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CARES Act Aims to Support Economy During Viral Pandemic

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Coronavirus Sections Special Coverage

Strong Medicine

As COVID-19 continues to upend nearly every aspect of life in the U.S., Congress has been working to relieve suffering Americans. Having passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on March 18 in an effort to limit the spread of the pandemic and support relief efforts, Congress turned to stabilizing the economy. After days of furious negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill and Trump administration officials, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. With a $2.2 trillion price tag, the act is the most expensive piece of legislation ever passed.

The act passed in the Senate by a unanimous vote late on March 25 and was passed in the House of Representatives on March 27. The President signed the bill into law later that day.

The CARES Act looks to make a significant impact on the economy by providing loan forgiveness, supporting small businesses, enhancing unemployment insurance, and providing federal loans to industries severely impacted by the pandemic. In addition, it provides tax relief and tax incentives for individuals and businesses alike. The majority of the tax relief is designed to increase liquidity in the economy, largely through the relaxation of limitations on business deductions and the deferral of taxes, but also with the introduction of recovery rebates for individuals.

In this article, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., in conjunction with its affiliation with CPAmerica, presents some of the key elements of the CARES Act and how they will impact individuals and businesses.

INDIVIDUAL TAX RELIEF

Recovery Rebates

The most well-publicized provision is the $1,200 recovery rebates for individual taxpayers. The rebate amounts are advance refunds of credits against 2020 taxes, and equal to $1,200 for individuals, or $2,400 for joint filers, with a $500 credit for each child. The amount of each rebate is phased out by $5 for every $100 in excess of a threshold amount. This threshold amount is based upon 2018 adjusted gross income (unless a 2019 return has already been filed), and the phaseout begins at $75,000 for single filers, $112,500 for heads of households, and $150,000 for joint filers. Thus, the rebates are completely phased out for single filers with 2018 (or 2019, if applicable) adjusted gross income over $99,000, heads of household with $136,500 (or higher, depending upon whether status is established because of children), and joint filers with $198,000.

In order to be eligible for a recovery rebate, the individual must not be: (1) a non-resident alien, (2) able to be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return, or (3) an estate or trust, and must have included a Social Security number for both the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s spouse, and eligible children (or an adoption taxpayer identification number, where appropriate). The act includes additional rules for the application of the credit.

The Secretary of the Treasury has been directed to provide the rebate as rapidly as possible.

Retirement Plans

The CARES Act also waives the 10% penalty on early withdrawals up to $100,000 from qualified retirement plans for coronavirus-related distributions. For purposes of the penalty waiver, a coronavirus-related distribution is one made during the 2020 calendar year to an individual (or the spouse of an individual) diagnosed with COVID-19 with a CDC-approved test, or to an individual who experiences adverse financial consequences as a result of quarantine, business closure, layoff, or reduced hours due to the virus. Any income attributable to an early withdrawal is subject to tax over a three-year period, and taxpayers may recontribute the withdrawn amounts to a qualified retirement plan without regard to annual caps on contributions if made within three years.

This relief is commonly granted by Congress in the wake of major disaster declarations, such as those made after a major hurricane.

The act also waives all required minimum distributions for 2020, regardless of whether the taxpayer has been impacted by the pandemic.

Charitable Contributions

The CARES Act enhances tax incentives for making charitable contributions for the 2020 tax year. First, it allows an above-the-line deduction of up to $300 for charitable contributions made by individuals. This allows an individual to claim a deduction for a charitable contribution, even if the individual does not itemize deductions.

Additionally, the percent-of-adjusted-gross-income (AGI) limitations are increased for all taxpayers as well as for specific types of contributions. For the 2020 tax year, individuals can claim an unlimited itemized deduction for a charitable contribution, which is normally limited to 50% of AGI. In the case of corporations, the usual 10%-of-AGI limitation is increased to 25% for the 2020 tax year. Finally, the contribution of food inventory, the deduction for which is normally limited to 15% of AGI, is increased to 25% for the 2020 tax year.

Student Loans Paid by Employers

The act provides for an exclusion of up to $5,250 from income for payments of an employee’s education loans. In order for the exclusion to apply, the loan must have been incurred by the employee for the education of the employee (so, for example, the loan must not have been incurred to pay for the education of the employee’s child). The payment can be made to the employee or directly to the lender. The exclusion only applies for payments made by an employer after the date of enactment and before Jan. 1, 2021.

The $5,250 cap applies to both the new student-loan repayment benefit as well as other educational assistance (e.g., tuition, fees, books) provided by the employee.

BUSINESS TAX RELIEF

Employee Retention Credit

The CARES Act grants eligible employers a credit against employment taxes equal to 50% of qualified wages paid to employees who are not working due to the employer’s full or partial cessation of business or a significant decline in gross receipts. The credit is available to be claimed on a quarterly basis, but the amount of wages, including health benefits, for which the credit can be claimed is limited to $10,000 in aggregate per employee for all quarters. The provision contains several requirements defining qualified wages, qualified employees, and qualified employers. The credit applies to wages paid after March 12, 2020 and before Jan. 1, 2021.

This is very similar to the paid leave credits granted to employers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law on March 18, with some changes to the requirements. Most significantly, neither the employee nor the employer have to be directly impacted by infection.

This is also similar to the employee retention credits Congress provides after major disasters, but with different requirements and limitations.

Payroll Tax Deferral

In order to free up employers’ cash flow and retain employees during times of quarantine or shutdown, the CARES Act defers the payment of payroll taxes. Payroll taxes due from the period beginning on the date the CARES Act is signed into law and ending on Dec. 31, 2020, are deferred. The 6.2% OASID portion of payroll taxes incurred by employers, and 50% of the equivalent payroll taxes incurred by self-employed persons, qualify for the deferral. Half of the deferred payroll taxes are due on Dec. 31, 2021, with the remainder due on Dec. 31, 2022.

Net Operating Losses

The act allows for a five-year carry-back of net operating losses (NOLs) arising in 2018, 2019, or 2020 by a business. Businesses will be able to amend or modify tax returns for tax years dating back to 2013 in order to take advantage of the carry-back. Under current law, only farming NOLs are allowed to be carried back, and the carry-back is limited to two years.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminated the carry-back of NOLs for tax years ending after 2017 and allowed for the indefinite carry-forward for NOLs. Prior to the TCJA, an NOL could be carried back two years, with longer carry-back periods for NOLs arising from a casualty or declared disaster or farming losses.

The CARES Act also eliminates loss-limitation rules applicable to sole proprietors and pass-through entities to allow them to take advantage of the NOL carryback. Additionally, the act allows for NOLs arising before Jan. 1, 2021 to fully offset income. Under current law, NOLs are limited to 80% of taxable income.

Minimum Tax Credits

The TCJA eliminated the alternative minimum tax for corporations for tax years after 2017, but allowed corporations to claim a refundable portion of any unused minimum tax credits through 2021. The amount of the refundable credit is limited to 50% of any excess minimum tax in 2018 through 2020, before being fully refundable in 2021. The act accelerates the year for which a fully refundable credit can be claimed to 2019, and allows corporations to elect to claim the fully refundable minimum tax credits in 2018.

Business Interest Expense Limitation

The TCJA limited the amount of allowable deductions for business interest (regardless of the type of entity) for tax years beginning after 2017. The limitation is generally the amount of business interest income for the year plus 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income for the year. The limitation does not apply to taxpayers with average annual gross receipts for the prior three year below an inflation-adjusted amount. For 2020, this amount is $26 million or less.

The act increases the limitation amount to 50% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income for 2019 and 2020 (with a special allocation election required for partnerships for 2019). In calculating the limitation for 2020, the taxpayer may elect to use adjusted taxable income for 2019.

The option to use 2019 adjusted taxable income in calculating the limitation is meant to counteract the likelihood that incomes will not be higher in 2020 because of the economic environment, whereas 2019 was generally a very high revenue year for businesses.

Qualified Improvement Property

When Congress drafted the TCJA, it allowed for 100% bonus-depreciation rules to apply to all MACRS property with a recovery period of 20 years or less. Before the TCJA, qualified improvement property was depreciated as 39-year residential real property, unless it separately qualified as 15-year qualified leasehold improvement property, 15-year retail improvement property, or 15-year restaurant property. Congress eliminated the three separate categories of 15-year improvement properties with the intention of making all qualified improvement property 15-year property. However, it failed to do so, and as a result, qualified improvement property is depreciated as 39-year property and not qualified for bonus depreciation.

This is known in tax circles as the ‘retail glitch.’ A technical amendment has long been promised and had been included in early drafts of several pieces of legislation since the TCJA became law in December 2017. However, it never made it into the final version of any piece of significant legislation voted on by either chamber of Congress.

The CARES Act corrects this congressional oversight by defining qualified improvement property as 15-year property, thus allowing 100% of improvements to be deducted in the year incurred. The change is made as if included in the TCJA and, thus, is effective for property acquired and placed in service after Sept. 27, 2017.

The closures and quarantines related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been especially hard on small businesses, which include restaurants and local retail stores. This technical correction allows any expenses incurred by owners to make improvements to the physical premises related to these businesses to be accelerated into the 2017 or 2018 tax year on an amended return, or the 2019 tax year on a return due July 15, 2020.

Excise Tax Relief

The act also provides a temporary exception from alcohol excise taxes for alcohol for use in or contained in hand sanitizer produced or directed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration related to the pandemic. The act also suspends excise taxes on aviation and kerosene used in aviation fuel. The exception and suspensions are applicable to 2020 only.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

The CARES Act is a massive act, the majority of which does not have a tax impact. However, some smaller, but no less significant, provisions impacting federal tax are sprinkled outside of the tax-related division of the act. These provisions include:

• The exclusion from tax of any forgiven small-business loans, mortgage obligations, or other loan obligations forgiven by the lender during the applicable period;

• A safe harbor from the definition of a high-deductible health plan permitting telehealth services to be included, even though such services do not carry a deductible;

• The inclusion of over-the-counter menstrual products as qualified medical expenses for purposes of distributions from health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements;

• Pension funding relief for failures to meet contribution requirements to defined benefit plans during 2020; and

• Allowing certain charitable employers whose primary exempt purpose is providing services to mothers and children to use small employer charity pension plan rules.

Vann Group Creates Crisis Response Team to Help Businesses Impacted by Pandemic

By
Coronavirus

Quick Action

Mike Vann says the phone started ringing only a few moments after the e-mail blast went out last Friday to clients and other companies across the region.

It wasn’t a flood of calls, but there were several, and he expects there to be many more in the days and weeks to come. That because his company, the Vann Group, a business consulting firm with a number of specialties, has assembled what it is calling a ‘COVID-19 Crisis Response Team’ to help businesses deal with the fallout from the pandemic.

And a good number of businesses are already in what could be called crisis mode, and the ones that aren’t will likely end up there.

“A lot of companies are going to hit with serious cash-flow issues; if they’re not there now, we probably will be at some point,” he said, adding that a major trust of this new service will be helping companies make sense of the massive, $2 trillion federal stimulus package passed last week, as well as other forms of assistance, and decide which path is best for them.

“There’s a number of different options there — there’s the payroll-protection program within the CARES Act, which will certainly get the most attention, but there’s also the SBA disaster loans and whatever the states are doing,” he explained. “And there’s a variety of options on the federal side; we’ll help people navigate what makes the most sense.”

Vann said creation of the team — comprised of himself, his father and company founder Kevin Vann, and Vann employee Nick Carella — was inspired by incoming calls from clients who had questions that needed answering and a desire to get on top of the situation, to whatever extent that’s possible.

“They’re calling and asking, ‘what does this mean, how do we go about it?’” he noted. “So we thought we would try to get ahead of it a little bit and formalize something so people know they can come to us to help them out.”

The team will provide resources and guidance to support businesses as they navigate those critical strategic, financial, and general business issues that are impacting their organization. More specifically, the team will be assisting organizations with:

• Assistance with the identification and submittal of applications for grants, loans, and other relief programs that a business may qualify for;

• Negotiation support with lenders, landlords, and vendors as well as practical guidance on how to deal with hard business issues; and

• Development of cash-flow models to provide a plan for managing the financial aspects of the business, which will be necessary in determining loan and grant requests.

The team is also launching what it’s calling the “Getting to Next” workshop to help individual companies formulate a strategic action plan for getting through the current period of uncertainty while being ready to capitalize on opportunities once the curve is flattened. The facilitated session is approximately two to three hours and results in a clear and concise plan of attack for the next 30-90 days.

Vann told BusinessWest that how companies respond to the many challenges they’re facing in the coming weeks will be critical to their survival. In such an environment, a proactive response is needed, he added.

Looking for such a response, a number of companies have already called looking for help. And, as might be expected, they cover a wide spectrum of business sectors because virtually all of them are being impacted in some way, shape, or form.

“We’ve heard from financial-services companies, a printing company, a landscaper, and some pretty good-sized service businesses,” he noted. “And, of course, there’s the restaurant scene as well; it runs the gamut.”

Some of these businesses were existing Vann Group clients, but others were not, he went on, adding that this could well become a solid opportunity for the firm.

“A lot of business owners will need help with just stabilizing the business,” he told BusinessWest. “That includes cash-flow projections and looking out from that standpoint, because we’re in completely uncharted territory.”

—George O’Brien

Eleven Dead at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in March, at Least Five Due to COVID-19

By
COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — Eleven veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home have died between March 1 and March 30, at least five due to COVID-19. Eleven other veterans and five staff have tested positive for the virus, and 25 veterans are awaiting test results. Bennett Walsh, the home’s superintendent, has been placed on leave.

“It is imperative that the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home provide a safe environment for the veteran residents and the dedicated staff who serve them,” Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Dan Tsai said on Monday. “Superintendent Bennett Walsh has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. Val Liptak, RN, currently the CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, will assume responsibility for the administration of the Soldiers’ Home at this time.

“We have also implemented an on-site clinical command team comprised of medical, epidemiological, and operational experts responsible for the comprehensive and rapid response to the outbreak of COVID-19,” Tsai added. “All of these enhancements will build upon the existing protocols and work that align with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance. Today’s actions underscore the state’s commitment to our veterans and frontline healthcare employees during this unprecedented public-health crisis.”

In a tweet Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker said that, “as someone who has visited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home on many occasions to catch up with staff and residents, I am heartbroken by today’s news. The loss of these residents to COVID-19 is a shuddering loss for us all.”

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse issued a statement as well, noting that “this is a difficult day for our city, and it is almost certain that more difficult days will follow. Today is a painful reminder that, while many people will experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, there are those among us who are at much higher risk, and we must be vigilant in our care for ourselves to ensure the safety of all. I call on all Holyokers to consider your actions, to be sure to follow social distancing to the best of your abilities, to contact your friends and loved ones, and to take care of yourselves both physically and mentally. While we need distance from each other now, we are in this fight together.”

He added that Holyoke is receiving frequent updates from state health officals as the situation at the Soldiers’ Home unfolds, and he will continue to update the public with what he learns.

“It is in large part thanks to the outreach of staff from the state-run facility to my office on Saturday that I was alerted to the growing issues at the Soldiers’ Home,” Morse added. “I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Polito and Secretary of Health and Human Services [Marylou] Sudders for taking immediate action upon my request, but, most importantly, thank you to the nurses and staff at the Soldiers’ Home who cared for those whom we have lost, and who continue to care for those in need.”

HCC President Christina Royal Pledges $10,000 to ‘Together HCC’ Campaign

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) President Christina Royal has issued a personal $10,000 challenge gift toward a new HCC campaign that is as much about building moral support in a time of great uncertainty as it is about raising money for students experiencing financial distress.

On Monday, the HCC Foundation launched “Together HCC — A Campaign for Caring.” As part of that campaign, students, staff, faculty, alumni, relatives, and friends are being asked to use the hashtag #TogetherHCC to share stories and images on social media that show the strength of the college community in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Royal’s $10,000 challenge is not just a financial one. Instead, the goal is to gather 1,000 contributions of any kind toward the #TogetherHCC campaign. That includes monetary donations as well as social-media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as e-mail submissions that describe an inspirational tale or messages of encouragement relating to the ongoing pandemic.

“This is an unprecedented time in our history that can only be navigated if we work together,” Royal said. “Our campaign for caring enables members of our community to offer encouragement to one another and provide inspiration. The financial investments and kind words offered through this campaign are vitally important to our students’ success and to the well-being of every member of our community.”

Besides scholarships, the HCC Foundation manages several funds that directly support students facing financial emergencies as well as those experiencing food and housing insecurity. These include the President’s Student Emergency Fund, which was established by Royal, and another that supports HCC’s Thrive Student Resource Center, which manages the HCC Food Pantry. 

“This has been, and continues to be, a stressful and challenging time for everyone,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation, the college’s nonprofit fundraising corporation. “The COVID-19 crisis has turned the world upside down, and amidst this uncertainty, we still need to do everything we can to provide our students with the education and support they deserve. Meanwhile, our students are facing all kinds of challenges in their own lives. Together, HCC isn’t just about providing financial support for them, it’s also about providing moral support. Through this campaign, we want to let our students and other members of the college community know that it’s going to be okay and that we are all in this together.”

Girls Inc. of the Valley to Receive Grant from Baystate Health

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley will receive a community-benefits discretionary grant of $5,000 from Baystate Health to Girls Inc. of the Valley’s “Informed and In Charge” program, which is designed to teach healthy sexuality.

Through “Informed and In Charge,” girls acquire the knowledge and skills for taking charge of and making informed decisions about their sexual health. Exploring values, practicing responses in different situations, and thinking about their futures helps girls identify ways and reasons to avoid early pregnancy and prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. 

“This wonderful grant from Baystate Health speaks to their commitment to the health and wellness of girls in the Valley,” said Suzanne Parker, executive director of Girls Inc. of the Valley. “During these challenging times, it is more crucial than ever to invest in girls, and Baystate Health’s support of our ‘Informed and In Charge’ program is so impactful.” 

As an integrated health system, the advancement of knowledge is a major component of Baystate Health’s mission, aligning with that of Girls Inc. of the Valley. Baystate Health aims to educate and train current and future caregivers through supporting community-based organizations and advancing early interventions in wellness and nutrition.

3 Ways to Keep Your Most Valuable Customers Engaged When Consumer Confidence is Low

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Marketing Tips

*This article is a contribution from Fiona Stevens, head of marketing at LoyaltyLion. It’s part of a series that explores the impact the coronavirus crisis is having on the world of ecommerce. Here are additional resources to help you navigate your marketing strategy during this time.

