Page 43 - BusinessWest September 30, 2024

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UMass Amherst to Create
Retail, Event, Meeting Space
AMHERST — UMass Amherst announced the cre- ation of UMass Downtown, a multi-purpose retail, event, and meeting space in downtown Amherst. Chancellor Javier Reyes announced the project Tuesday at the 57th annual Community Breakfast, hosted by UMass Amherst and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. UMass Downtown, sched- uled to open in the 2024-25 academic year at 108 North Pleasant St., will provide a dynamic UMass experience in the heart of the Amherst’s central business district. Serving as a boutique retail loca- tion and campus information and welcome center during regular business hours, in the evenings it
will be a regular site for small lectures, readings, and workshops. Additionally, the space will act as a welcome center for prospective students and their families and a hub of town-gown interaction with community members. UMass Downtown will be managed by the Office of Community Relations and University Events, in partnership with UMass Auxil- iary Services. Other campus partners include UMass Athletics, Student Affairs and Campus Life, the Dean of Students Office, Admissions, and the UMass Amherst Foundation. UMass enlisted Kuhn Riddle Architects to help develop the vision that project leads Nancy Buffone, associate vice chancellor for University Relations, and Tony Maroulis, executive director of Community and Strategic Initiatives, put forward after consultation with campus leadership. The Kuhn Riddle team, led by Mallory Nurse, have achieved a design that aims to welcome visitors
and community members while creating instantly recognizable, even Instagram-worthy moments to drive foot traffic to the space.
STEM Program at STCC Lauded by Magazine
SPRINGFIELD —The STEM Starter Academy at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) received the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from the magazine Insight Into Diversity. The STEM Starter Academy (SSA) has been instrumental in cre- ating opportunities for STCC students who might otherwise face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). SSA is designed to support STCC’s underrepresented student populations by providing equity and access to STEM majors and pathways and to promote positive and equitable outcomes through intense student support and guidance. The Inspiring Programs in STEM award
is a measure of an institution’s individual college programs and initiatives that encourage and sup- port the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students into all STEM fields. STCC was one of only two community colleges rec- ognized for this award.
Springfield Museums Partners with Ireland’s Office of Public Works
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums announced a partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW) of Ireland on Sept. 17. Together with the OPW, the Museums will explore the develop- ment of exhibitions, educational resources, and community events that enrich and promote the deep and enduring cultural and personal ties between Western Mass. and County Kerry. The first effort in this partnership is the exhibition “Gone
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Now, to Springfield: Celebrating the Legacy of the Blasket Islands,” currently on view in the lobby of the Wood Museum. The Blasket Islands (Na Blasca- odaí) are a group of islands off the west coast of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, uninhab- ited since 1954. Many Blasket Islanders immigrated to Springfield and Greater Western Mass. through- out the 19th and 20th centuries, bringing with them the language, literature, culinary traditions, and familial connections that continue to shape the city today.
Organization INK Inc. Acquires My Office LLC
GREAT BARRINGTON — Organization INK Inc., a provider of bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and human-resources services in Western Mass. and the surrounding areas, acquired My Office LLC, a firm based in Torrington, Conn. The acquisition, which was finalized on Sept. 2, comes as My Office LLC’s owner, Cynthia Rines, seeks to retire after 13 years in business. The majority of My Office’s staff, including Rines, will join Organization INK, ensur- ing continuity of service for existing clients and contributing to the expanding regional presence of Organization INK. Clients of My Office can expect a seamless transition, with enhanced access to human-resources services, which are not offered by My Office. My Office LLC provides bookkeep- ing, accounting, and payroll services to businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies in the north- west corner of Connecticut. The acquisition further solidifies Organization INK’s position as a regional leader in financial solutions, providing businesses with expert bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and human-resources services.
Carr Hardware to Remodel Downtown Pittsfield Store
PITTSFIELD — Carr Hardware announced a major investment in its downtown Pittsfield location, which will undergo a $400,000 remodel this fall. The project underscores Carr Hardware’s commit- ment to the community and its confidence in the future of downtown Pittsfield. The remodel will be completed with all local contractors, highlighting the dedication and appreciation Carr Hardware has for supporting fellow local businesses and contrib- uting to the local economy. The store will remain open through the remodel. With plans to expand and diversify products, customers will have a wider range of shopping opportunities. The newly remod- eled store aims to enhance the shopping experience for customers while preserving the store’s welcom- ing and friendly atmosphere.
Women’s Fund Announces $240,000 in Grant Awards
SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts recently announced $240,000 in grant awards this year and through 2026 to 17 organizations serving women, girls, and transgen- der and gender-diverse people across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. The Women’s Fund’s general grant cycle will provide $100,000 in awards to 13 organizations in both 2024 and 2025. An additional four gifts totaling $40,000 were also made from the organization’s Young Women’s Initiative for the current year. Grant recipients for this funding round include 50 Arrow
Gallery in Easthampton, A Queen’s Narrative in Springfield, Berkshire Community Diaper Project in West Stockbridge, Elizabeth Freeman Center in Pittsfield, It Takes a Village in Huntington, Make-It Springfield, Mother Root Farm in West Cumming- ton, New England Learning Center for Women in Transition in Greenfield, Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northampton, Somali Bantu Community in Springfield, Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude, Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Coalition in Greenfield, and Western Massachusetts Parasol Patrol in Montague.
Llumin Inc. Receives $69,800 Workforce Training Grant
BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gomez recently joined Secretary Lauren Jones of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to announce a $69,800 grant being awarded to Springfield-based Llumin Inc. as part of the Healey-Driscoll admin- istration’s Workforce Training Fund. The grant being awarded will go toward training 16 work-
ers at the software company, with eight additional jobs expected by 2026. Funded by Massachusetts employers via contributions made to unemploy- ment insurance, the Workforce Training Fund helps companies improve productivity and competitive- ness by providing resources to invest in the Massa- chusetts workforce.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank Launches New Mortgage Product
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced the launch of its new Homegrown Heroes mortgage product, designed to provide special financing options for police officers, EMTs, RNs and CRNs, firefighters, school employees, and military personnel. This initiative aims to recognize the contributions of these dedicated individuals to their communities and offer them a helping hand in achieving their homeownership dreams. The Home- grown Heroes program offers a variety of benefits, including reduced interest rates for eligible borrow- ers, making their monthly mortgage payments more affordable; and the flexibility to choose between a fixed-rate mortgage with predictable monthly pay- ments or an adjustable-rate mortgage that offers potential interest-rate savings initially but may fluc- tuate over time.
AIC Awarded Grant to Modernize Science Labs
SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from
the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Workforce Development Capital Grant Program to support the renovation and upgrade of the college’s Old Sci- ence Building and fund the purchase of new equip- ment for life-sciences courses within the School
of Business, Arts, and Sciences. Renovation work is scheduled to begin this fall. The grant was part of a broader $13.1 million in funding announced on July 22 by the Healey-Driscoll administration. The Old Science Building, constructed in 1956, marked the beginning of a new era of development on AIC’s historic campus. Located on the eastern side of the
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