Company Notebook

MountainOne Insurance Acquires Amy R. Morey Insurance Agency

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne Insurance Agency, a subsidiary of MountainOne Bank, announced its expansion into Greenfield, effective Jan. 1, through the acquisition of the Amy R. Morey Insurance Agency (ARM). In a relatively short period of time, the independent insurance agency has established a strong presence in the Greenfield area, earning a loyal client base through personalized insurance solutions and a high level of customer service. Owner Amy R. Morey and Account Manager Noelle Laprade will continue to serve clients from the Greenfield office at 91 Main St., which will soon operate under the MountainOne Insurance brand. The acquisition will provide ARM clients with access to an expanded range of insurance products and a broader network of insurance carriers, offering more coverage options at competitive rates while maintaining the local service they value. This acquisition marks MountainOne Insurance’s third expansion in the Pioneer Valley in recent years, following the acquisitions of G.W. Morisi Insurance in Longmeadow and McClure Insurance Agency in West Springfield and Wilbraham, reflecting the organization’s continued growth across the region.

Bousquet Mountain Parters with McNinch Restaurant Group

PITTSFIELD —Bousquet Mountain recently announced a new management agreement with the McNinch Restaurant Group to operate all food and beverage services at the mountain. These two Berkshire-based organizations aim to create a refreshed dining experience that reflects the energy and spirit of Bousquet — approachable, flavorful, and distinctly local. The collaboration builds on Bousquet Mountain’s continued transformation under the ownership of Mill Town Capital, whose ongoing investments in the mountain and the Greater Pittsfield area reflect a long-term commitment to revitalizing recreation and community spaces across the Berkshires. John and Tucker McNinch oversee all on-site dining, including Drifters, the mountain’s full-service base lodge restaurant and bar, as well as the first-floor quick-service window — a convenient, cafeteria-style grab-and-go option for fast, casual bites and snacks.

Second Chance Composting Launches Program in Lenox

LENOX — Second Chance Composting launched its Residential Community Composting Program in Lenox on Jan. 1. Memberships are now open for the new drop-off location at the Barefoot Gardener, 36 Pittsfield Road, Lenox. The program operates year-round, through all four seasons. Memberships start at $9.99 per month with an annual fee and include unlimited drop-off of household food scraps. Members collect food scraps at home and drop them off at their convenience at the Barefoot Gardener, a partner location. Members can visit as often — or as little — as needed each month. All food scraps are accepted, including meat, fish, dairy, bones, and shells. Additional membership options are available for those who would like to receive finished compost in return. In addition to Lenox, Second Chance Composting operates nine other drop-off locations across the Berkshires, including Pittsfield, North Adams, Williamstown, Adams, Lanesborough, and Savoy. Membership sign-ups are open year-round at all locations. Food scraps are collected weekly and transported to Second Chance Composting’s MassDEP-certified facility in Savoy, where they are turned into nutrient-rich compost. The finished compost is then returned to the community to help grow food, flowers, plants, and trees. To learn more or sign up for a membership, visit www.secondchancecomposting.com.

Eversource Named Among Most Responsible Companies

BOSTON — For the seventh consecutive year, Eversource Energy has been recognized by Newsweek and Statista Inc. among America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2026 — one of the top-performing utilities on the annual list. This national award celebrates U.S. companies that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to corporate social responsibility and reflects Eversource’s continued achievements in advancing sustainability throughout its business operations. The ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate responsibility, evaluating the top 2,000 public companies headquartered in the U.S. across 30 key performance indicators, as well as an independent survey of 18,000 U.S. residents. The ranking represents the 600 companies with the highest overall corporate social responsibility scores across 14 industries. Since the annual ranking was introduced in 2019, Eversource has appeared in every edition of the list.

U-Haul Partners with Devon Self Storage Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — U-Haul Co. of Massachusetts and Ohio Inc. announced that Devon Self Storage Springfield signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Springfield community. Devon Self Storage Springfield, located at 2155 East Columbus Ave. and owned by Chuck Gamm, will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks and moving supplies. U-Haul has teamed with independent dealers to offer rental equipment to do-it-yourself movers since 1945. During these challenging times for small businesses, more than 21,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are generating supplemental income through their U-Haul affiliation. When customers rent from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community. Because no financial investment is required to be a dealer, these local affiliates are not U-Haul franchises; they are simply small businesses that have committed a portion of their lot space for U-Haul equipment and a portion of their time to help meet the mobility needs of their neighbors. Learn more about the dealer program and how to join by visiting uhaul.com/dealer.

