Entrepreneurship
Hayley Procon Takes the Route of a True Entrepreneur
Hayley Procon entered college with the goal of one day getting into broadcast journalism. In fact, her ambition was to be the “next Erin Andrews,” as she put it, referencing the well-known sideline reporter for FOX on its NFL broadcasts. “I loved baseball, and I still love baseball; I just wanted to be on the…
Read MoreGirls Inc. Exceeds $100,000 Fundraising Goal at Spirit of Girls Event
Girls Inc. of the Valley’s annual signature event on April 28 exceeded its fundraising goal of $100,000, thanks to the support from corporate sponsors, including lead sponsor PeoplesBank, and generous individual donors. About 400 people attended “Spirit of Girls: Hall of Fame,” where they heard from current students, alumni, and parent speakers about the impact…
Read MoreLocal Farmers Share $225,000 in Grants for Planting, Growing, Harvesting, Processing
The Local Farmer Awards distributed grants totaling $225,000 to 97 farms in Western Mass. this year, a 30% increase over the number of 2022 recipients. These grants of up to $2,500 empower farmers to purchase essential equipment for planting, growing, harvesting, and processing. All projects include a funding commitment by the farm as well. The…
Read MoreEasthampton candle company creating opportunities for women and beautiful gifts
This week is National Small Business Week and with Mother’s Day coming up, Western Mass News stopped by one local candle and gift company to find out more about their presence in the community. “People are always looking for really meaningful gifts and all of our gifts are poured by woman who have created a…
Read MoreAnnouncing the 40 Under Forty of 2023
It is perhaps the best thing about a 40 Under Forty class. And also the most challenging thing for the judges who ultimately decide its makeup. Each of the nominees has a different background, a different story, a unique set of challenges to overcome, a different path that brought them to where they are, a…
Read MoreWhite Lion Brewing to open taproom in Amherst
Last year former UMass basketball star Marcus Camby joined forces with Springfield’s White Lion Brewery to launch the wildly successful Marcus Camby New England IPA. Now, the team is gearing up to open a second location in Amherst. As an alum of UMass, head brewer Mike Yates says he could not be happier to bring…
Read MoreUMASS AMHERST ENTREPRENEURS MOVE TO FINAL ROUND OF INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Five student teams advanced from the preliminary round of the Innovation Challenge competition in UMass Amherst’s Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship and will move on to compete in the final round on May 3. They will now compete to win up to $65,000 in equity-free funding. The Innovation Challenge is a two-part competition designed to assist…
Read MoreGirl Scouts Receive $10,000 Grant from Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) announced it received a $10,000 grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation in support of It’s a Girls World, one of the community-based programs it offers. The afterschool program engages Hampden County girls in grades K-6 in STEM, financial literacy, and health and personal-wellness…
Read MoreBenson Hyde and Bruce McAmis Make Provisions a Regional Success Story
Benson Hyde was a financial advisor who wasn’t enthralled with the firm he was working for or the direction his career was headed in. Bruce McAmis was a lawyer who would have preferred to be doing … well, just about anything else. That was years ago. In the intervening time, let’s just say their paths…
Read MoreCommon Threads to Celebrate Women Supporting Women
Time is running out to purchase tickets for Common Threads, an annual event to highlight the life-changing achievements of women engaged in Dress for Success Western Massachusetts (DFSWM). The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Springfield Sheraton. Tickets are on sale until Thursday, April 6. Common Threads…
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