When crisis hits and consumer confidence is low, cash flow and stock levels can become all-encompassing concerns. Ecommerce merchants are left with two options. The first is to keep plowing money into acquisition strategies in the hope that mud might still stick somewhere. The second is to double down and find cost-effective ways to retain those customers that you already have relationships with. 

Across the globe, COVID-19 has undoubtedly left us in a state of crisis. Yet this particular dark cloud has a silver lining. Despite social distancing and isolation, relationships are strengthening and communities are forming—from the gyms that are hosting free online workout classes, to the neighbors who are offering to go to the store for those who cannot get out and about.  

Read more

To Jeff Daley, Healthy Development Means Healthy Communities

By
Jeff Daley, CEO at Westmass Area Development Corp
Commercial Real Estate

Developing Story

Jeff Daley, CEO at Westmass Area Development Corp

Jeff Daley, CEO at Westmass Area Development Corp

Jeff Daley boasted a long career in development, with experience on the municipal, state, and private realms, when an intriguing opportunity came about last year: the role of CEO at Westmass Area Development Corp., which oversees a number of newsworthy projects in the region, most notably Ludlow Mills. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to connect municipalities and developers on a larger scale — and help generate the sort of economic activity and job creation that makes communities strong.

Jeff Daley was working for the state in 2005 when it created a district improvement financing (DIF) program, essentially a tool that enables towns to capture incremental tax revenues from new private investment to pay for public improvement projects.

A decade later, while leading his own development firm, CJC Development Advisors, he put that knowledge to good use on the Longmeadow/East Longmeadow line. It’s the sort of experience — working with muncipalities and developers — that he brings to his latest role as CEO of Westmass Area Development Corp., which he took on last summer.

The project he referenced was a campus of sorts being developed by two entities — Baystate Health, which was building a multi-practice healthcare center on the Longmeadow side, and Berkshire Healthcare, which was building East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center on that town’s side of the line.

“I looked at this as a challenge. Westmass has been around for 60 years, and certainly there’s still a lot of good left that needs to be done — there are a lot of good projects out there.”

“They needed about $3 million in public infrastructure to make those projects work,” Daley recalled, referring to the extensive road, water, and sewer work undertaken a few years ago along the Dwight Street corridor. So CJC put together a DIF by which new tax dollars from the two developers’ private investment paid for the debt service for the $3 million worth of public infrastructure.

“It was the first municipal DIF in the state,” he recalled. “And it’s a huge success. Those projects would not have come to fruition, either the larger Berkshire Health building out back or the Baystate Health facility up front. They just couldn’t make it work if they had to put $3 million into public infrastructure.”

Daley wants to bring that problem-solving spirit into his current role leading Westmass, where his responsibilities include negotiating corporate acquisitions, land sales and leases, and incentive proposals; applying for grants; and marketing resources and development services to organizations and businesses considering investment in the region, as well as evaluating opportunities for new industrial-park development and coordinating federal, state, and local economic-development grants and resources.

“If there are projects that need to be done, communities may not have the staff on hand to manage projects, and we can provide services for the development of projects,” he told BusinessWest. “And, in concert with that, we’re working with developers. They may not know all the programs that are out there, and those are the kinds of programs I want to instill at Westmass. When communities and/or developers have questions about development and how to go about programs, I want them to think of Westmass first. And if we can’t do it, we’ll tell you we can’t and set you up with who can.”

After all, development is good for communities, in many ways. But his passion is more organic than that, because when Daley sees development, he sees jobs.

“I believe the creation of good, stable jobs is really most impact you can have on communities. If people are working, they have money to spend, which is good for the economy. But it’s also providing a stable environment for kids to grow up in, when mom and dad are working and able to pay the rent. I look it as more granular economic development, as opposed to just building buildings and putting people to work. It affects everybody down to young kids in our communities, and that’s important to me when we’re doing developments.”

Park Life

The former executive director of the Westfield Redevelopment Authority, Daley worked on several projects in the downtown area, which certainly needed more energy and vibrancy. He left that job in 2014 to work for a couple of construction companies before launching his own company in 2016.

“At CJC, I worked with a lot of clients, including municipalities and private developers, working on putting financial plans together for public infrastructure, commercial-development projects, and such,” he explained. “We did construction management for private developers, did a couple of urban-renewal plans, and strategic planning for those projects.”

When the opportunity arose to head up Westmass following the untimely death of its former CEO, Eric Nelson, the job seemed to mesh well with Daley’s experience and passions.

“My business was going very, very well, I had very good clients, and it was a hard decision to make,” he recalled. “But I looked at this as a challenge. Westmass has been around for 60 years, and certainly there’s still a lot of good left that needs to be done — there are a lot of good projects out there.”

Like Ludlow Mills, one of the agency’s signature projects. Last summer, Westmass announced state and federal funding to construct Riverside Drive at the rear of the complex, making the development accessible to substantially more development. The site already includes 75 Winn Development apartments in Mill 10 for those over age 55 and is host to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts.

Creating a city street behind the property creates frontage for several properties and makes it more palatable for companies to access water and sewer, which makes the sites more attractive to lease, he explained. That project is scheduled to wrap up later this year.

In all, about 35% of the 7 million square feet at Ludlow Mills is rehabbed and active. “There’s a lot of activity,” Daley said, noting that Westmass moved its main leasing office to the site in December. “Additionally, we have about 80 acres off the east side of the back road, Riverside Drive, that is high, dry, and flat. There are some wetlands, but about 50 or 60 acres that are developable out there, and by doing this new road, it’s going to get them frontage in order for us to go out and market it to companies. So that’s really exciting.”

Meanwhile, Ludlow Mills is waiting for historical tax credits on the clock-tower portion of the development, a $20 to $30 million investment that will be what Daley called “the showpiece of our investment.”

“We’re really excited about that,” he added, noting that Ludlow is building a new senior center at the site. “That’s going to be a beautiful building to showcase the property from the eastern side. So there’s a lot of momentum, a lot of people are interested, and it’s not just storage facilities; there’s a lot of jobs in there. These people are coming in and creating jobs in machine shops and other facilities that really attract businesses. This is one of our marquee projects we’re looking to grow for a long time.”

A few miles away, the Chicopee River Business Park, which Westmass has owned for 25 years, tells a different story. Harvey Industries purchased a parcel a number of years ago, but Westmass is still looking to market the mostly vacant, 170-acre complex.

“We really want to look out for the long-term benefit of the park. We are selling it as a bulk sale for 170 acres, but we’ll work with people to do what’s best for them,” he explained, noting that the location is attractive for industry, with its proximity to I-291 and the ability to get trucks in and out without disturbing residential neighborhoods.

On the other hand, Westmass’ other industrial parks — in Hadley, East Longmeadow, and Westfield — are full, Daley noted. “We continue to build parks and take on projects that benefit Western Mass., both with jobs and creating quality of life for people. That’s the endgame of Westmass; we work to get parcels ready for sale and make sure the right businesses go into them.”

Step by Step

Westmass made a real-estate deal of a different kind in December, moving its corporate offices to Monarch Place in downtown Springfield, which Daley sees as an opportunity to raise the organization’s brand and presence, while continuing its work connecting developers, municipalities, and other entities.

“We can work with towns and cities and private developers as well, and act as their economic-development arm, whether it’s putting together public infrastructure financing, putting together urban-renewal plans, putting together plans for strategic development in communities — all that is needed out there,” he told BusinessWest. “That’s the exciting part. A lot of cities and towns don’t have the ability to do that because they don’t have the staff or the means to take on those sorts of projects. We can, here at Westmass.”

He harkens back to his time in Westfield, when the city tapped into numerous funding sources to develop urban-renewal projects downtown and elsewhere.

“We just dug deep and figured out what we could do. There are more programs out there than people realize. They go about their daily business and it’s not their job to know about the programs, but Westmass can help them see what’s available for public infrastructure programs, for land deals — we can put together the infrastructure to get their project done.”

Which is good — not just for communities, but the individual families living in them.

“I believe everything good starts with people working, and the things we do to help projects get to the finish line and get developed really impact thousands of people around Western Mass. every day,” Daley said. “That’s what I’m passionate about. If people are going out to work and working hard every day, it’s a different life at home. Every little bit helps.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at businesswest.com

Construction Slows During Pandemic, but Long-term Outlook Is Unclear

By
Construction

Essential Questions

Since the state ordered most workplaces to close their doors last week, there has still been plenty of work going on — just less of it, in most cases, including in construction. Amid that slowdown are questions — is construction considered an essential function during this time? — and concerns, particularly concerning the amount of work being postponed in the short term and the potential long-term impact of a broad economic shutdown.

Is construction essential?

Well, to those who make their livelihood in that field, sure. Which is why they’re pleased that Gov. Baker, in his March 23 order to shutter most businesses in Massachusetts for two weeks, included among the exempt, ‘essential’ services “construction workers who support the construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects (including housing construction.”

That’s broad enough to include most firms — but it does nothing to prevent individual jobs from being shut down due to widespread uncertainty about the impact of coronavirus on the overall economy.

“Since Governor Baker made his announcement, I would say maybe 25% to 30% of our projects were postponed or put on hold. Some just didn’t want any outside contractors on their site,” Carol Campbell, president of Chicopee Industrial Contractors, said — only two days after Baker’s order.

The news isn’t all bad, she added, especially concerning work that’s critical to a client’s supply chain. “Our phone is still ringing, and we’re still seeing some quotes going out.”

That’s worth noting, especially as many businesses, like bars and restaurants, have closed up shop completely for the time being, Campbell noted. “We’re still working, so we’re still feel quite fortunate. But, quite honestly, I don’t know what this means in the future. We have a pipeline of work, but I don’t know when this is going to break.”

For his part, the governor doesn’t want construction to slow down too much, announcing last week that his administration is finalizing guidance to establish standards around safe practices for construction work during the outbreak of COVID-19. At a press conference, he noted that, when a project is shut down, “you may be shutting it down permanently in some cases.”

While Boston Mayor Martin Walsh ordered construction sites to shut down for two weeks, and a few other communities have followed suit, Baker is trying to avoid a broad rollback of work that could have a long-term ripple effect.

“We have a lot of housing construction currently going on in Massachusetts. To completely lose, potentially, all of that new housing for the Commonwealth, housing stock, would be a tremendous loss,” the governor added. “There’s public construction that’s going on that needs to be completed. Some of it has to do with upgrading existing infrastructure, but a lot of it has to do with expanding infrastructure that people have deemed critical and important, that needs to be continued and finished.”

In other words, essential work. Which is why Campbell hopes the economy comes back to life soon, though not at the expense of public safety.

“We have a lot of housing construction currently going on in Massachusetts. To completely lose, potentially, all of that new housing for the Commonwealth, housing stock, would be a tremendous loss.”

“The president is saying Easter, but I think that’s too aggressive,” she said, adding that she thinks other economic experts’ projections of an early-June return to normal activity seems more realistic.

“But then I fear what that means,” she added. “I made a commitment to myself two weeks ago that we’re not going to do layoffs; we’re going to go two weeks by two weeks. We are keeping people busy; when we have jobs, they’re put on jobs. We’re doing additional things in house to make sure they have a full week’s paycheck and health benefits. So, right now, my business brain is still working, but the empathy and social side of my brain and heart have me worried about my employees.”

Vital Arguments

Across the U.S., the construction sector in in varying shades of limbo at the moment because the federal government recently released a list detailing industries whose workers are “essential” and should continue normal work schedules. Although the document lists industries for which construction is critical, construction itself was not explicitly included — and some states consult that list when determining which industries can work during shelter-in-place orders, notes Stephen Sandherr, CEO of Associated General Contractors of America.

“Halting construction activity will do more harm than good for construction workers, community residents, and the economy,” he said in a statement last week, noting that construction firms are already acting to ensure the safety and health of their employees in the face of the outbreak, including increased hygiene and halting group gatherings of staff, on top of the fact that construction workers already wear protective equipment, including gloves that will help protect them and their co-workers.

“Given the precautions already in place, halting construction will do little to protect the health and safety of construction workers. But it will go a long way in undermining economic vitality by depriving millions of workers of the wages they will need over the coming days,” Sandherr added. “At the same time, these measures have the potential to bankrupt many construction firms who have contractual obligations to stay on schedule or risk incurring significant financial penalties.”

Boston’s temporary construction ban — which excludes “emergency work,” including emergency street repairs and utility hookups — has alread caused concern due to the threat of delay-related claims, note Steven Gates and John Gavin of the international law firm K&L Gates, writing in National Law Review.

“Although each contract needs to be examined individually, many contracts contain force majeure clauses that may excuse delays based on the city’s ban on construction or delays generally caused by the outbreak,” they explain, noting that an analagous situation was the restrictions put in place in New York City in the aftermath of 9/11, when courts recognized that the circumstances could support a defense of impossibility.

During the temporary shutdown in Boston, some companies are looking to make an impact against coronavirus. Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) reported that Suffolk Construction of Boston is donating more than 1,250 N95 protective masks to the Mass General Brigham hospital network so they can be used to protect patients and medical personnel. The firm has also reached out to other construction companies in the Boston region to encourage them to donate their masks to local hospitals to assist in the effort.

Spreading Anxiety … and Hope

Back in Western Mass., Campbell said her company’s policies and protocols for a time like this are in order, and they’ve always been diligent about cleanliness and reducing the spread of germs.

What she’s more concerned about is the long-term damage any sort of major construction-industry slowdown will produce. The global financial collapse of 2008 spurred the Great Recession, but because of how its projects were scheduled, Chicopee Industrial Contractors had strong years in 2008 and 2009.

“Then, wham, it was like hitting a brick wall,” she said. But at least there was time to see the tough years coming. “With this, we felt it right away with everyone else, and usually we don’t because of the type of business we are.

“If you go back to every recession when I’ve been interviewed by BusinessWest, I’ve made the same statement — ‘I’ve seen nothing like this before,’” she continued — and she especially feels that way right now, even though no one can tell whether the current climate will, in fact, bring on the ‘R’ word.

“I feel every recession should be the same, right? You play by the rules and come out on the other side,” Campbell went on. “I don’t know. With the stimulus package, I hope there’s help for small businesses, yet the other side of me knows, with all the increases in taxes we’ll see, we’re going to be chasing our tails for quite a long time.”

In AIM’s report on employer concerns surrounding COVID-19, Gary MacDonald, executive vice president of AIM HR Solutions, said those he’s spoken with have, like Campbell, been busy exercising the empathy part of their brains because they know workers are worried.

“I made a commitment to myself two weeks ago that we’re not going to do layoffs; we’re going to go two weeks by two weeks. We are keeping people busy; when we have jobs, they’re put on jobs.”

“We have seen an overwhelming sense of concern from companies about their employees’ welfare. ‘How can we best keep them safe? What can we do to keep them employed? If we have to reduce our workforce, how do we continue pay and benefits the best we can?’” he noted, adding that his team has answered countless calls from worried AIM members during the past two weeks. “The crisis has really brought out the best instincts of employers as they fulfill their responsibilities as the keepers of economic opportunity in Massachusetts.”

In short, he added, “we hear this consistent expression of compassion, care, and ‘we are in this together.’”

Sandherr said he hopes that concern is reciprocated by lawmakers and governors who can, in some ways, impact the amount of construction work going forward. “We understand the need for social distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus. But needlessly shutting down projects where workers are already protected will not help. Instead, it will threaten the livelihood of millions of craft professionals, force many small and family-owned businesses to shut down, and undermine the nation’s ability to respond to natural disasters, including the coronavirus.”

Right now, Campbell said, her employees are not too frightened.

“We’re telling them we will get through this — and it is we — and we will come out on the other end,” she told BusinessWest. “But other people I’ve talked to are panicked, and rightfully so. How many people have six to eight months of income in their savings accounts? I know all the financial advisors say to do that, but most do not.”

At a time when everyone — employers and workforce alike — are in an unprecedented kind of limbo, that other end can seem frustratingly out of reach.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

National Organization Identifies Top Features, Design Trends for 2020

By Contributor
Construction

Home Makers

Walk-in closets in master bedrooms, low-emissivity windows, and laundry rooms are the most likely features in typical new homes in 2020, based on a recent survey of single-family home builders by the National Assoc. of Home Builders.

Energy-efficient features such as efficient lighting, programmable thermostats, and ENERGY STAR appliances will also be popular, as will open design concepts such as great rooms and nine-plus-foot ceilings on the first floor. Energy-efficient or eco-friendly features not likely to be included in new homes, however, are cork flooring in main-level living areas, geothermal heat pumps, and solar water heating and cooling.

Consumers continue to desire smaller homes, not only in overall square footage, but also the number of features, such as bedrooms and bathrooms. This four-year downward trend has led to the smallest average home size since 2011 at 2,520 square feet — only 20 square feet above the average in 2007, the pre-recession peak. The percentage of homes incorporating four-plus bedrooms, three-plus full bathrooms, and three-plus-car garages have also dropped to levels not seen since 2012.

“This points to an industry trying to meet the demands of the entry-level home buyer,” said Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president of survey research. “Builders are struggling to meet these demands, however, because of factors such as restrictive zoning regulations and lot prices, with the price of a new lot in 2019 averaging $57,000.”

NAHB also examined preferences among first-time buyers and repeat buyers to help builders determine what features are most likely to resonate in the market in 2020. When asked which they prefer, the majority of both first-time buyers and repeat buyers would rather have a smaller home with high-quality products and services than a bigger home with fewer amenities. The top features desired by both groups include:

• Laundry rooms;

• ENERGY STAR windows;

• Hardwood flooring;

• Walk-in pantries;

• Patios;

• Ceiling fans; and

• Kitchen double sinks.

These trends are reflected in this year’s Best in American Living Award (BALA) winners as well. For example, designers are including flex spaces that add increased functionality to laundry rooms, hardwood flooring and wood finishes to add warmth and character both inside and outside the home, and creating outdoor spaces that seamlessly integrate with indoor living.

“This points to an industry trying to meet the demands of the entry-level home buyer. Builders are struggling to meet these demands, however, because of factors such as restrictive zoning regulations and lot prices.”

