Company Notebook

Leap into Law Creates Pathways into Legal Careers

SPRINGFIELD — Leap into Law, a new workforce development initiative designed to expand access to careers in the legal field, officially launched in Springfield and is currently underway with its first cohort of 15 participants. The program supports residents seeking stable, living-wage career opportunities within the legal services sector. The initiative, funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, is led by Springfield WORKS, a workforce development effort of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. Developed in partnership with Katie Manzi McDonough, partner at the law firm Hinckley Allen, Leap into Law responds directly to the growing demand for entry-level and early-career legal talent. The program creates a clear and accessible pathway into the legal field through structured training and direct employer engagement. Leap into Law prepares participants for in-demand legal support roles while helping employers build a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline. Program components include contextual training and hands-on skill development; digital literacy instruction; professional readiness and wraparound support; exposure to legal career pathways, including legal assistant and paralegal roles; employer engagement opportunities, including experiential activities and job shadowing; and support for notary public applications. Participants receive individualized support throughout the program to ensure readiness for employment and long-term career success.

Creators Campus Opens at Former Gateway City Arts Site

HOLYOKE — Two years after LightWorks Collective took ownership of the former Gateway City Arts property, the organization is opening the campus more broadly to young people across the region through Creators Campus Holyoke, a summer program built around real tools, real venues, real skills, and real audiences. The program invites teens ages 13-19 into the working spaces of the LightWorks campus, including the De la Luz Soundstage, Divine Theater, commercial kitchen, studios, classrooms, and maker spaces. Instead of simulated projects or traditional summer camp activities, students will use professional equipment and public-facing spaces to make, perform, cook, print, record, design, and build. Youth musicians will not just rehearse in a classroom; they will play on a real stage with real sound and lights. Students in the culinary programs will work in a real commercial kitchen, earn their Serv-Safe credential, and prepare and sell food at a real event. Students in visual arts and design will create work that can be exhibited, sold, worn, or shared. Students exploring music, media, glass, AI, screenprinting, and making will have access to the kinds of spaces and tools usually reserved for adult professionals. Creators Campus builds on more than a decade of project-based education at LightHouse Holyoke, the relationship-driven middle and high school operated by LightWorks Collective. The summer program expands that approach beyond enrolled LightHouse students and opens the campus to youth from surrounding communities. The program is running from June 22 through Aug. 14, with half-day and full-day offerings in arts, making, culinary, media, music, creative technology, and performance.

Window World of Western Mass. Announces 22 Certifications

BELCHERTOWN — Window World of Western Massachusetts announced that 22 members of its team have successfully completed the InstallationMasters certification program, making the company one of the most highly credentialed exterior remodeling teams in the region. The certification program covers critical areas of the building envelope, including advanced water management, structural integrity, flashing systems, and thermal performance — all essential components for protecting homes in the demanding New England climate. The InstallationMasters program is a nationwide training and credentialing initiative developed by the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. The program is designed to ensure installers are trained in current industry best practices and national installation standards for windows and doors in both remodeling and new construction applications.

Garvey Communication Celebrates 35 Years in Business

SPRINGFIELD — This month, Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) marks 35 years in business — a run that traces the arc of modern communications itself, from retail politics to the dawn of the web to the AI-driven answer engines reshaping public relations today. Founder John Garvey launched GCAi in 1991, fresh off a short stint as a legislative aide to the vice chairman of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee. Political consulting proved a fast way to gain broad experience, but Garvey soon turned toward the private sector; early on, he became the first marketing consultant Tom Burton hired for Hampden Savings Bank and the first marketing and PR consultant Sam Hanmer brought on for his insurance network, then known as Field Eddy & Bulkley. GCAi’s edge was an unusual one for a PR firm: Garvey knew computer programming and had worked in a computer center, and technology never frightened him; the firm was building websites in 1996, before most companies knew what a website was. Banking and insurance became a core focus, but over the years, the firm has worked across nearly every vertical, from healthcare and transportation to accounting, legal, and grocery. The firm’s get-there-first instinct still defines its work today, such as applying answer engine optimization and generative engine optimization to PR, shaping how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s answer engines understand, describe, and cite the brands it represents. Giving back has been part of GCAi from the start; with attorney Scott Foster, Garvey helped develop permanent funding for Valley Venture Mentors, and he spent years as a mentor and PR and digital marketing instructor for MassChallenge. Organizations the firm has helped more recently include Tech Foundry, Square One, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services, Revitalize CDC, and a Garvey favorite, the Gray House.

