Page 64 - BusinessWest 2025 Book of Lists

This List is Sponsored by: Custom workforce training for businesses
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY
Custom workforce training for businesses
Customer service
OFFICE CONTACT SERVICES
Team building
303 Homestead Avenue
the Kittredge Center. With a state-of-the-art facility second to none, we’ll
PVGROWS INVESTMENT FUND
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
Holyoke, MA 01040
324 Wells St., Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 552-2500
(413) 552-2500
(413) 665-7100, ext. 12; www.pvgrows.net/investment-fund
www.hcc.edu
email: [email protected]
Professional development classes
Computers & Technology
Customer service
Team building
www.hcc.edu/kc
Management skills
Conference & Meeting Space Available
Does your organization or group need a first-class facility to hold your next
Kimberly Robinson meeting or conference that’s affordable and convenient? For groups 15-150
and terrific food service options with teleconferencing ability, consider
the Kittredge Center. With a state-of-the-art facility second to none, we’ll
make your next event a memorable one.
Call Carol at (413) 552-2088, and leave the details to us.
Rebecca Busansky
www.hcc.edu
email: [email protected]
Professional development classes
Computers & Technology
The Kittredge Center
Management skills
Conference & Meeting Space Available
Does your organization or group need a first-class facility to hold your next
meeting or conference that’s affordable and convenient? For groups 15-150
State-designed regional planning agency serving Hampden and Hampshire counties; manages and supports the Plan for Progress, the
and terrific food service options with teleconferencing ability, consider
region’s adopted economic-development plan; major source of demographic economic data
make your next event a memorable one.
The PVGrows Investment Fund, a program of the Franklin County CDC, helps farmers and local food entrepreneurs obtain flexible
financing and technical assistance to grow their businesses, and gives community members an opportunity to invest in growing a
Call Carol at (413) 552-2088, and leave the details to us.
stronger local food system
Services to small businesses and entrepreneurs; U.S. Treasury-certified lender; offers professional and employee computer training
(some free), business-development services with consultants, business-planning classes, a financial-literacy program with matched
savings, and a partnership with Holyoke Community College offering workforce training and online credit-bearing classes in the
Quaboag Region; small-business loans; CDFI; private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation
PIONEER VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION
60 Congress St., Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 781-6045; www.pvpc.org
QUABOAG VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. AND QUABOAG
VALLEY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CORP.
23 WEST MAIN ST., 1, WARE, MA 01082
(413) 967-3001; www.qvcdc.org
Melissa Fales
RIVER VALLEY INVESTORS
1500 Main St., Suite 125, Springfield, MA 01003
(413) 667-9886; www.rivervalleyinvestors.com
Paul Silva Premier angel-investor group in the Pioneer Valley; invests in startups in the Northeast; offers different types of memberships to meet
needs of different parts of economic ecosystem
RIVERSIDE INDUSTRIES
1 Cottage St., Easthampton, MA 01027
(413) 527-2711; www.rsi.org
Lynn Ireland
Riverside’s day program provides individualized services combining life-skills development, employment options, life enrichment, and
transportation to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) from 33 cities and towns in the tri-county area;
Riverside’s mission is to empower individuals with IDDs to live rich and full lives
SCORE
One Federal St., Bldg. 101, Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 785-0314; www.westernmassachusetts.score.org
Len Gendron
Ted Stevenson
Provides free and confidential business consultation and mentoring to new and established businesses; free online and face-to-face
counseling available on site or at SCORE locations throughout Western Mass.; educational seminars on starting a business, preparing a
business plan, using social media, and sources of financing; offers CEO forums and business roundtables
SMALL BUSINESS LEGAL CLINIC AT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY
Blake Law Center, Room 119A, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01119
(413) 782-1469; www.wne.edu
Marie Fletcher
Provides pro bono legal services to small businesses unable to afford an attorney on a wide range of business-related legal issues from
legal entity and trademarks to contracts and employment policies; free and open to the public; new clients admitted in August and
January
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
1331 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 781-1591; www.springfielddowntown.com
Chris Russell
Private, not-for-profit corporation that strives to revitalize the downtown through investment, marketing, economic development,
special events, cleaning, security services, and supplemental beautification; aims to increase property values and urban vitality by
continuing to make the downtown a safe, clean, and friendly place to live, work, and play
SPRINGFIELD PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION
721 State St., 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01109
(413) 263-6500; www.springfieldpartnersinc.com
Paul Bailey
Offers the Individual Development Account Program, an asset-building program to help low-income individuals and families improve
economic independence and stability through matched savings, case management, financial-fitness and money-management
