PHILADELPHIA — Comcast today announced it has now connected more than six million low-income Americans to the Internet through its Internet Essentials program, the largest and most comprehensive broadband-adoption program for low-income families in the U.S.

The company connected more than 2 million people in the past year alone, which is the largest annual increase in the program’s history.

The company also announced it will significantly expand eligibility — for the 11th time in seven years — to low-income veterans, nearly 1 million of whom live within the Comcast footprint.

According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey, less than 70% of low-income veterans have Internet access, and about 60% own a computer.

“This program has had an enormous impact on millions of families and children who now have high-speed Internet at home, many for the first time in their lives,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “We’re excited to extend that same opportunity to more than 1 million, low-income veterans. Veterans have stood up for our country; now it’s time for us to stand up for them by providing access to life-changing digital tools and resources.”

Since 2011, Comcast has invested more than half a billion dollars to support digital literacy training and awareness, reaching more than 8.5 million low-income Americans. In addition, the company has sold more than 85,000 heavily subsidized computers.

Comcast attributes some of the recent growth of Internet Essentials to its easy-to-use mobile application, which now accounts for more than a third of all enrollments. In addition, the company today released a new seven-year progress report. It contains detailed information about customer demographics and insights, as well as a history of the program’s evolution and key milestones. The company has also redesigned its Internet Essentials Learning Center with new content from Common Sense Media and ConnectSafely.org. The site now includes a variety of free videos, tools, and resources that can help individuals learn vital Internet safety and digital skills.

U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who were recently named as ambassadors and spokespeople for the company’s corporate values initiatives, will join Cohen on a multi-city tour to visit local communities and raise awareness about the Internet Essentials program.  Both were instrumental in Team USA’s defeat of Canada for the gold in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, and are passionate advocates for gender equity.

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society announced it is participating in the WWLP-22News annual Clear the Shelters pet adoption drive on August 18. 

On that day, Dakin will offer reduced pet-adoption fees on small animals and select adult cats to help local families adopt a new pet. Since 2015, NBC and Telemundo stations’ nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign has resulted in more than 150,000 pet adoptions.

“Clear the Shelters is a terrific program that raises awareness about the importance of pet adoption,” according to Dakin’s Executive Director Carmine DiCenso. “It’s also the mission of shelters like Dakin every day of the year. We always strive to find homes for all types of pets. The changing face of adoption brings us more animals with complex needs, and we find ways to put them on the path to successful adoptions.”

Small animals at Dakin include rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, mice, rats and birds, based on availability. A full, up-to-the-minute listing of adoptable animals is available at https://www.dakinhumane.org/adopt-a-pet.html#!/. Dakin’s Springfield Adoption & Education Center will be open 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. that day, while its Leverett Adoption Center will be open 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Centers, along with all Big Y Supermarkets, are now carrying the Deterra® Drug Deactivation System at all stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is a drug-disposal pouch which allows people to easily and effectively dispose of unused or expired medications, even opioid painkillers, at home.

Anyone can use a Deterra pouch to deactivate drugs including pills, liquids, and patches. Simply add the recommended amount of unused medicines in the pouch, fill the pouch half-way with warm water, wait 30 seconds, seal the pouch and gently shake and dispose of in normal trash. Each Deterra pouch contains activated carbon, which firmly bonds to pharmaceuticals rendering them inert and unavailable for abuse. The Deterra pouch is the only environmentally sound, in-home drug disposal system that permanently deactivates drugs.

Big Y hopes to help combat the opioid crisis by stocking these deactivation kits in all of their stores to provide their customers with a safe and reliable way to keep unused medications from being diverted to abuse.

“At Big Y, we share everyone’s concern about the opioid crisis in our communities,” said Steve Nordstrom, Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center director of pharmacy. “By bringing these easy to use and highly effective Deterra Drug Deactivation pouches to all of our stores, we hope to empower our customers to prevent drug abuse by getting rid of their unused or unneeded medications, especially opioids.”

