2024 Annual Report
WESTERN MASS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Reflecting on a Decadeand Our Best Year Yet Unprecedented Success Stories from 2024
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO
The year 2024 marked my tenth year with the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, and it was also the strongest year we have seen in the organization.
When I began, the goals and objectives were focused on growing the organization and its influence so we could gain the attention of statewide leaders and policy makers and get a seat at the table on larger policy issues. We’ve been fiercely successful at that.
We’ve also more than doubled our membership, and our members are committed and loyal. We’ve greatly expanded our programming, focused on workforce development, helped launch minority and women-owned businesses. In essence, we are creating a larger tent for everybody to come under and serve as part of the regional economy.
As proof of our success as relationship builders and conveners, we were thrilled this year to be awarded over $70 million through the state’s Economic Development Bond Bill for investments in food science, quantum computing, and clean tech. These areas, along with quantum—or precision—manufacturing were highlighted in a white paper by MassINC and Cambridge Econometrics Inc., which published in January. I’ve been in the public sector for over three decades, and I can say that report generated more enthusiasm, interest, inquiries, and momentum than I’ve ever seen.
Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao were open and interested in making sizeable investments in this region— the largest we’ve seen in recent times, if not all times. I am immensely grateful for their support and backing from state legislators, including Senators Adam Gomez, Jo Comerford, and Barry Finegold; Rep. Michael J. Finn; and Jay Ash at Massachusetts Competitive Partners. We had a lot of partners, but that’s what it took to get this across the line.
Our goal in all of this work is growing the economy for everybody who lives here. Growing our sectors, and our workforces across all industries, will provide opportunities for people seeking employment. We will also be able to
form new small- and medium-sized companies through these smart investments in intentional sectors.
The EDC board has been hugely supportive of my leadership and the mission of the EDC, and for that, I am grateful. If our businesses do better, the economy will be better. We need to focus on that. I am also thankful for the EDC team. We’ve built a level of trust with the community, and we don’t just talk the talk. We walk the walk and lead.
With much appreciation, I acknowledge the longtime service of Karen Tetreault, our senior executive assistant of 17 years who left in June to join the Springfield Regional Chamber team. And I thank my vice president and chief of staff, Xiomara Albán DeLobato; Breyani Smith, our executive assistant; Kayla Soto, our associate director; and Anne DeWolf, director of operations; and the entire operations team: Carrie Dzialo, Aurora Pierangelo, and Steve Wolf. Also critical to our work are Anne Kandilis, director of Springfield WORKS/Working Cities Challenge; Hannah Reuter, director of the Cliff Effect Pilot Program; and Hope Ross Gibaldi, executive director of Valley Venture Mentors.
With our municipal colleagues and EDC members, their esteemed companies and institutions, and our community leaders, we are poised to be true leaders in this region, and in 2024, we took broad steps to get there.
I am proud of my tenure at EDC as president and CEO—and so proud to serve our community members of Western Massachusetts with the hope of growth and success, for all.
Rick Sullivan PRESIDENT & CEO
A Recognized Catalyst, Building a Vision for Economic Transformation A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR
It’s been another stellar year for the EDC. When you’re working at the most macro level, it takes a while for initiatives to come together, and now that we are seeing cohesion, it’s deeply satisfying.
This year, thanks to the white paper that published in January, one of the biggest transformations has been achieving statewide recognition as a powerhouse economy on the western side of Massachusetts and a key support for the entire state. We are being seen as a legitimate player in the elevation of the state’s goals. We’ve started to harness our assets as a region and leverage them to be able to support small business development and the growth of our small- and mediumsized businesses.
Rick Sullivan’s leadership is key in enhancing our reputation as a region. He has cultivated relationships on the east side of our state so that there is recognition of the assets, the talent, and the collaboration for Western Mass. We are seen as stronger as a region, particularly because of our ability to pull together and work collaboratively, which is not an asset of all regions. It is an asset of ours, and that’s why the EDC is so effective. We are the ones who are cultivating. We are advocating. We are having conversations to bring different groups of people together in different businesses and providing data on opportunities, strengths, and where we’re lacking.
