Company Notebook

Tighe & Bond Plans ‘Centennial Project’
WESTFIELD — As part of its 100th-anniversary celebration in 2011, Tighe & Bond is lining up a series of events to give back to its communities, recognize its clients, appreciate its employees, and publish a book on the firm’s history. As part of the firm’s “Centennial Project,” two worthy projects for nonprofit agencies that are in need of Tighe & Bond’s services will each receive $50,000 worth of pro bono engineering services, according to Fran Hoey, senior vice president, who is overseeing the project. To identify potential projects for these services, Tighe & Bond has developed a request for proposals that nonprofit organizations can complete if they are interested. Tighe & Bond will be considering projects in the primary regions that it serves — Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Preferably these will be projects that are in the planning stages and have a targeted construction date. “Tighe & Bond is looking forward to giving back to the community at large in a significant and meaningful way,” said Hoey in a statement. “We have a passionate and generous staff that believes strongly in helping others in need, so this is only natural.” For more information on the nonprofit project, visit centennialproject.tighebond.com. Submittals are due by April 29.

Hampden Savings Bank Foundation Donates to Link to Libraries
The Hampden Savings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hampden Bank, announced recently that it has awarded $1,500 to Link to Libraries Inc. Celebrating its third anniversary this May, Link to Libraries has thus far donated more than 26,000 books to area schools and nonprofits in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Link to Libraries’ newest initiatives include the Link Senior Project with Loomis Communities and the Welcome to Kindergarten Project, which will supply Link to Libraries literacy packets (a book and bookbags) to 1,200 kindergarten children entering Springfield Public Schools this August on screening and testing day. “We are deeply grateful to Hampden Savings Foundation for their support to our mission.” said Susan Jaye-Kaplan, president and co-founder of Link to Libraries. “We are delighted this much needed assistance to our Read Aloud Programs is being made possible through the generosity of Hampden Bank.” Link to Libraries is a not-for-profit organization based in Western Mass. Its mission is to collect and distribute to public elementary schools and nonprofit organizations throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. new books to enhance reading, literacy, and language skills for children of all cultures.

Mahoney Place Construction Underway
HOLYOKE — A construction kick-off was held April 7 by Cunningham Equities, LLC for the development of Class A medical offices for the Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic and Tapestry Health at the former home of Charles Koegels & Sons Co. The manufacturing facility at 306 Race St. will be renovated to a first-class office building, with the first tenant, Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic, expected to take possession in June.

United Bank Foundation Pledges $83,500
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United Bank Foundation recently awarded $83,500 to organizations and initiatives designed to benefit children, families, students, and schools in the Greater Springfield and Worcester regions, according to Dena Hall, foundation president. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County Inc. received a grant for $10,000 to support Chicopee youth in the community-based Mentoring Expansion Project. Also, a $25,000 grant was made to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield for its Raise the Roof Capital Campaign building expansion plans. Families will benefit from the foundation’s $4,500 award to the Community Music School of Springfield for a family concert Series. A grant of $10,000 to the Holyoke Community College Foundation will support the Community Technology Center located at the new Holyoke Transportation Center. In Ludlow, the Boys & Girls Club was awarded $5,000 to be used for scholarships and to provide access to subsidized child care for before- and after-school programs and summer camp for qualified families. Rebuilding Together Springfield was awarded a grant of $10,000 to support home repairs, modifications, and rehabilitations for low-income Springfield homeowners. The Western Mass. Council Inc., Boy Scouts of America received $5,000 for its Scoutreach Initiative for involving low-income urban youth in scouting. The YWCA of Western Massachusetts was awarded $5,000 to support renovations and the construction of additional rooms at its Clough Street facility. Also, Westfield Public Schools received a $2,000 grant. A $1,000 grant from the foundation to the Springfield Vietnamese American Citizens Assoc. will help the Family Empowerment Program provide educational support to Vietnamese students and families in Greater Springfield. With its $1,000 grant from the Foundation, Links to Libraries will provide new books to area preschools and elementary schools to promote language and reading skills. In Worcester, the foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to University of Massachusetts Medical School to support the UMass Labs Program for Worcester high school students. The foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants since it was established in 2005 as a permanent source of funding to benefit communities in United Bank’s market area.

Stitches & Ink Makes a Home at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Starting with embroidered hats and shirts, Tim and Rae Crary have built an apparel business into a growing offshoot of TC Sales. Calling on customers as a print broker, Tim Crary responded to customer requests to provide decorated apparel, and as the business grew, a decision was made to find a retail location. An open house was recently celebrated for Stitches & Ink at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis on Riverdale Street. The new showroom includes two Brother 9100 embroidery machines, a Brother 782 digital garment printer, and a Logo Jet printer. Cindy Johnson, owner of Fran Johnson’s, noted that the opportunity for customers to get decorated apparel adds to the services already available at her store. “Customers can now get just about anything printed with their name, picture, or business,” said Johnson. “This now makes shopping for golf tournaments or special events even easier, and the no-minimum [policy] is significant.”