“Every year, winners of the Best in American Living Awards showcase the best of what the home building industry has to offer,” said Donald Ruthroff of the Dahlin Group. “As the chair of the BALA subcommittee and BALA judging, I am privileged to see projects from across the nation, and those projects help me identify the design trends that drive discussions in our offices with our clients.”

Designers are also working to address attainability concerns by developing multi-family and higher-density projects that feel more like single-family homes to meet consumer interest at more affordable price points.

Picture This

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Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats
Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Customers’ Choice

$1,221 award

Florence Bank President Kevin Day presents Nikki Lewis, coalition coordinator of first-time grant award winner West Springfield CARE Coalition, with a $1,221 award.

 

Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats

From left, Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats with It Takes a Village volunteer Sierra-Rae Bottum and Mollie Hartford, co-executive director

Florence Bank gave $100,000 to 57 area nonprofits on March 10 at its annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program celebration at the Garden House at Look Memorial Park, putting the program over the $1.2 million mark in grants made to community nonprofits over almost two decades. The recipients each garnered at least 50 votes from bank customers in 2019, and the bank also awarded $500 each to six organizations that received between 40 and 49 votes.

 

Grand Tour

Grand Tour

From left, John LaFrancis, chair, Mechanical Engineering Technology; STCC President John Cook; state Rep. Jeffrey Roy; state Sen. Anne Gobi; state Rep. Stephan Hay; STCC graduate Elizabeth Ryan; state Rep. Mindy Domb; and state Rep. Aaron Vega

 

Student trustee Yanira Aviles

Student trustee Yanira Aviles

From the patient simulation center to the mechanical engineering technology lab, state lawmakers toured Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) last month to get a better understanding how it is preparing students for careers and boosting the economic vitality of the region. STCC was the 25th stop for the Joint Committee on Higher Education, which plans to visit all 29 Massachusetts public colleges and universities.

 

 

People on the Move

By
People on the Move

Tony Worden

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB), announced that Tony Worden was elected by the board to the new position of chief operating officer (COO). This will be in addition to his duties as executive vice president & senior commercial loan officer. As COO, Worden will be taking over some of Tucker’s day-to-day duties and direct reports to ensure GCB maintains continuity in its leadership ranks. And during a stressful period such as now with the COVID-19, the move gives the board the peace of mind of knowing that, should Tucker be unavailable for whatever reason, Worden will be available for major decisions. Worden has more than 21 years of experience in commercial lending and has been with GCB since 2008. He is a 1996 graduate of UMass with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received his MBA from UMass Amherst in 2005. He is also a 2017 graduate of the Stonier School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania. He is active in the community as a board member of United Way of Franklin County and a member of the town of Greenfield Cable Advisory Committee and the Turners Falls Downtown Working Group.

•••••

Michael Crawford

Andrea Holden

Andrea Holden

Pablo Madera

Pablo Madera

Elms College announced the appointment of three directors to its staff: Michael Crawford, director of Diversity and Inclusion; Andrea Holden, director of Alumni Relations; and Pablo Madera, director of Public Safety. As director of Diversity and Inclusion, Crawford is committed to the holistic development of students within and beyond the classroom via empowerment, education, support, and advocacy. He has experience in diversity programming and academic support in higher education at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, the University of Connecticut, nonprofit organizations, and as an independent consultant. Most recently, he was a research associate in a culture and mental-health-disparities lab at the University of Connecticut. He also has extensive experience with various social-justice and college-preparation initiatives for vulnerable populations, first-generation and low-income students, and diverse populations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Connecticut. He also earned a certificate in college instruction and a master’s degree in adult learning from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. As director of Alumni Relations, Holden develops initiatives that increase alumni engagement and also advance the goals of the college. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, serving in a variety of roles within student affairs, including campus programs, campus-center management, new-student programs, leadership, and residential life. Most recently, she was a student-engagement specialist for the dean of students at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, R.I., and the director of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership at Wheaton College in Norton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Worcester State College and a master’s degree in marketing from Webster University. As director of Public Safety, Madera manages the safety measures for the entire campus, as well as the administration of safety policies and protocols. He is a 37-year veteran of the Ludlow Police Department, where he progressed from patrolman to sergeant to lieutenant and, for the past seven years, served as the department’s chief of Police. He served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Western New England University (WNEU) for 23 years and also spent time consulting on multicultural-awareness issues and policing. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University and his master’s degree in criminal justice administration from WNEU. In addition, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

•••••

Cheryl Smith

Western New England University (WNEU) General Counsel Cheryl Smith was honored at the 15th annual “Leaders in the Law” event presented by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The event was held on March 5 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Smith was chosen from a field of nominees across the Commonwealth for the 2020 In-House Leader Award. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Leader Awards recognize general counsel and staff attorneys who are nominated by their colleagues, clients, and other legal professionals for being leaders in the community and forward thinkers. For the past two decades, Smith had managed all litigation commenced against WNEU. She also supervised the legal and contractual aspects of a complex new ERP for the university. Additionally, for the past two years, she has served as the Title IX coordinator. Smith began her academic career at Wellesley College and concluded at Western New England School of Law in 1983. At WNEU, she is a senior lecturer for “Human Resource Management,” “Legal Aspects of Human Resources,” “Business Law,” and “Business Communication.”

•••••

Brittany Bird

Brittany Bird

Sarah Rose Stack

Sarah Rose Stack

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) recently promoted Brittany Bird and welcomed Sarah Rose Stack to the firm. Bird was promoted to senior associate. She holds an associate degree in business administration and management from Holyoke Community College, where she was one of the school’s valedictorians, and a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. During her time at the firm, she earned the MBK Thought Leader 2019 Award for published articles on behalf of the firm. Prior to working at MBK, she worked in the customer-service industry. Stack is the firm’s new Marketing & Recruiting manager. MBK recently embarked on a rebrand, which included a new logo, interior design, and mission and vision statement. Stack will help bring this new mission to maturity and will implement a variety of new strategies and connections to actualize the firm’s vision. With 15 years of digital marketing, design, and communications experience, she will bring a fresh perspective to the firm’s social-media strategy, revamped digital presence, community involvement, thought leadership, and more. Stack studied music education at UMass Amherst, and has worked in website development and marketing on myriad products and services since 2005. She is a member of the Assoc. for Accountant Marketing.

•••••

Dale Brown

Dale Brown

Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Dale Brown as its assistant director of Public Safety. Brown comes to HCC with more than two decades of law-enforcement experience, both as a military officer and as a civilian. He most recently worked for the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office in Northampton, where he was a deputy sheriff and corrections officer in the Hampshire County corrections system, while also serving in part-time positions at Greenfield Community College as a special state police officer and as a patrol officer in Sunderland. At HCC, Brown serves as second in command to campus Police Chief Laura Lefebvre, the director of Public Safety. He started in his new job in January. Brown is a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served in military law enforcement as a master sergeant, technical sergeant, staff sergeant, senior airman, and airman. During his service, he experienced multiple overseas deployments, including during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Brown earned his associate degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force and his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University. He also holds a third-degree black belt in taekwondo.

•••••

Marco Morgado

Marco Morgado

Pilot Precision Products, the parent company of duMONT Minute Man Industrial Broaches and Hassay Savage broaching tools, and the exclusive American distributor of Magafor and GMauvaisUSATM products, announced that Marco Morgado has joined the team in the role of the director of National Business Development. In his position, Morgado is responsible for directing marketing, sales operations, management of the company’s independent sales representatives, and leading the business’ growth strategy. He brings more than two decades of experience to his new role, gleaned from previous positions at Atlantic Fasteners, Kennametal, and other industry players. Educated at Westfield State University in business management, Morgado is the recipient of business leadership awards from the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and others.

•••••

Debra Mainolfi

Debra Mainolfi

Freedom Credit Union announced that Debra Mainolfi has been hired as branch officer at its West Springfield location. Mainolfi began her finance career as a licensed agent for major national insurance providers, working closely with businesses and families to design retirement and succession plans through both insurance and mutual funds. Following her later roles in banking, she joined Freedom in 2019. As part of her long commitment to community service, she serves on the executive board of directors for Unify Against Bullying, an organization working to end bullying through the celebration of diversity. In addition to serving on other boards, she previously facilitated a financial-literacy program at Sunshine Village and collaborated on a similar program for refugees with Catholic Charities and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

•••••

Nicole Fregeau

Nicole Fregeau

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) announced that Nicole Fregeau has joined the organization as program manager. In her new role, Fregeau builds program expansion through strategic planning and presentations designed to recruit and renew commitments of teachers, schools, local businesses, and volunteers. To increase public awareness of JAWM programs, she creates departmental plans and develops and executes volunteer orientation programs. She coordinates the Business and Entrepreneurial Exploration (BEE) summer program as well. Prior to joining JAWM, Fregeau spent a year in Thailand teaching students at various levels to speak, read, and write in English. In addition, she screened candidates for open positions and consulted with potential students during the enrollment process, edited curriculum, and participated in school programs like English Camp and Scout Camp. As an established Junior Achievement volunteer in the U.S., Fregeau also taught JA’s “More than Money” program to sixth-grade students in Thailand. Fregeau is a graduate of Elms College with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She participated in Elms College campus ministry service trips to Nicaragua, where she worked on clean-water and education projects.

•••••

Michael Bovino

Michael Bovino

UniTech Services Group, a subsidiary of UniFirst Corp., recently announced that Michael Bovino was promoted to vice president, bringing 35 years of contamination-control and management experience to the leadership role. Over the past 23 years, Bovino has climbed the UniFirst management ranks from general manager to division general manager, and ultimately now to vice president of UniTech. He most recently served as division general manager for UniClean, a fellow UniFirst subsidiary, where he was responsible for profit and loss, while overseeing all facets of the business. The new vice president’s career began with Public Service Electric & Gas of New Jersey, where he acted as technical manager at various nuclear power stations for several years. He then joined UniTech in 1990, playing a vital role in the company’s success as manager of Health Physics and Engineering for six years before pursuing more senior management roles within UniFirst. Bovino holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental public health from SUNY Cortland, with minors in biology and geology; a master’s degree in environmental and nuclear engineering concentrated in health physics from the University of Florida; a prior certification by the American Board of Health Physics; and an MBA concentrated in business management and financial accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Since 2018, he has also served as a voting member of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Assoc. board of directors, as well as the board’s finance and Park Alumni House committees. Bovino replaces the newly retired George Bakevich, who served as vice president for 36 years. During Bakevich’s tenure, he oversaw major company expansions throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada, including recent acquisitions in the area of radioactive-waste processing to support power-plant-decommissioning projects.

•••••

Geoff Medeiros

Geoff Medeiros

As part of previously announced organizational changes by OMG Inc. to accelerate growth, the company has named Geoff Medeiros vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Roofing Products Division. In this role, Medeiros is responsible for developing and executing the division’s overall sales and marketing strategy to support its three business units: Fasteners, Adhesives & Solar, and Metal Accessories, which includes Edge Metal. In addition, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s Marketing Communications and Customer Service departments. He reports to Peter Coyne, senior vice president and general manager of OMG Roofing Products. Medeiros joins OMG from Welch’s, where he was general manager, responsible for strategic growth and marketing for the company’s core product lines. Prior to joining Welch’s, he was vice president of Brand Management and Product Development with the Yankee Candle Co. He started his career at Nestle before becoming a brand manager for Hasbro. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Providence College and an MBA in international business from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

HAMPDEN DISTRICT COURT

Micah Butler v. Big Y Foods Inc.

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $9,438.50

Filed: 2/24/20

 

Augusta Sportswear Inc. v. Bolduc’s Apparel, LLC

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $7.715.46

Filed: 2/25/20

 

McLaughlin Paper Co. Inc. v. Panel Solutions Inc.

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $31,709.03

Filed: 2/26/20

 

Performance Food Group Inc. d/b/a Performance Foodservice v. Veracruz Foods Inc. and Martin G. Carrera

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $46,796.22

Filed: 3/2/20

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Jezare Lopez v. Super Brush, LLC and Luis Rodriguez

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+

Filed: 2/7/20

 

Barbara Motley v. Walgreens Eastern Co. Inc.; Walgreens of Massachusetts, LLC; Walgreens family of companies; Ferrandino & Sons Inc.; Christopher A. Siniscalchi d/b/a CS Services; and Christopher Siniscalchi individually

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $122,260.91

Filed: 2/10/20

 

Kevin A. Chisholm v. Surge Home Concepts, LLC and David James Woelper d/b/a Surge Home Concepts

Allegation: Breach of contract, breach of implied warranty of good and workmanlike services, misrepresentation, negligent supervision: $40,000

Filed: 2/11/20

 

Sheila Mulholland v. Springfield Water & Sewer Commission and city of Springfield

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $93,880.21

Filed: 2/13/20

 

Peter Chlebus v. Harvey Industries Inc., Harvey Industries Inc. d/b/a Harvey Parent Corp., Harvey Parent Corp., and the Hanover Insurance Co.

Allegation: Negligence causing property damage; unfair methods of competition and unfair deceptive acts and practices in the business of insurance: $70,680

Filed: 2/14/20

 

Richard Pelchar as personal representative of the estate of Diane Pelchar v. 135 Benton Drive Operating Co., LLC; Shakema Ali, RN; Rebecca Hebert, RN; and Mark Berte, RN

Allegation: Medical malpractice, wrongful death: $1,500,000

Filed: 2/19/20

 

Victor Lopez-Robles v. J.H.O.C. Inc. d/b/a Premier Transportation

Allegation: Negligence; falling pallet causing personal injury: $92,069.04

Filed: 2/20/20

 

David Kennedy v. the city of Westfield and Albert J. Masciadrelli, Patrick Olearcek, Carlo Bonavita, C. Lee Bennett, and Jeffrey Siegel, as they constitute the Westfield Fire Commission, past and present

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $15,000+

Filed: 2/21/20

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook

Community Foundation Gives $341,000 Through Innovation Grant Program

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ (CFWM) Innovation Grant Program has awarded a total of $341,000 to three change-making nonprofit organizations to continue creating innovative solutions around critical issues facing the region. CFWM’s Innovation Grant Program was launched in 2016 to encourage nonprofits to develop and execute novel ideas in partnership with other entities, as well as allow organizations to construct inventive solutions with measurable impact. In January 2018, CFWM awarded first-year funding to Five Colleges Inc., the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to implement innovative projects that were refined and tested during a planning period in 2017. Now entering their third year of funding, these grantees are seeing the tangible impact of their work. Twenty paraprofessionals of color are making their way toward receiving their licensure to become a full-fledged teachers, food-insecure patients are being identified and referred to healthy-food opportunities, and small homes have been built and are being occupied by first-time homebuyers. Five Colleges Inc. will continue to develop its “Paradigm Shift” initiative and bring in new partners. This initiative is focused on creating a more diverse teacher workforce in Western Mass. by helping para-educators of color overcome obstacles to obtaining licensure to become teachers in area schools. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will spend its third year expanding and analyzing the impact of its Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Initiative that conducts and tracks food insecurity screening and social-service referrals at the Holyoke Health Center and its Chicopee location. Additionally, it will partner with WestMass ElderCare and Springfield Senior Services to address the food needs of patients who screen positive for food insecurity and have a specific medical condition. Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will continue with a third year of its “Big Enough: the Small Home Revolution in Western Mass.” initiative, which aims to launch more individuals and families into the middle class by empowering them to become first-time owners of small, simple, affordable, energy-efficient homes.

MBK Donates $10,000 to MHA for Crisis-intervention Training

SPRINGFIELD — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., (MBK) recently made a $10,000 donation to the Mental Health Assoc. Inc. (MHA) to fund non-violent crisis-intervention training for MHA’s direct-care staff. “To train in non-violent crisis intervention is an important professional-development opportunity for MHA staff,” said Cheryl Fasano, president and CEO of MHA Inc. “MHA does not use physical restraint in any form, so our staff members need skills to safely de-escalate and manage challenging behaviors in a non-violent manner. Our training curriculum from the Crisis Prevention Institute goes further by also helping better equip our staff to prevent difficult situations from escalating.” The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization committed to best practices and safe behavior-management methods that focus on prevention. Since 1980, more than 10 million professionals around the world have participated in CPI training programs.

HCC Extends Scholarship Application Deadline

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has extended by two weeks the deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. The new application deadline is Wednesday, April 8. Students must be currently enrolled at HCC or have been accepted for the upcoming academic year to be eligible for scholarships, which are awarded through the HCC Foundation, HCC’s nonprofit fundraising corporation. Awards totaling more than $200,000 are available for incoming, continuing, and transferring HCC students. Applicants need only to fill out a single online form to be automatically matched with the scholarships they are most qualified to receive. There are scholarships for new students, current students and students transferring to other institutions, scholarships based on financial need, scholarships for students in specific majors, scholarships for residents of certain communities, and scholarships that recognize academic achievement. For the 2019-20 academic year, the HCC Foundation awarded $223,000 in scholarships to 231 students. To begin the application process, visit www.hcc.edu/scholarships. Questions should be directed to the HCC Foundation office at (413) 552-2182 or Donahue 170 on the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.

PTK Honor Society Presents ACC with Awards During Virtual Ceremony

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College’s Alpha Lambda Zeta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society was recognized as being the Most Distinguished Chapter for the New England Region during a virtual awards ceremony held last weekend. The chapter and its members were awarded other honors during its first-ever virtual ceremony. These awards included Distinguished College Project Award and Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award. The chapter elected to do its Honors in Action project within a Politics of Identity theme. Working with various departments at the college, as well as outside agencies, including the Jordan Porco Foundation, the students concentrated on the issue of mental-health awareness. They also established an interactive exhibit on mental-health issues at Asnuntuck, with a digitized version, titled “Art|Mind,” available for those who could not make it to campus. The college project focused on getting information into the hands of students through campus brochures and during the college’s orientation. Asnuntuck student Victoria Orifice was awarded first-place honors for being the Distinguished Chapter Officer.

Beta Gamma Sigma at WNEU Earns Highest Chapter Recognition

SPRINGFIELD — For the third consecutive year, the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Chapter at Western New England University earned the “highest honors” designation for its campus engagement and programming for the 2018-19 academic year. According to Beta Gamma Sigma CEO Chris Carosella, earning highest honors “is indicative of a campus where academic excellence is highly valued and where the faculty and chapter leaders work diligently to enhance Beta Gamma Sigma’s stature on campus.” One indicator of this engagement is participation at the annual Global Leadership Summit (GLS), which chapter President Tessa Wood and Secretary Kathryn Wells attended last year. The GLS enables delegates to participate in professional-development workshops and share best practices with student leaders from other BGS chapters worldwide.

Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Receives Five Star Award

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts has been awarded one of Junior Achievement USA’s highest honors: the Five Star Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize staff and boards of JA areas that meet Junior Achievement’s national standards in operational efficiency and through strong representation of the JA brand. Recipients must demonstrate growth in student impact and superior fiscal performance. Achievement against these criteria is certified through JA USA and audited financial statements. Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, which serves more than 13,000 students throughout Western Mass. and Vermont, will be presented with the award in July at Junior Achievement USA’s National Leadership Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robinson Donovan Moves to Expanded Northampton Location

NORTHAMPTON — Robinson Donovan, P.C., a full-service law firm, announced it has moved from its previous Northampton office to a more expansive location at 351 Pleasant St. The firm’s phone number, (413) 732-2301, remains the same. “We wanted to make things as convenient as possible for our growing list of clients in Hampshire County,” Partner Michael Simolo said. “We can now meet with them more comfortably. The response from clients has been very positive.” Partner Jeffrey Trapani, added that “our new office in Northampton has plenty of meeting space, free parking, and easier access. Quite a few of our attorneys live in Hampshire County, so having an expanded office in Northampton makes sense for us operationally as well and helps us better serve our clients throughout the Pioneer Valley.”

Behavioral Health Network Receives $15,000 Grant from Country Bank

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Country Bank, which will fund direct services for BHN’s domestic-violence programs in Ware. Country Bank’s grant to BHN will be used for innovative support and advocacy services for domestic-violence survivors, which includes partnering with Country Bank employees in offering the economic-freedom initiative known as Money School. BHN’s Money School program is an award-winning, trauma-informed financial-independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors of domestic violence. The grant will also be used to provide prevention-education work in local schools, and for interruption and prevention services for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Springfield WORKS Programs to Benefit from State Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield WORKS leads local employers, educators, community leaders, and job seekers in developing innovative solutions to meet the economic needs of area residents and local businesses. A founding member in the Springfield WORKS collaboration, Springfield Partners for Community Action, recently received a second $50,000 award from the Baker-Polito Community Services Block Grant Special Projects Fund to support Springfield WORKS financial-wellness strategies. This award comes on the heels of a recent $100,000 Baker-Polito Urban Agenda Grant to Springfield WORKS and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. The funds will enable families to achieve economic stability as they navigate workforce-development training into a career pathway.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.

AMHERST

Common Wealth Mural Collaborative Inc., 315 Lincoln Ave., Amherst, MA 01002. Brigitte Ruhe, same. Promote public art and provide opportunities for education, events, and installation of public art.

BARRE

Attached Track Club Inc., 292 Farrington Road, Barre, MA 01005. Greg Bourque, same. Track club is established to unite, organize, motivate, and support competitors of all ages in track and field. The club is open to people interested in the sport of track and field and running

BRIMFIELD

Brimfield Rugs Inc., 1 Warren Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. Mark Zofcin, same. Buying and selling rugs.

CHICOPEE

Church of God Matthew 11:28, 16 Bolduc Lane, Chicopee, MA 01013. Rosa A. Lopez, 247 Sargeant St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Religious services.

HOLYOKE

Champion Atheltics Global Inc., 15 Mclellan Dr., Holyoke, MA 01040. Blaine T. Scott, same. To share the message of love, grace, and salvation brought through Jesus Christ.

NORTHAMPTON

Climb for The Kids Inc., 175 North Elm St., Northampton, MA 01060. Kyle O’Connell, same. Providing logistical services for worldwide climbing and trekking trips to benefit educational scholarships.

PITTSFIELD

Bellas Mentoring Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sabra Davison, P. O. Box 1083, Jericho, VT 05465. A mountain bike organization, whose goal is to help young women reach their fullest potential.

SPRINGFIELD

CMJ Paving & Landscaping Inc., 117 Quincy St., Springfield, MA 01109. Clinton Mitchell, same. Paving and landscaping.

Cool Beans Production Inc., 451 Eastern Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Janice Brown, same. Real estate.

Axia Group Insurance Services Inc., 933 East Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01105. Michael R. Long, 1 Geer Hill Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096. Building company.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Calyx & Pistils Inc., 283 Forest Glen Rd., West Springfield, MA 01089. William John Fontaine, same. Operating agricultural facility.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE

Bau-Da Design Lab Inc., 126 E. Alford Rd., West Stockbridge, MA 01266. Paul R. Brown, same. Graphic design, editing, photography.

WESTFIELD

Bourwine Inc., 1029 North Rd., Unit IA Hampton Ponds Plaza, Westfield, MA 01085. Robert J. Guiel, 115 Lincoln Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Integrative health & fitness.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Berkshire Innovations Inc., 63 Spring St. #402, Williamstown, MA 01267. Michael W. Taylor, same. Development, sales and servicing of electronic products.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2020.

BELCHERTOWN

Alice Moran, Court Reporter
49 Shea Ave.
Alice Moran

Ciesiuk Property Maintenance
667 North Washington St.
Melanie Maggi

Contemporary Woodcraft
11 Town Beach Road
Robert Rivard

Flo-Rite Seamless Gutters
295 Turkey Hill Road
Joseph Fazio

GDM
80 Oakridge Dr.
William DeSantis

Ginnybrook Farm
226 Turkey Hill Road
Ken Hislop

Hunters Ridge Development
8 Warner St.
Richard Greene

Lone Birch Farm
630 George Hannum St.
Kirk Stephens

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC
44 New Lombard Road
Akiva Horowitz

Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty
1421 Granby Road
NRT New England, LLC

Fiona’s Spa
1888 Memorial Dr.
Meijuan Zhou

SPRINGFIELD

Banquet Hall
111 Chestnut St.
Jason Perez

Beverly Paige + Healthcare
34 Pineywoods Ave.
Beverly Paige

Blue Wheel Transportation
48 Montgomery St.
Kelly Reeves

Blushtan
673 White St.
Maria Serra

Boston Road Auto Mall
712 Boston Road
Miguel Betancourt

Gary’s Auto Repair
1800 Allen St.
Gary Leyden

H. Bonney Enterprise
243 Naismith St.
Harry Bonney

Hair 2000
459 Main St.
Carol Marnelakis

Health New England Inc.
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

Likkle Jamaican Cuisine
664 Page Blvd.
Dawn Summerville-Simon

Martinez Catering
82 Harvey St.
Jacqueline Martinez

Metrocare of Springfield
125 Liberty St.
Luz Lopez

Modento Group, LLC
606 Sumner Ave.
Maninder Singh Sidhu

Mutebi Home Improvement
62 Fern St.
Andrew Mutebi

Old School Pizzeria
770 Boston Road
Asif Sikander

Pacific Residential Mortgage
933 East Columbus Ave.
Pacific Residential

Peachtree Realty
49 Cadwell Dr.
Kathleen Sweeney

Peter Paradise Photography
158 Forest Park Ave.
Peter Paradise

Pick Up Games
35 Westminster St.
Justin Cotton Jr.

Preferred Behavioral Health
125 Liberty St.
Luz Lopez

Prospect Variety
51 Prospect St.
Martin Severino

WESTFIELD

Ames Plumbing Service, LLC
130 Joseph Ave.
Patrick Ames

Coldwell Banker NRT
75 Broad St., Unit B
NRT New England, LLC

Coldwell Banker Realty
75 Broad St., Unit B
NRT New England, LLC

Customized Solutions
129 Otis St.
Deborah Schultz

Hannah Josephine Photography
3 Brimfield Way
Hannah Sarat

Lucky Nails & Spa
303 East Main St.
Tai Nails, LLC

Salon Cabellos
4 Franklin St.
Albertina Guzman-Picot

Steve’s Motor Works Supply
20 Lisa Lane
Steven Cipriani

Studio 20 Salon & Spa
1029 North Road
Jennifer Venn

The Wellness Center at Crane Pond
77 Mill St.
Dawn Whitehill

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Atwood Fire & Security
33 Sylvan St.
George Condon IV

Bottega Cucina
46 Morgan Road
Philip Hillenbrand

Broken Edge Deburring Inc.
42 Norman St.
Kevin Williams

Custom Gutters
2385 Westfield St.
Sergey Tokarev

Dynamork Security Centers
31-33 Sylvan St.
George Condon III

Landry Lock and Alarm
33 Sylvan St.
George Condon IV

Maria Mystique
86 Maple Terrace
Dana Canary

MK Flowers
88 Bosworth St.
Marina Kishko

MPS Solutions
1702 Riverdale St.
Christopher Decoteau

Munro Wireless
44 Park St.
Alfredo Garib

Raymour & Flanigan Furniture
1406 Elm St.
Neil Goldberg

Richard’s Grinders
875 Memorial Ave.
Brian Cleland

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court (bankruptcy petitions omitted from our last are include hereunder). Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Almazan, Francisco
a/k/a Almazan-Arcos, Francisco
P.O. Box 611
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Basile, Michael A.
31 Virginia Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Benard, Richard S.
Benard, Nichole M.
a/k/a Wright, Nichole M.
113 Cooley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Caplette, Nancy M.
359 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/18/20

Casaldi, William Joseph
Casaldi, Cynthia Ann
281 Chauncy Walker St., Lot 121C
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/20

Cincone, Heidi H.
46 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Crocker, Stephanie Jo
a/k/a Herk, Stephanie Jo
19 Essex St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Gorecki, Michael J.
608 Westfield St., Apt. #12
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Hallowell, Lynn L.
76 Temple St., Apt. #1
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Hansen, Ellen Mary
72 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Henry Blanchard Electric
Blanchard, Henry L.
10 South St.
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

JM Homelife
Manning, Jodi-Lyn
51 Oxford St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Kerr, Samuel
93 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Killeen, William M.
34 Greenleaves Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Lindquist, Rebecca L.
a/k/a Miller, Rebecca L.
83 Williamsville Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Maunsell, Judith A.
25 1st Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

McComb, Joshua K.
1 George Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Monarca, Edward M.
a/k/a Monarca, Edwardo M.
a/k/a Monarca Monserrati, Eduardo
34 Willow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/26/20

O’Hearn’s Tavern
O’Hearn, Tiffany A.
486 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/18/20

Pizzimenti, Gary Batista
45 Denton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Plumley, Allison
325 North Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Remedy Aesthetic Distribution
Ohlund, Robert N.
51 Fiske Hill Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Retynsky, Victor
269 Stoney Hill Road, Apt. G1
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Rivera, Geraldine E.
a/k/a Reyes, Geraldine E.
421 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/19/20

Schanck, Gwendolyn M.
a/k/a Godbolt, Gwendolyn M.
23 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Surge Home Concepts, LLC
Woelper, David J.
115 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Walz, Frederick David
33 Miller St., Unit 2
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BUCKLAND

43 Green St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Matthew Dougherty
Seller: Clinton W. Phillips
Date: 03/10/20

COLRAIN

25 Stranahan Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kylie R. Brunner
Seller: Sasha J. Rasid
Date: 02/28/20

CONWAY

731 Shelburne Falls Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Amy E. Lashley
Seller: Gabrielle T. Sabella
Date: 02/28/20

DEERFIELD

119 Old Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $1,120,000
Buyer: 1302 Conti LLC
Seller: Hadley Palmer
Date: 02/27/20

ERVING

26 Lillians Way
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Nikita T. Shamrock
Seller: Arsenault, Paul A., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

GREENFIELD

46 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Nicholas W. Lacoy
Seller: Howard N. Stone
Date: 03/02/20

17-1/2 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: PRB LLC
Seller: Timothy F. Washburn
Date: 02/28/20

73 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Jared B. Sharpe
Seller: Ann L. Hamilton
Date: 03/06/20

69 Hastings St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ramesh J. Rajballie
Seller: Carol C. Wandeloski
Date: 02/28/20

142 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jessica A. Pearlman
Seller: Angela T. Ruggeri
Date: 02/28/20

7 Wunsch Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: James E. Clark
Seller: Michael N. Skawski
Date: 03/10/20

HEATH

11 Ledge Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Chelsea B. Jordan-Makely
Seller: Andrew J. Royer
Date: 02/28/20

LEVERETT

475 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Hong T. Cai
Seller: Joseph Williams
Date: 02/28/20

295 Shutesbury Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Frederic P. Hartwell
Seller: Barbara J. Raymond
Date: 03/10/20

LEYDEN

646 Greenfield Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Marie M. Gens
Seller: Natacha E. Casale
Date: 03/10/20

MONTAGUE

69 Dell St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Christie A. Lemerise
Seller: Michelle C. Cloutier
Date: 03/02/20

ORANGE

110 Drew Blvd.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Kasey E. Teixeira
Seller: Adam Stacey
Date: 02/28/20

77 Royalston Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Kevin E. Smith
Seller: Thompson, Stephen G., (Estate)
Date: 03/03/20

147 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Joseph O. Paoletti
Seller: Maria C. Paoletti
Date: 03/04/20

SHUTESBURY

409 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Bradford Spry
Seller: Weaver, Elaine J., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

WHATELY

297 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Stephanie Sanderson
Seller: Virginia L. Cowles
Date: 03/02/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

49 Barney St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Christopher Greany
Seller: Christopher Malloy
Date: 02/28/20

71 Federal Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Gerald W. Novick
Seller: Maryann Majewski
Date: 02/28/20

33 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $122,850
Buyer: Agawam Rentals LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/27/20

64 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Kyle A. Perry
Seller: Elina O’Ganyan
Date: 02/28/20

118 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gilroy Property Renewal
Seller: Benoit, Claire B., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

256 South Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $248,400
Buyer: Josue E. Diaz
Seller: Gary Wickland
Date: 02/27/20

1260 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Ameco-Jar LLC
Seller: 1260 Suffield Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

1347-1349 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Satter Ahmed
Seller: Eduardo Santaniello
Date: 03/06/20

30 Tom St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $172,749
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Norman St.Pierre
Date: 03/02/20

204 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Steven Ewing
Seller: Garry W. Meyers
Date: 03/06/20

BRIMFIELD

126 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Geoffrey Steil
Seller: Citibank
Date: 03/03/20

294 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: James M. Korman
Seller: Cynthia Niemczyk-Hodges
Date: 03/10/20

CHESTER

20 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Dillon Serrao-Durrence
Seller: Luke Casebolt
Date: 02/26/20

CHICOPEE

22 Austin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Elzbieta Kalisz
Seller: Bonnie Lemanski
Date: 03/04/20

33 Beesley Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joanne Pease
Seller: Sandra J. Podolak
Date: 02/28/20

42 Casey Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Richard Negrin
Seller: Karen M. Genetelli
Date: 03/06/20

138 Cobb Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Letendre
Seller: Jane A. Sosnicki
Date: 02/26/20

138 Delaney Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Nikiah O. Stadtlander
Seller: Kevin M. Candon
Date: 02/26/20

68 Dunn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christos Tsandilas
Seller: John Tsandilas
Date: 03/06/20

220 Exchange St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Shiva RT
Seller: Emery Street LLC
Date: 02/27/20

28 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Christian Thompson
Seller: Juan Santana
Date: 02/28/20

599 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Bethany York-Rudzik
Seller: Josephine Mercik
Date: 03/06/20

17 High St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jeremy G. Dion
Seller: Shannon M. Dion
Date: 03/06/20

51 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Christopher Culpepper
Seller: Carol S. Ingram
Date: 03/05/20

44 Kowal Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jonathan P. Veillette
Seller: Eugene J. Przybylowicz
Date: 02/28/20

45 Lombard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Jason L. Pride
Seller: Stella P. Doray
Date: 03/05/20

390 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: HCP Group LLC
Seller: Ashley K. Brodeur
Date: 03/04/20

405 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Susan Keenan
Seller: Jeremy A. Keough
Date: 03/06/20

22 Mount Vernon Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Melendez
Seller: Phillip E. Russ
Date: 03/06/20

225 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,200
Buyer: Rafael Nazario
Seller: Mark E. Hiersche
Date: 02/26/20

741 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jean C. Santiago-Reyes
Seller: Samantha Britt
Date: 03/09/20

25 Providence St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Damian J. Santiago
Seller: Charles A. Bennis
Date: 02/28/20

63 Ruskin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jesus Martinez
Seller: David A. Corliss
Date: 02/27/20

40 Shirley St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Peter D. Marcotte
Seller: Marsha Henry
Date: 03/03/20

39 Stockbridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01103
Amount: $377,700
Buyer: Daniel L. Desjeans
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 03/02/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

Bella Vista Dr. #11
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Grace McCarthy
Seller: Bella Vista Holdings RT
Date: 02/27/20

389 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: Robert C. Harris
Date: 03/06/20

22 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Erik M. Wellhoff
Seller: CIG 4 LLC
Date: 02/26/20

126 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Trevor C. Kirk
Seller: Jonathan Schroeder
Date: 02/28/20

9 North St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christopher Davis
Seller: Scott F. Davis
Date: 02/27/20

120 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Laura A. Stevens
Seller: Louis A. Aveyard
Date: 02/27/20

HAMPDEN

556 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Michael Sienkiewicz
Seller: Mitchell J. Drozdowski
Date: 02/28/20

160 Mill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Gary R. Barnett
Seller: Robert H. Wogatske
Date: 02/27/20

84 Oak Knoll Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Matthew R. Galica
Seller: Michael A. Ciecko
Date: 03/02/20

15 Wehr Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Jacob J. Boudreau
Seller: James J. Pisarcik
Date: 02/28/20

HOLLAND

11 Old Acres Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $125,659
Buyer: Melonie J. Pitisci
Seller: USA VA
Date: 03/06/20

HOLYOKE

5 Appleton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Mao Moon LLC
Seller: Benz Holdings LLC
Date: 02/28/20

348 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $116,355
Buyer: Vivian G. Rodriguez
Seller: Moises Ortiz
Date: 02/28/20

22 Holly Meadow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Teresa Donnelly
Seller: Alan C. Lesiege
Date: 03/04/20

1632 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: WTF Realty LLC
Seller: Galieo Way LLC
Date: 02/28/20

99 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Bina M. Batchelder
Seller: Ronny Sinn
Date: 03/04/20

16 Willow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: David J. Bones-Estrada
Seller: G&H Homes LLC
Date: 02/27/20

LONGMEADOW

40 Barbara Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Valerie E. Oksendahl
Seller: Michael P. Leavitt
Date: 02/26/20

