpreting that we're going to close because we're going to go off-line in 2016, and that's not entirely true," said Charles B. Burnham, manager of government and regulatory affairs with plant-owner GDF Suez Energy North America/FirstLight Power Resources, of Glastonbury, Conn.
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17. Holyoke parking garage to be training site for new regional technical rescue team
  
  Explore masslive.com Jun 11 2013
  
  Western Massachusetts is divided into three areas in terms of distribution of Homeland Security funds: Hampden County, Hampshire and Franklin counties and Berkshire county. Lt. Matthew Normandin of the Holyoke Fire Department is team leader of the Hampden County team, Paquin said.
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  Mentions: Holyoke Holyoke Gas & Electric Department
18. Holyoke to get $80,000 annually as voluntary payment and scholarship fund from tax-exempt computing center
  
  Explore masslive.com May 25 2013 Education , Information Technology
  
  The tax-exempt high performance computing center downtown would pay the city $80,000 a year in lieu of taxes under a new agreement. The payment in lieu of taxes, or “pilot,” is much less than the $500,000-a-year Mayor Alex B. Morse sought in a January letter to the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, as the entity is formally known. Yearly payments under that plan were to escalate to more than $1.5 million by 2022.
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  Mentions: University of Massachusetts Springfield Holyoke
19. Holyoke talking with developer about large retail store on Whiting Farms Road
  
  Explore masslive.com May 23 2013 Retail
  
  Mayor Alex B. Morse said Thursday he will meet Tuesday with representatives of a developer that has a purchase and sale agreement for 18 acres that the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department owns at 222 Whiting Farms Road.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Holyoke Westfield
20. Holyoke $16 million retail project with Big Y still set for construction to begin in 2014
  
  Explore masslive.com May 16 2013 Retail
  
  Some residents have said they are eager for the Big Y to open for an alternative to the two Stop & Shop supermarkets here. The project will provide 250 jobs and $400,000 a year in property tax revenue in addition to reviving a mostly dormant site.
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  Mentions: Big Y Foods Holyoke O'Connell Companies
21. Holyoke U.S. Tsubaki plant gets OK for expansion of up to $7 million and 15 jobs
  
  Explore masslive.com May 13 2013 Manufacturing
  
  Construction on a $6 million to $7 million expansion at U.S. Tsubaki Inc. at 821 Main St. is scheduled to be done by fall, adding at least 15 jobs, officials said. "We are excited to see this investment, as this is part of a larger trend happening in Holyoke -- businesses expanding and growing and starting to invest again," Mayor Alex B. Morse said.
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22. Holyoke CareerPoint job search and interview forum draws 90 young people; Springfield online workshop held for small businesses
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 15 2013 Education , Information Technology
  
  In Springfield, workplace help of another sort came in a Google-sponsored conference that showed small business owners how to improve their online presence.
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  Mentions: Springfield Holyoke Congressman Richard E. Neal
23. Holyoke Dean Tech vocational school will be managed by Project Grad Usa of Texas under current plan
  
  Explore masslive.com Apr 1 2013 Education
  
  Superintendent David L. Dupont said he is trying to forge a contract with Project GRAD USA to manage Dean Technical High School when the current manager terminates its contract with the city in June.
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  Mentions: Northampton Holyoke
24. Holyoke honored for energy efficiency by the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network
  
  Explore masslive.com Mar 24 2013 Energy
  
  The Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network praised the city for getting most of its electricity from the hydroelectric dam owned by the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department, planning a platform for the return of passenger train service, and supporting groups like Nuestras Raices and the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council that try to improve residents’ access to healthy food, a press release said.
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  Mentions: Northampton Holyoke
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