We are stronger than we were five years ago as we help an entire region come together around several key initiatives, one of the most significant being the strategy to grow industry clusters in manufacturing and food science. We also recognize the need to conduct more research and development and create some new opportunities. The white paper benchmarked other midsized regions like ours and noticed their successes in growth were through research and development. That’s an important trend.
We’re developing unity, deciding how we will invest in our vision for economic transformation. Building off UMass Amherst’s food science focus and leveraging
our food providers in the area—from farming groups and leaders like Big Y and co-ops—we have a unique opportunity for the collaboration we are so good at. We have the chance to create a Pioneer Valley food innovation hub and move into innovation in food storage. This allows us to continue to help small businesses expand their operations.
We also continue to create accelerators with manufacturing and help medium organizations grow and startups to incubate. And we continue to seek grants for ongoing work in clean energy, incubating new technologies, and focusing on climate change initiatives.
Our new strategic plan was finalized this year, strengthening our vision statement and focusing on a value proposition that the EDC is the region’s recognized economic catalyst, working in partnership with affiliated organizations to create jobs, develop the workforce, and attract new businesses. The plan has given us a clearer focus and allowed us to incorporate more metrics to evaluate success.
We look forward to taking this new focus, and our strength and cohesion, into 2025.
Christina Royal, Ph.D. EDC BOARD CHAIR
“Everything we do has a direct impact on other human beings in Western Massachusetts. Economic successes flow from businesses and board rooms to homes and schools.”
XIOMARA ALBÁN DELOBATO, EDC VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF
STAFF
Focusing on people, relationships to create the power to convene and make change
WE ARE THE WESTERN MASS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS INTANGIBLE.
Unless you are on the phone with us, in the board and meeting rooms, messaging across various platforms, or lined up on our Zoom screens, you might miss the most essential work we do.
LISTENING. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
We do this so we understand the region’s dynamics. Its strengths, weaknesses. The areas where we want to apply our influence. And we do it so that we have that influence. By building trust with businesspeople from all sectors, our members, affiliates, local elected officials, and state legislators, we are creating assurance in our leadership and direction. We are making clear that we are conveners and agents of change.
Our work takes vision, energy, commitment, direction. And it takes time and momentum.
But our work is valid, and our results couldn’t be more vivid. Take our white paper by MassINC and Cambridge Econometrics Inc., for instance. We outlined recommendations on where to make multi-million-dollar investments in the region, with precision manufacturing, IT, biomanufacturing, and clean tech rising up as viable new sectors.
Our paper was commissioned in 2023 and published in January of this year, but we didn’t wait around to see what results it might bring. We undertook a mammoth effort to get in front of the decision-makers at the statehouse and secure their support. It was critical to collaborate with our legislators to get this off the ground.
“That funding from the Economic Development Bond Bill will be invested in the region,” said Xiomara Albán DeLobato, our vice president and chief of staff. “It will
create jobs, trainings, a space for businesses and entrepreneurs to gain competitive advantage, investing money to unlock opportunities.”
AND THAT IS OUR WHY. WE WANT TO HAVE IMPACT.
“The impact as a whole this past year is unprecedented,” DeLobato says. “We have moved into this space of being a powerful resource and connector—to small businesses, to business leaders, to community members who had never connected with the EDC in the past. We’ve been really intentional for the past several years in rebranding ourselves and working towards a community based approach.” We bring people together. We help drive business objectives and initiatives and make them relevant. We connect entrepreneurs to financial resources and members to legislators. That has been deliberate in pivoting the organization.
“Everything we do has a direct impact on other human beings in Western Massachusetts,” DeLobato says. “Economic successes flow from businesses and board rooms to homes and schools.”
We connect the economy’s dots, and the results are substantial and meaningful.
Our work takes vision, energy, commitment, direction. And it takes time and momentum.
