The Berkshire Bank Foundation invested nearly $400,000 in its communities through grants to 96 nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont from July to September.
Examples include: Easterseals Massachusetts Inc.; Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Inc.; Revitalize Community Development Corp.; Springfield Museums Corp. and Way Finders Inc.
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Emerald Cities Collaborative and the Western Mass Economic Development Council announce a total of $100,500 in direct investments to support 16 minority- and women-owned business enterprises across Massachusetts.
The E-Contractor Academy, a statewide initiative launched with support from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, is designed to equip underrepresented contractors with the knowledge and tools needed to grow their businesses.
Five of the 16 awardees are based in the Greater Springfield area, spotlighting the region’s growing footprint in sustainable construction and its potential to lead in this sector:
— Better Builders Construction LLC, $2,500
— WG Design & Building, $2,500
— Hazmat to Harmony, $2,500
— DFG Property Group, $7,500
— Jets Property Development, $7,500
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Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank president and CEO, and Hampden branch manager, retail and security officer and Friends of Hampden Senior Citizens board member Adriano dos Santos recently presented a $3,000 donation to Ted Zebert, treasurer of Friends of Hampden Senior Citizens, and Claudia Kapinos, president of Friends of Hampden Senior Citizens, on behalf of the bank.
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Florence Bank has broken ground on a 2,500-square-foot office at 1504 Northampton St. in Holyoke.
The branch is expected to open in the spring of 2026 and will be the bank’s fourth in Hampden County. In August 2017, Florence Bank opened its first branch in the county in West Springfield, followed by a branch opening in Springfield early in 2019 and in Chicopee in the spring of 2021.
The new branch, designed by HAI Architecture in Northampton, will provide traditional teller stations, five offices, a drive-up teller window and a drive-up ATM.
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Easthampton announces its official recognition as a Climate Leader Community by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. This designation places Easthampton among the first 19 municipalities across the commonwealth to be honored for its approach to climate action.
The certification ceremony was held in Watertown, where Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll presented awards to local officials from the inaugural communities.
Actions outlined in Easthampton’s roadmap include: Transitioning the city’s vehicle fleet to electric alternatives; electrifying municipal buildings and improving energy efficiency; engaging with residents, businesses, and local institutions to support shared sustainability goals; incorporating climate resilience into municipal operations and planning with a focus on equity and environmental justice.
Easthampton is now eligible for up to $1.15 million in state grant funding to implement priority climate and energy projects. These may include solar installations, clean heating systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and other green infrastructure improvements.
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The Healey-Driscoll administration announced the launch of the MassTransfer Steering Committee. MassTransfer is a state program that provides transfer pathways for community college students looking to complete a bachelor’s degree. The committee will advise the Department of Higher Education and the Board of Higher Education on strengthening MassTransfer and advancing the legislative mandate to implement common course numbering throughout the public system of higher education.
The committee is made up of higher education presidents and faculty members, registrars, student representatives and business community members. Local committee members include: Monique Lopez, registrar, Westfield State University; Darlene Rodowicz, trustee, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and CEO, Berkshire Health Systems; Patrick Sullivan, registrar, University of Massachusetts Amherst; George Timmons, president, Holyoke Community College; Nefertiti Walker, senior vice president for academic affairs, student affairs and equity, University of Massachusetts.
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MassHire of Franklin Hampshire and Holyoke Career Center will hold a Healthcare Job Fair on Thursday, Dec. 4, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hampshire Mall, 367 Russell St., Hadley. All are welcome. No pre-registration. The event will feature more than 30 health care employers with open positions in the Pioneer Valley.
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Springfield Regional Chamber will present “Rise & Shine Breakfast: Build your Bench — Attraction, Retention and Succession Strategies” on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Marriott Springfield Downtown, 2 Boland Way. This session will explore strategies for attracting top talent, retaining your best employees and preparing the next generation of leaders. Hear from Emily Leonczyk (The Markens Group) on succession, Gina Kos (Sunshine Village) on retention, and John Maybury from Maybury Material Handling on attraction strategies, with Allison Ebner (Employers Association of the NorthEast) serving as the emcee. Cost $40 for SRC members and $50 nonmembers. Visit https://springfieldregionalchamber.com for more information or to register.
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The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the fifth annual Holiday Gift Card Match Day on Thursday, Dec. 4. Sponsored by UMassFive College Credit Union (UMassFive) with a $5,000 match, this highly anticipated annual event invites the community to double their holiday shopping power and support local businesses.
Starting at 9 a.m. at the Visitors Information Center (35 South Pleasant Street, Amherst), community members can purchase a $25 Amherst Area Gift Card, with a small $1 processing fee. For every card purchased, the Chamber will provide a gift card with a value of $50, effectively doubling the shopping power. Each individual may purchase up to two matched gift cards while supplies last.
The program supports a diverse array of local businesses, from boutiques to restaurants to service providers, reinforcing the Chamber’s mission to foster economic growth and vitality in the Amherst Area.
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American International College (AIC) will host its Fall 2025 Internship Symposium, an event showcasing the internship accomplishments of students from the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences. The symposium provides students with an opportunity to present their work and connect with local and regional professionals and employers. This long-standing tradition highlights the breadth of experiential learning at AIC and the many achievements of its students. The symposium will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Campus Center Auditorium (CCA), Schwartz Campus Center – Second Floor. AIC is located at 1000 State St., Springfield.
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GCC will host its annual outdoor industry job fair on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon in the GCC Dining Commons. The event is free and open to the public.
Employers from various regional outdoor companies, agencies, camps, guide services and retailers will be on hand and are looking to fill open part-time, seasonal and full-time positions. Companies include Zoar Outdoor, Wilderness School, Miraval Berkshires. All Out Adventures, farm and wilderness camps, First Light, Adventure East, LUK, Inc., Outside Perspectives, Adaptive Sports at Mount Snow, Eagle Eye Institute, Camp Wak-Lo, Westfield State University. UMass–Amherst, Valley Collaborative School, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and North Carolina Outward Bound.
