Briefcase

DevelopSpringfield to Create Downtown Innovation Center
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent announcement of $2 million in MassWorks Infrastructure Program funding to MassDevelopment marks a critical step toward the creation of the Springfield Innovation Center. The project is a collaboration between DevelopSpringfield, the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, MassDevelopment, the city of Springfield, Valley Venture Mentors, the Springfield Innovation Hub, and MassMutual. “The Patrick administration has been committed to providing support to communities like Springfield so that they can grow and prosper,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “Revitalizing a community through infrastructure improvements will make it easier for businesses to grow and communities to flourish.” The project includes rehabilitation of more than 16,000 square feet of mixed-use space, which will include a 9,000-square-foot business-accelerator program with co-working, presentation, and function space and an innovation café, as well as additional office space. “We are really looking forward to collaborating on this project,” said Paul Silva, co-founder of Valley Venture Mentors. “This new space will provide a home that will bring together more than 50 startups a year to collide with each other, investors, customers, and the local business community.” The Springfield Innovation Hub’s goal is to create a series of “watering holes” throughout the Pioneer Valley with the flagship location being in downtown Springfield, said Delcie Bean, founder of the Springfield Innovation Hub. “These cafés will cater to audiences ranging from students to professors, business people to entrepreneurs, and just about anyone else looking for a cool, energetic spot to grab a coffee, have a meeting, or meet a friend. We will be featuring a mix of high-tech and low-tech solutions that will create a space that is both exciting and approachable. The objective of these watering holes is to create concentrations of energy and people where ‘collisions’ can occur. The Springfield Innovation Hub will be a 501(c)(3) organization which seeks only to spur economic growth and development by creating centers for energy, collaboration, and collision.” DevelopSpringfield purchased a building earlier this month at 276-284 Bridge St. in a block of historic buildings known as the Trinity Block. On Oct. 20, the Springfield City Council approved the sale of a vacant adjacent building at 270-272 Bridge St. to DevelopSpringfield in the same block to support the project. Funds to advance the development of this project, including property acquisition and rehabilitation of the two buildings, have been provided by the Commonwealth through a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to MassDevelopment by MassMutual. “Less than 500 feet around the corner from 1550 Main, the Springfield Innovation Center will represent an exciting addition to the city of firsts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “MassDevelopment appreciates this vote of confidence in us from MassWorks, and looks forward to partnering with Mayor [Domenic] Sarno, DevelopSpringfield, and the local business community to continuing to make downtown Springfield a more attractive destination for businesses old and new alike.” Planned rehabilitation includes the installation of an elevator, window restoration and replacement, mechanical-system upgrades, re-roofing, and re-pointing on the front exterior and interior fit-out for Valley Venture Mentors’ business accelerator and office space. “The Springfield Innovation Center is conceived as a cornerstone of downtown Springfield’s newly designated Innovation District, building on the legacy of the area’s 19th-century history of industry and innovation, a wealth of architecturally significant historic buildings, and proximity to the downtown core,” said Jay Minkarah, President and CEO of DevelopSpringfield.

Western Mass. Sports Commission Launches ‘Fan in a Can’ Initiative
SPRINGFIELD — The Western Mass. Sports Commission (WMSC), a division of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB), recently put together a memorable direct-mail campaign called “Fan in a Can,” providing rights holders with all of the necessities they need to be a fan … literally. With plenty of indoor and outdoor facilities to choose from, along with the area’s outstanding attractions, full complement of lodging and restaurants, easy accessibility, and great affordability, Western Mass. offers everything event planners need to host an unforgettable and highly successful event. Close to 200 cans are in the process of being mailed out across the nation to senior-level planning executives within sports organizations for all types of events from disc golf, rowing, and bowling to more traditional sports like soccer and basketball. The eye-catching tin can includes a foam finger that screams “we’re #1,” a pom-pom, a cowbell, a temporary tattoo, a Lands End winter beanie, and a printed, call-to-action sales piece. “We hope that, by doing such a fun and interactive direct-mail piece, potential event planners who would not have considered Western Mass. as a location for their next event will now reach out and have a conversation with us about bringing their event to our area,” said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the GSCVB. “On behalf of the Western Mass. Sports Commission, we look forward to working with event planners and are excited to bring a diverse mix of sports to the area.” The WMSC will be at TEAMS Expo in Las Vegas in November where rights holders will be able to find a Fan in a Can on display and speak to a representative from this region regarding hosting potential events. For regional information, visit the GSCVB website at www.valleyvisitor.com, or contact Director of Sales Alicia Szenda at (413) 755-1346 or [email protected] to plan your next sports event.

Construction Employment Rises in Most Metro Areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction employment expanded in 236 metro areas, declined in 53, and was stagnant in 50 between September 2013 and September 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that, as firms expand their payrolls, many are finding a limited supply of available qualified workers. “It is good news that construction employment gains have spread to more than two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “But there is a growing risk that contractors in many of these regions will have trouble finding qualified workers to complete the rising volume of projects.” According to a recent construction-industry survey conducted by the association, 83% of construction firms report having a hard time finding qualified craft workers. They called on federal, state, and local officials to act on the measures outlined in the association’s workforce-development plan to make it easier to establish new programs designed to prepare students for high-paying careers in construction.