25 Chatham Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Silvia I. Scott
Seller: Julius S. Brecht
Date: 03/04/20

128 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,400
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Chris C. Decker
Date: 03/02/20

260 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Rachael A. Lamson
Seller: Diolinda Dasilva
Date: 03/05/20

LUDLOW

38 Barna St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,400
Buyer: Leda A. Adams
Seller: Frances Prescott
Date: 03/06/20

36 Hampden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Shamina M. Evans
Seller: MNB Builders LLC
Date: 03/06/20

Jerad Dr. #18
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ana H. Borges
Seller: Ralph E. Connelly
Date: 03/09/20

Jerad Dr. #119
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ana H. Borges
Seller: Ralph E. Connelly
Date: 03/09/20

33 Lazarz St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Vazquez
Seller: Amy Maschi
Date: 03/06/20

154 Stevens St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gail Carneiro
Seller: Joaquim A. Carneiro
Date: 03/06/20

27 Watson Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Walid Fathi-Ahmed
Seller: Daniel J. Pires
Date: 02/28/20

554 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Robert S. Duffy
Seller: Dianne Fabrocini
Date: 03/06/20

MONSON

227 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Noelle R. Venne
Seller: Timothy E. Wells
Date: 03/10/20

129 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $183,577
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Zoe A. Riley
Date: 03/02/20

MONTGOMERY

78 Pomeroy Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Renee Kiendzior
Seller: Frank A. Demarinis
Date: 03/06/20

PALMER

21 Commercial St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Nicholas Strange
Seller: Jennifer M. Toelken
Date: 03/05/20

2041-2043 High St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Xing G. Wang
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 03/04/20

2042 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $157,300
Buyer: Frederick M. Dyer
Seller: WMass Residential LLC
Date: 02/28/20

4011 School St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $166,650
Buyer: Dawn J. Campelo
Seller: Deborah Lawrie
Date: 02/28/20

127 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Justin K. Cordeiro
Seller: Desmarais, Monica, (Estate)
Date: 03/02/20

RUSSELL

90 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Craig R. Maryea
Seller: Joan M. Deacon
Date: 03/03/20

42 West Main St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Peyton J. O’Connor
Seller: Alan J. Kochanek
Date: 02/28/20

52 West Main St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Abigail Tompkins
Seller: William S. Russell
Date: 03/02/20

SPRINGFIELD

22 Albee St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,500
Buyer: Anthony Santaniello
Seller: DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc.
Date: 02/26/20

145 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Onix Ocasio
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 03/05/20

136 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Sasha M. McCann
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 02/26/20

252 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sean J. Kavanagh
Seller: Patricia A. Mineo
Date: 02/28/20

66 Aspen Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Sabrina Santiago
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 03/06/20

1 Bairdcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Chandra Nepal
Seller: Gabriela V. Rivero
Date: 03/03/20

139 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: Wei Q. Ni
Date: 02/28/20

40 Bissell St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,599
Buyer: Paul L. Gauthier
Seller: Flagstar Bank
Date: 02/27/20

1465 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Donald W. Obitz
Date: 02/27/20

60 Braddock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Gladys E. Gaskin
Date: 02/27/20

41-43 Bryant St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Paula Dominguez
Seller: Aida I. Lisboa
Date: 02/28/20

26-28 Calhoun St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

60 Carew Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Ken C. Supersad
Date: 03/02/20

42 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Deborah Cary
Seller: Roberta L. Federici
Date: 02/28/20

85 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Bruce Dimm
Seller: Elba M. Mendez
Date: 03/04/20

81 Clearbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Peter Trase
Seller: Nicholas L. Connors
Date: 02/28/20

112 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Josue M. Muniz
Seller: Joseph O. Garcia
Date: 02/26/20

44 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Raimer
Seller: David M. Trehey
Date: 03/05/20

669 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Tamara Betancourt
Seller: Minerva Rivera
Date: 02/28/20

17-19 Crown St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Helen Al-Mahrwuth
Seller: Mohammed Alkhabi
Date: 03/06/20

83 Dartmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Brown
Seller: Victor A. Deangelo
Date: 03/05/20

305 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $158,340
Buyer: Citizens Bank
Seller: Nilda M. Colon
Date: 03/05/20

88 Duggan Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Olivia A. Pepe
Seller: Pepe, Patrick J., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/20

43-45 Eagle St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Selwyn R. Maraj
Seller: Steven Al-Husseini
Date: 02/27/20

24 Elizabeth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Darrell L. Smith
Date: 02/28/20

8 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Pedro L. Morales
Seller: Malynda M. Torres
Date: 02/28/20

104 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sashoy P. Bailey
Seller: RT Property Management
Date: 02/28/20

253 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Nicolas A. Napolitano
Seller: Gabrielle M. Morgan
Date: 02/27/20

59-61 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Okey U. Ikewibe
Date: 03/02/20

12-14 Foster St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

107 Front St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $643,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Orchard Realty Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

110 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $178,500
Buyer: Yesenia Gorham
Seller: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Date: 03/09/20

91 Gary Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carmen E. Pizarro
Seller: Podworski, Searyn A., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

90-92 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Pedro J. Cruz
Date: 03/09/20

71 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ryan McDowell
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/26/20

44 Holly Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Sandra A. Snape
Seller: Lukas J. Baudin
Date: 02/28/20

37 Inglewood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Simone A. Macario-Rosa
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 02/28/20

58 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sarah Stoddard
Seller: K&S Holdings LLC
Date: 03/09/20

18 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Kenneth Narvaez
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 03/03/20

29 Kenwood Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,300
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Ethlyn Williams
Date: 03/05/20

17 Lakevilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Jezouit
Seller: Tameka W. Daley
Date: 02/28/20

15 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Debora Colon
Seller: Jennifer Bennett
Date: 03/05/20

99 Lehigh St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Abdel Dejesus-Cortes
Seller: Castle Headquarters Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

42-44 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Yanira Rentas-Maldonado
Seller: Angel M. Fernandez
Date: 02/27/20

28 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Darwin Calderon
Seller: Fernando Collazo
Date: 02/28/20

78-80 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John T. Riley
Seller: Bernard J. Drewnowski
Date: 02/28/20

139-141 Moxon St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $129,150
Buyer: Manuel A. Cardona
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/02/20

28-30 Nelson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: NI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

60 Newhall St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Zenaida Rodriguez
Seller: Paul L. Blanton
Date: 02/28/20

91-93 Noel St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Rafael Mendrell
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 03/04/20

20 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Fuentes
Seller: Norma Maldonado
Date: 02/28/20

56 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: April Menard
Seller: Feliciano Associates LLC
Date: 02/28/20

87 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

207 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Karin E. Willett
Seller: Michael M. Hastie
Date: 03/03/20

79 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

295 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

35 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Aida I. Lisboa
Seller: Dylan McDonald
Date: 02/28/20

110 Pasadena St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Guilherme DeSouza-Sales
Seller: K&S Holdings LLC
Date: 02/28/20

57 Pelham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Mariah Miller
Seller: Rachel M. Craig
Date: 03/04/20

30-32 Pembroke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Justin Robles
Seller: Jodi Shaw
Date: 02/28/20

140 Pendleton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alex Roque
Seller: Jose R. Abreu
Date: 03/10/20

40 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Erudite RT
Seller: Home Point Financial Corp.
Date: 02/26/20

35 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Green Apple Manor Properties
Seller: Anhs Inc.
Date: 03/10/20

95 Rhinebeck Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Kevin A. Nunes
Seller: Richard E. Laflamme
Date: 03/06/20

176 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jose M. Guzman
Seller: Good Homes LLC
Date: 02/27/20

17 Skyridge Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jason Pressey
Seller: Rosanna Greening
Date: 03/02/20

447-451 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Napolitano Investments
Seller: Chris Kozaczka
Date: 02/27/20

535 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Colvest & State Street LLC
Seller: Sparkle 3 LP
Date: 03/04/20

52 Stratford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Delsie Parker
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 03/05/20

68-70 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

24 Vincent St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Humboldt Realty LLC
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 03/09/20

100-102 Wait St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Joel Gonzalez
Seller: David Givans
Date: 02/28/20

292 Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $133,900
Buyer: Candida Santos
Seller: Aquarius Real Estate LLC
Date: 02/27/20

79 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Mayshell C. Mora-Cyrus
Seller: Green Light Homes LLC
Date: 02/28/20

163 Winterset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Basile Realty LLC
Seller: Loretta A. Tupek
Date: 03/04/20

81 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $334,900
Buyer: Ram K. Sanyasi
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 03/02/20

536-542 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: 536 Worthington St LLC
Seller: Ale House Inc.
Date: 03/06/20

SOUTHWICK

41 Birchwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: C. W. Vedovelli-Peterson
Seller: George E. Whitty
Date: 02/27/20

44 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Andrea N. Prokop
Seller: John T. Rock
Date: 03/06/20

14 Castle St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Eric A. Jackson
Seller: Robert J. Goulette
Date: 03/02/20

35 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Michael G. McIntyre
Seller: Michael F. Albro
Date: 03/05/20

15 Gargon Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: James Joubert
Seller: James Y. Joubert
Date: 03/06/20

12 Matthews Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Sarah M. Herbert
Seller: John Devine
Date: 03/09/20

10 Woodside Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Thurston Properties LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 03/06/20

WESTFIELD

7 Birch Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Robert Bellamy
Seller: Cinda S. McKinney
Date: 03/03/20

Breighly Way #12M
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Settle
Seller: DDLP Development LLC
Date: 03/04/20

15 City View Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Martha B. Halperin TR
Seller: Brian M. Torpey
Date: 03/02/20

42 Daniel Ridge
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jay D. Beaulieu
Seller: Heather L. Ankstitus
Date: 02/28/20

1062 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Aimee-Jeanne Welch
Seller: Ryan A. Lawson
Date: 03/02/20

51 Furrowtown Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Genevieve M. Broderick
Seller: G&F Custom Built Homes
Date: 03/09/20

17 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Charlene M. Leinonen
Seller: Joanne M. Sampson
Date: 03/03/20

21 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Charlene M. Leinonen
Seller: Joanne M. Sampson
Date: 03/03/20

4 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,016
Buyer: Assemblies Of God
Seller: Christ Church New Jerusalem
Date: 03/09/20

6 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,016
Buyer: Assemblies Of God
Seller: Christ Church New Jerusalem
Date: 03/09/20

438 Little River Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Tabitha C. Dintzner
Seller: Puskey, Nancy A., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

126 Long Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: John R. Holton
Seller: Edward J. Robitaille
Date: 03/06/20

567 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Derek M. Stevens
Seller: Craig R. Maryea
Date: 03/03/20

155 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Aleksandr Kozodoy
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/28/20

11 Maple Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Danielle Pioggia
Seller: Anthony J. Collins
Date: 02/28/20

138 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Benjamin M. Abert
Seller: C&K Blue Sky Properties
Date: 02/28/20

7 Meadowbrook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert M. Rickson
Seller: Tallage Adams LLC
Date: 02/28/20

18 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,664
Buyer: Yun Zheng
Seller: Hugh G. Cullen
Date: 02/26/20

481 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $436,500
Buyer: Pedro L. Colon
Seller: James A. Angelos
Date: 03/09/20

81 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,900
Buyer: Sharon Delaine-Francis
Seller: Robert Bellamy
Date: 03/03/20

5 Princeton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 03/05/20

91 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kevin F. Grimsley
Seller: Daniel J. Coffey
Date: 02/28/20

73 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jesus Maldonado
Seller: Ernesta O. Taylor
Date: 02/26/20

403 West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Marcus Rhatigan
Seller: Mark J. Strasfeld
Date: 03/09/20

WILBRAHAM

12 Blacksmith Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Nicholas L. Connors
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 02/28/20

9 Butler Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Robert Jackson
Seller: Antonio Pereira
Date: 02/28/20

2 Evangeline Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Piotr Rakowski
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 03/05/20

5 Evergreen Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Kendra Howard
Seller: BGRS Relocation Inc.
Date: 03/06/20

15 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Sean P. Garvey
Seller: Anthony Rossi
Date: 02/27/20

455 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: VPR Capital Partners LLC
Seller: NEP LLC
Date: 02/28/20

78 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $124,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mark W. Gallagher
Date: 03/10/20

56 Oakland St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Dana L. Delaunay
Seller: Jennifer Lacasse
Date: 03/06/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

37 Beacon Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Theodore J. Pinkerman
Seller: Kathleen A. Collins
Date: 02/28/20

75 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $242,900
Buyer: James W. Connor
Seller: William M. Gray
Date: 03/03/20

454 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $288,500
Buyer: Chad W. Chapman
Seller: Hey Lama LLC
Date: 03/06/20

15 Cottage St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Sai Aye
Seller: Vladimir Sergeychik
Date: 02/28/20

40-42 Gay Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: JMW Realty LLC
Seller: Pari L. Hoxha
Date: 02/27/20

56 Jeffrey Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jared M. Longley
Seller: Michael Martone
Date: 02/28/20

600 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,010
Buyer: Kaydoke RT
Seller: Raymond R. Marquis
Date: 03/03/20

137 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $203,922
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lawrence E. Bergeron
Date: 03/06/20

186 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: David J. Lane
Seller: Henry Tenzar
Date: 02/28/20

618 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Kelly Kadlewicz
Seller: Brett A. Smith
Date: 02/28/20

1067 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Daniba LLC
Seller: Donald W. Obitz
Date: 02/27/20

28 Talcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mario C. Sotolotto
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/27/20

63 Worthen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mikhail Titar
Seller: Victor Titar
Date: 02/27/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

11 Allen St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: 11 Allen Street LLC
Seller: Natalie E. Drake
Date: 03/10/20

East Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $638,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

64 Greenwich Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David B. Ruderman
Seller: Ferguson, Jeffrey D., (Estate)
Date: 03/06/20

48 Longmeadow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Sylvia C. Torres
Seller: Berkshire Land Co. LLC
Date: 02/26/20

Market Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $638,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

320 Potwine Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Zlogar FT
Seller: Simpkins, David J., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

38 South Orchard Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $447,900
Buyer: Risha Hess
Seller: Jason G. Irizarry
Date: 02/28/20

Vista Ter. #8
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Colleen Osten
Seller: Apple Brook West LLC
Date: 02/28/20

BELCHERTOWN

128 Boardman St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Yuyan Jiang
Seller: Constance A. Canuel
Date: 03/06/20

685 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $153,800
Buyer: GJL RNL NT
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 03/04/20

22 Meadow Pond Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: David T. Stanton
Seller: Amanda K. Kuzontkoski
Date: 03/10/20

11 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Huiping Lian
Seller: Robert L. Buehler
Date: 03/06/20

271 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Antonelli
Seller: Evan M. Iannoli
Date: 03/10/20

325 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Cheryl Metz
Seller: Gavoni, Nancy J., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

CUMMINGTON

84 Berkshire Trail
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Aaron M. Loux
Seller: Scout Properties LLP
Date: 02/28/20

EASTHAMPTON

100-106 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Elena Candelario
Seller: Sangar Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/20

40 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Kristen A. Richardson RET
Seller: Lawrence G. Paquette
Date: 03/10/20

55 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicholas D. Duprey
Seller: Gary F. Vincent
Date: 02/28/20

7 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Gilson S. Hogan
Seller: Joseph A. Baron
Date: 03/05/20

5-7 Liberty St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christopher Thompson
Seller: Bixby, Thomas P., (Estate)
Date: 02/27/20

8 Louise Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Christie S. Peterson
Seller: 8 Louise Avenue LLC
Date: 02/28/20

35 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jayohm Inc.
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 02/28/20

93 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Starcun
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/28/20

6 Rabideau Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kellie A. Hutton
Seller: Daniel J. Costigan
Date: 03/05/20

1 Westview Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Peter A. Elsea
Seller: Eric D. Althoff
Date: 02/28/20

HADLEY

15 Morning Star Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $343,500
Buyer: Alan Vieu
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

42 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Robert Wilson
Seller: RFP 42 North LLC
Date: 03/10/20

35 Pantry Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Coligny Baldwin
Seller: USA VA
Date: 03/06/20

HUNTINGTON

24 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $197,345
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Paulson, Barbara C., (Estate)
Date: 03/05/20

46 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Robert Osterman
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/04/20

10 Lowell Lane
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $312,308
Buyer: Stephen C. Trombulak
Seller: Richard V. Hendricks
Date: 02/28/20

14 Sampson Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Warren P. Donnelly
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/09/20

MIDDLEFIELD

69 Chipman Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Boudreau
Seller: Joaquim M. Henriques
Date: 03/03/20

NORTHAMPTON

70 Birch Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $522,000
Buyer: Kevin E. Boucher
Seller: June A. Gardner
Date: 03/02/20

15 Brierwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Timothy Nguyen
Seller: SA Capital Group LLC
Date: 02/28/20

Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tamara J. Bourgeois
Seller: Myette, Claire, (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

1300 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kaitlyn E. Dorman
Seller: Mark A. Blais
Date: 03/02/20

26 Corticelli St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Angie Hauser
Seller: S. Kelton-Roberts
Date: 03/04/20

190 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: Liza M. Styles
Seller: Flora C. Majumder
Date: 02/28/20

90 Fox Farms Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Stephen Kaplan
Date: 03/06/20

52 Longview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Tofuri
Seller: Virginia M. Kelly
Date: 03/09/20

61 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01039
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: John T. Geryk
Seller: 61 Main Street RET
Date: 03/05/20

91 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Emily Dodge-Goodwin
Seller: Michele A. McHale
Date: 03/02/20

Old Wilson Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: Gil F. Verrillo
Date: 02/28/20

6 Service Center Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Jo Landers
Seller: Perry Smith
Date: 03/04/20

46 Sovereign Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $815,000
Buyer: Brian W. Smith
Seller: Amanda L. Wilson
Date: 02/28/20

67 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Andrew Hahn
Seller: Harold M. Portner
Date: 03/05/20

19 Winchester Ter.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tamara J. Bourgeois
Seller: Myette, Claire, (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

PELHAM

120 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $224,250
Buyer: Alexander Schimelpfenig
Seller: Biederman RT
Date: 02/28/20

SOUTH HADLEY

60 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01020
Amount: $403,500
Buyer: Edward S. Wolowicz
Seller: Premier Home Builders Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

68 School St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Melanie Navarro
Seller: Laurels RT
Date: 03/06/20

SOUTHAMPTON

1 Beccari Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $563,563
Buyer: Steven L. Webb
Seller: Demelbauer, Leonhard, (Estate)
Date: 03/09/20

55 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: James F. Boyle
Seller: John Gwosch
Date: 03/05/20

20 Thomas Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Nathan A. Boutilier
Seller: Audrey M. Dodge LT
Date: 02/28/20

WARE

120 Bacon Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Terrien
Seller: Douglas J. Fry
Date: 02/27/20

6 Prospect St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. King
Seller: Derek R. Remy
Date: 02/28/20

20 Spring St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Greg Miner
Seller: Mary E. Harder
Date: 02/28/20

WESTHAMPTON

326 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Michael J. Burke
Seller: Grygorcewicz, Joseph P., (Estate)
Date: 03/06/20

WILLIAMSBURG

26 South Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Justin M. Prairie
Seller: Doris J. Shallcross RET
Date: 02/28/20

WORTHINGTON

14 Fisk Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Kimberly Levesque
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 02/28/20

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2020.

