Page 50 - BusinessWest October 3, 2022

Cisco’s Café to Open
This Fall in the Mill District
AMHERST — Francisco Perez, owner of Amherst House of Pizza (AHOP) at Riverside Park, is open-
ing a second restaurant in the Mill District in North Amherst this fall. Cisco’s Café will feature Latino and American breakfast and lunch. “We will have several types of breakfast burritos and sandwiches. Vegan and vegetarian options will be offered along with sev- eral meat and fish choices at breakfast and lunch,” said Perez, a native of El Salvador and 10-year owner
has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Public Col- leges for 10 of the past 12 years. The college has also been acknowledged in the list of National Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Mobility since the organiza- tion adopted this ranking in 2019. This list measures how well institutions graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants, typically awarded to students whose families make less than $50,000, though most Pell Grant money goes to families with income below $20,000. Slightly more than 42% of MCLA undergrad- uate students receive Pell Grants, and 51.4% are the first in their families to go to college. Overall, 93.1%
nology, and mathematics. The scholarship amount will be up to $10,000 per year. Scholarships will be available to community-college transfer students in the spring 2023 semester and to first-year Elms stu- dents beginning in the fall 2023 semester. In addi- tion to scholarship funding, all STEM scholars will be provided community-engaged experiential learning activities and opportunities to build data-science skills in each year of their studies, culminating in an internship or research experience. For more informa- tion on the S-STEM scholarships at Elms and eligibil- ity requirements, visit www.elms.edu/academics/nsmt/ elmsstem.
Country Bank Supports Ride to Remember
WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial insti- tution serving Central and Western Mass., recently supported the Ride to Remember, a 50-mile bicycle ride in tribute to fallen police officers and firefight- ers, with a $10,000 donation. This year’s ride, “The Tour of Western Massachusetts,” celebrated its 10th anniversary, honoring those who have died in the line of duty. “Country Bank’s support of this meaningful event is a great way for us to show our gratitude and support for all the frontline workers,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. “We deeply appreciate the work they do throughout our commu- nities, and we know that it truly makes a difference to the people and businesses they serve.”
Gaming Commission Releases
Gross Gaming Revenue for August
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Gaming Com- mission reported that the month of August at MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park Casino, and Encore Boston Harbor generated approximately $92 mil- lion in gross gaming revenue (GGR). MGM Spring- field generated $4,474,746.40 from table games and $17,518,085.09 from slots for a total of $21,992,831.49, generating $5,498,207.87 in taxes. MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor, category-1 resort casinos, are taxed on 25% of GGR; those monies are allocated to several specific state funds as determined by the gaming statute. Plainridge Park, a category-2 slots facility, is taxed on 49% of GGR. Of that total taxed amount, 82% is paid to local aid and 18% is allotted to the Race Horse Development Fund. To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $1.181 billion in total taxes and assessments from MGM, Plainridge Park, and Encore since the respective openings of each gaming facility.
People
Continued from page 48
tor since March, following the vacancy created by Christa Collier when she departed for
a position with the Massachu- setts Children’s Alliance. Judge has taken the lead on a number of important community initia- tives and is committed to fol- lowing the mission, vision, and values of the agency. He has
made a strong commitment to the agency’s board of directors and staff, allowing NBUW to continue serv- ing the Northern Berkshire community.
Judge came to NBUW from Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield, where he served as Development manager since July 2017.
Company Notebook
of students receive some kind of financial aid. U.S. News ranks colleges based on indicators that
reflect a school’s student body, its faculty, and
its financial resources, along with outcome measures that signal how well the institution
ofAHOP.TheMillDistrictinNorthAmherstwascre- achievesitsmissionofeducatingstudents.
ated to invigorate community connections in the internet age, providing experiential retail, food, and fun for all ages. North Square is becoming a gourmet food corridor with Provisions (wine, beer, and fine foods) moving across the square and joining Futura Coffee Roasters and the Carefree Cakery, which are coming soon. Riverside Park recently welcomed
Big Basket Market, an international grocery store. Seven thousand square feet of retail space remains available for lease in the Mill District. Other existing tenants include Balanced Birch Pilates, the Closet, GrazeCraze, the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, the Lift Salon, Cowls Building Supply, and the Riverside Park Shops, including Amherst House of Pizza, Shine Laundry, and Big Guy Liquors.