Currently, the pouches are on sale for the special introductory price of $3.99 for each pouch which has the capacity to deactivate up to 45 pills or six ounces of liquid or six patches.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — David C. Henry, of Scituate, R.I., a Christmas tree grower and owner of The Henry Co. Insurance, has been named chairman of the Board of Eastern States Exposition.

A trustee of the exposition since 1983, Henry had served as a member of the ESE board of directors since 2005, and has been secretary since 2012.

Henry has been an independent insurance agent for 50 years, specializing in life, disability and long-term care. He has been named to the Senior Agent Hall of Fame and the Million Dollar Round Table.

In October 1978, Henry purchased the Scituate farm that had been in his family for more than 160 years, the land where he began growing Christmas trees at the age of 12 as an FFA project. Under Henry’s leadership, the property became the largest Christmas tree farm in Rhode Island, selling wholesale and choose-and-cut trees. With help from his wife, Linda, Henry tends to between 90,000 and 100,000 Christmas trees on the 131-acre farm that bears his name. Simply called Henry’s Christmas Tree Farm, the sprawling land is home to rows and rows of species including favorites like Douglas and Fraser firs. David represents the fifth generation of Henrys to own the farm, which has been in his family since 1851.

The Eastern States Exposition has been an important part of Henry’s life for more than 50 years. He attended The Big E as an FFA member and served as the R.I. state FFA president. He served on the milk-judging teams, participated in various FFA contests, and competed as RI’s Star State Farmer in the regional Star Farmer competition in the Coliseum. Later as a member of the RI FFA alumni, Henry annually attended the fair to judge FFA public speaking and extemporaneous speaking contests.

“My FFA involvement was an especially rewarding experience and laid the foundation for a career spanning business and agriculture,” he said. “It is my privilege to lead this august organization and I look forward to working with the dedicated board of directors, trustees and staff.”

In addition to Henry, the following were voted as officers by the Exposition’s 165 trustees: James N. Putnam II of Southwick, first vice chair; Robert Spoerl, Derry, New Hampshire, second vice chair; James R. Lyman, of Middlefield, Conn., treasurer; Robert W. Spear, of Nobleboro, Me, secretary, as well as Eugene J. Cassidy, Eastern States Exposition president and chief executive officer.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest magazine is currently accepting nominations for a new recognition program to honor a specific segment of the local population: women who are making an impact in and on this region. Nominees who score the highest in the eyes and minds of a panel of three independent judges will be honored at a luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Sheraton Springfield.

Nominations are due today, Monday, Aug. 13. by 5 p.m. For guidelines to consider when nominating, visit www.businesswest.com/women-of-impact. Nominations may be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nomination-information-criteria.

“We decided to create a special program recognizing women because, after careful consideration, we decided that this region needed one and that BusinessWest was the right organization to do it,” Kate Campiti, associate publisher and sales manager for BusinessWest, explained. “While women have certainly made great strides over the past several decades, and many women have made great achievements and broken through that proverbial glass ceiling, doing so remains a stern challenge for many.”

‘Women of Impact’ was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, healthcare, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of all these — any inspirational women on any level.

Country Bank is a supporting sponsor of the event, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call Bevin Peters, Marketing and Events director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — The deadline for nominations for the Springfield Regional Chamber’s annual Super 60 awards program, August 17, is fast approaching.

Now in its 29th year, the awards program celebrates the success of the fastest-growing and privately-owned businesses in the region which continue to make significant contributions to the strength of the regional economy. Each year, the program identifies the top performing companies in revenue growth and total revenue. Last year, Total Revenue winners combined for more than $1.3 billion in revenues, with one-third of these winners exceeding revenues of $45 million. All winners in the Revenue Growth category had growth in excess of 25% while one-third experienced growth in excess of 60%. 

