Page 43 - BusinessWest February 6, 2023

COMPANY NOTEBOOK>>
PeoplesBank Donation
Supports Rent-
stabilization Initiative
HOLYOKE — OneHolyoke Commu- nity Development Corp. announced a $20,000 donation from PeoplesBank to support OneHolyoke’s Working Families – Rent Stabilization initia- tive. The lead grant from Peoples- Bank has allowed the organization to freeze rents for those in OneHolyoke housing units. “At a time when hous- ing costs are spiking and rents are becoming unaffordable for many, OneHolyoke has maintained our rents without any increase over
the past year,” Executive Direc-
tor Michael Moriarty said. “We are able to accomplish this due to the community partnerships we have formed leading to grants such as
this $20,000 gift from PeoplesBank. PeoplesBank understands the impor- tance of community, and we appre- ciate their partnership in this impor- tant initiative to keep housing that
is affordable to families in Holyoke.” OneHolyoke manages more than 160 units of non-subsidized housing in the Holyoke neighborhoods of the Flats, Churchill, and South Holyoke.
One Way Brewing Celebrates One-year Anniversary
LONGMEADOW — It’s been one year since One Way Brewing opened its taproom at 807 Maple Road in Long- meadow. In that year, the One Way crew has welcomed thousands of customers, released more than two dozen new beers, and made lots of friends in the community. In recogni- tion of and gratitude for this mile- stone, One Way Brewing hosted a celebration on Jan. 22 at the brewery. The event featured live music from the Hard to Read band, as well as the release of a New England IPA anni- versary beer that was brewed only
for this occasion. Co-owners Jason Tsitso and Zach Schwartz also part- nered with Fletcher’s BBQ Shop and Steakhouse for the event. “Zach and I would like to thank everyone who supported us this past year, from our awesome patrons to our One Way family,” Tsitso said. “But, to quote Bill Belichick, we’re on to year two.”
HCC Grant to Expand Outreach to Formerly Incarcerated
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been awarded
an $81,605 Bridges to College grant from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to expand com- munity outreach to adult learners who have been previously incarcer- ated. Specifically, the money goes
BusinessWest
to Western Mass CORE, an HCC program that works in partnership with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department to facilitate pathways to education for incarcerated and for- merly incarcerated individuals. CORE stands for community, opportunity, resources, and education. The pro- gram was founded in 2019 by two HCC professors, Nicole Hendricks (criminal justice) and Mary Orisich (economics). The Bridges to College grant will allow Western Mass CORE to expand office hours, advising ser-
vices, and information sessions at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Depart- ment’s AISS facility, located in the WW Johnson Life Center on State Street in Springfield. AISS stands for Al Inclusive Support Services (formerly After Incar- ceration Support Services). The grant will also support the hiring of a new community-navigator position to lead this outreach work. This is Western Mass CORE’s third Bridges to Col- lege grant as project lead. The grant also will provide funding for Western Mass CORE to host a series of com-
munity events, including a monthly children’s story hour at the Holyoke Public Library for parents who have been previously incarcerated and their children, and community coffee hours at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute on Race Street. On March 24, as part of the grant and in partnership with Western New England Univer- sity, Western Mass CORE will host an
Notebook
Continued on page 44
>>
LAST CALL!
Reserve Your Space Today!
BusinessWest’s
Resource Guide
Annual Book of Lists
Viewable as an interactive flipbook with
linked business listings and advertisers!
2023
Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities Available.
Contact Us Today!
Kate Campiti - 413.781.8600 x106 Kathleen Plante - 413.781.8600 x108 [email protected] [email protected]
<< DEPARTMENTS >>
FEBRUARY 6, 2023 43