Eastern States Exposition Donates $351,742 to West Springfield

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Each year, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) donates 1% of its annual gross operating revenue to the town of West Springfield to continue the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust. On June 25, ESE President and CEO Gene Cassidy and members of the wider team visited Mayor William Reichelt at West Springfield Town Hall to present a check for $351,742 to the trust. Cassidy, Reichelt, and attorney Mary Paier Powers are all on the board for the trust and were present at the press conference and check presentation. This executive body reviews grant applications and awards a percentage of the donations to applicants. The allotted donation benefits education, youth, athletics, and the elderly, as well as combating food insecurity in West Springfield, among other assistance. The remainder accrues with each donation. As a not-for-profit entity, ESE does not receive federal support, state support, or funding from local taxes. This sets the Big E, which has grown to be the fourth-largest fair in North America, and the broader organization apart from most fairs. To express appreciation to the populace that continues to support its mission faithfully, ESE partnered with the town to create the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust. Since it was first founded in 1995, ESE has contributed $6.1 million to West Springfield through the trust.

STCC Earns Second Place in National Innovation Challenge

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) students earned second place in the 2026 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC), a prestigious national competition sponsored by the American Assoc. of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF). STCC was one of only 12 community colleges nationwide selected as finalists and the only community college in Massachusetts to advance to the competition’s final round. The student team presented its innovative project, HydroShield, during a poster session on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 9 before congressional leaders, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, STEM leaders, and a panel of judges. HydroShield is a replaceable washing machine filter designed to capture microplastic fibers before they enter waterways. The low-cost system uses a specialized coated textile layer and a sensor that alerts users when the filter needs replacement. The innovation aims to reduce microplastic pollution, improve water quality, and address long-term environmental health concerns. The STCC team consisted of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society students Shahmeer Ali, Vincent Githiri, and Sophia Landrau, who graduated in May with an associate degree in biology. The team worked under the guidance of Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and PTK advisor Reena Randhir.

AIC Launches LIFT Center to Address Student Basic Needs

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has expanded its student support services through the LIFT Center (Linking Individuals to Fundamental Tools), a new resource hub that connects students with essential resources and assistance. The initiative is supported by $85,000 in grant funding, including a $34,000 award from the Beveridge Family Foundation and a $51,000 grant from an anonymous foundation supporting student success. Located in the James J. Shea Sr. Memorial Library, the LIFT Center connects students with resources addressing food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, childcare, public benefits, and other essential needs. The LIFT Center serves as a central point of access for student support and referrals. Services include food pantry access, meal vouchers, emergency financial assistance, housing referrals, public benefits enrollment support, childcare resources, legal aid referrals, financial counseling, and transportation assistance. Students may access services directly or be referred by faculty, advisors, and campus partners. Support is offered in a confidential, welcoming environment designed to help students navigate challenges and remain focused on their educational goals.

Westfield State University to Add Two Varsity Sports

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University will add two varsity sports teams for the 2027-28 academic year, with the Owls starting women’s flag football and men’s swimming and diving. Westfield will become the first school in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference to sponsor flag football at the varsity level. It is anticipated that the Westfield will play as a club sport in the spring of 2027 and at the varsity level in the spring of 2028. In late May, the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted to recommend Divisions I, II, and III sponsor legislation to add a national collegiate flag football championship. The committee oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program, which aims to grow participation and competitive opportunities for women’s sports across the NCAA. Its first championship is projected to occur in spring 2028.

