These Holyoke businesses awarded funding to boost economy

To help revive economic growth, grants were awarded to 34 businesses across Massachusetts, including five in Holyoke. The economic development program helps businesses buy, renovate, or build out commercial properties that will help boost the economy. Last Wednesday, MassDevelopment announced $2,805,000 in grants through the third round of its Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Equity Investment…

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Chicopee Makes Some Landmark Improvements

‘Historic rehabilitation.’ That’s the phrase Lee Pouliot and others used to describe work at Chicopee’s historic City Hall and the neighboring, long-closed main library. In doing so, they made the distinction between this type of work and historic restoration. Indeed, the latter returns something to what it once was at a specific point, said Pouliot,…

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MassDOT selects site for East-West rail stop in Palmer

Palmer is one step closer to getting a train stop in town. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced their selection of the South of Palmer Yard as the best site for the future train station and the decision marked a critical milestone in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s efforts to advance East-West rail. Western mass news…

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Governor Healey Announces Opening of 2026 Community One Stop for Growth Application Round

Today, at the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Annual Connect 351 Conference, Governor Maura Healey announced the launch of the fiscal year 2026 application for the Community One Stop for Growth, an application portal overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 12 state…

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Congressman Neal Highlights Increased Ridership at Springfield Union Station

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno on Jan. 22 to highlight the increased ridership at Springfield Union Station during FY 2024. During FY 2023, the total ridership at Springfield Union Station was 149,372. A recent year-end report found that ridership…

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LightHouse Holyoke Expands Its Space — and Its Innovative Vision

Learning Process July 18 to Sept. 3. That’s 47 days. Not quite seven weeks. That’s how much time LightHouse Holyoke, a non-traditional middle and high school celebrating its 10th year in operation, had between its purchase of the Gateway City Arts property on Race Street and the start of classes for the 2024-25 year. Executive…

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Connecticut Airport Authority Board of Directors Selects Next Executive Director

The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) Board of Directors voted today to select Michael W. Shea as the organization’s next Executive Director. Current Executive Director Kevin Dillon previously announced his intent to retire in early 2025, and the Board’s selection follows a nationwide search that began in May 2024. Mike currently serves as the CAA Deputy…

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Leveraging Data Today Helps Plan for Tomorrow

Available grant funding opportunities can help: • Integrate operational information into a centralized location • Streamline operations and maintenance • Improve capital planning processes • Enable management of Safety & Health standards • Click here to access flyer Click here to Register

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Tech Foundry is celebrating 10 years of impact!

Our tenth anniversary signifies a decade of lives changed through training, support and access to living-wage jobs – and 10 years of helping companies thrive by connecting talented Tech Foundry alumni to these organizations’ job opportunities. Through our efforts, we are creating a Western Massachusetts that is a better, more equitable place to live, work,…

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Western Massachusetts Equity Summit

We’re excited to share the Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit will host a second year of workshops on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Equity in the 413 is a call to action to advance racial equity at the individual, organizational and regional levels. The Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit will offer workshops that can deepen knowledge…

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