To be considered, companies must be independently and privately owned, be based in Hampden or Hampshire county or be a member of the Springfield Regional Chamber, produce revenues of at least $1 million in the last fiscal year, and be in business for at least three full years. Companies are selected based on their percentage of revenue growth over a full three-year period or total revenues for the latest fiscal year.

Companies may be nominated by financial institutions, attorneys, accountants or be self-nominated. Companies must submit a nomination form and provide net operating revenue figures for the last three full fiscal years, signed and verified by an independent auditor. All financial information must be reported under generally-accepted accounting principles and will be held and considered confidential and not released without prior approval.

Nomination forms are available by contacting Deborah White at [email protected] or (413) 755-1310.

The Super 60 awards will be presented at the annual luncheon and recognition program on Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. The awards are presented by Health New England. 

WILBRAHAM — The Gaudreau Group’s Amanda Mercier recently achieved the Registered Employee Benefits Consultant® (REBC®) designation from The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU).

NAHU views this designation as the highest form of recognition in the health insurance industry, demonstrating Mercier’s commitment to educational leadership within the insurance profession.

The REBC® designation distinguishes Mercier as an elite practitioner in her field. The program analyzes group benefits with respect to the ACA environment, contract provisions, marketing, underwriting, rate making, plan design, cost containment, and alternative funding methods. The largest portion of this program is devoted to group medical expense plans that are a major concern to employers, as well as to employees.

“We support and encourage our staff to pursue advanced designations such as REBC to elevate their professional abilities and better serve our clients,” says Jules Gaudreau, President of The Gaudreau Group. “I’m very proud of Amanda’s accomplishment, as completing the REBC course work is indicative of her dedication, discipline, and intelligence,”

Founded in 1921, the Gaudreau Group insures more than 6,000 businesses and families in 14 states with combined annual premiums of over $100 million.

WESTFIELD — The College of Graduate and Continuing Education at Westfield State University is offering a human resource certification preparation program beginning Sept. 6. This course is offered in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

An intensive 36-hour course, the Human Resource Certification Preparation Program is designed primarily to prepare those students seeking certification as a Certified Professional (CP) or Senior Certified Professional (SCP). It is also an excellent program to broaden knowledge of human resources for professional development. The course relies on the 2018 SHRM Learning System, which provides interactive tools and updated content that reflects the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK) as tested on the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams. Program content is updated annually to reflect legislative changes and new HR developments. As a result, SHRM Learning System participants consistently beat the national pass rate on certification exams.

The instructor for this program, Karen Smith, is chief operating officer at Square One, a nonprofit that provides a range of family-friendly education and support services. She received her bachelor’s degree in human resources and labor relations from Ohio State University and earned a Juris Doctor from the Western New England University School of Law. SPHR-certified since 2002, Smith has taught SPHR classes for 14 years. She effectively leverages her extensive background in HR consulting and training to provide a relevant and engaging classroom experience.

The total cost of this course is $1,215. It will meet on Thursdays, Sept. 6 through Dec. 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Square One, 1095 Main St., Springfield. To register, visit www.westfield.ma.edu/hrcert.

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox are hoisting the NECBL championship trophy for a second straight season after pounding the Ocean State Waves 19-6 to sweep the two-game series.

The Blue Sox pounded out 20 hits in the victory, failing to score in just two out of the nine innings. They jumped off to a 5-0 lead before the Waves even batted in the first inning, and never looked back.

The Blue Sox were paced by Simon Whiteman of Yale University, who went six for seven, scored five runs, and added four RBIs. Connor Pauly of Morehead State University went four for six on the night with one run and four RBIs.

The Blue Sox have now won back-to-back championships under head coach John Raiola. First-year owner Fred Ciaglo hoisted the Fay Vincent Sr. cup for the first time as owner of the Valley Blue Sox.

GREENFIELD — The board of trustees of Stoneleigh-Burnham School (SBS) announced it elected alumna and entrepreneur Lynn Schultz Kehoe as its new chair.