Springfield College Announces Launch of New Major in 2027

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College announced the fall 2027 launch of its communications and creative media major, an innovative academic program designed to prepare students for leadership and creative careers in today’s rapidly evolving media and technological landscape. The communications and creative media program offers students hands-on experience and industry-focused training in communication strategy, social media marketing, content production, and digital design. Specifically, students will develop social media content and create and produce podcasts, radio broadcasts, television shows, short-form content, and more. The program will prepare students for careers in fields such as marketing, public relations, social media strategy, and, more broadly, roles in communication, creative content, and strategic brand messaging. Through collaborative projects, multimedia production opportunities, and real-world communication experiences, students will develop professional portfolios while learning from experienced faculty and industry professionals. Students will complete a substantive internship experience and graduate with a polished professional portfolio.

HCC President, Board of Trustees Selected for National Collaborative

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College President George Timmons and the HCC board of trustees have been selected to join the second cohort of the Aspen Presidents & Trustees Collaborative. This year-long initiative, led by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, brings together colleges nationwide to strengthen alignment between boards and presidential leadership and advance long-term student success. Through this collaboration, Timmons and HCC trustees will engage with national experts and peer institutions, learning from best practices of Aspen Prize-winning colleges and leveraging Aspen’s Trustee Framework. The goal is to build sustainable governance practices that drive meaningful reforms in student success.

NBT Bank Earns Two Awards for Small Business Banking

NORWICH, N.Y. — NBT Bank has been recognized with two 2026 Coalition Greenwich Awards in Small Business Banking. In the U.S. Small Business Banking category, based on more than 11,000 interviews with businesses with annual sales of $1 million to $10 million across the U.S., NBT earned the following designations Best Bank – Satisfaction with Relationship Manager for Small Business Banking in the U.S. (Northeast); and Best Bank – Satisfaction in Cash Management for Small Business Banking in the U.S. (Northeast). NBT’s Cash Management team works in close coordination with relationship managers to help businesses maintain control over cash flow, reduce risk, and operate more efficiently. Through tailored solutions for payments, collections, liquidity visibility, and fraud prevention, the team helps customers streamline operations and focus on running and growing their businesses.

MountainOne Ranks 17th on Best Places to Work List

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne announced it ranked 17th in the Medium Company category (100-249 employees) on the Boston Business Journal’s 2026 Best Places to Work list. This recognition marks the second consecutive year MountainOne has been honored and reflects an improvement from its 21st-place ranking in 2025. The annual Best Places to Work awards recognize Massachusetts employers that have created exceptional workplace cultures and employee experiences. Rankings are determined through confidential employee surveys conducted by Quantum Workplace, which measure areas such as workplace satisfaction, leadership, communication, professional development, compensation, benefits, and overall employee engagement. The Boston Business Journal honored 90 Massachusetts companies across a variety of industries during an awards celebration held June 11 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. MountainOne employees who accepted the award on the company’s behalf included Peter Barrow, Kevin Carpenter, Ethan Coe, Erin Galvin, Erik Ray, and Devon Stone.

FirstLight Sustains Program Announces Grant Recipients

BURLINGTON — FirstLight, a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company, announced that 17 organizations will receive funding through the company’s FirstLight Sustains competitive grant program. This program has awarded more than $310,000 to nearly 70 organizations over the last four years to support schools, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations that promote community building and sustainability in areas where FirstLight operates across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The five 2026 FirstLight Sustains grant recipients in Massachusetts include the Montague Police Department, which will procure specialized water rescue and safety equipment, including 14 river-capable personal flotation devices and 14 rescue throw bags; Northfield EMS, which will purchase equipment and training materials to support educational programs in community settings; the town of Gill, which will expand its historic municipal common with the addition of a third Veteran’s Memorial monument covering military actions from the Vietnam War to the present; the Turners Falls Fire Department, which will replace water rescue dry suits, rope, rigging equipment, flotation devices, and a rescue boat; and the Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition, which will secure permanent public access to the iconic Farley Ledges climbing area and support the formal establishment of conservation restrictions on a newly acquired adjacent parcel.