AMHERST

Bell Atlantic Mobile of Massachusetts
531 Pulpit Hill Road
$90,000 — Addition of wireless telecommunication antennas and radios

UDrive, LLC
40 University Dr.
$8,900 — Install fire-alarm system

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
725 Front St.
$72,700 — Extend wet and dry sprinkler system into renovation area

Dino Facente
520 East St.
$56,000 — Building repairs, alterations, and Massachusetts code upgrades for food sales; transform bike shop into bakery

Fandave, LLC
1514 Memorial Dr.
$9,458 — Replace 12 windows

Solenis, LLC
1111 Grattan St.
$21,450 — Roofing

LEE

Paul Abderhalden
360 East St.
$12,200 — Roofing

Robert Healey Jr., Olga Healey
199 Main St.
$30,000 — Roofing

South Lee Assoc., LLC
501 Pleasant St.
$1,325 — Replace painted sprinkler heads

LENOX

Church Street Inn, LLC
16 Church St.
$52,000 — Install fire-alarm system

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
Lee Road
$12,000 — Remove wall between entrance and coatroom, remove two wing walls, other cosmetic improvements

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
Lee Road
$10,100 — Minor renovations to men’s locker room, document-storage room, and liquor-storage room; new finishes, fixtures, and insulation

Trinity Church
88 Walker St.
$150,000 — Install new handicap-accessible egress

PALMER

Wellman Realty
250 Shearer St.
$1,580 — Sign for Palmer Healthcare

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$58,000 — Alter existing covered Emergency Department drop-off area for temporary use as emergency triage containment area

Keino Henry
32 Beaumont Terrace
$9,000 — Commercial grid-tied roof-mounted solar power system

McDonald’s Corp.
386 Main St.
$10,000 — Install fire-alarm system

MGM Springfield Redevelopment, LLC
1028 Main St.
$1,541,000 — Alter space for complete fit-out of new Wahlburgers restaurant

Poly-Metal Finishing Inc.
1 Allen St.
$35,000 — Remove and replace three roof-mounted antennas and nine remote radio units, remove three remote radio units and install three diplexers

Stavros Center for Independent Living Inc.
227 Berkshire Ave.
$183,398 — Alter space for use as additional office space

As an Economic Shutdown Deepens, Some Relief Emerges

By
Coronavirus Sections Special Coverage

A New Reality

The massive federal stimulus that took shape last week brought some clarity to how the government would address troubling impact of COVID-19 and the large-scale economic shutdown that has emerged in response to this public-health crisis. Other efforts on the state and local levels aim to help businesses and families struggling with job loss and the suspension of livelihoods. Of course, the true relief will come when this viral threat subsides and businesses ramp back up. But no one knows exactly when that will be.

The news came in quickly — and landed hard.

Last Thursday morning, the Department of Labor issued its first unemployment-claims report since much of the country began implementing, in various ways and at various speeds, some form of economic shutdown to slow the spread of coronavirus and the respiratory illness it causes, known as COVID-19.

The news was not good. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits skyrocketed to a record-breaking 3.28 million for the week ended March 21 — nearly doubling expectations of 1.64 million claims. The previous record was 695,000 claims filed during October 1982.

It’s a big problem — and sometimes, big problems require big solutions. Which is why lawmakers in Washington spent much of last week hammering out a $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at helping families facing sudden job loss, small-business owners trying to survive, and entire battered industries ride out what is increasingly looking like a severe disruption to America’s economic way of life.

“Business owners … will be receiving a lifeline from the federal government that is unprecedented in scope, speed, and breadth,” Scott Foster, a partner with Bulkley Richardson, said the morning after details of the stimulus became known.

Among its many provisions, the Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act appears to apply to every for-profit business with fewer than 500 employees, including sole proprietors, Foster noted. The act would allow these businesses to obtain a loan — at 4% interest with a 10-year repayment term — to cover payroll costs, including healthcare premiums and paid time off, rent, utilities, mortgage payments (interest, not principal), and interest on other pre-existing loans for any eight-week period falling between Feb. 15 and June 30.

“To summarize, if you are a business and are willing to keep your employees on the payroll, pay your rent or mortgage, and stay in business, the federal government is prepared to pay your rent, your utilities, and your payroll — for employees making under $100,000 annually — for eight weeks, and the payment is tax-free,” Foster said. “It sounds too good to be true, but the public policy is sound — the easiest and best way to get financial support to the most Americans is through their employers.”

Unlike most other loans, this one will be forgiven in an amount equal to the sum of payroll costs, payments of interest on any covered mortgage, payments on any covered rent obligations, and covered utility payments. And to encourage businesses to retain their employees, the amount to be forgiven would be reduced if the business reduces its workforce.

“Business owners … will be receiving a lifeline from the federal government that is unprecedented in scope, speed, and breadth.”

Families will receive a simpler but shorter-term fix — a tax rebate totaling $1,200 for most adults and $500 for each child — which will be distributed as checks in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, states will get help in the form of a $150 billion grant fund, to be distributed proportional to population size, with a minimum of $1.25 billion for states with the smallest populations.

For many of the impacted, it’s a start, at a time of unprecedented anxiety — after all, the country has never voluntarily shut down activity on a massive scale due to a health threat, or for any other reason. This issue of BusinessWest details many of the ways businesses and families are coping, and plenty of advice from local professionals on the best ways to do so. It’s a story that changes by the day, but read on for a snapshot of where we are now.

Targeted Assistance

For many, the COVID-19 threat really hit home the morning — March 23, to be exact — when Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 essential services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public at least until April 7, while continuing to operate remotely when possible.

Those ‘essential’ businesses include healthcare and public health; law enforcement, public safety, and first responders; food and agriculture; critical manufacturing; transportation; energy; water and wastewater; public works; communications and information technology; financial services; defense industry base; chemical manufacturing and hazardous materials; and news media.

Everyone else is being asked to work at home, and most area companies were already moving in that direction before Baker’s mandate. The Springfield Regional Chamber polled its members last week about how the order impacted their operations. Almost two-thirds — 62% — said their employees were already working remotely, 27% said they began remote work after March 23, and 11% said they temporarily closed all operations because they cannot work remotely.

The threat of a longer shutdown looms, and may be foreshadowed by the governor’s order last week to keep all schools and most childcare programs closed at least until May 4, while requesting that educators gear up for the long haul by developing and enhancing online-learning capabilities.

“It sounds too good to be true, but the public policy is sound — the easiest and best way to get financial support to the most Americans is through their employers.”

In the meantime, a number of relief efforts have popped up at the federal, state, and local levels. For example, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-interest federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans for working capital to Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. Applicants may apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

This week, the Baker-Polito administration also announced economic support for Massachusetts small businesses with the Small Business Recovery Loan Fund, a $10 million fund that will provide emergency capital up to $75,000 to Massachusetts-based businesses impacted by COVID-19 with under 50 full- and part-time employees, including nonprofits. The application is at empoweringsmallbusiness.org.

Meanwhile, Common Capital offers a Fast Track Loan Program to address the needs of local businesses that need quick access to capital. Applicants seeking funding from the program to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can contact Kim Gaughan, loan fund manager, at (413) 233-1684 or [email protected] for more information.

The Baker-Polito administration also announced steps last week to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will temporarily suspend terminations of federal and state rental vouchers under its purview, while MassHousing is transferring $5 million to the DHCD for a COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Families in Transition fund to assist families facing rent insecurity.

In addition, the state Division of Banks has issued new guidance to financial institutions and lenders urging them to provide relief for borrowers — several banks have already committed to do so — and will advocate for a 60-day stay on behalf of all homeowners facing imminent foreclosure on their homes. Finally, affordable-housing operators are being urged to suspend non-essential evictions for loss of income or employment circumstances resulting in a tenant’s inability to make rent.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts will delay the collection of sales tax, meals tax, and room-occupancy taxes in the restaurant and hospitality sector for up to three months, while waiving all penalties and interest. And, of course, the IRS has informed all taxpayers that this year’s filing deadline has been moved forward three months to July 15.

Nonprofits are being squeezed by the crisis as well. In response, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) established the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley with a lead gift of $1 million from MassMutual and contributions from a number of area businesses. The fund will provide resources to Pioneer Valley nonprofits serving populations most impacted by the crisis, such as the elderly, those without stable housing, families needing food, and those with health vulnerabilities. To make a gift, visit communityfoundation.org/coronavirus-donations or e-mail [email protected].

Meanwhile, Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation have established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations as they respond to the impact of the coronavirus in Berkshire County. Numerous corporate funders have already emerged. To donate, visit berkshireunitedway.org/donate. Nonprofits can request funds at berkshireunitedway.org.

Finally, to help individuals in need, the United Way of Pioneer Valley established the COVID-19 Recovery and Relief Fund to provide aid and resources to those affected by the current public-health emergency. Funds collected will help families and individuals impacted by the pandemic to meet their basic, childcare, housing and financial needs. Visit www.uwpv.org for more information.

Hunkering Down

Resources such as these are critical because there’s really no telling when the region and country can return to some semblance of economic normalcy. Judging by what the medical community knows about how aggressively coronavirus spreads, the health costs of emerging from this collective cocoon too soon are too great — the healthcare system would simply be overrun. That’s why ‘flattening the curve; has become the watchword of the day.

Unfortunately, many businesses feel overrun in a different way. The Springfield Regional Chamber conducted a different poll recently, asking members what level of impact they expect the COVID-19 crisis have on their business.

More than four-fifths have major concerns; 34% say the crisis may put them out of business, while 47% say it will significantly impact their financials. Another 15% say they’ll be impacted financially but expect to weather the storm, while 4% say it’s too early to know.

In many ways, it’s too early to predict many things related to COVID-19 and its impact. Meanwhile, a nation increasingly shelters in place, seeking relief and solutions where they can find them, and hoping for the best.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

5 Ways to Do Smart & Responsible Marketing During COVID-19

By
Marketing Tips Uncategorized

Courtesy of https://www.business2community.com/

In everything we do as brands, context matters. Beyond the basic actions taken to protect employees and businesses during a crisis, brands can either help or hinder our collective experience. So when a cultural moment shifts as dramatically as it has in the face of COVID-19, it’s important that brands address the issue with tact, empathy, and mindful marketing.

That said, when it comes to current and planned campaigns, marketing teams face unique challenges during a crisis. While it’s still early in the quarantine, we’ve already been asked to help our clients adjust their communication approaches. Thus, we thought it might be useful to share some of our general guidelines for marketing protocol during these challenging times.

How to Do Empathetic Marketing During a Crisis
Here, we’ve assembled our top tips for addressing your marketing approach during a crisis.

While every brand is different, we see this as a basic action plan that can help brands of all sizes make the right choices and avoid serious mistakes.

Of course, we’re always open to more ideas about how to address sensitive times thoughtfully. If you have more tips or thoughts, please share them in the comments. Otherwise, we hope you find these tips helpful.

Read more

Community Foundation Makes Grants of $700,000 Through COVID-19 Response Fund

By
COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the release of its first grants, totaling $700,000, to community organizations and nonprofits from its recently-established COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley.

The fund has raised $2,480,000 from local philanthropic and business organizations and over 50 individuals. The first round of funding to support local response to the crisis includes $190,000 to distribute food through the region’s system of food pantries; $120,000 to address the needs of vulnerable elders, including home-delivered meals; $120,000 to provide critical health services and outreach through the Valley’s federally designated Community Health Centers; $150,000 to provide shelter for those without homes and those impacted by domestic violence; and $120,000 to provide flexible supports to the region’s lowest-income families and individuals.

Organizations receiving funding include Caring Health Center, Catholic Charities Agency – Diocese of Springfield, Center for Human Development, Community Action Pioneer Valley, Community Health Center of Franklin County, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Friends of the Homeless (Clinical & Support Options), Greater Springfield Senior Services, Highland Valley Elder Services, Hilltown Community Health Center, Holyoke Health Center, LifePath, New England Learning Center for Women in Transition, Safe Passage, ServiceNet, Springfield Partners for Community Action, Springfield Rescue Mission, Valley Opportunity Council, WestMass ElderCare, Womanshelter Companeras, and YWCA of Western Massachusetts.

According to Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, more grants are expected to be announced and released this week to respond to emerging needs.

“These initial grants will support urgent and immediate needs of those most vulnerable and adversely affected by this unprecedented crisis and those who have been most impacted by inequity,” she said. “Through the generosity of our community and the establishment of this response fund, we are helping those in need living in the 69 cities and towns that make up Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.”

Zobel said next week’s round of grants will likely include health services to organizations serving those with particular health vulnerabilities due to factors such as mental illness, compromised immune systems, or addiction. 

Given the long-term impact of the crisis and the evolving community needs, CFWM and its partners will continue to raise funds and make grants over the next several months. “We are encouraging our business community and individuals to consider contributing to the fund as the urgent needs for support continues to grow,” Zobel said.

Entities contributing to the fund thus far include bankESB; Berkshire Bank; Beveridge Family Foundation; Big Y; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation; Dietz & Co. Architects; Greenfield Cooperative Bank/Northampton Cooperative Bank; Keady, Foard, Montemagni, UBS Wealth Management; MassMutual; PeoplesBank; TD Charitable Foundation; and Westfield Bank.

In subsequent phases, grants will be made to address needs of nonprofit organizations that have been financially impacted by the crisis.

The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. Gifts can be made online at communityfoundation.org/coronavirus-donations.

“The COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley is designed to pool community giving and apply the Community Foundation’s expertise and experience to make grants that help our community effectively respond to the crisis” Zobel said. “During this time, we also encourage our community members to give directly to those nonprofits you know and trust that are being impacted now or that are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.”

Elms College Welcomes Antoinette Candia-Bailey

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — Elms College has named accomplished higher-education executive Antoinette Candia-Bailey the college’s first vice president of Student Affairs and chief Diversity officer. Reporting directly to the president, Candia-Bailey, who will join Elms College on April 1, will be responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the college’s Student Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion offices.

Candia-Bailey is joining Elms from the University of Wisconsin Madison (UWM), where she currently serves as senior project coordinator to the deputy vice chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to that, she was associate dean of students and Student Life at UWM. 

Abiding by the college’s social-distancing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, she will be working remotely at the start of her tenure.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Candia-Bailey to Elms College,” said Elms College President Harry Dumay. “The fact that she is joining the college in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic highlights the strategic importance of this position to the college. She brings a wealth of experience in both student-affairs administration and diversity and inclusion, and has served in multiple roles within each discipline. I look forward to having her join my cabinet and collaborating with her on the strategic direction of the college.”

The position of vice president of Student Affairs and chief Diversity officer is a new one for the college. Candia-Bailey will be responsible for providing leadership, management, and supervision to the director of Diversity and Inclusion, the dean of students, the director of Campus Ministry, and the director of Athletics. She will advise the president and other members of the executive leadership team on all student-affairs and diversity matters.

Candia-Bailey has more than 20 years of progressive experience in student affairs and diversity and inclusion at higher-education institutions, including North Carolina State University, Towson University in Maryland, and North Carolina A&T State University. She holds a doctoral degree in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and disability studies from Michigan State University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Lincoln University in Missouri.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to join the Elms College Cabinet, led by President Harry E. Dumay,” Candia-Bailey said. “I look forward to playing a role in promoting and advocating the success of all of our students. I am excited to contribute to the strategic goals, mission, and vision by being a student-centered advocate.”

JGS Lifecare Praises LPN Caleb Poirier as He Reports to New York with U.S. Army Reserves

By
COVID-19 Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Caleb Poirier, an LPN who spends his evenings caring for frail elders at the Leavitt Family Jewish Home at JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow, is a consummate team member — in more than one way.

After serving in Afghanistan, Poirier continued his military commitment in the U.S. Army Reserves. With his unit, he has been called to duty to support the medical teams in New York during the COVID-19 crisis. Once again, he is on the front lines in support of our country.

“Caleb has compassion, kindness, excellent attention to detail, and a quirky sense of humor, four qualities that are imperative as a nurse,” said Shannon Wesson, director of Nursing at JGS Lifecare. “He will be an amazing asset to his team.”

Wesson called Poirier “a true healthcare hero, as are all the others in healthcare who report to work daily and care for our sick and frail. We will welcome him back home post-deployment and celebrate his dedication, when we can all be together post-COVID-19.”

JGS Lifecare joins the local community in thanking Poirier and many other healthcare heroes for caring for the sick and frail at their greatest time of need, and wishes him and his unit safe travels and a safe return home.

When We Get to the Other Side, Things Will Look Much Different

By
Coronavirus

By George O’Brien

By most accounts, this region is still in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the experts are saying it will several months before things will return to something approaching ‘normal.’

But while we have a long way to go, it’s certainly not too early to begin speculating about what ‘normal’ will be, whenever we get there. And it’s fair to say that ‘normal’ won’t look like it does now. In fact, it could look much different because of what we’re all experiencing — and what we’re all learning — during these unprecedented times.

Some questions come to mind even as we’re only about a week into the state’s shutdown of non-essential businesses. In no particular order:

• Will men ever wear ties again?

• Will anyone ever print out a document again?

• Will anyone ever go into a bank branch again?

• Will anyone visit a car dealership again?

• Will companies ever again lease out all the space they’re leasing out now?

• Will we still need college campuses?

• Will we ever need to meet anyone in person again?

The answer to all these questions is ‘yes.’ But the more accurate answer, when we examine things closely, is probably ‘yes, but certainly not as much.’