U.S. News Ranks Bay Path Fourth for Social Mobility
LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has been ranked fourth in the 2022-23 Social Mobility category by U.S. News & World Report. Now in its 38th year, the rankings evaluate more than 1,450 colleges and uni- versities on up to 17 measures of academic quality. U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their fami- lies with helpful data and information on factors such as graduation rates, social mobility, and graduate indebtedness. The social-mobility rankings are cal- culated by assessing the six-year graduation rates of students who received federal Pell Grants compared with the graduation rate of other students. Those grant recipients generally come from households with annual incomes under $50,000. Bay Path has long been committed to fostering an environment that is supportive and inclusive, reflecting the diver- sity of its students. For the 2022 incoming fall class of traditional students, 50% were the first in their family to attend college, and 47% were diverse. The universi- ty offers numerous scholarship opportunities, as well as academic assistance and other supports, such as the ALLI program, which helps young women transi- tion from high school to their first year as a univer- sity student, and an extensive peer-tutoring support system.
MCLA Earns Multiple Spots on U.S. News College Rankings
NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) continued commitment to an excel- lent, affordable education is reflected in the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The college now ranks seventh on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges for the second year in a row, 33rd as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among national liberal- arts colleges, and first among all Massachusetts lib- eral-arts schools. MCLA also continues to appear on the list of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges. MCLA
bankESB Named Among State’s Most Charitable Companies
EASTHAMPTON — The Boston Business Journal
has named bankESB an honoree in its annual 2022 Corporate Citizenship Awards, a recognition of the region’s top corporate charitable contributors. The journal annually publishes this list to showcase companies that promote and prioritize giving back to their communities. Through its sponsorship and charitable giving program, the Giving Tree, bankESB and the Easthampton Savings Bank Charitable Foun- dation support nonprofit organizations and causes throughout Hampden and Hampshire counties. In 2021, the Giving Tree donated nearly $352,000 and over the past decade has donated more than $3.1 million. This year, 95 companies qualified for the distinction by reporting at least $100,000 in cash con- tributions to Massachusetts-based charities last year. The honorees this year include companies from such industry sectors as financial and professional ser- vices, healthcare, technology, retail, and professional sports.
PeoplesBank Named to List of Top
Corporate Charitable Contributors
HOLYOKE — A record $1.3 million in contributions in 2021 marks a new level of charitable support for Peo- plesBank, earning recognition from the Boston Busi- ness Journal and its Corporate Citizenship Awards for the 15th year in a row. With a focus on food insecu- rity, housing, and literacy, PeoplesBank announced record donations reaching $1,315,000 in 2021, with
a total of close to $11 million donated since 2011. This marks a new level of contributions, making PeoplesBank the leading community bank for chari- table donations in Western and Central Mass. The bank has doubled its donations in the last five years. Headquartered in Holyoke, PeoplesBank increased its donations across its whole market of Massachusetts and Connecticut to assist the customers and com- munities it serves. Meanwhile, PeoplesBank’s associ- ates donate 10,000 volunteer hours per year, and 74 of them have served on 54 nonprofit boards.
Elms College Wins $1.5 Million Grant from National Science Foundation
CHICOPEE — Elms College announced that it has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Through the six-year grant, “Growing STEM Student Success Through Scholarship and Community Building with Experi- ential Learning and Data Science,” Elms College will provide need-based scholarships to at least 40 high- achieving first-year and community-college transfer students who want to pursue careers in science, tech-
DUFFY JUDGE
50 OCTOBER 3, 2022
DEPARTMENTS
BusinessWest