Page 39 - BusinessWest January 5, 2026

COMPANY NOTEBOOK>>
River Valley Co-op Supports
Northampton Survival Center
NORTHAMPTON — On Dec. 2, River Valley Co-op
announced a contribution of more than $20,000 to
support the Northampton Survival Center. This con-
tribution was made through the co-op’s November
Change for Change round-up donations at the
checkouts in both the Northampton and Easthamp-
ton store locations. This is the most recent and
largest of the co-op’s last four monthly Change for
Change contributions to local food security focused
nonprofits, which totaled more than $62,000. These
contributions included $13,745 for the Easthampton
Community Center, $14,064 for the Food Bank of
Western Massachusetts, $13,915 for Manna Com-
munity Kitchen, as well as the November contri-
bution of $20,309 for the Northampton Survival
Center. Each time a customer shops at River Valley
Co-op, they are given the opportunity to round up
their purchase to the nearest dollar, with the extra
cents going into the Change for Change donation
fund. That fund is allocated each month to a local
nonprofit organization nominated and chosen by
co-op member votes.
Window World of Western Mass.
Earns National Recognition
BELCHERTOWN — Qualified Remodeler, a leading
publication serving remodelers and home improve-
ment companies in the U.S., recently ranked Win-
dow World of Western Massachusetts 92nd among
the 200 largest home improvement companies in
the country — a list known as the HIP 200. This
places Window World of Western Massachusetts
first in Western Mass. The store was chosen as a
2025 HIP 200 company by the Qualified Remodeler
editorial staff for meeting a set of criteria including
installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in
business, industry association membership, indus-
try certification, industry awards, and community
service. For more than two decades, Window World
of Western Massachusetts has been serving the
community with a wide range of home improve-
ment products, including energy-efficient windows,
doors, and siding and roofing. The company is
committed to customer satisfaction with a focus on
clear communication and meticulous craftsmanship
on every project, big or small.
Colebrook Brokers Sale of
Bank Branch to UMassFive
EAST LONGMEADOW — Colebrook Realty Services
announced the sale of 465 North Main St. in East
Longmeadow to UMassFive College Federal Credit
Union for $2 million. The property most recently
housed a TD Bank branch. Located at the corner of
North Main Street and Harkness Avenue, the build-
ing is approximately 2,800 square feet on more
than 0.6 acres of land. B. John Dill, president and
CEO of Colebrook Realty Services, represented the
seller, 465 North Main Street LLC. Nancy Nesbitt of
AccuBranch represented UMassFive College Credit
Union. Originally developed as a branch of the for-
mer Springfield Institution for Savings (SIS) in 1970
by the Martone and Preston families, the site served
as a banking facility for several successor banks to
SIS, most recently TD Bank. Two generations of the
Martone and Preston families served as stewards of
this prominent location.
Westfield State Receives Davis
Educational Foundation Grant
WESTFIELD — The Davis Education Foundation has
awarded Westfield State University a two-year grant
of $449,980 to support the ongoing project “From
Innovation to Impact: Scaling General Education
Reform to Advance Westfield’s Integrative Student
Experience.” The grant will empower Westfield State
to continue strengthening its general education
curriculum by ensuring that learning outcomes,
practice standards, and high-impact practices are
fully integrated into redesigned courses. The fund-
ing will also permit Westfield State to formalize and
expand its peer mentor program, an initiative that
improves student leadership skills, engagement,
confidence, and success. The support of the Davis
Educational Foundation will advance Westfield
State’s strategic plan and strengthen its mission to
foster the economic, social, and cultural vitality of
the region by equipping students with the knowl-
edge, skills, and character to lead with purpose and
civic responsibility.
Glenmeadow Named Among Best
Continuing Care Communities
LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow has been named
one of America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement
Communities 2026 by Newsweek, ranking in the
top 10 in Massachusetts. This prestigious award is
presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-
leading statistics portal and industry ranking provid-
er. The awards list was announced on Nov. 19 and
can currently be viewed on Newsweek’s website.