Kehoe, who was vice chair of the board of trustees since 2016, replaces Allison Porter, who served as chair for four years. Kehoe also served as chair of the investment committee from 1998 to 2004, and chaired the search committee tasked with hiring Stoneleigh-Burnham’s new Head of School Stephanie Luebbers.

“I am excited to be part of the future of Stoneleigh-Burnham School,” Kehoe said. “During my tenure on the board, I have worked to support administrators, faculty, and staff in the school’s many improvements, such as expanding our rigorous academic offerings, enriching student experience, expanding student resources, and building strategic partnerships. SBS is well-positioned to take that work even further. I have great hope for the future of Stoneleigh-Burnham, and we are ready to build on the extraordinary accomplishments to date.”

Kehoe’s professional career has been in financial services, real-estate investing, business development, and consulting. In 2016, she founded Shift Up, a company dedicated to supporting girls’ and women’s empowerment through the field of auto sports. Kehoe started car racing in 2015; she attended her first ‘track day’ through a charity auction win and was hooked. As one of the few female racers, she recognized many similarities between her career in mostly male-dominated fields and auto racing. Her goal is to inspire girls and women to develop courage and confidence using lessons from the racetrack, so they will succeed in achieving their own personal and professional goals.

Kehoe has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in economics from the American University. She has served on the advisory boards of the University of Pennsylvania Institute on Aging and the Philadelphia Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women. She participates in various philanthropic and charitable organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Assoc., the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

BOSTON — Berkshire Bank has been selected as one of three national finalists for the Corporate Philanthropy Award in the Financial Institutions category as part of the 12th annual Invest in Others Awards, a program that recognizes the charitable work of financial advisors and financial-services firms in communities around the globe.

Invest in Others launched the Corporate Philanthropy Award in 2015 to recognize the importance of encouraging philanthropy at a corporate level. The organization received nominations this year from a diverse range of companies in two categories: advisory firms and financial institutions. Finalists were selected based on their community impact, contribution, inspiration, and incentives to encourage employees to give back. The awards will be presented on Thursday, Sept. 27 in Boston.

Berkshire Bank was selected as a finalist for its deep commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism, and broader social corporate-responsibility activities. Annually, Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Bank Foundation provide more than $2 million in financial contributions, as well as scholarships to high-school seniors. The company also provides every employee with $500 in matching gift funds to amplify their own individual giving. In addition to financial support, the XTEAM, the company’s employee volunteer program, provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours.

SPRINGFIELD — As part of its 75th-anniversary season, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is scheduling a series of free chamber-music concerts throughout the Pioneer Valley. The first, slated for Thursday, Aug. 30 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., will debut a percussion trio at the historic Springfield Armory. Guests are invited to arrive early to enjoy canapes and a cash bar before the concert begins promptly at 6:15 p.m.

“We are very excited about this special chamber-music event,” said Susan Beaudry, executive director of the SSO. “Bringing more concerts to important community spaces throughout Springfield is just one of our many exciting, mission-driven initiatives for this celebratory 75th-anniversary season.”

The SSO percussion trio will feature SSO principal percussionist Nathan Lassell, principal timpanist Marty Kluger, and percussionist Doug Perry. The trio will present a mixed program featuring snare drumming, marimba music, and multi-percussion pieces with humorous musical commentary thrown in. 

“Since the dawn of civilization, the sound of drums has signaled the onset of something important. It is in this spirit I decided to go to the incredible musicians of our percussion section and have them put together a fun and informal program for this pre-season event at the Springfield Armory,” said Kevin Rhodes, SSO music director. “There are so many communities and people in the Pioneer Valley that haven’t yet discovered the SSO. It’s our goal that performances in unexplored and at times perhaps underserved communities will help make the SSO everyone’s orchestra.”

