Local business owners excited at prospect of East-West rail expansion
Just this week, state and federal leaders were at Union Station in Springfield, touting the benefits of the long-discussed East-West rail expansion. Many business owners are enthusiastic about the idea of the expansion, hoping that it points to an overall revitalization of downtown Springfield. Read the source article at WWLP 22 News Springfield
State Rep. Joseph Wagner Earns Workforce-development Lifetime Achievement Award
State Rep. Joseph Wagner has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the statewide Workforce Solutions Group (WSG), the first-ever recognition by the group. Wagner will be awarded this distinction at the 13th annual Jobs & Workforce Summit, hosted by WSG, on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Devens Conference Center in Devens. Learn more…
Western Mass Economic Development Council & Springfield WORKS Community Empowerment & Reinvestment Grant Event
As part of the$400,000 Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant, Springfield WORKS, a community-wide initiative with the Western Mass Economic Development Council recently administered surveys to Springfield residents who are justice-system involved. The intention was to gather a needs assessment to serve as a resource for the community, as well as to support the ongoing efforts…
Baker, Neal eye transforming Springfield into “national intersection”
Federal and state officials agreed Tuesday that Springfield can play an important role in the revitalization of passenger rail service in America, and Gov. Charlie Baker pledged to use his remaining time in office to put the long-discussed East-West Rail expansion project in position to benefit from the new federal infrastructure law. “When I was…
Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal to Retire in 2023
Holyoke Community College (HCC) President Christina Royal will retire from the college after the 2022-23 academic year, she announced today. Her last day will be July 14, 2023. “It has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to serve as the fourth president of this great institution,” she said in a…
Springfield area survey find formerly incarcerated residents struggling to find housing, employment
A new local survey is shedding light on the challenges people face when they’re going from jail to a job. Unemployment was at 3.5 percent but among formerly incarcerated people in the U.S., it’s now at 27 percent, a historic high. Locally, a survey was conducted of greater Springfield area and while housing and employment…
Christina Royal, President of Holyoke Community College, announces retirement next year
Christina Royal, the 4th president of Holyoke Community College’s 75-year history will retire following the 2022-2023 academic year on July 14, 2023, she announced. Royal began her career in January 2017 as the first woman, first openly gay, and first bi-racial person to serve as HCC president. In a message to the HCC community, she said, “It…
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Beyond Mobility Survey
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is updating its statewide long range transportation plan, called Beyond Mobility. By completing this survey, your thoughts will help: • Identify the priorities for future transportation investments, and • Determine the most important elements of a seamless transportation system. Your responses are completely confidential – they will not be connected to…
School supplies delivered from Stuff the Bus campaign
Students across western Massachusetts are preparing to head back to the classroom, and the United Way of Pioneer Valley is making sure all of those kids have the tools they need to be successful. Stuff the Bus provides backpacks filled with school supplies for students who are homeless throughout Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley.…
Baker, Neal, Amtrak CEO riding train to Springfield to promote East-West Rail
Massachusetts state and federal leaders will join the CEO of Amtrak Tuesday in a train ride from Boston to Springfield to highlight the need for an east-west rail link in the state. Local leaders have for many years been pushing to develop a reliable service between the eastern and western parts of the state, but…
BusinessTalk with Ray Berry, founder of White Lion Brewery
BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Ray Berry, founder of White Lion Brewery. The two talk about everything from the state of the craft brewing industry in Massachusetts to Berry’s plans to partner with former UMass and NBA star Marcus Camby on a new and exciting White Lion in downtown Amherst. It’s…
Springfield City Council to discuss Court Square Urban Renewal Amendment
The Springfield City Council will discuss an amendment to the Court Square Urban Renewal Plan, proposed by Mayor Domenic Sarno Monday in a public hearing. The amendment would expand the area included in the renewal plan to include 192 acres, which would cover most of the downtown area. Read the source article at WWLP 22…