Grants Awarded for Workforce-development, Job-training Efforts
SPRINGFIELD — In July 2014, the city of Springfield issued an RFP soliciting proposals from providers for job training and workforce development. As a result of this solicitation, the city is awarding a total of $250,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to three separate agencies to provide job-training and workforce-development programs to residents of disaster-impacted neighborhoods. There will be a special focus on recruiting residents of the Six Corners and South End neighborhoods, as the residents of these neighborhoods face multiple barriers to employment, and both areas were heavily impacted by both the long- and short-term effects of the natural disasters that occurred in 2011. Training Resources of America will receive $85,100; Springfield Technical Community College will receive $94,449; and Window Preservation, LLC, in partnership with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, will receive $70,451. “Providing education and job training to our residents is vital in our efforts in knocking down poverty and crime,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “Whenever we can step up and provide opportunity, it is a win-win for us all.” The city anticipates that the contracted organizations will provide training to a minimum of 100 Springfield residents. The programs will involve a variety of educational instruction subjects, including high-school-equivalency preparation, English language, math, computers, customer service training, and more. The varied programs will prepare and enable trainees to obtain permanent positions in fields such as educational and health services, food service, leisure and hospitality, social assistance, wholesale and retail trade, financial and business services, insurance and real estate, office and administrative support, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll services, legal services, advertising, manufacturing, asbestos/lead abatement, and construction.

Springfield Museums Announce Major Grants to Fund Renovations
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums have received two major grants to fund exterior renovations to the William Pynchon Memorial Building (formerly known as the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum). Through $120,000 from the Cultural Facilities Fund of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and another $50,000 from the Beveridge Family Foundation Inc., the Museums will be able to repair and restore the building’s slate roof, replace its gutters, rebuild its shutters and dormers, and paint the building in accordance with historical-preservation standards. Renovations to the building have already commenced, with completion targeted for the spring of 2015. The ultimate goal of the renovation is to reclaim the museum’s aesthetic appearance and prepare it for the installation of an exhibition honoring the life and work of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss). Working in close collaboration with community leaders and educators, the museums plan to design and build a literacy-based, interactive exhibition titled “The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss” that will make his works come alive for children and their families, while also helping to boost Springfield’s profile as a regional and national destination. “The Pynchon Memorial Building is an integral component of the architectural landscape of the Quadrangle and cultural life of downtown Springfield, and we’re deeply indebted to the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Beveridge Family for their help in reviving this elegant building,” said Springfield Museums Vice President Kay Simpson. Named after the founder of Springfield, the William Pynchon Memorial Building was built in 1927 to house the extensive collections of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society. Designed by Springfield architect Max Westhoff, the building exemplifies the Georgian Colonial Revival style that was popular in the early 20th century and reflected the prevailing attitudes about the importance of preserving and interpreting America’s colonial past. The central doorway has a ‘broken scroll’ pediment, pineapple centerpiece, and flanking pilasters, all characteristic hallmarks of Connecticut Valley homes of the 18th century. The Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund is a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Mullins Center Hosts Toy Drive to Benefit Children
AMHERST — The Mullins Center and Global Spectrum Charities have partnered with Toys for Tots to host the Holidaze Toy Drive, running through Saturday, Nov. 29. The goal of the drive is to collect new toys for less-fortunate children during the holidays. Gearing up for the “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” performance at the Mullins Center on Thursday, Dec. 11, the venue is hosting this toy drive to tie into the performance. Members of the public are urged to drop items off at the Mullins Center box office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Everyone who donates a toy will receive $5 off their ticket to see “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” on Dec. 11.

AMA Supports Regulation to Restrict E-cigarettes
DALLAS — As electronic cigarettes continue to gain popularity among youth in the U.S., the American Medical Assoc. (AMA) is reinforcing its support for regulatory oversight of e-cigs. The nation’s largest physician organization adopted new policy that would establish the minimum legal purchase age of 18, place marketing restrictions on manufacturers, and prohibit claims that electronic cigarettes are effective tobacco cessation tools. According to estimates from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, electronic cigarette use among middle-school and high-school students in the U.S. has grown at a rapid rate in recent years. The prevalence of those who said they’ve tried an e-cigarette doubled among both of these groups from 2011 to 2012. The survey also found that more than 263,000 middle- and high-school students who had never before smoked reported using electronic cigarettes in 2013, a threefold increase from 79,000 in 2011. “The AMA supports the FDA’s proposed rule to regulate electronic cigarettes, and we urge the federal government to implement more stringent regulations that will further protect our nation’s youth and overall public health,” said AMA member Dr. William Kobler. “The new policy will continue the AMA’s efforts to deter the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.”