Guests are also invited to stay after the concert for a wrap-up cocktail hour to socialize with SSO musicians and further peruse the Springfield Armory National Historic Site collection.

GREENFIELD — Registration is now open for the Connecticut River Conservancy’s (CRC) Source to Sea Cleanup. This annual event, now in its 22nd year, has grown into New England’s largest river cleanup, winning an American Rivers award for most miles cleaned in 2017. CRC invites volunteers to continue the tradition of getting dirty for cleaner rivers on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29.

There are three ways for volunteers to get involved in the Source to Sea Cleanup this year: report a trash site in need of cleaning, find a cleanup group near you to join, or organize and register your own local cleanup group. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ctriver.org/cleanup.

“The Source to Sea Cleanup strengthens community and gives people an opportunity to make a difference,” said CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “When people help clean their rivers, they make lasting connections with each other and with their rivers.”

The annual Source to Sea Cleanup is a two-day river cleanup coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin. Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails, and more.

“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” said Stacey Lennard, CRC Cleanup Coordinator. “Their hard work and dedication makes a real difference for our rivers.”

In 2017, more than 2,500 volunteers hauled more than 46 tons of trash from riverbanks and waterways in the four river states. Volunteers remove everything from recyclables, fishing equipment, and food waste to tires, televisions, and refrigerators. To date, volunteers have removed more than 1,043 tons of trash from our rivers.

If your group wants to get involved but needs a cleanup site, if you have questions, or if you know of a trash site in need of cleaning, contact CRC Cleanup Coordinator Stacey Lennard at [email protected]. Learn more about the event at www.ctriver.org/cleanup.

SPRINGFIELD — The MP Group announced that Ashley Marshall, CPA has joined the firm. She is an audit manager with primary responsibility for managing services provided to nonprofit organizations (including yellow book and single audits), employee-benefit plans, and closely held businesses.

Marshall holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Western New England University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is active in the community. Prior to joining the MP Group, she was a senior manager at KPMG, LLP.

The MP Group is a regional audit, tax and business-advisory firm with offices in Springfield and Lincoln, as well as Bloomfield, Conn. Clients include high-net-worth individuals and families, venture-capital firms, construction, manufacturing, distributions, not-for-profit organizations, and employee benefit plans.

SPRINGFIELD — As COO of Pinck & Co. Inc., Susan Grealy implements growth strategies and leads the firm’s day-to-day business operations, including its technology, finance, human resources, marketing, and administration functions. Previously, she was a business owner, CFO, and vice president — to name a few roles.

Now she is taking on a different kind of leadership role — one in which she is helping women transition out of poverty and into the workforce. Devoting time each month as a volunteer mentor for Dress for Success (DFS) of Western Massachusetts, Grealy provides one-on-one job training and life-skills coaching. She works with her mentee to develop self-confidence, identify career interests and goals, and find viable employment.

“It’s an honor to be part of a devoted network of volunteers who help women turn their lives around and achieve economic independence,” she said.

When Grealy first learned about DFS’s Margaret Fitzgerald one-on-one mentor program, she knew she wanted to get involved. “DFS is proof that one shared mission can reach across language and culture to help better the lives of women in our backyard, throughout the United States, and in many corners of the globe,” she said. “Speaking for myself and on behalf of Pinck & Co., we are proud to be part of an organization that has been empowering women for the past 20 years.

“With Pinck having an office in Springfield and a growing client base in Western Massachusetts,” she went on, “becoming a volunteer with DFS of Western Mass. was a natural fit for me and a meaningful way for the firm to give back to the community.”

Added Margaret Tantillo, executive director of Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts, “we are thrilled to have Susan join our affiliate. Her leadership skills, extensive business knowledge, and compassion and focus are tremendous characteristics in a mentor.”

BOSTON — The rate of fatal opioid overdoses varied significantly by industry and occupation from 2011 to 2015, with construction workers dying from opioid overdoses at six times the average rate for all Massachusetts workers, according to a report released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).

