Page 55 - BusinessWest September 14 2020

Officials Celebrate Start of Court Square Project
SPRINGFIELD — A host of city, state, and national leaders were on hand at the former Court Square Hotel property on Aug. 27 to mark the official start
of a long-awaited $51 million project to convert the long-dormant landmark into apartments and retail space. Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal,
and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno were among the many dignitaries to address those gathered to commemorate the launch of the initiative, which will bring 59 market-rate apartments, 15 workforce apart- ments, and more than 20,000 square feet of retail to the center of Springfield. The project is the result of a partnership involving a number of players, including developers Winn Companies of Boston and Opal Real Estate of Springfield, as well as MassMutual, MGM, and MassHousing’s Workforce Housing Initiative. More than $11 million in state and federal historic tax credits have also been secured for the project. Initial work on the property involves $4 million worth of demolition and hazardous materials cleanup, expect- ed to completed by November. Actual construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
AmherstWorks Reopens;
New Applications Being Accepted
AMHERST — AmherstWorks, a co-working space dedicated to serving the Pioneer Valley commu-
nity, has reopened and is accepting new applica- tions for membership passes and private offices. AmherstWorks has implemented new policies and procedures, in addition to restructuring the space to adhere to the state’s health and safety regulations in light of the coronavirus pandemic. All members will be required to wear masks and practice social dis- tancing of six feet at all times. Previously shared desks will be assigned exclusively to individuals each day, with hand sanitizer readily available. AmherstWorks membership assistants will sanitize all surfaces a minimum of three times a day. The newly renovated downtown workspace includes large windows for natural light, high-speed internet, and premium ame- nities for members.
MCLA, BCC Sign Education Articulation Agreement
NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Lib-
eral Arts (MCLA) and Berkshire Community College (BCC) have signed a new articulation agreement, creating a pathway for students who complete BCC’s associate degree in early childhood education to enroll in MCLA’s liberal-arts degree-completion pro- gram in children, families, and society. Students who complete this associate-degree program at MCLA will also be able to enter MCLA with a core-requirement waiver. Students must graduate with at least a 2.5 grade point average to qualify. This agreement means students who qualify will be able to earn their associ- ate and bachelor’s degrees as well as early education
and care certifications. These credentials support requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC). This pathway can also result in a lead teacher certification from the DEEC.
Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley Moves to Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley, part of the TommyCar Auto Group, moved from South Deerfield to its new location at 48 Damon Road in Northampton on Sept. 1. “This is an exciting change for us as Northampton is such a wonderful com- munity and has been incredibly welcoming,” said TommyCar co-owner Carla Cosenzi. “The dealership will be more conveniently located for our custom- ers, right off the highway. They will still get the
same outstanding service they have come to
expect from us, along with a greater inven-
tory and a more spacious showroom and
service department.” TommyCar Auto Group already has three dealerships in Northampton
— Country Hyundai, Genesis of Northampton, and Northampton Volkswagen — as well as Country Nis- san in Hadley.
Westfield State University Installs Cell Tower Atop Scanlon Hall
WESTFIELD — Cellular service on the Westfield
State University campus is expected to significantly improve now that a new cell tower has been installed atop Scanlon Hall. Westfield State partnered with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the Massachusetts State Col- lege Building Authority on the project. The installa- tion was completed in August by Berkshire Wireless,
a subcontractor for Verizon Wireless. In addition to improved and more reliable cell service, the univer- sity will also generate revenue by leasing the space to the cellular provider. A 10-year contract will generate $240,000 over the term, and the $24,000 per year will go toward the university’s Residential Life area to sup- port services and programming for resident students.
Bulkley Richardson Joins
Law Firm Anti-racism Alliance
SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson announced it has joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA), a national collaboration of more than 260 law firms united in identifying and dismantling structural or systemic racism in the law. The alliance’s charter states its purpose is to “leverage the resources of the private bar in partnership with legal-services orga- nizations to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color, and to promote racial equity in the law.” “We are joining some of the country’s most prominent law firms to shine a spotlight on systemic racism,”
tors, and the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors. With Coldwell Banker, her primary focus will be residential real estate in Franklin and Hampshire counties.
•••••
The Springfield Rescue Mission (SRM) introduced
its new executive director, Kevin Ramsdell Sr. Rams- dell served in the U.S. Navy, receiving two honor- able discharges, and has been employed by Ford Motor Co. for 35 years. He also has been a part of his local church and involved in many areas of ministry.
said Jeff Poindexter, co-chair of Bulkley Richardson’s litigation department. “Recognizing that racism is a public crisis, the firm has made a pledge to reject rac- ism, hate, bigotry, and all forms of discrimination. By joining the LFAA, we can be a part of the solution and support an initiative to advance racial equity.”
HCC Receives $40,000 Grant for COVID-19 Relief
HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation has received a second grant in as many months to help students facing financial emergencies because of COVID-19. In its latest round of grants, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts awarded $40,000 to HCC from its COVID-19 Relief Fund. In July, the Community Foundation awarded
Company Notebook
the HCC Foundation $35,000. All $75,000 went into the President’s Student Emergency Fund, which is managed by the HCC Foundation. Thanks to the Community Foundation’s first grant to HCC, 67 stu- dents received emergency funding with an average disbursement of $522. Already, in the past two weeks, 15 additional students have received emergency
aid. Typically, students request help paying for basic needs, such as food, rent, utilities, childcare, and transportation.
JFS Selected for Year Two
of Jewish Poverty Challenge
SPRINGFIELD — Following a North American call
for submissions and an exhaustive selection process, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts has been chosen by the Network of Jewish Human Ser- vice Agencies (NJHSA) for participation in year two of its NJHSA Jewish Poverty Challenge, an offering of the network’s Center for Innovation and Research. The goal of the program is to help NJHSA member agen- cies better analyze the marketplace, launch and man- age solutions, and implement sustainable measures for success to address the many dynamics associated with responding to Jewish poverty. NJHSA has part- nered with Start Co., a venture-development consul- tancy firm based in Memphis, Tenn. with an expertise in launching startups and engaging municipalities, corporations, and nonprofits in poverty-reduction responses. The team at Start Co. will provide expert consultation assistance as JFS rethinks and redesigns products and services, adjusting assumptions and organization models. Throughout the process, special attention will be paid to the impact of COVID-19 on service-delivery methods.
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The Springfield Rescue Mission is a leader in meet- ing the needs of the poor and homeless in Greater Springfield. The SRM provides food, shelter, cloth- ing, medical attention, Christian counseling, literacy training, and advocacy through its emergency shelter, give-away center, mobile feeding program, rehabilita- tion center, and transitional living facility, all free of charge. The programs help individuals take meaning- ful steps toward becoming responsible and produc- tive members of the community.
People
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her two chil-
dren, Megan and Justin. She has long been active in her commu- nity, volunteering in the public schools her children attended. Her biggest achievement was starting the
Pop Warner Football league in Deerfield more than 26 years ago and chairing the Frontier Athletic Field Lights Project, which allowed the children to play night games. Baronas is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, the National Assoc. of Real-
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