workshops, credit counseling, support, and guidance; weatherization services; transportation services; scholarship programs; veteran
services; eviction and housing counseling; fuel assistance
STCC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
One Armory Square, Bldg. 27, Room 263, Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 755-4225; www.stcc.edu/wd
Elliot Levy
Provides non-credit courses and workforce-development training to individuals and companies at the college or the company site;
training includes computer applications, IT/network certifications, advanced-manufacturing applications, management and business
skills, health careers, technical and trades, advanced manufacturing, construction, and skilled-trade classes (including electrical),
and career-development classes such as auto damage appraiser license, introduction to drones, and interpreting; online education
partnership; English as a second language; partnerships with Upright, Ed2Go, and MindEdge
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020
(413) 592-6142; www.sunshine.us
Gina Kos Provides area businesses with skilled, dependable workforce through individual or group placement; additional sites in Agawam,
Chicopee, and Three Rivers
UMASS AMHERST CORE FACILITIES
Institute for Applied Life Sciences
240 Thatcher Road, S307, Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-1710; www.umass.edu/ials/core-facilities
Andrew Vinard
Peter Reinhart
UMass Amherst offers more than 30 core facilities, available to both internal and external users, which enable faculty, students, and
industry collaborators to access a broad array of equipment to enhance their R&D capabilities, address both basic and translational
questions, deliver technologies and product candidates more rapidly, and become more competitive in obtaining state, federal,
foundation, and private funding
UMASS AMHERST INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at Isenberg School of Management
121 Presidents Dr., Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-9482; www.isenberg.umass.edu
Gregory Thomas
A two-part competition that educates students in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship; through awards of significant cash,
competition is designed to help students and young alumni pursue a novel business idea, develop a technology into a marketable
product, or realize a new approach to a difficult problem or compelling opportunity
UMASS AMHERST TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE AT MASS VENTURE
CENTER
100 Venture Way, Suite 201, Hadley, MA 01035
(413) 545-3606; www.umass.edu/tto
Burnley Jaklevic Responsible for evaluating, protecting, marketing, and transferring to the private-sector inventions and discoveries created by
academic researchers on the Amherst campus; inventions can be licensed; some are the basis of new startup companies
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
One Federal St., Bldg. 101, Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 785-0484; www.sba.gov/ma
N/A
Provides free, one-on-one business counseling, training, and mentoring through a network of Small Business Development Centers,
SCORE chapters, and Women’s Business Centers located throughout the state; financial assistance to new and growing businesses
through loan guarantees in cooperation with area lenders; government contracting and disaster-assistance programs
VALLEY OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL
35 Mount Carmel Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013; (413) 552-1554
300 High St., 1, Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 552-1548
www.valleyopp.com
Stephen Huntley
Community-action agency dedicated to eliminating poverty by providing programming to assist low- and moderate-income
individuals and families achieve a higher quality of life; offers 30 different programs in areas such as adult education, college and
career readiness, early education and care, energy assistance, homeless services, housing, nutrition, and senior services
VALLEY VENTURE MENTORS
276 Bridge St., Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 337-2887; www.valleyventurementors.org
Hope Gibaldi
Chris Bignell
VVM connects talented entrepreneurs, professionals, and experienced business leaders to build a community that helps ambitious and
promising new ventures thrive
URBAN CO-WORKS
98 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 252-8569; www.urbancoworks.com
Ned Barowsky
Offers customizable workspace solutions with flexible agreements; no long-term leases or contracts required; provides a wide range
of private (1- to 10-person) office spaces with concierge business services fostering collaboration and networking between members;
on-site amenities include professional mailing address and services, unlimited coffee, ultra-fast internet, café and lounge, community
event meeting space, 24/7 access, daily cleaning, sanitization, air-filtration systems based on CDC guidelines, touchless door entry and
restrooms, secure facilities, free parking, events (networking and educational), and more
VIABILITY
5 Franklin St., Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-1460; www.viability.org
Colleen Holmes
Alternative staffing solution with a social mission for area employers; human-service organization specializing in job training, job
placement, and on-the-job support for individuals who are disadvantaged or disabled; programs to help individuals develop skills for
specific workplace training
WESTERN MASS. COACHING ALLIANCE
www.westernmasscoaches.com
Grant Ingle
Mary Lou Medaugh
Regional association of 25 skilled coaches who help people realize their professional and personal potential; virtual meetings and
coffee breaks
62 2025 BOOK OF LISTS
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