State leaders gathered at Springfield Technical Community College late Tuesday morning to announce a new Accelerated Energy Program. The program will focus on 700 state facilities, including more than 4,000 buildings, where they will make energy-efficient upgrades.

According to Schippers, “That's going to create a new model for newspaper publishing, a village square type model. There’s also going to be a relocation of the printing presses which will go to another part of downtown.”

Schippers told 22News they're considering property near Smith and Wesson to relocate the Republican's printing presses.

Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez addressed the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield about the subject Wednesday afternoon.

They're words that sort of encapsulate the zeitgeist. They're words that are in the national conversation," said Sokolowski from company headquarters in Springfield, Mass.

Nearly a week after the gas explosion on Worthington Street, it's back to business for some in the entertainment district, but others are facing a long road ahead.

Manufacturing is the fifth largest employer in the Massachusetts, with 293 precision manufacturing companies in the Pioneer Valley alone.  But new research shows many workers are retiring and not enough young people are replacing them. According to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development , nearly half of the region’s workforce is over 45, compared to the state’s 44%.

A college awareness initiative, called "College? YES!" will kick-off with a rally Friday morning on the steps of City Hall in Springfield.

According to Jones, “We are launching a campaign called ‘  Amp It Up,’ to try and promote manufacturing as a good career.

Holyoke Mall General Manager Bill Rogalski told 22News that construction on the Hobby Lobby store will begin this fall.

Gov. Deval Patrick is getting tough on the state's utilities as Hurricane Sandy heads to the region.

- Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette has announced that the city will receive a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Department of Transportation for the creation of a waterfront walk along the Chicopee River.

Holyoke Health Center is going to add a pediatric dental center to its building. It's the last part of a $25 million project that started ten years ago. Congressmen Richard Neal and John Olver were there today. The center will give both access and education to parents of young children.

"Whether it be the Uniroyal site in Chicopee, The crane valve in Indian Orchard in Springfield, which is now a solar array bringing in revenue to the city and putting people to work those are the kinds of things we just want to continue to do and accelerate," Murray said.

Benchmark Carbide Corporation has moved to Dwight Street downtown. The industrial tool manufacturer is relocating after it outgrew its longtime plant in East Springfield.

The high speed rail project that includes the renovation of Union Station in Springfield, an upgrade to rail lines through Connecticut, and the potential for service from Springfield to Boston, is set to start soon.

“Springfield has a lot of offer. I think bringing 500 to 1000 students to downtown Springfield would have some benefits for downtown as well. You could certainly envision a book store opening up, you could certainly envision restaurants and coffee shops gaining new customers,” Curran said.

Mohegan Sun Palmer is a proposed $600 million dollar project on land they own right off Mass Pike Exit 8. Under the state’s new gambling law, the Gaming Commission can approve one casino license for a project in the western region of the state, which includes all of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties.

There is new funding for further improvements at the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club . Last month, a federal grant paid for a spray park, and on Tuesday, Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Michael Bissonnette announced more federal money, nearly $100,000 to improve the club's game room and classrooms.

Massachusetts is getting a grant to help nurses advance their training. The $300,000 national grant is designed to support nursing education. The Patrick administration says that the funding will pave pathways for nurses to earn a bachelors degree or obtain further education. Specifically, the money will support ongoing collaboration between the Department of Higher Education and the Organization of Nurse Leaders

Students at Square One in Springfield received a special gift on Tuesday. The Chicopee Savings Bank Foundation has donated $50,000 over five years for scholarships.