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Holyoke Medical Center is on course to open 34 new inpatient psychiatric beds by May, but has asked the state to “put on hold” its plans announced last year for an 84-bed behavioral health hospital on its campus. “We were supposed to have a final determination-of-need hearing with the state this week, but we asked…

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Kirk Jonah, a man who is trying to “Make Courage Contagious.” Kirk’s son, Jack, died of a heroin overdose a few years ago, and Kirk has dedicated much of his time, energy, and imagination to educating others about the dangers of opioid abuse. The two discuss his various speaking engagements,…

Freedom Credit Union was chartered in 1922 as the Western Massachusetts Telephone Workers Credit Union. Although we have been in business for 98 years and survived through many turbulent times, it’s safe to say that we have not faced a challenge like COVID-19. We operate 11 branches in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. On March…

When asked a year ago to do an Outlook 2020 viewpoint for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, one never imagined the dual health and economic crisis that was about to shut us down flat. There was no curve. It was a steep drop. And with the closures of our flagship University of Massachusetts campus…

As I state the obvious, 2020 Did. Not. Turn. Out. How any of us had planned! Our long-term strategic planning over the past five years, however, has paid off. The Chamber of Greater Easthampton had already been shifting to a more agile chamber model and was able to adapt quickly and effectively to the sudden…

So much of what makes Massachusetts appealing to live or visit is its rich history and the historic value of its buildings and streets. Walking through many communities across the commonwealth is like taking a step back in time. But history also applies to the infrastructure we don’t see, which ironically sits just feet below…

At first glance, a 2021 outlook seemed like an unpredictable landscape during this unprecedented and challenging time. But as I considered the critical role that the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce plays in supporting a thriving economy and community, I am inspired by what we achieved in 2020 despite unimaginable odds. As we navigated through…

Passenger traffic at Bradley International Airport through the first 11 months of 2020 was down 63% compared with the year before, with just more than 2.2 million people getting on or getting off airliners. In 2019, more than 5.6 million people had traveled through Bradley by the end of October, and the airport was on…

MGM Springfield stands hand in hand with the Springfield community, our local partners, team members, and guests during this time of unprecedented challenges. As we turn the page, we approach the future with optimism. The Foundation is Strong: Often the way forward begins with a look back. Prior to the pandemic, MGM Springfield was actively…

During a somewhat somber Zoom meeting the last week of the year, called to discuss relief grants for small businesses in Chicopee, a high-pitched, Cindy-Lou-Hoo voice shouted from outside the frame, “I love you, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow!” My colleague’s daughter was bidding farewell to her classmates, having just wrapped up…