Using available death-certificate data, DPH analyzed 4,302 opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2015 by industry and occupation to understand whether work, and specifically work-related injuries, might have contributed to opioid-use disorders.

Overall, workers employed in occupations known to have high rates of work-related injuries had higher rates of fatal opioid overdoses. In addition, workers in occupations with lower rates of paid sick leave and higher job insecurity had higher rates of opioid overdoses. Construction and extraction workers (quarrying and mining) accounted for more than 24% of all opioid-related deaths among the working population. This occupation group had a high death rate — 150.6 deaths per 100,000 workers — and a high number of opioid-related deaths — 1,096 — during this time period.

“These findings are significant because they identify the industries and occupations where strategies can be developed to intervene before injuries occur,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “The Baker-Polito administration uses data to identify the highest risk in order to develop specific services to mitigate these trends.”

Despite the small number of workers employed in the farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, these jobs also had a high opioid death rate. While there were fewer deaths among this group (61) than in the construction occupations, the rate of opioid-related deaths — 143.9 per 100,000 workers — was more than five times the average rate of 25.1 per 100,000 for Massachusetts workers.

“Work-related injuries often serve as the initiation for opioid pain medication, which can subsequently lead to opioid misuse,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel. “Ensuring that jobs are safe, that the risk of injury is low, and that workers have the time for rehabilitation and are not self-medicating to keep working are all key to decreasing opioid overdose deaths among workers.”

Several other occupations also had rates of opioid-related overdose deaths that were significantly higher than the average rate for all Massachusetts workers. These included jobs in material moving; installation, maintenance, and repair; transportation; production; food preparation and serving; building and grounds cleaning and maintenance; and healthcare support.

Similar to findings for all opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts, the majority — 77.3% — of deaths in this study were among males. However, there were several occupation groups where females had significantly elevated rates of opioid-related overdose deaths, particularly healthcare support and food preparation and serving.

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox will face the Ocean State Waves starting tonight, Aug. 8, in a rematch of the 2017 NECBL Championship Series. The Blue Sox advanced to the finals with a two-game sweep of the Sanford Mainers, capped by an 8-6 victory on Tuesday.

The schedule for the best two-of-three Championship Series is as follows: Game 1: today, Aug. 8, 6:35 p.m. at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke; Game 2: Thursday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m. at Old Mountain Field, South Kingston, R.I.; Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, Aug. 10, 6:35 p.m. at Mackenzie Stadium.

Mackenzie Stadium will open its gates on both home dates at 5:35 p.m. The first 400 fans through the gates tonight will receive a free team poster courtesy of Baystate Health.

BOSTON — Confidence levels among Massachusetts employers were virtually unchanged during July as strong economic growth balanced persistent concerns about tariffs and escalating international trade tensions.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index dropped 0.1 point to 61.2 last month after tumbling more than five points in June. The drop left the BCI three-tenths of a point lower than a year ago, though still comfortably within optimistic territory.

Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design, said employers grew justifiably bullish about the state and national economies during July while expressing uncertainty about their own prospects.

“The Manufacturing Index has dropped more than eight points during the past two months, pretty much concurrent with the escalation of trade tensions that are increasing prices, disrupting global supply chains, and putting some companies in the crosshairs of retaliatory tariffs,” Torto said.

One BCI survey participant in the construction industry wrote: “the tariffs are escalating building costs. We get several price increases per week. It’s harder for most people to have the means to spend on upkeep, much less renovation or new construction.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

The constituent indicators that make up the overall Business Confidence Index were mixed during July. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth gained 2.3 points to 65.1, leaving it 1.9 points ahead of July 2017. The U.S. Index ended the month at 61.9, rising 1.9 points after sliding 9.3 points the previous month. The US Index was 4 points better than a year ago. July marked the 101st consecutive month in which employers have been more optimistic about the Massachusetts economy than the national economy.