OK, maybe guys will go back to wearing ties as much as they used to, but … then again, maybe not. Probably not. A good number of them had decided they no longer needed to long before this crisis, and now, this club, if that’s what you want to call it, is certain to get bigger. Maybe much bigger.

As for the rest of those questions, life with COVID-19 has certainly changed how we do things, and maybe for the rest of time, not just until we get that signal that it’s safe to go back in the water, whenever that might be.

Let’s start with paper. Most offices were at least trying to use less paper, but many weren’t exactly fully committed to the task. Now, as offices are relying on other forms of communication, and in many cases, they can’t hit the ‘print’ button, many are learning that it’s OK not to have a print copy of everything. And when the smaller bill comes in from the office-supply company, it’s a good bet that things won’t go back to the way they were.

As for leasing office space, some companies will go back to the same footprint. But it’s safe to say many will find that having employees work at home when they can isn’t just for snowstorms and pandemics. Not everyone wants to work at home, certainly, but if the spouse and the children are not at home at the same time as you are when you’re working — unlike now — it begins to look more doable and more attractive.

Yes, there are limitations, and some people have already found that working at home is like being retired in that you lose track of the day and date. Meanwhile, it can be lonely, and many are finding they need to be around others and just hear the sound of a human voice. But now that some are doing it, they find they can do it.

Bank branches? Some young people can boast that they’ve never been in one. And now, many who are not so young are joining those ranks. People who were intimidated by new banking technology found themselves without a choice — and many have now found themselves saying ‘that wasn’t so bad’ or even ‘that’s pretty cool.’ And, by that way, the same goes for office technology as well.

As for meeting people face to face, this will probably stage some kind of comeback. Skype, Zoom, and all those other platforms are fine, but there’s nothing like sitting across the desk or the coffee-shop table from someone. Although … many people are starting to think those aforementioned options are almost as effective, and they save time, gas, and money. They’ve been around for a while, but now that people have a need to use them, they are.

This doesn’t mean auto dealers, bankers, college presidents, and insurance agents won’t ever meet as a group or an association again. But technology is now showing us that there are other ways to meet collectively.

As noted, we’re still in the beginning stages of this crisis, but we’re already learning things. We’re learning that the technology we were afraid to use for some reason is nothing to be afraid of. We’re also learning new and different ways to do things, and it’s likely we’ll keep doing them that way when this crisis is over.

That’s why things on the other side will certainly look much different.

George O’Brien is the editor of BusinessWest.

Some Light in These Dark Times

By
Coronavirus Opinion

Opinion

By George O’Brien

 

Remember that classic scene in Young Frankenstein (even you Millennials have seen it, I’m sure) when Gene Wilder (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, pronounced Frankensteeen), and Marty Feldman (Igor) are in the graveyard digging up the corpse that will become the monster. Wilder says, “what a filthy job!” Feldman says, “it could be worse.” Wilder asks, “how could it possibly be worse?” Feldman says, “could be raining.”

And then it starts pouring.

Life has felt like that these past few weeks. Someone will say, ‘how could it be worse?’ And it starts raining, in a proverbial sense. People have lost their jobs. Businesses have lost some, most, or all of their revenue streams. People are running out of toilet paper — or they’re really, really afraid that they will. We lost Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! (The who?) People stuck at home are losing their patience, if not their minds, and we’re just really getting started with this pandemic. And then it snowed on Monday!

There are no sports! How many times can we watch the Patriots beat the Falcons in replays of Super Bowl LII? We know how it ends! The Masters has been postponed if not cancelled. Golf courses are apparently not on the ‘essential’ businesses list put out by the governor’s office. How can golf courses not be on the essential businesses list?

If anyone says ‘it could be worse,’ our immediate temptation is to say, ‘no, it can’t.’

To borrow from Dickens, these really are the worst of times. This is worse than any downturn in the economy, worse than 9/11, worse than the Great Recession. It’s worse because there is so much uncertainty — about today, tomorrow, three months from now, and a year from now.

Not only that, but life is different now. Everything is weird. If we’re actually out on the sidewalk walking and we approach other people, we avoid them like a game of Frogger. If we’re out at the store, we look at everyone as if they might have the virus, and the look isn’t a good one.

Everyone is on edge about their jobs, their life savings, their 401(k), their health, the health of their loved ones. You can see it in their faces, and if you’re talking to them on the phone (which we all are), you can hear in their voices. You can also hear them yawn, because people are not sleeping, by and large. Who could sleep with all this going on?

If we’re actually out on the sidewalk walking and we approach other people, we avoid them like a game of Frogger.

And yet, there is something else, something far more powerful and positive going on, and it’s worth noting.

Yes, there are now security guards and even off-duty police in the toilet-paper aisle in many supermarkets. And yes, sales of guns and ammo are skyrocketing. And yes, we’re already starting to see a rise in reported instances of domestic violence. But despite all this, it’s abundantly clear to me that people are caring more about each other.

And it’s about time.

People don’t just put their initials at the end of an e-mail anymore. They say ‘be well,’ ‘stay well,’ or ‘take care of yourself.’ And they mean it. People are bringing food and coffee to those who are shut in (and that’s most people now). Co-workers are being nicer to each other. When I dropped off the golf cart at a club in Connecticut last Saturday, I walked over to the attendant who was parking it — someone who would likely be unemployed in about 27 hours — and said (from six feet away), “good luck to you — hope you get through this OK.” And I meant it.

You’re seeing a lot more of that these days, and this, more than anything else, will get us to the other side — whenever and whatever that happens to be.

Yes, it could be worse. It could be raining. It seems like it’s already raining — pouring, in fact. But there’s a little sunlight trickling in.

And it might be just enough.

George O’Brien is the editor of BusinessWest.

Small Business Marketing Tips During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By
Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.mainstreetroi.com/

It’s a scary time for small businesses during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Due to the coronavirus, many businesses have been forced to close, many others have lost a significant percentage of customers, and most have been reduced to skeleton crews and/or a 100% remote workforce.

And if you’re like me, then you’re now forced to work from home while also homeschooling your children. For me, that means my days are spent teaching my daughter 1st-grade math, writing, reading, music, gym, and theater, while also keeping my preschool 5-year old son engaged with activities.  Oh, and don’t forget cooking, doing dishes, cleaning, and laundry.  That doesn’t leave much time for work…

In other words, it’s a nightmare!

That’s the bad news…

Read more

UMass Research Shows Face Masks Can Be Safely Reused by Pandemic Medical Workers

By
COVID-19 Daily News

AMHERST — Medical face masks, which have fallen into short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, endangering both front-line healthcare workers and their patients, may be safely reused after sterilization, according to initial results from urgent research conducted this week by a UMass Amherst environmental health scientist.

Richard Peltier, a School of Public Health and Health Sciences professor, partnered with Dr. Brian Hollenbeck, chief of Infectious Disease at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, to test in his lab whether used N95 face masks were still effective at blocking infectious particles after sterilization.

This critical research aimed to address the worldwide shortage of N95 masks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As environmental health scientists, we are always looking for opportunities to improve public health,” Peltier says. “These results show that there is no real difference in filtration between a new mask and one that has been sterilized.”

N95 face masks are worn over the mouth and nose and capture particulates in the air. They are designed to be worn once and then discarded. When new, they are very effective at protecting a person from particulates, including droplets that carry infectious agents like COVID-19.

“While these are ordinarily disposable protective devices for medical workers, these are not ordinary times,” he said, “and this science shows that sterilized face masks will protect our healthcare providers who are working under extraordinary conditions.”

Peltier used state-of-the-art pollution instruments and a mannequin head wearing a face mask to measure whether microscopic particles can pass through the mask after it’s sterilized. He carried out the testing in a small chamber, in which he affixed the masks to a mannequin that had a small pipe extending from its mouth. The chamber was flooded with pollution, and air was collected through the mask as if the mannequin were breathing inside a room filled with pollutants.

The air was delivered to analyzers that used lasers to both count and estimate the size of millions of microscopic particles. Peltier switched between measuring the air from the chamber and the air from behind the mask to calculate how many particles passed through each mask type. He tested both a new mask, as well as one that had been sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

While there was concern that sterilization might substantially degrade the filter material, causing it to function improperly, this turned out not to be the case. “They work just as well after sterilization,” he said.

Ordinarily, Peltier would repeat the test dozens of times, but the hospital in Boston could not spare additional masks, which, once tested, were unusable. “We are no longer under ordinary circumstances, and we have to improvise as best we can,” he noted.

Because the particulates blocked by the face mask are retained by the mask, they must be sterilized if not thrown away, he explained. “A used mask could have COVID-19 on it, so reusing it without sterilization poses a danger to the wearer or to another patient.”

How the Families First Coronavirus Response Act May Affect Your Business

By Contributor
Coronavirus

Novel Solutions

By John S. Gannon, Esq. and Erica E. Flores, Esq.

It has only been a few weeks since the novel coronavirus made its way to our shores, but life as we know it has changed completely and will, perhaps, never be quite the same again. After a near-record-low unemployment rate in February, nearly 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, a figure that shattered the previous record of about 700,000 set back in 1982. The report confirms what the plunging securities markets have foreshadowed for the past few weeks — that the coronavirus is killing more than just those who are losing their lives to the disease; it is killing businesses and livelihoods as well.

How long this crisis will continue is impossible to predict. Health experts warn against lifting stay-at-home orders, opening non-essential businesses, and loosening social-distancing recommendations too early; economists worry that the economic consequences will be worse for Americans than the actual disease. But however long this new normal persists, the country has borne witness to another unbelievable sight, a welcome bright spot amid so much uncertainty — a sharply divided Congress coming together to try to mitigate the crisis.

Its first emergency measure? Legislation called the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). It imposes significant new obligations on all private employers with fewer than 500 employees. Below is a summary of this unprecedented new law.

What new rights does the FFCRA provide to employees? The FFCRA requires covered employers to provide the following to all employees:

• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay if the employee is unable to work or telework because the employee (1) has been quarantined (either by government order or on the advice of a healthcare provider) and/or (2) is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. Employees will be paid their full wages, up to a maximum of $511 per day ($5,110 total) for these sick-leave reasons; and

• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay if the employee is unable to work or telework because the employee (1) must care for someone who has been quarantined (again, either by government order or on the advice of a healthcare provider), (2) must care for a minor child whose school or childcare provider is closed or unavailable due to the virus, and/or (3) is experiencing a “substantially similar condition,” which has yet to be defined but will be the subject of regulations to be issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. Employees will be paid two-thirds of their wages up to a maximum of $200 per day ($2,000 total) for these sick-leave reasons.

• Employees who have been employed by a covered employer for at least 30 days may also take an additional 10 weeks of paid leave at two-thirds their wages to continue to provide care for a minor child whose school or childcare provider remains closed or unavailable due to the virus. This also caps out at $200 per day.

How are we going to pay for this? Important question! Qualified employers that pay sick leave will receive a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement through tax credits for all qualifying wages paid under the FFCRA, up to the appropriate daily and aggregate payment caps. Here’s how the IRS explained it will work:

• If an eligible employer paid $5,000 in sick leave and is otherwise required to deposit $8,000 in payroll taxes, including taxes withheld from all its employees, the employer could use up to $5,000 of the $8,000 in taxes it was going to deposit for making qualified leave payments. The employer would only be required under the law to deposit the remaining $3,000 on its next regular deposit date.

• If an eligible employer paid $10,000 in sick leave and was required to deposit $8,000 in taxes, the employer could use the entire $8,000 of taxes in order to make qualified leave payments and file a request for an accelerated credit for the remaining $2,000.

In its guidance, the IRS also stated that “reimbursement will be quick and easy to obtain. An immediate, dollar-for-dollar tax offset against payroll taxes will be provided. Where a refund is owed, the IRS will send the refund as quickly as possible.” Let’s hope this rings true.

Which employers are covered by the FFCRA? The FFCRA covers certain public employers and all private employers with fewer than 500 employees. For purposes of this count, employers must include all full-time and part-time employees in the U.S. (or any U.S. territory or possession), including any employees who are on leave, as well as temporary employees and day laborers supplied by an agency (with limited exceptions). Independent contractors need not be counted, but employers who may be a joint employer with another business or are owned even in part by another entity should consider consulting an employment attorney for additional guidance.

Are any employers exempt from the FFCRA? Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for exemption from the requirement to provide sick time or FMLA leave due to school closings or the unavailability of childcare if doing so would “jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.” Regulations outlining this exemption are expected to be published by the Department of Labor in April.

When does this go into effect, will this leave be available forever, and do we need to notify employees? The law is effective April 1, 2020, and expires on December 31, 2020. And, yes, employers are required to post a notice in the workplace on the FFCRA requirements in a conspicuous place.

We are facing an extraordinary crisis. While this law will certainly be a challenge for employers to grapple with, it is important legislation that helps keep workplaces safe by encouraging sick employees to stay home. It also provides much-needed job and financial protection to employees who are home with their children because schools and daycares are closed. One piece of advice: don’t wait until the sick-leave requests start coming to get your questions answered. Our firm has been working around-the-clock with businesses and organizations that understand they need to plan now for the impact of this historic legislation. Be as prepared as possible, and stay safe.

John S. Gannon and Erica E. Flores are attorneys at the law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. in Springfield; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]; [email protected]

PeoplesBank Announces Key Appointments and Promotion

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced the appointments and promotion of several key associates.

Eric Coutinho has been appointed mortgage consultant for Hartford and Tolland counties. In his new position, he assists homebuyers with finding the right mortgage option as well as guiding them through the application process. Coutinho has a history of volunteer service that includes serving on the fundraising committee for Longmeadow Knights Cheerleading.

Aieshya Jackson has been appointed Westfield Banking Center manager. She has more than 10 years of financial services and banking experience. In her new position, she oversees and manages all aspects of a full-service banking center, including staffing, sales, lending, operations, business development, and community relations. Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bay Path University. Her volunteer service includes serving as an executive member of the board of directors of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services, where she serves as chair of the financial committee. She also serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts.

Daniel Malkin has been appointed East Granby Banking Center manager. He has more than eight years of financial services and banking experience. In his new position, he oversees sales and operational success of the banking center. Malkin is a member of the board of directors for the Bradley Chamber of Commerce and Kent Memorial Library in Suffield.

Sara Roberts has been promoted to Sixteen Acres Banking Center manager. She has more than 10 years of financial-services and banking experience. In her new position, she aims to ensure the banking center meets and exceeds service and sales goals, provides excellent customer service, operates according to all bank policies and procedures, and serves as a leader within the community. She previously served as the assistant Banking Center manager in Holyoke. Roberts has a history of volunteer service that includes providing financial-literacy instruction for Credit for Life and at the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center.

State Announces Federal Disaster Request and Other COVID-19 Response Efforts

By
COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration today announced a new request to the federal government for a major disaster declaration, in addition to other actions to sustain the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19.

If approved, this declaration would provide the Commonwealth additional federal assistance beyond what was included in the emergency declaration declared by President Trump on March 13. The disaster declaration request includes a request for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which would make financial assistance available to cities and towns, state agencies, and certain nonprofits statewide. The disaster declaration request also requests FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Crisis Counseling Assistance, to help support residents in need during this unprecedented incident.

In addition, the Department of Public health has issued three emergency orders to support the healthcare system’s response to COVID-19:

• Pharmacy Practice: To ensure pharmacists are able to fully support the healthcare system’s response to COVID-19, this emergency order makes several changes regarding pharmacy practice, including expedited approval for pharmacists licensed in other states to practice in Massachusetts, and allowing the remote processing of prescriptions by pharmacy technicians.

• Determination of Need: This emergency order exempts healthcare facilities from the requirement that they submit a notice of determination of need for certain activities that will support their response to COVID-19.

• Nurse Staffing: To ensure hospitals have the flexibility they need to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, this emergency order exempts hospitals from certain nurse-staffing requirements, while requiring that they must ensure that staffing levels remain adequate to meet patients’ needs, and that staff is trained and competent to meet the needs of their patients.

In other COVID-19-related actions, Baker is issuing an emergency order that provides that a permit will not expire or lapse during the state of emergency for most permits issued by agencies within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. The order also pauses deadlines for these agencies to decide or hold hearings on permit applications. The clock on those deadlines will resume 45 days after the end of the emergency. It also ensures that no permit is automatically issued because an agency is unable to make a decision on a permit application during the emergency.

The administration also worked with the advocacy community and union partners to implement solutions to ensure access to personal-care attendant (PCA) services for individuals with disabilities and older adults during this public-health emergency. MassHealth created a hotline through MassOptions for MassHealth members to call if they are in need of services, and updated its policies to streamline the hiring process and allow more flexibility for PCAs to work more hours.

Baker-Polito Administration Temporarily Prohibits Utility Shutoffs to Protect Ratepayers

By
COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced further action to support ratepayers during the COVID-19 outbreak, directing the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to issue an order prohibiting investor-owned utility companies from shutting off gas, electric, and water utility service to any customers for failure to pay a bill or a portion of a bill until the state of emergency is lifted or the DPU determines otherwise.

The announcement builds on the DPU’s March 13 moratorium requesting utility companies refrain from shutting off gas and electric service to residents across the Commonwealth. The new order will expand the moratorium to include any investor-owned utility customers, including industrial, commercial, and small-business customers, during the state of emergency.

“Protecting the health and safety of Massachusetts residents remains the Baker-Polito administration’s highest priority, and this order will ensure the continued availability of gas, electric, and water service to all ratepayers during the state of emergency,” DPU Chairman Matthew Nelson said. “Today’s action will also protect residents and businesses from added economic pressure during these difficult and uncertain times.”

The order also prohibits investor-owned utility companies from sending communications that threaten to shut off gas, electric, or water service to any of their customers for failure to pay a bill or any portion of a bill issued to a customer. Any company that fails to comply with these orders may be assessed penalties of up to $1 million per violation.

Additionally, on March 13, the DPU formally requested that that residential competitive electricity suppliers and licensed electricity brokers cease door-to-door marketing activities to ensure that proper risk-management protocols have been taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, prioritizing the health and safety of both consumers and any agents conducting marketing efforts.

Federal Act Will Help Keep Workers Employed and Paid

By Contributor
Coronavirus

Bold Response to a Crisis

By Scott Foster

The CoronaCrisis has been a roller coaster for business owners. Starting almost a month ago, the rumblings of disruption began and have now erupted into complete and utter chaos. Business owners have been forced to make stark decisions — restaurant owners laying off their entire workforce; ‘non-essential’ businesses shutting down on 36 hours notice; whether and how to support employees facing three, then six weeks of cancelled school; supply-chain disruptions; canceled orders; canceled events; and more. Business owners have openly wondered, ‘how will my business survive?’