Springfield JCC Awarded $100,000 Grant from Davis Foundation

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jewish Community Center (JCC) announced it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation to launch a comprehensive early literacy development initiative within its Early Learning Center (ELC). The grant will support an innovative, evidence-based literacy program serving approximately 85 children from birth to age 5, strengthening early language development, vocabulary growth, phonological awareness, and school readiness skills during the most critical years of child development. At the heart of the initiative is the addition of a part-time early literacy specialist who will work directly with children, coach teachers, and engage families in literacy-rich learning experiences. The specialist will help create language- and print-rich classroom environments, expand diverse and developmentally appropriate classroom libraries, and integrate literacy into daily activities through interactive read-alouds, storytelling, phonological awareness exercises, and emergent writing opportunities. The initiative will also provide ongoing professional development and coaching for educators. Families will be engaged through workshops, literacy events, and take-home resources designed to reinforce language and reading development at home. In additionk, an intergenerational literacy mentoring model will connect students from the JCC’s KidSpace afterschool program with younger children to foster a love of reading and learning across age groups.

Berkshire Innovation Center to Receive $120,000 MassCEC Grant

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced more than $2 million in awards through its Innovation Ecosystem Program (IEP) to 10 entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) in six communities across the state, including one in Western Mass.; Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield will receive $120,000. The funding will help accelerators, incubators, universities, and other business development organizations expand hands-on programming that moves early-stage climate tech startups from idea to market, strengthening business readiness, sharpening commercialization pathways, and accelerating growth within Massachusetts’ innovation ecosystem. The other nine awardees are InnoVenture Labs in Beverly ($60,000); Leading Cities ($100,000), MassChallenge ($120,000), and MassRobotics ($110,000) in Boston; Activate Global ($120,000 plus $600,000 in fellowship funding) and the Engine ($120,000) in Cambridge; UMass Lowell ($120,000); and FORGE ($120,000) and Greentown Labs ($120,000 plus $300,000 in fellowship funding) in Somerville.

BFAIR in Bloom Raises $40,000

NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR announced the success of its annual BFAIR in Bloom signature fundraising event, held on June 4 at the Proprietor’s Lodge. The evening raised $40,000 in support of BFAIR’s programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Berkshire region. The event brought together community members, business leaders, and supporters for a curated evening filled with craft tastings, desserts, live music, and floral arrangements. Guests enjoyed tastings from Antimony Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Co., M.S. Walker, and Village Garage Distillery, alongside desserts by Berkshire Cannoli. The Flower Lab Bouquet Bar transformed the venue with a floral design, while Patrick Gray provided the evening’s musical backdrop. Event photography was captured by Jessica Ann Photography. 

Community Action Pioneer Valley Opens New WIC Office in Hadley

HADLEY — On June 25, Community Action Pioneer Valley opened a new office of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program at 4 Bay Road in Hadley. A formal opening and ribbon cutting is planned for early September. The new site boasts a few advantages over previous sites, including location and expanded office space to serve an increased number of participants. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for people who are pregnant or have children under age 5. Participants are given a WIC EBT card that can be used at many local grocery stores on specific items such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; whole grains such as bread, oatmeal, and quinoa; fresh fruits and vegetables; and more. WIC provides breast/chest feeding support from the first prenatal visit forward and offers additional support when needed. Families participating in WIC meet regularly with WIC staff and a nutritionist to check their children’s growth and development, ask questions, and get nutrition information. WIC staff also connect families with many other helpful resources.

Tighe & Bond Relocates Providence Office

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a leading engineering, environmental, planning, and design consulting firm focused on serving the Northeast, announced it has relocated its Providence, R.I. office to the Foundry complex at 235 Promenade St., Suite 500. The new location offers the firm additional square footage as it continues to strengthen its presence in Rhode Island, providing convenient access to clients, project partners, and communities throughout the Greater Providence area and beyond. Tighe & Bond has provided engineering, environmental, planning, and design services in Rhode Island for decades since opening its first Providence office in 2018, partnering with municipalities, utilities, state agencies, institutions, and private-sector organizations to advance infrastructure, environmental, resiliency, and built environment projects.