The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, rose 0.1 point to 63.6. The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, fell 0.4 point. The Current Index gained 2.4 points during the year, while the Future Index lost 3.1 points.

Employer views of their own companies weakened. The Company Index declined 1.5 points to 59.7, down 2.5 points for 12 months. The Employment Index ended the month at 54.5, a 0.5-point decrease for the month and 1.2 points lower than a year ago. The Sales Index lost 0.6 point for the month and 2.3 points for the year.

“The Massachusetts economy itself remains strong, and it accelerated sharply in the second quarter, bucking the expectation of slower growth due to low unemployment and demographic constraints,” said Elmore Alexander, dean of the Ricciardi College of Business at Bridgewater State University. “The recent surge in state economic growth reflects strong gains in employment, earnings, and consumer and business spending.”

AIM President and CEO Richard Lord, also a BEA member, said employers spent much of July digesting a raft of new public policies passed by the Massachusetts Legislature as it wrapped up the formal portion of its 2017-18 session.

“Employers face new restrictions on the use of non-compete agreements, imposition of paid family leave, an increased minimum wage, and a wholesale shift in the generation of the energy they use,” Lord said. “And that’s on top of the $200 million annual assessment on employers to close a budget gap in the MassHealth program. Employers clearly have a lot to think about.”

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — This week, the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) launched its inaugural Southwest Airlines flight from Bradley International Airport to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The new daily, non-stop service departs from Bradley at 11:10 a.m. (EST) and arrives at St. Louis Lambert International Airport at 12:45 p.m. (CST). The inbound flight leaves St. Louis at 4:25 p.m. (CST) and arrives at Bradley at 7:50 p.m. (EST). The service utilizes a Boeing 737.

“Bradley International Airport has a strong reputation in the region, and it is not going unnoticed by our airline partners like Southwest,” CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon said. “This is Southwest’s 10th non-stop route out of Bradley Airport, and we’re pleased with their continued commitment to the market and our passengers. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with them as we continue to grow Bradley Airport’s connectivity to popular destinations.”

Southwest Airlines currently offers non-stop service from Bradley International Airport to Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, St. Louis, and West Palm Beach. The airline first started flying out of Bradley in 1999.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest magazine is currently accepting nominations for a new recognition program to honor a specific segment of the local population: women who are making an impact in and on this region. Nominees who score the highest in the eyes and minds of a panel of three independent judges will be honored at a luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Sheraton Springfield.

Nominations are due by Monday, Aug. 13. For guidelines to consider when nominating, visit www.businesswest.com/women-of-impact. Nominations may be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nomination-information-criteria.

“We decided to create a special program recognizing women because, after careful consideration, we decided that this region needed one and that BusinessWest was the right organization to do it,” Kate Campiti, associate publisher and sales manager for BusinessWest, explained. “While women have certainly made great strides over the past several decades, and many women have made great achievements and broken through that proverbial glass ceiling, doing so remains a stern challenge for many.”

‘Women of Impact’ was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, healthcare, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of all these — any inspirational women on any level.

Country Bank is a supporting sponsor of the event, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call Bevin Peters, Marketing and Events director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

HOLYOKE — Leadership Holyoke — a comprehensive community leadership and board-development program of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce — is back again. Leadership Holyoke utilizes a combination of classes and practical experiences to help local business people develop their leadership skills, increase their knowledge of the community, and acquire the skills needed to serve as board members and community leaders. The series is made possible by PeoplesBank and the Republican.

The 2018-19 leadership series begins on Sept. 21, consists of eight seven-hour sessions, and concludes on May 8 with a graduation ceremony at Holyoke Community College with a specialty luncheon prepared by the college’s culinary program students. All sessions will be held on Fridays (except for the Boston State House trip) and take place at Holyoke Community College and other locations throughout the city.