America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Com-
munities 2026 have been selected through a com-
prehensive methodology of assessing quality resi-
dent care. The evaluation awards the leading 330
facilities in the U.S. based on four key pillars: reputa-
tion, visitor satisfaction, accreditation, and Google
reviews. The analysis is based on an independent
survey that included thousands of residents and
acquaintances of residents living in continuing care
retirement communities (CCRCs). The award serves
to reinforce that Glenmeadow is dedicated to offer-
ing high-quality care and services to older adults,
including a range of living options such as indepen-
dent living, assisted living, respite care, and at-home
care services. Glenmeadow offers a wide range of
amenities and community opportunities, including
newly renovated spaces designed for connection
and well-being and the annual Age of Excellence
Awards, honoring older adults who inspire vitality.
Glenmeadow leaders believe aging is not a retreat,
but a rise, and the community’s holistic approach
aims to ensure that residents feel valued, supported,
and empowered to live their lives to the fullest.
The Good Dog Spot Partners
with Leaps & Bones
CHICOPEE — The Good Dog Spot announced a
new partnership with Leaps & Bones, a pet com-
pany known for providing high-quality treats, toys,
and pet essentials. Through this collaboration,
Leaps & Bones will now manage the retail section
inside the Good Dog Spot in both the Chicopee
and Northampton locations, offering a curated
selection of treats, toys, and pet products to clients
and their furry friends. Leaps & Bones focuses on
products that are safe, nutritious, and fun. Whether
it’s natural treats, new toys, or everyday essentials,
the company is committed to keeping tails wagging
Business W est << DEPARTMENTS >>
and owners smiling. This partnership enhances The
Good Dog Spot’s mission to provide exceptional pet
care while adding a new shopping experience for
pet owners throughout Western Mass. While dogs
enjoy daycare grooming or boarding services, own-
ers can now browse a premium selection of Leaps &
Bones toys, treats, and supplies in one place.
Foundation for TJO Animals
Raises More Than $57,000
SPRINGFIELD — The Foundation for TJO Animals
and the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and
Adoption Center (TJO) are celebrating a record-
breaking Giving Tuesday, marked by exceptional
community support, a highly successful adoption
event, and an outpouring of generosity that far
exceeded expectations. To kick off the campaign,
the foundation hosted a two-day adoption event
in which all adoption fees were waived thanks to
a $2,000 sponsorship from longtime supporters
Ted and Barbara Hebert. Over the course of just 48
hours, 18 animals were adopted into new, loving
homes. The foundation initially set a Giving Tues-
day fundraising goal of $20,000, with every dollar
matched by supporters Jan and Bernadette Piepul.
As donations surged, the goal was increased to
$25,000 — and the Piepuls matched that as well. By
the morning after Giving Tuesday, total donations
had climbed to more than $57,000, making this
one of the foundation’s most successful campaigns
to date. A significant portion of the funds came
from Monarch Fore Charities, whose contribution
exceeded $10,000 and helped propel the campaign
to new heights.
Weed Man Makes Donation to
Food Bank of Western Mass.
SPRINGFIELD — The team at Weed Man in Spring-
field announced that its Grassroots Giving campaign
was a success, and they have collected 286 pounds
of food for the Food Bank of Western Massachu-
setts. That works out to nearly 238 meals for local
families across Springfield. In last year’s inaugural
campaign, the Weed Man fleet combined to collect
more than 78,000 pounds of food from its custom-
ers in the U.S. and Canada. This year, the fleet far
exceeded its goal of collecting more than 100,000
pounds of food from across North America, with a
grand total of 108,000 pounds.
CET Receives $375,000 Grant to
Expand Clean Energy Workforce
NORTHAMPTON — CET announced receipt of
a $375,000 investment to grow Massachusetts’
clean energy workforce. The funding, a grant from
E4TheFuture, will support a workforce development
program that provides comprehensive training,
mentorship, and career pathways for individuals
entering the building energy efficiency and decar-
bonization sector. The program will pursue the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship
Program for Energy Auditors, positioning partici-
pants for nationally recognized credentials and
broader career mobility. The year-long, full-time
paid positions will combine classroom learning with
hands-on field experience, equipping participants
Notebook
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