Page 42 - BusinessWest January 23, 2023

COMPANY NOTEBOOK>>
Hot Plate Brewing Co. Receives National Recognition
PITTSFIELD — Hot Plate Brewing Co., a Latina- owned brewery opening in downtown Pittsfield
in early 2023, was selected as one of the Imbibe 75 in the January/February 2023 issue of Imbibe. According to the magazine, the Imbibe 75 features “individuals, organizations, and businesses that
are dedicated to creating a more positive, sustain- able, inclusive, and equitable drinks world.” As a BIPOC- and women-owned business, Hot Plate was selected by Imbibe because of the company’s mis- sion to make the craft-beer world more accessible and inclusive. According to the Brewers Assoc., less than 1% of all American craft breweries are owned by women of color, which makes Hot Plate stand out in a crowded, maturing marketplace. Beyond representation, Hot Plate also seeks to leverage its founders’ professional skillsets to execute on their brand promise in a data-driven way. With almost 40 years of combined experience in market research, brand development, and data analysis, founders Sarah Real and Mike Dell’Aquila plan on implement- ing tools and best practices to reach, inspire, and engage historically underrepresented consumers. In addition to its beers and marketing plans, Hot Plate also intends to make a tangible, positive impact in the Berkshires with its Community Line, which will feature collaborations with a rotating list of mission- aligned nonprofit organizations and raise money for a variety of causes; proceeds from these collabora- tive beers will go directly to the charitable organiza- tions with whom they are partnering.
PeoplesBank Donates Record $2.3 Million in 2022
HOLYOKE — For a second year in a row, Peoples- Bank set a new annual record for donations to civic and charitable causes. The bank tallied $2.3 million in donations for 2022, which is $1 million dollars more than last year’s record. Since 2011, the bank has donated well over $13 million to area causes. “Supporting the community is essentially what we were set up to do,” said Tom Senecal, president and CEO of PeoplesBank. “We are a mutual bank, chartered to serve our customers and the com- munities they live in. As a mutual bank, we do not have stockholders who would divert profits. There- fore, we are able to significantly support nonprofits and other community causes.” As a large regional employer whose values include community service, Senecal added, PeoplesBank is able to increase
its support to the community and social-service organizations through volunteerism. “We have a lot of talent in our organization, and because of that, we have a significant presence on area nonprofit boards of directors. We also look for opportuni- ties to roll up our sleeves and serve, and we spend thousands of hours each year doing that.”
Tighe & Bond Acquires
WorldTech Engineering
WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a Northeast leader in engineering, design, and environmental consulting, announced it has acquired WorldTech Engineering, a full-service transportation and civil-engineering firm. This strategic acquisition aligns with the firm’s vision of being a trusted advisor by offering clients a comprehensive, single-source solution to their engineering, design, and environmental-science
needs. The addition of WorldTech’s staff bolsters Tighe & Bond’s transportation services across a complementary client base. Tighe & Bond’s current offices in Eastern Mass. offices are now augmented by WorldTech’s Woburn office, bringing the total number of offices to 13 across Connecticut, Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Maine.
MassDevelopment, PeoplesBank Complete Financing Package for New Girls Inc. Facility
HOLYOKE — The new Girls Inc. of the Valley head- quarters and program center is one big step closer to reality thanks to a new financing package devel- oped by MassDevelopment and PeoplesBank. Girls Inc. recently announced the closing of financing
on a $2,275,000 MassDevelopment revenue bond for the new program center in Holyoke. Peoples- Bank was the purchaser of the bond, continuing
the bank’s longtime support of Girls Inc. of the Val- ley. MassDevelopment enhanced the bond with a $455,000 mortgage insurance guarantee. The newly renovated, 16,000-square foot facility will allow
the organization to consolidate its programs at one location. It will include a cutting-edge STEM mak- ers’ space, a library, two multi-purpose rooms, a teen lounge, a kitchen and dining area, and admin- istrative offices.
ILI Awarded Five-year Grant for Free English Classes
NORTHAMPTON — In mid-December, the Massa- chusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced the results of its com- petitive grant program to fund free English classes for immigrants and refugees across the state. The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI), located in Northampton, was on the list. “We were thrilled to get the good news,” said Macey Faiella, director of ILI’s English programs. “The pan- demic shed new light on the disparities that face immigrants and refugees, and we reassessed our program to include greatly expanded offerings. DESE responded positively — all to the benefit of the students.” For 34 years, ILI has partnered with the state to provide free English classes in Western Mass. The new award extends the partnership for an additional five years and funds about two-thirds of the overall program. ILI is responsible for the remaining costs, raised primarily from individual donors and local businesses and foundations.
Country Bank Grants $30,000 to Revitalize CDC
WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial insti- tution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, announced a $30,000 grant to support Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) in Spring- field. Revitalize CDC performs critical repairs, modi- fications, and rehabilitation on the homes and non- profit facilities of low-income families with children, elderly military veterans, and people with special needs. In 2022, the organization served 826 house- holds with 2,309 individuals across Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, and completed 75 home repairs, nine owned by military veteran families.
AIC Receives Second Grant to
Expand Scope of DEIB Objectives
SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced it has received a $35,000 grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation to support the college’s commitment to embracing diversity and fostering a sense of belonging. The grant will assist in establishing an Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) on campus to expand the breadth and scope of activities and initiatives that support the College’s DEIB objec- tives as outlined in AIC’s newly released five-year strategic plan, “AIC Reimagined.” On Dec. 6, the col- lege also received a $30,000 grant from the Com- munity Foundation of Western Massachusetts to support the establishment of this office. With these grants, the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging will help AIC create and sustain an organizational environment and culture that readily acknowledges and celebrates DEIB by achieving a more diverse and inclusive undergradu- ate and graduate student body, faculty, and staff.
Bank of America’s Support for Massachusetts Food Relief Tops $1,175,000 in 2022
BOSTON — Bank of America announced a $275,000 donation to the Food Bank of Western Massachu- setts, the Greater Boston Food Bank, Lovin’ Spoon- fuls, and the Worcester County Food Bank to help address food insecurity in the state. The donation
is part of a unique program to encourage bank employees to support the health and safety of their teammates and help address one of the most criti- cal needs facing communities: food insecurity. As part of this program, Bank of America donated $50 to local hunger-relief organizations on behalf of employees who got their annual flu shot and an additional $50 donation for those who received and recorded their coronavirus vaccine booster before Nov. 23. The $275,000 donation builds on the bank’s first phase of the vaccine campaign, which resulted in $575,000 raised earlier this year. Along with other financial support, Bank of America has given more than $1,175,000 to help fight hunger in Massachusetts in 2022. The overall commitment is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to address hunger relief and support the health and safety of its employees and community. As a result of these efforts, Bank of America has committed nearly
$19 million to local hunger-relief organizations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as to the World Central Kitchen and World Food Programme globally.
STCC Awarded $1.17 Million to
Expand Adult-education Services
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) received $1,174,200 in state fund- ing to expand adult-education services after sub- mitting for a competitive grant. The Baker-Polito administration announced historic funding amounts to STCC and 73 other adult-education providers and seven correctional institutions in the state. The awards total $250 million over the next five years.
42 JANUARY 23, 2023
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