Each session will include a segment on organization and leadership skills and a segment on community needs and resources. Faculty members from Holyoke Community College will participate as instructors and facilitators, and community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders in their areas of their expertise.

Tuition of $600 per participant is due at the start of the course and includes the fee for a continental breakfast each week, a bus trip to Boston, and the graduation luncheon. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call the chamber with any questions at (413) 534-3376.

NORTHAMPTON — The abundance of recent high-profile sexual-harassment complaints has completely changed the public perception of this persistent problem. Sexual harassment is no longer a silent epidemic which is by and large being ignored. Posts stating the phrase ‘#metoo’ have created camaraderie among individuals who are choosing to speak up and stand up.

However, despite the nation’s growing awareness about the prevalence of sexual harassment, as business owners and human-resources professionals, the problem probably isn’t all that surprising.

 Clearly, the perfunctory sexual-harassment policies and bland pro forma sexual-harassment trainings are not working. It’s no longer adequate to take the same tired approach. As business leaders, we need to approach sexual harassment in the workplace from a new perspective.

You’re invited to join a roundtable discussion on how we can profoundly change our approach to sexual harassment in the workplace. Discussion topics will answer questions like, if we’re already training employees, why does sexual harassment keep happening? How do we change workplace cultures that are conducive to prevalent sexual harassment? How do we deal with essential employees who engage in sexual harassment? Why aren’t our current efforts effective? And what do we do now?

The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
at Royal, P.C., 270 Pleasant St., Northampton. Advance registration is required, and seating will be limited. The cost is $30 per person. Mail your payment and make your check payable to Royal, P.C., 270 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA 01060. 
E-mail Heather Loges at [email protected] to register or if you have any questions about this workshop.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will hold extended service hours to accommodate new and continuing students before the start of the fall 2018 semester.

For two weeks beginning Aug. 20, HCC’s Admissions, Financial Aid, Testing, Advising, and Student Accounts offices on the second floor of the Frost Building (303 Homestead Ave.) will open at 8:30 a.m. and stay open until 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Aug. 20-23, and Monday through Thursday, Aug. 27-30. On Friday, Aug. 24 and Friday, Aug. 31, offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The fall 2018 academic semester begins Tuesday, Sept. 4.

“We know many of our students work and have families to take care of, so we’re happy to stay open late to accommodate their busy lives,” said Renee Tastad, dean of Enrollment Management and College Access Programs.

The extended service hours will also remain in effect through Friday, Sept. 7 during the class add/drop period, Sept. 4-6, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sept. 7, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CHICOPEE — Holyoke Medical Center has expanded services to a new facility on Memorial Drive in Chicopee for primary and specialty physician services, lab draws, X-rays, ultrasound, and CORE physical therapy.

“The new Chicopee site speaks to our continued efforts and commitment to provide our patients with medical care and treatment that is more accessible in community-based locations,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center. “Residents of Chicopee, South Hadley, and other surrounding towns will find this new facility to be convenient, with expanded hours and walk-in service.”

The primary-care services, provided by HMC affiliate Western Mass Physician Associates, have already opened and began treating patients at 1962 Memorial Dr. in mid-June. This office relocated from 262 New Ludlow Road in Chicopee. The office is accepting new patients and will begin offering walk-in services this fall. To make an appointment, call (413) 552-3250.

The Holyoke Medical Center lab-draw station relocated on Aug. 6 from 260 New Ludlow Road to an adjoining space of Western Mass Physician Associates at 1968 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. In addition to lab services, this space will also offer X-ray and ultrasound services, which previously required patients to go to the hospital campus in Holyoke. To learn more, call (413) 536-6766.

HMC CORE Physical Therapy also opened today on Aug. 6, and is located within the same complex at 1970 Memorial Dr. This service relocated from 138 College St. in South Hadley, and will offer a renovated space and new equipment to support the rehabilitation needs of the community. To make an appointment, call (413) 532-9913.