As MGM grand opening nears, remember this week in Springfield (Editorial)
The MGM Springfield casino is not the only exciting venture occurring in the city. It’s important for residents and city officials to keep that in mind. Nonetheless, the long-awaited opening of the casino and entertainment center marks August 24, 2018 as a day worth remembering for a city that’s been dealing with adversity for decades and…
Elms College Ranks High in ‘Best Colleges for Your Money’ List
Elms College ranks in the top 30% of colleges in Money magazine’s list of Best Colleges for Your Money 2018. “We are very pleased to be recognized as a Best College by Money magazine,” said Walter Breau, vice president of Academic Affairs at Elms College. “It’s gratifying to receive recognition from Money magazine for the…
At MGM Springfield hotel, sculpture inspired by tornado and Emily Dickinson will greet…
When visitors to the new MGM Springfield casino soon enter its hotel lobby, they will be greeted by a large, state-of-the-art sculpture that wraps around the interior of the building’s entrance. The piece, the work of New York artist Mia Pearlman, is an homage to the perseverance, resilience and triumph of the region in the aftermath of the tornado…
Yankee Candle reopens Holyoke Mall shop as ‘CandlePower’ concept store
After less than a week of remodeling work, Deerfield-based Yankee Candle has reopened its Holyoke Mall shop as the first location of the company’s new experimental store concept. Called “CandlePower by Yankee Candle,” the 2,040-square-foot store lets shoppers customize their own signature candle using the store’s fragrance blending bar. The custom candles can also include include lids and labels personalized with a…
Holyoke’s Victory Theater gets $11M from state for renovations
The Baker administration has awarded the Massachusetts Festival of the Arts (MIFA) an $11 million bond toward the revitalization of the long-shuttered Victory Theater at 81-89 Suffolk St. Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed an economic development bill that included the $11 million in bonding. The commonwealth previously awarded MIFA $2 million in bonding. Read the source…
Dozens of Area Companies Become Coveted MGM Vendors
Hitting the Jackpot. For some, the contracts are truly life-changing, providing an opportunity to add employees, not cut back. For others, they amount to solid additions to the portfolio. In every case, though, status as an MGM vendor has brought with it a significant payoff. Read the source article at BusinessWest
MSBDCN Offers Workshop on Starting a Business
The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network’s Western regional office will offer a free workshop ‘The Basics of Starting a Business,’ four times this fall, starting on Sept. 17. Presented by Allen Kronick, senior business advisor with the MSBDCN’s Western Mass. office, will focus on business fundamentals, from start-up considerations to business-plan development to funding…
IHOP building coming down, KFC to go up on Boston Road in Springfield
A property owner is planning to demolish the former International House of Pancakes building on Boston Road and replace it with a new KFC restaurant. The former IHOP at 1324 Boston Road, near Pasco Road, is slated for demolition next week, and the new KFC could be ready to open by Dec. 1, said Frank…
Solar farm proposal gets heavy scrutiny from Belchertown Planning Board
Members of the Planning Board are digging in their heels scrutinizing a proposed solar farm off Gulf Road, saying the project requires an unprecedented level of study. The board must determine whether the nearly 8-megawatt facility would, or would not, be detrimental to the community prior to voting whether to approve it. Read the source article at…
Riders on Springfield-Hartford-New Haven CTrail trains can now bring their bikes along
As of Thursday, passengers can bring their bicycles on board CTrail Hartford Line trains, which stop multiple times each day in Springfield, the Connecticut Department of Transportation said. ConnDOT said it changed its rules in response to passenger desire to bring their bikes along. “Cyclists throughout Connecticut welcome the new bicycle access policy on the Hartford Line.…
PeoplesBank unveils plan for financial services center at former Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke
HOLYOKE — The Planning Board conducted a public hearing and site plan review Tuesday night of PeoplesBank’s ongoing renovation of the former Yankee Pedlar Inn at 1850 Northampton St. The bank hired Western Builders as the lead contractor. PeoplesBank paid $1.2 million in September 2017 for the site, which includes the main house and several smaller structures.…
BCC Awarded Grant to Help Expand Financial Literacy Program
Berkshire Community College (BCC) has been awarded a nearly $200,000 grant from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America for a proposal to expand the college’s financial literacy programming to continue offering, at no cost to students, the Money Management for Life course, as well as debt forgiveness grants. Read the source article at BusinessWest