Company Notebook

STCC Announces $1 Million MassMutual Foundation Gift

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) received a $1 million grant from the MassMutual Foundation — the largest philanthropic gift received by the college in the past 15 years — to help with the relocation of the School of Health and Patient Simulation (SHPS).

The college plans to move its health programs out of Building 20, an 83-year-old structure with a history of expensive emergency repairs. Most of the programs will be relocated to Scibelli Hall, or Building 2, a seven-story structure opened in 1988 on the historic STCC campus. The total estimated project cost to relocate is approximately $50 million, with committed funding from the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance ($38 million), the STCC board of trustees ($11.5 million), and the STCC Foundation ($500,000). The $1 million from the MassMutual Foundation will help enhance the educational and technological experience for students enrolled in programs in the School of Health and Patient Simulation at STCC. The SIMS Medical Center includes more than 70 patient simulators, the largest array in New England. Accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, the center provides a state-of-the-art, immersive educational environment where students and healthcare personnel obtain new skills while refining existing skills.

Hometown Arcade to Open in Thornes Marketplace

NORTHAMPTON— Visitors to Thornes Marketplace will be able to play classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders as well as newer games like Pac-Man Smash Air Hockey after Hometown Arcade opens in November in space previously occupied by Acme Surplus.

For $20 a day, entrants can play games from the ’80s and ’90s, including skee-ball, bubble hockey, air hockey, and lots of pinball machines. Rhythm games, like Guitar Hero and Beat Mania, will also be available. And youngsters who take a chance on the classic claw machine will be guaranteed a prize for $3 per play. Snow hopes his Northampton arcade will be accepted into the New England Pinball League for team play, and he hopes to offer a women’s league. He will also have a 10-player game called Killer Queen, on which two teams of five compete, and he plans on hosting Killer Queen tournaments. Snow is in the process of securing a beer and wine license for the arcade and is also negotiating a partnership with a local restaurant to provide pizza. Snacks and soft drinks will also be sold. He will also offer birthday party packages. Hometown Arcade should be open by mid-November.

MountainOne Donates $5,000 for Hurricane Relief Efforts

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne announced a $5,000 donation to assist with relief and recovery efforts following the disastrous impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This financial contribution underscores MountainOne’s dedication to supporting communities in times of need, even beyond its immediate service area. The donation was made in response to a call from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc., which has been coordinating efforts to rally support for disaster-stricken regions. MountainOne donated $2,500 to the North Carolina Bankers Assoc. Foundation’s Hurricane Helene Relief Fund. The fund was established to assist bank employees in Western North Carolina who have suffered losses and property damage as a result of the storm. An equal amount of $2,500 was donated to the Florida Disaster Fund, the state of Florida’s official private fund established to assist communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. MountainOne’s contribution was guided by recommendations from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc., in coordination with the North Carolina and Florida banking associations, helping to ensure the donations reach organizations well-equipped to provide meaningful support to those in need.

bankESB Donates $5,000 to Pickleball Fundraising Project

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently donated $5,000 to the Easthampton Pickleball Fundraising Project, a dedicated group of pickleball enthusiasts who have partnered with the Players Philanthropy Fund to raise money for new pickleball courts. There are currently two pickleball courts located in Nonotuck Park that were constructed in 2020. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and these courts are immensely popular, often with more than 20 people waiting to play in just eight available spots. The Easthampton Pickleball Fundraising Project will help build two additional courts. bankESB’s charitable giving program, the Giving Tree, reflects the roots the bank has in its communities and its commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves.

Eversource on TIME’s List of World’s Best Companies for 2024

BOSTON — As a reinforcement of its position as an energy-industry leader, Eversource has been listed in TIME’s ranking of the World’s Best Companies in 2024, which was curated in collaboration with global research and data firm Statista. Ranked 396th overall out of 1,000 companies and the number-one U.S. utility, this recognition highlights the energy company’s exceptional performance in three key categories, including employee satisfaction; revenue growth; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics.

Florence Bank Supports MHA’s Wellness Classic Golf Tournament

FLORENCE — Florence Bank supported the Mental Health Association’s 26th annual Wellness Classic Golf Tournament with a $5,000 sponsorship, helping the organization live its mission to better the lives of people challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in the 1960s, formerly based in Springfield, and now located in Chicopee, MHA is a pioneer in community-based support for those living with mental illness, homelessness, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and substance use. The organization offers more than 60 residential programs in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and operates these four divisions, each serving a different segment of need: Recovery and Housing, supporting people with substance-use disorders or a mental-health diagnosis, as well as people experiencing chronic homelessness; New Way Services, for those who have experienced a brain injury; Integration and Community Living, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and BestLife Emotional Health and Wellness, an outpatient behavioral-health clinic based in Springfield. The Mental Health Assoc. serves 3,500 to 3,800 people each year, and its annual golf classic was held this year on Sept. 27 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam; it typically raises roughly $100,000.

MountainOne Receives Award for Video Campaign

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne announced that it has been named a 2024 American Bankers Assoc. (ABA) Brand Slam Award winner for best video. This honor marks MountainOne’s 18th marketing-industry award, all earned since the launch of its brand campaign in 2019. The ABA Brand Slam Awards recognize excellence in bank marketing across six key categories: video, integrated marketing, website redesign, public relations/community engagement, social media, and out-of-the-box idea.

AIC Launches Nutrition Program to Meet Demand for Professionals

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is launching a bachelor of science in nutrition program designed to prepare students to address a broad range of global health challenges. The program will officially begin in the fall of 2025, with an introductory nutrition course available to current students in the spring semester starting in January 2025. The program combines both online and on-campus coursework and provides a pathway for students to pursue a master’s degree required for the ACEND registered dietitian certification. Students can choose between two tracks: public health or exercise science. This structure offers a comprehensive education in nutrition, food, and health while equipping students with the skills needed for careers in nutrition, dietetics, public health, or wellness coaching.

Pathlight, ServiceNet to Merge, Expanding Reach of Both

NORTHAMPTON — The boards of directors of Pathlight and ServiceNet have agreed to a merger, following several months of analysis, vetting, and coming to terms. All of Pathlight’s programs will be integrated into ServiceNet, with the primary goal being continuity of service. Virtually all 500 Pathlight employees will become ServiceNet employees as of the effective date of the merger. Both parties anticipate this merger will be finalized within the next few months, following completion of state approvals and other legal steps. The two agencies share similar missions and philosophies about supporting people in living their lives to the fullest and raising the visibility and impact of people with disabilities. ServiceNet and Pathlight each offer programs that support individuals with developmental disabilities and mental-health challenges, and each has areas of experience and expertise that the other does not. Both provide residential services, including group homes and shared living; Pathlight also has several programs for children and youth with disabilities, while ServiceNet has a robust array of vocational service offerings.