Fortunately, once the legislation pending in the U.S. Senate becomes law, which is widely expected, business owners — including sole proprietors and gig-economy workers — will be receiving a lifeline from the federal government that is unprecedented in scope, speed, and breadth.

Coined the Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act, the proposed provisions would appear to apply to every for-profit business with fewer than 500 employees (again, including sole proprietors). The act would allow these businesses (whether a corporation, LLC, partnership, or some other form of entity) to obtain a loan to cover payroll costs, including healthcare premiums and paid time off, rent, utilities, mortgage payments (interest, not principal), and interest on other pre-existing loans for an eight-week period falling between Feb. 15 and June 30, with a maximum loan amount of $10 million. The loan would be non-recourse, require no security or personal guarantees, and bear interest of only 4% with a repayment period of 10 years.

But this is not like any other loan ever offered. This loan would be forgiven in an amount equal to the sum of payroll costs, payments of interest on any covered mortgage, payments on any covered rent obligations, and covered utility payments. The amount to be forgiven would be reduced if the business reduced its workforce, and the forgiveness would not apply to payroll costs of any employees who were paid more than $100,000 in 2019. And the best part, unlike other debt that is forgiven by the lender, any amount forgiven under this program will be excluded from gross income.

To summarize, if you are a business and are willing to keep your employees on the payroll, pay your rent or mortgage, and stay in business, the federal government is prepared to pay your rent, your utilities, and your payroll (for employees making under $100,000 annually) for eight weeks, and the payment is tax-free. It sounds too good to be true, but the public policy is sound — the easiest and best way to get financial support to the most Americans is through their employers (especially in this time of historically low unemployment). 

We would expect loans under this program to start being processed by late April or early May, with funding happening as soon as the loans can be closed. The program is relying on banks and commercial lenders to aggressively participate as the primary lenders under the program, so you should be able to continue working with your current bank. 

Given the tight timeframe and the unprecedented scope of this program, Bulkley Richardson is preparing for an unusually high level of lending in the local market and will be prepared to help our clients navigate this new program, get the necessary loans, and submit the backup needed to qualify for the forgiveness.

Scott Foster is a partner at Bulkley Richardson.

Working from Home: What You Need to Know About Insurance Coverage

By
COVID-19 Daily News

AMHERST — During these unprecedented times, the everyday norm is shifting for most Americans. Commutes have become a simple walk down to the coffee maker instead of the usual 15- to 30-minute drive from home.

With much of the workforce working remotely, likely from a home office, it is important that you are protected from further unexpected exposures, says Tracey Benison, president of Encharter Insurance in Amherst. Most homeowner and renter insurance policies limit coverage, so discussing business exposures with your agent to ensure proper coverage is in place is a must.

When chatting with your agent, she said, consider the following:

1. Do you have clients and/or employees visiting the home, and how often?

2. Do you have equipment or protected information in your care, custody, or control?

3. Are you delivering products with your own vehicle?

4. Do you have more, fewer, or no employees now?

The answers to these questions will determine if you need business owners, workers’ compensation, business auto, or cyber insurance coverage.

“In many situations, if you are an employee, your employer will have insurance coverage in place to protect you,” Benison said. “These policies should provide you with coverage that you need, but you need to ask your employer to be sure.
If you are the business owner, you need to be sure you are properly covered for these evolving exposures. This is the time to do a fresh review of your insurance coverage with your agent to ensure you are adequately protected.”

If you have any questions, call Encharter Insurance at (413) 549-4971.

Link to Libraries, MGM Provide Books to Springfield Students Learning from Home

By
COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Link to Libraries and MGM Springfield announced a partnership to promote learning and literacy in support of Springfield students who are out of the classroom and learning from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Link to Libraries and MGM Springfield donated more than 1,000 books to children ranging from kindergarten through high school. The books were distributed to families through the 15 schools designated as lunch pickup sites.

“Link to Libraries is committed to helping ensure that students have the tools they need to continue learning during this time of uncertainty,” said Laurie Flynn, the organization’s president and CEO. “We are so very grateful to MGM Springfield for partnering with us so that we can get books into the hands of the children who need them most.

“We know that increasing a child’s access to books dramatically improves their chances of becoming a proficient reader, and, sadly, a significant number of the children we serve live in homes with no books,” she added. “Together with MGM Springfield and our donors and volunteers, we will continue to ensure that the children of Springfield have the tools they need to succeed, even during these challenging times.”

Elms College Reschedules Executive Leadership Breakfast to Sept. 22

By
COVID-19 Daily News

CHICOPEE — Elms College has rescheduled its third annual Executive Leadership Breakfast to Tuesday, Sept. 22 due to state-mandated caution regarding large crowds and coronavirus.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal is still slated to be the keynote speaker for the event, which was originally scheduled for April 9. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold, the college will announce more details as necessary.

This annual event features talks by the region’s leaders on topics of relevance that impact all sectors of business and the economy in Western Mass. Speakers at past events have included Dennis Duquette, head of Community Responsibility at MassMutual and president of the MassMutual Foundation, and Regina Noonan Hitchery, retired vice president of Human Resources at Alcoa.

STCC Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Area Hospitals

By
COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Responding to an urgent call for supplies, Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) School of Health and Patient Simulation is donating personal protective equipment to area hospitals and medical centers.

The equipment, which includes surgical masks, isolation gowns, and exam gloves, will serve as a first line of defense for healthcare professionals and reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 while treating patients.

“We recognize there is a critical need for personal protective equipment at hospitals and medical centers,” said Christopher Scott, dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation at STCC. “By donating our supplies, we are doing what we can to protect the healthcare workers who are running short on masks and other protective equipment. The community needs to work together to ensure we defeat this pandemic.”

The equipment will be donated to Baystate Health, Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England, Holyoke Medical Center, and Cooley Dickinson Hospital. In addition, STCC will donate supplies to the West Springfield Fire Department, which provides emergency medical services.

A Roundtable — COVID-19 Style

By
Coronavirus

Participants Say It’s Anything but Business as Usual

By George O’Brien

If you call the Employers Assoc. of the Northeast these days, the person at the other end of the line will likely ask you if you want the agency’s hotline.

Almost everyone does.

“We’re getting inundated — we’re getting more calls in a day than we would get in a week or two,” said Meredith Wise, EANE’s executive director, who told BusinessWest the calls vary in nature, but the vast majority of them have to do with workforce issues — whether to lay off people in the wake of this virus or furlough them (we’ll explain the difference in a minute), and how to somehow keep them if they are laid off. But there are other matters as well, especially the many evolving layers of support on the state and federal levels.

“People don’t know what to do, and they’re looking for help — they’re looking for answers, because there’s so much uncertainty, and the picture seems to change every day and even every hour,” said Wise, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging businesses of all sizes as they have probably never been challenged before.

Wise was one of several area business leaders who took part in a roundtable on this virus and the many ways it is impacting the business community — a different kind of roundtable, to be sure. Indeed, there was no actual table, round or otherwise; this was all done via a conference call and some subsequent follow-up interviews as the scene changed. (Editor’s Note: that scene continues to change, and this story will be updated as needed at businesswest.com.)

Through these discussions, we learned what should seem obvious — that, at this time, it isn’t ‘business as usual’ for anyone, and for many, there is no business at all. But we also learned that, in some cases, there is something approaching business as usual, as legal transactions and real-estate deals, both commercial and residential, move forward. Meanwhile, the marketing expert we spoke with had a simple message for businesses of all kinds — “don’t stop communicating.”

Here are the highlights from this COVID-19-style roundtable:

At the EANE

Wise told BusinessWest that, understandably, employers are on edge as they see revenue sources dry up and cash flow interrupted. A good number of calls to the hotline concern what to do with employees — lay them off, furlough them, or try somehow to keep them on, especially if the stimulus package currently being debated includes provisions that provide small businesses access to private bank loans equal to several months of expenses (payroll, rent, utilities, etc.) that would be covered by the federal government if they stayed open, maintained their workforce, and paid their bills.

“People are at wit’s end — do they lay off everyone, do they furlough people, do they shut down this operation, do they keep with that operation?” she told BusinessWest, adding that ‘lay off’ and ‘furlough’ are technical terms with specific definitions, and they are not the same thing.

“With a furlough, you’re still considered an employee — people are not going to get paid, but they’re still on the payroll, and they’re still eligible for benefits — all that stays in place,” she explained. “If you lay people off, they’re no longer an employee. They may get a call-back date, but in essence the business is parting company with that employee.”

And, with a layoff, a company has to pay all accrued paid time off and give the employee a check for that amount on their last day.

Wise said some manufacturers, concerned that business will dry up for a longer term, are laying off people (especially recent hires), while others, especially those with sizable investments in the people they’ve hired, are taking the furlough route with the hope that business will soon pick up or help from a stimulus package of some form will arrive.

“But people just don’t know when this is going to end — will it be by April 1, April 14, or are we going to the end of April or into May?” she said. “I’ve heard people say this could go on for three months and that they can’t keep their workforce going for three months.”

Meanwhile, with regard to the governor’s order to close non-essential businesses, Wise said it will certainly be unpopular with small-business owners not on the ‘essential’ list, but it might help bring a form of normalcy and routine that will replace the daily uncertainty that was annoying, to say the least.

“Let’s just do it and get it over with,” she said as the order was coming down. “This constant drip, drip, drip of changes every day is driving everyone crazy, and it doesn’t let you focus on anything.”

Developments of Note

Jeff Sullivan noted that it’s not business as usual for the region’s banks, and it won’t be for quite some time. But there will be a good deal of business, especially if, as expected, banks play a key role in funneling federal stimulus money to small businesses in the form of what will amount to bridge loans.

In the meantime, banks are keeping busy enough — with everything from customers who want some cash in their pockets during these uncertain times (and that’s many people) to businesses seeking lines of credit, or larger lines, to get through the crisis, to homeowners looking to take advantage of the recent drop in interest rates to refinance. And, again, that’s many people.

“It’s a little strange here … we had a large backlog of loans that were closing during the month of March, so we’ve tried to stay somewhat business as usual with those,” said Sullivan, president and CEO of Springfield-based New Valley Bank & Trust. “Most of those are happening, and part of the reason we want to get through that is because the nature of the loan requests we’re going to get are going to change dramatically, from the normal buy, sell, refinance-my-building kind of stuff to building up piles of working capital to get through the downturn.

“I think I’ve heard more of the ‘we need to do whatever we can to keep the doors open’ type of conversations from people,” he went on. “But we’re also hearing about people wanting to refinance their free and clear property so they’ll have a lot of cash because they think there will be some opportunities down the road — there’s a little of that going on, too.”

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of refinancing on the residential side of the equation as homeowners look to capitalize on those interest rates, he said, adding that there is also commercial activity and a limited amount of business expansion happening.

Things should change dramatically with the stimulus package and its likely provision for forgivable loans that will, as he put it, essentially put everyone on unemployment for three months.

“People are on pins and needles waiting to see what happens,” he said as the bill was still being hammered out. “If something doesn’t happen, there will be another wave of layoffs.”

Case in Point

Scott Foster, an attorney with Springfield-based Bulkley Richardson, said his firm’s phones might not be as busy as EANE’s, but they are ringing constantly. And many of those who are calling are looking for the same kinds of answers.

“I’m as busy as ever — the phones are ringing off the hook; people are working and getting things done while they still can,” he said just prior to the governor’s order to shut down non-essential businesses. “It’s mostly about contingency planning, looking at federal aid that’s already passed or is coming down the pike and how it’s going to help them, or staffing decisions — whether to furlough people, lay them off, or keep them on the payroll.

“All these questions are coming, and there’s a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknowns,” he went on. “But this is business — people have to make decisions; you don’t get to not make decisions, or the decision gets made for you. So we’re very active.”

Foster said that deals — everything from real-estate acquisitions to business transactions — are still taking place, albeit at a slower pace in some cases.

“I have some real deals … they’re not closing tomorrow, but they’re still going,” he explained. “I haven’t had anyone pull the plug on any deal I’m working on; next week might be a different story, but right now, they’re all charging forth.”

As for the general tone of those in the business community, while many are understandably anxious, there’s also discernable optimism, he said, especially regarding some provisions of the stimulus bill being debated — ones that would essentially ‘mothball’ businesses until the crisis is over, with funds provided by the government to pay people and pay other expenses as well.

“Big sections of the economy are going to go on pause,” he explained. “And if the federal aid is sufficient and businesses reopen in a few months and the economy restarts … there’s a lot of optimism I’m hearing from business owners about what things are going to look like on the other side of this. It might be misplaced optimism, but it’s there.”

Overall, he said most business owners are “keeping their heads on,” as he put it, and not panicking.

“And the main reason they’re not panicking is because everyone is going through this,” he said. “It’s not one business or one sector, it’s hitting everyone, and you’re seeing some people growing — Amazon’s hiring, Walmart is hiring, Domino’s is hiring, online delivery services are hiring … there are some positive things happening.”

‘Cover’ Story

Dave Griffin has been in the insurance business for decades now and has certainly seen almost everything in the course of his career. But the COVID-19 pandemic has been different — in all kinds of ways.

That assessment refers to everything from the volume of the phone calls to the very difficult nature of the conversations with the people on the other end of the line.

“It’s been a tough few weeks, obviously,” said Griffin, vice president of Holyoke-based Dowd Insurance. “I’ve been doing this for 11 years here, and you develop a strong relationship with your clients. There have been a lot of hard conversations here this week with people just trying to do whatever they can to keep their business open. They have a real passion for what they do, and it’s heartbreaking to hear that they have to lay off employees and talk about the business like it might not be around.”

While talk of stimulus packages continues, business owners, especially those hit immediately by the crisis — restaurants, hotels, clubs, banquet facilities, and retail establishments — have been dealing with the moment, said Griffin, and most come forward with the obvious question: ‘does my business-interruption policy cover this deadly virus?’

And the answer he has had to give, unfortunately, is ‘no,’ and, as noted, he’s given it to a large number of people.

There is hope that this answer may change, just as it did after 9/11 — terrorist attacks were not covered in most all business-interruption policies, but that law was changed — but for now, the answer remains ‘no.’

If there is any good news for most insurance customers, it is that their payments are generally based on annual sales volume, and as those numbers go down as the pandemic continues, so do those payments. Meanwhile, many insurance carriers are responding to the crisis by providing flexibility on payments and commitments not to cancel policies if payments cannot be made.

While answering questions about policies and listening to his clients, Griffin also offered some perspective on the situation in the form of hope — and expectation — that most of those business owners he’s had these hard conversations with find a way to persevere and come out on the other side.

“Hopefully, we can come out of this sooner rather than later,” he said. “And I have no doubt that this region will rally behind the local businesses.”

And Now, a Word, or Two, or Three, About Marketing

John Garvey, president of Garvey Communication Associates Inc., told BusinessWest that, while every sector, and almost every business, has its own unique situation with regard to the virus and its impact, there are some common threads, or thoughts, when it comes to marketing in these difficult times.

To explain it, he summoned three words — actually, one word repeated three times — that was essentially the mantra of Doug Bowen, the now-retired president and CEO of Holyoke-based PeoplesBank, a long-time client.

“Communicate, communicate, communicate — that’s what he used to say, and I think that’s practical advice for everyone right now,” he said. “You need to be talking to your employees, and you need to be talking to your customers.”

As for the messages to be conveyed, he said they generally fall into several categories — from informing the public about what’s happening with a specific company during this crisis to speaking directly to employees. In both cases, the messages are generally about reassuring the intended audience.

“You really want to reach out to employees from the standpoint of appreciation and thank them for their efforts,” Garvey explained. “There is a lot of insecurity out there, and anything organizations can do to placate or resolve that is really important right now.”

Such efforts to reassure and thank people become more difficult and more complicated when a company is also laying off or furloughing employees, he acknowledged, but this shouldn’t stop businesses from heeding Bowen’s mantra.

Meanwhile, as for marketing and communicating in general, this is a perilous time, but it’s also a time when your message can be heard, he went on, because people are listening, and they’re looking for information.

“Your whole audience, your whole customer base, is pretty much sitting at home right now,” he noted. “They’re on social media, they’re reading things online, etc., etc. — you have their attention; never have people been more focused.”

That said, advertisers need to send messages that are important or interesting, or they won’t keep that audience’s attention, Garvey went on, and people need to send messages that are sensitive to the times.

Overall, he said many businesses have been so caught up in the day to day of coping with the crisis that they have become “frozen” when it comes to marketing. The “thaw,” as he called it, should come now, or very soon, as something approaching a new sense of normalcy prevails.

“And then,” he said, “the responsibility is to communicate, communicate, communicate.”

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

AIM Expresses Support for Administration Steps to Control COVID-19

By
COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) expressed support for Gov. Charlie Baker’s order closing non-essential workplaces, even while acknowledging the economic burden that the order is placing on the organization’s 3,500 members and their employees.

The order, which took effect on March 24, requires all businesses and organizations that do not provide ‘COVID-19 essential services’ to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public until Tuesday, April 7 at noon.

AIM praised Baker and his administration for a measured and transparent approach to containing COVID-19, which has affected 777 Massachusetts residents and taken the lives of nine people.

“Believe me, the last thing that a business association like AIM wants to see is an order requiring many good companies around the Commonwealth to close,” AIM President and CEO John Regan said. “But those of us with friends and colleagues who have been hit by this virus understand that social distancing represents our best chance to limit the pandemic and begin a movement back toward normalcy.”

AIM commended the work of hundreds of administration officials, including Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Michael Kennealy, and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalyn Acosta. AIM noted that the administration moved swiftly to get the U.S. Small Business Assoc. Economic Injury Disaster Loan program open in Massachusetts.

The administration has also established a Manufacturing Emergency Response Team to help companies retool their production operations to make much-needed medical equipment.

“We are grateful to the Baker administration for maintaining a free flow of information to employers and the public,” said Brooke Thomson, executive vice president of Government Affairs. “The Massachusetts business community understands that the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique situation that requires unfortunate but necessary steps to keep our employees and their families healthy. We look forward to emerging as an even stronger and more resilient economy once the crisis is over.”

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