Brick Marketing Launches Chamber of Commerce Discount

BOSTON — Brick Marketing announced its Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Discount Program, an initiative that makes senior level digital marketing easier to access for organizations across the Commonwealth. Effective immediately, any current member of any chamber of commerce located in Massachusetts will receive a 20% discount on all Brick Marketing digital marketing and AI marketing services. The program reflects Brick Marketing’s belief that strong local partnerships create stronger results. The agency serves clients nationwide while investing deeply in Massachusetts through mentoring, community support, and active participation in leading business associations. Local teams benefit from faster collaboration, on-site strategy sessions, and market specific insight that reflects the realities of doing business in the Commonwealth. For Massachusetts companies, the advantage is proximity and responsiveness, and for national brands, it is a seasoned team with the reach to scale. Eligibility is simple. Any current member of any chamber of commerce in Massachusetts qualifies for the 20% savings. Businesses can confirm eligibility by mentioning their chamber affiliation when contacting Brick Marketing so the discount can be applied to a proposal. If a company is not yet a member, it can join a local chamber to support the community and unlock the 20% savings on all digital marketing services with Brick Marketing. For more information, visit www.brickmarketing.com/chamber-discount-program.

Area Nonprofits Benefit from HCC Giving Tree Campaign

I — For the 24th year, Holyoke Community College (HCC) students, staff, and faculty collected hundreds of holiday gifts for consumers at local agencies through its annual Giving Tree campaign. On Dec. 17, representatives from the five groups — Homework House, the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke (formerly the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home), Access Care Partners (formerly WestMass ElderCare), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC), and the Itsy Bitsy Child Watch Center at HCC — attended a closing celebration where 320 gifts were distributed. Each year during the annual campaign, Giving Trees are set up in designated areas around campus. Participants choose tags from one of the nonprofit agencies based on the age of the recipient and their wish for a gift. The wrapped gifts are then piled on tables for the closing celebration, when HCC faculty, staff, and students join with representatives from the agencies to share food and stories.

Rick’s Place Receives $25,000 from Community Foundation

I — Rick’s Place Inc. has been awarded a $25,000 Flexible Funding grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Flexible Funding grants are awarded through a highly competitive process designed to support organizations whose work aligns with the foundation’s strategic focus areas and regional priorities. The grant will provide general operating support to advance the 2026 priorities of Rick’s Place, with a primary focus on relocating to a larger space to meet the growing demand for grief support services. A new location will enable Rick’s Place to serve more families, expand peer grief support programming, and offer a welcoming environment that fosters caring connection and community. Grant funding will also support targeted outreach to help ensure families across the region know where to turn for grief support. Grief can have a profound impact on youth and families, influencing emotional well-being, learning, behavior, and family dynamics. Access to consistent, age-appropriate grief support helps reduce isolation and strengthen coping and resilience for both youth and caregivers, underscoring the importance of continued investment in services like those provided by Rick’s Place.

Health New England Awards $176,000 to 49 Nonprofits

I — Health New England recently awarded $176,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that are creating more inclusive, accessible, and supportive communities across Western and Central Mass. The company’s Community Benefits Mini-Grants went to 49 organizations in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties, all working to help people reach higher levels of health and well-being. Health New England Community Benefits Mini-Grants are part of the company’s commitment to improving community health by addressing disparities in health outcomes, access, and experience. Alongside its parent company, Baystate Health, and with collaboration from local community partners, Health New England supports programs that open doors to better health for all. This year’s grants focus on initiatives that address at least one social factor known to impact health, such as access to nutritious food, education, safe housing, healthcare, transportation, and opportunities for connection and belonging. By investing in these areas, Health New England aims to help ensure that everyone has the resources and support needed to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Now in its sixth year, the Health New England Community Benefits Mini-Grants program has awarded $595,000 to local nonprofits addressing health equity in Western and Central Mass.