Pioneer Valley Railroad Is a Moving Business Success Story
When it comes to moving freight, Jeremy Levine says, many business owners believe it comes down to a choice between rail — if it’s available — or trucks. But in many cases, he believes, the best answer might be rail and trucks. And this is the answer that has enabled Westfield-based sister businesses Pioneer Valley Railroad (PVRR)…
Palmer’s Town Manager Sees Growth Potential
If there’s one thing capitalism doesn’t like, Ryan McNutt says, it’s uncertainty. And COVID-19 has certainly injected plenty of that into the regional and national economic picture. But unlike more densely populated areas like Boston, where the death toll — and accompanying anxiety — are higher, leading to a slower return to acitity, Palmer has…
BusinessTalk with Tessa Murphy-Romboletti
Thom Fox interviews Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, Executive Director of EforAll in Holyoke. EforAll [Entrepreneurship for All] accelerates economic and social impact in communities through inclusive entrepreneurship. Tessa discusses the organization’s Business Accelerator program, Pitch Contests, and how EforAll is supporting local entrepreneurs through the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the source article at BusinessWest
Mercy Medical Center Opens Center for Breast Health and Gynecologic Oncology
Mercy Medical Center announced the opening of the Center for Breast Health and Gynecologic Oncology. Formerly known as the Breast Care Center, the new center provides a comprehensive approach to breast and gynecologic cancer care with an enhanced focus on malignancies of the breast, cervix, endometrium/uterus, fallopian tube, ovaries, vagina, and vulva. Services are provided…
‘This going to be the hottest restaurant in Springfield’: Peter Picknelly, Andy Yee make plans for 13-31 Elm
Interior environmental cleanup continues at the long-awaited Court Square project downtown, but developer Peter A. Picknelly said he and his restaurant partner Andy Yee are already discussing a new restaurant for the first floor. “We’re working with a design team,” Picknelly said following a city-led celebration of the project Thursday featuring Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt.…
Western Mass. tourism industry and small businesses brace for trouble ahead as pandemic pressures bottom lines
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, expenses for many businesses across Massachusetts are going up, but incomes have declined for most industries, some by fifty percent or more in many cases. In Western Massachusetts, tourism, restaurants and entertainment venues have seen the largest declines with many businesses looking at furloughs, layoffs and in some cases closures.…
River Valley Co-op gets Eversource OK for solar project at Easthampton store
River Valley Co-op has received interconnection agreements with Eversource, allowing the solar array it plans for its new grocery store to connect with the power grid. “We needed the agreements now to fit in with our construction schedule,” said Rochelle Prunty, general manager at River Valley Co-op. Read the source article at masslive.com
Nearly 30 Northampton businesses petition to get rid of $200K Main Street redesign, claim response to changes has been ’overwhelmingly negative’
More than two dozen Northampton businesses are petitioning to get rid of a nearly $200,000, state-funded redesign of the city’s downtown that aimed to enhance shopping in the area but has instead, the petitioners claim, garnered an “overwhelmingly negative” response. Read the source article at masslive.com
Officials Celebrate Start of Court Square Project
A host of city, state, and national leaders were on hand at the former Court Square Hotel property Thursday to mark the official start of a long-awaited $51 million project to convert the long-dormant landmark into apartments and retail space. Gov. Charlie Baker, Congressman Richard Neal, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno were among the many…
Greenfield Business Assoc. Awarded Grant
The Greenfield Business Association announced the award of funding for its ‘COVID-19 Business Re-opening Outdoor Equipment Micro-Grant’ program through MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places: Resurgent Places grant program. Through this program, MassDevelopment has granted the GBA an immediate $10,000, and potentially, an additional matched $5,000 to be re-granted to Greenfield businesses toward outdoor equipment needed for re-opening…
HCC Receives $40,000 Grant for COVID-19 relief
The Holyoke Community College Foundation has received a second grant in as many months to help students facing financial emergencies because of COVID-19. In its latest round of grants, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts awarded $40,000 to HCC from its COVID-19 Relief Fund. In July, the Community Foundation awarded the HCC Foundation $35,000. All $75,000…
The Artisan Gallery in Northampton to close after 36 years in business due to COVID-19 pandemic; Owner ’overwhelmed’ by outpouring of love and support
The Artisan Gallery, a staple of downtown Northampton for the past four decades, is expected to close in coming months due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Owner Patty Arbour announced that her store, located in the heart of the Western Massachusetts city’s business district, would be closing for good in January due…