Pioneer Valley tourism promotion gets $250K boost from state as industry emerges from coronavirus shutdowns, State Sen. Eric Lesser announces
The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau will step up its advertising — in states were folks can legally visit Massachusetts without first quarantining, and here at home — with $250,000 in funding announced Monday by state Sen. Eric P. Lesser. The money comes from the $1.1 billion supplemental budget signed into law last week…
Baker-Polito Administration Issues New Travel Order Effective Aug. 1
Gov. Charlie Baker announced that, effective Saturday, Aug. 1, all travelers entering the Commonwealth, including both out-of-state residents and Massachusetts residents returning home, will be required to comply with a new travel order. The full order and other information is available at www.mass.gov/matraveler. Starting Aug. 1, all visitors and Massachusetts residents returning home, including students…
Springfield small businesses grants awarded to 13 owners in Indian Orchard
Owners of a barbershop, a diner, an automotive shop and a video store are among 13 Indian Orchard entrepreneurs awarded small business grants to help them through the coronavirus shutdown. Each will receive $500 in the first round of grants selected by the Indian Orchard Citizens Council. Read the source article at masslive.com
Springfield will use $250,000 casino grant to help guide, aid development near MGM
A $250,000 grant recently awarded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will help city efforts to spark development surrounding MGM Springfield — something city officials and casino boosters had hoped would happen on its own.The Gaming Commission, in approving the funds, said it agreed with the city’s application statement that the $960 million casino at Main…
Massachusetts lawmakers file nearly $1 billion economic equity bill, which Rep. Bud Williams describes as step toward reparations
Massachusetts Rep. Bud Williams filed a nearly $1 billion bill this week to create an independent bureau that oversees services and programs for certain communities to address health, education and economic disparities in communities of color. The legislation would create the Massachusetts Bureau on Social and Economic Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction, which would be…
Elms College Receives $240,000 Grant to Fund Experiential Learning
Elms College announced it has been awarded a $240,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation (DEF) in support of its Experiential Learning Mastering Success (ELMS) – Real World Ready! learning initiative. The grant will be dispersed over the next three years. “Experiential Learning, through the ELMS – Real World Ready! learning initiative, will provide all…
Leadership Pioneer Valley Welcomes Lidya Rivera-Early to Board
Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) recently welcomed Lidya Rivera-Early of Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to its board of directors. Rivera-Early has a demonstrated history of serving on various boards and committees within the community. As an LPV LEAP alumna, she also brings a passion for both the mission of the organization and the continued success…
EastWest Exchange Conference
Join a collaborative network of leaders strengthening resiliency in the innovation processes that power the Massachusetts economy. Read the source article at Eventbrite
BusinessTalk with Chris Thibault
George interviews Chris Thibault, owner, writer and director for Chris Teebo Films and discusses his navigation, along with his wife Missy, through his cancer fight. Chris also gives insight on his company, Chris Teebo Films, what they provide, and how the COVID pandemic, and his health, has affected business. Read the source article at BusinessWest
Florence Bank Gives $7,500 to Easthampton Community Center
Florence Bank donated $7,500 to the Easthampton Community Center to support its Food Pantry Program that serves 22 towns throughout the Pioneer Valley. The Easthampton Community Center’s Food Pantry currently provides food each month to 6,000 food-insecure individuals in need, including more than 600 children in the greater Easthampton area through the Kid’s Summer Pantry…
Dress for Success Announces Mentorship Collaboration With the Links Inc.
Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts announced a partnership with the Greater Springfield chapter of the Links Inc. Founded in 1946, the Links Inc. is an international, not-for-profit organization that brings together professional women of color to serve their communities through volunteerism and philanthropy. Its ultimate goal is to sustain the culture and economic survival…
Baker-Polito Administration Announces Site-readiness Program Grants
he Baker-Polito administration announced more than $3.6 million for 12 projects — two of them in Western Mass. — in its fourth annual round of Site Readiness Program awards. These awards provide resources to municipalities, private-sector businesses, and nonprofit economic-development entities to help overcome obstacles to developing otherwise prime locations. The funding announced this week…