Page 51 - BusinessWest January 9, 2023

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MassMutual Foundation Awards
$2 Million Grant to Way Finders
SPRINGFIELD — Way Finders and the MassMutual Foundation announced that Way Finders has been provided with a $2 million gift from the MassMutual Foundation to help fund its City of Homes (COH) initiative. This pilot program will address the need for quality, affordable homeownership opportunities in Springfield, the headquarters city of MassMutual and Way Finders. COH will create homeowner-
ship opportunities for first-time homebuyers by leveraging the receivership process to acquire and rehabilitate single-family homes or properties for sale at affordable prices in pilot neighborhoods in Springfield. To qualify for the applicant lottery, pro- spective homebuyers must have either attended a first-time-homebuyer seminar with Way Finders or another certified organization and secured mort- gage funding with MassHousing or a private lender. By focusing on Springfield’s North End and Mason Square neighborhoods, where 75% or more of the residents are Black or Hispanic and 50% or more live below the poverty line, the project will provide much-needed access to homeownership oppor- tunities traditionally unavailable to many residents in these communities. Since 2018, the MassMutual Foundation has supported Way Finders’ financial- capability programming, which lays the groundwork for homeownership with financial education and first-time homebuyer workshops. Through the
COH pilot program, Way Finders will be able to help Springfield residents turn this education into action as they become first-time homebuyers. In 2022, Way Finders programs impacted the lives of more than 46,000 people through services including homelessness and foreclosure prevention, financial education and first-time homebuyer workshops, and small-business loans.
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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 makers’ space, a library, two multi-purpose rooms, a teen lounge, a kitchen and dining area, and administrative offices. “We are thrilled to be able
to continue our support of Girls Inc. of the Valley and be a part of this exciting project,” said Vicky Crouse, senior vice president, Commercial Banking at PeoplesBank. “Their mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full poten- tial is one that we embrace as well.” Dan Rivera, president and CEO of MassDevelopment, noted that “Girls Inc. has a proven track record of support-
ing girls in all their academic and social endeavors, while also empowering them to unlock the best version of themselves. We are pleased to partner with PeoplesBank to help this nonprofit purchase a new building in Holyoke to call home.”
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Awards Grant to Gould Farm
GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire Agricultural Ven- tures (BAV) awarded Gould Farm a resilience grant of $5,000 to complete construction of a new hoop
standards and practices, and leading the team in providing exceptional client service. She is a veteran customer-service professional and notary public and has an associate degree from Berkshire Com- munity College in liberal arts with a concentration in business administration.
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Teach Western Mass Executive Director Pema Latshang has been selected to serve on the Healey-Driscoll Thriving Youth and Young Adults Transition Committee. Transition com- mittees aim to guide Gov.-elect Maura Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll on important work
as they prepare to take office in January. Each com- mittee is composed of a diverse group of commu- nity members, advocates, subject-matter experts, and business and nonprofit leaders. Latshang’s par- ticipation gives voice to the education community of Western Mass. Her expertise in reducing barriers
house that will enable the farm to extend its grow- ing season. This grant was awarded in conjunction with funding from the U.S. Department of Agri- culture’s Natural Resource Conservation Services. Gould Farm will use this hoop house (also known
as a ‘high tunnel system’) to cover and protect crops from sun, wind, excessive rainfall, and frost, and increase spring and fall crop production in an environmentally safe manner. Gould Farm produces crops as part of its mental-health programming, through which clients grow, cook, and consume vegetables from the farm. During the growing season, Gould Farm also supplies the multicultural BRIDGE food pantry. With the hoop-house addition, Gould Farm will be able to increase the amount and availability of fresh produce for the farm and pantry.
Rocky’s Raises Nearly $26,000 to Support Children’s Hospitals
SPRINGFIELD — Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware deal- ers with 47 locations in nine states, kicked off the season of giving in November with its semi-annual Round Up for Kids fundraiser, raising a grand total of $25,908 across all participating locations. Cus- tomers were asked to round up their purchase total to the next dollar, and the difference was donated to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals. This was the third Round Up for Kids fundraiser Rocky’s has held this year, with 100% of the money raised going to benefit local CMN hospitals, including Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield. Partici- pating Rocky’s locations included the Island Pond Road and Liberty Street stores in Springfield and the stores in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Ludlow, Palmer, and South Hadley. Since 1983, CMN hospitals have helped fill funding gaps by rais- ing more than $7 billion. Its various fundraising part- ners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.
to entry to the profession, maintaining performance standards, and increasing retention supports for new teachers will help her advocate for a high- quality, diverse teacher workforce.
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The Look Memorial Park board of trustees voted
unanimously to name Justin Pelis the park’s fifth executive director. Pelis has served as the interim executive director since July 29. “Look Memorial Park is special to so many people,” Pelis said. “It evokes a different meaning to everyone, but in the end, the park is a place where memories are built between families and community. I’m proud to be the newest executive director of Look Park, where my vision and contribution will live on in the hearts of the community for years to come. That was the intent of Mrs. Fannie Look when she set forth to memorialize her late husband Frank Newhall Look in 1928. As executive director, I honor the responsi- bility to preserve Mrs. Look’s vision while also being responsive and adaptive to the changing needs of our patrons and communities.”
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People
rations, and more. A notary, Berkshire Community College graduate, and experienced customer-ser- vice professional, Archambault joins the Berkshire Money Management team as client care specialist at the Dalton office. She brings to her new role 25 years in customer service and 16 years of experi- ence in trusts. In her previous role as wealth man- agement operations specialist at Berkshire Bank, she worked with various accounts, including IRAs, trusts, and investment and estate accounts, and was responsible for the opening of new accounts, asset transfers, and other operational tasks. As part of the client care team, both Bailly and Archambault will assist with client onboarding, scheduling, opening and servicing accounts, facilitating account transac- tions, building strong relationships, and helping cli- ents with their day-to-day service needs. Berkshire Money Management also congratulates Smith on her recent promotion to client specialist leader. She joined BMM in 2021 as a client care specialist. In her new role, she is focused on strengthening BMM’s client care team through coaching, developing new
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PEMA LATSHANG