The Strength in Coalition Building
Collaboration and inclusion are transformative forces that fuel innovation, resilience, and economic vitality.
Our commitment to advancing equity and inclusion is intentionally woven into our Strategic Plan to ensure opportunity for all. This focus is not a transient trend but a fundamental requirement for building stronger businesses, empowered communities, and sustainable futures. By prioritizing equity, the EDC is catalyzing systemic change, creating pathways for shared prosperity and a regional economy rooted in collaboration and mutual respect.
We remain steadfast and intentional in our mission to foster systemic change and create a thriving, inclusive economy and continue to focus on how we integrate this focus into the core strategies for the EDC and the region to ensure we have healthy and equitable populations.
Drivers of Growth and Change
Our EDC team works tirelessly at building relationships with all of our stakeholders, from community businesses and organizations to members to state legislators and elected officials across the region. Our work takes insight, reflection, time, and effort. We are perpetually piloting growth and change. Together, we operate as one strong engine for economics, and that’s what makes us impactful. Together, we work so that all might prosper.
Kayla
Breyani
Carrie Dzialo SENIOR ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST, OPERATIONS TEAM
Aurora Pierangelo ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST, OPERATIONS TEAM
Steve
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONS
Wolf MANAGER OF
TEAM
Anne Kandilis INITIATIVE DIRECTOR, SPRINGFIELD WORKS/ WORKING CITIES CHALLENGE
Rick Sullivan PRESIDENT & CEO
Soto ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Xiomara Albán DeLobato VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OF STAFF
Smith EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Anne DeWolf DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Hannah Reuter CLIFF EFFECT PILOT PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SPRINGFIELD WORKS/ WORKING CITIES CHALLENGE
Hope Ross Gibaldi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VALLEY VENTURE MENTORS
Commit to Deepening the Work We Do
The EDC’s six subcommittees have now spent two years studying and reporting on their respective key focus areas: DEIB, education, infrastructure, legislation, new industry sectors, and strategic planning. What they do in smaller silos enhances and advances our work.
All of our subcommittee chairs, co-chairs, and members hold leadership positions at colleges and universities or at prestigious organizations across Western Massachusetts. Their time is in high demand, yet they give it to us—and to everyone who lives in the region. Their expertise helps us predict and adapt to economic shifts in our communities.
We give great thanks to these subcommittee teams for their dedication to economic growth and equity in Western Mass.
REPORTS FROM OUR SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING (DEIB) SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair, Crystal S. Neuhauser, Chief Development Officer, UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, UMass Amherst Foundation
The Focus: The DEIB Subcommittee has continued to advance the EDC’s mission of fostering an inclusive regional economy by bridging EDC’s organizational work with its broader membership. Through its efforts, the subcommittee emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as key drivers of growth and sustainable economic performance. Recognizing that equity and inclusion are not just ethical imperatives but also economic necessities, the subcommittee serves as a conduit to help business partners leverage DEIB to create a thriving, equitable economy that benefits all.
The work in 2024: We focused on implementing key aspects of the DEIB roadmap for 2023–2025 while
preparing for expanded initiatives in the coming year. A major accomplishment was conducting the EDC Workplace Engagement Survey among member organizations, which provided valuable insights into workplace dynamics and growth strategies and shed light on trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing DEIB practices in the regional workforce. These findings are foundational to shaping future strategies and initiatives. The subcommittee also played a critical role in integrating DEIB priorities into the EDC’s updated strategic plan for 2024–2027. By aligning these initiatives with the organization’s broader goals, the subcommittee ensured that the EDC’s commitment to building an equitable economy is firmly embedded in its longterm vision. This integration underscores the subcommittee’s dedication to driving systemic change that extends beyond the EDC and positively impacts the broader regional economy.
Sneak peek at 2025: The DEIB Subcommittee will focus on resource development and professional development. Resource development efforts will include creating an asset map to consolidate and share DEIB resources across the region. Professional development will involve expanding educational opportunities for EDC staff, members, and the broader community.
EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair, Tiffany Espinosa, Executive Director, Professional and Graduate Education Programs, Mount Holyoke College
The focus: We advocate for educational policy that will influence and support workforce development while helping to prepare the next generation to live, work, or serve. We also raise awareness and leverage the higher ed system in Western Mass.
The work in 2024: The subcommittee underwent a leadership transition in a shift from former Chair Sandra J. Doran, J.D., to Tiffany Espinosa. We updated the vision and priorities of the subcommittee, considering what areas of focus we can take on to provide thought leadership and
guidance for the EDC membership and leadership team at the intersection of the business community and education, learning and development.
Sneak peek at 2025: We are still in the process of reorientation so that we can come out strong in 2025.
INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair, Craig Reed, Chief Financial Officer, All State Materials Group
The focus: To act as a catalyst and influencer to support infrastructure projects and focus areas that will help support regional economic opportunity, growth, and resilience. The group also advocates for the continued development of roads, bridges, and additional infrastructure monies from the federal government, remaining inclusive of rural and urban regional development.
The work in 2024: We discussed prioritizing railroad safety and awareness of hazardous materials transiting our region via rail.
Sneak peek at 2025: We plan to have railroad representatives and government officials participate in discussions about these topics.
LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
Co-Chairs, David Chase, Vice President, Commercial Lending, Freedom Credit Union Diane Syznal President, Springfield Regional Chamber
The focus: We keep an eye on the larger issues that impact economic development and growth of Western Massachusetts, such as investments in transportation, housing, workforce development, climate initiatives, and education/childcare.
The work in 2024: Close collaboration with the local partners, including chambers, businesses, and nonprofits, allowing the subcommittee to coordinate and amplify
its voice on the business issues that are important to our members. Monitoring matters that affect the cost of doing business, regional competitiveness, and the barriers that affect economic mobility, we strive to improve the quality of life and provide an opportunity for policy makers to hear the Western Massachusetts perspective on these important issues.
Sneak peek at 2025: A primary focus will be appropriating the funds from the Economic Development Bond Bill and getting it out into our communities along with rolling out policies at the state level around energy, taxation, and other areas that present themselves as critical. It will also be important to set priorities on where the state should be investing and in what programs and using our lobbying capacity to move priority agenda items.
NEW INDUSTRY SECTORS SUBCOMMITTEE
Chair, John Cook, PhD, President, Springfield Technical Community College
The focus: The New Industry Sectors Subcommittee continues to explore and develop emerging industries with high-growth potential in Western Massachusetts, focusing on quantum technology, food science, and other innovation-driven sectors.
The work in 2024: The New Industry Sectors Subcommittee, with leveraging of the 2024 Prospectus for Transformative Economic Investment, held multiple meetings over the past year with consideration for those economic segments that can accelerate inclusive growth in our region. The sectors inviting our attention included quantum technology, cybersecurity and food science in particular. Across five convenings, including a field trip/ site visit to Wellspring Harvest, an urban hydroponic farm in Springfield, we considered regional strategies, talked with experts, including faculty from UMass Amherst, and discussed how to leverage the policy of MassEducate/ MassReconnect, which is a free community college in the Commonwealth. One key milestone the subcommittee celebrated was legislative advocacy for the recently signed Economic Development Bond Bill, which included, by way of MassTech, $40 million for a Quantum Innovation Hub in Springfield, in addition to $30 million for Food Science investment in the Pioneer Valley.
Looking ahead to 2025: The work now shifts to ensuring Economic Development Bond Bill funds are appropriated. We also welcome the development by EDC staff of data/metrics to make clear the current state
of nascent segments, and to better gauge future economic and job growth, including career expansion for historically underrepresented groups in our region. We also seek cross-committee engagement that includes the potential for joint meetings with the Education and DEIB Subcommittees respectively, to ensure EDC work is broadly comprehensive.
STRATEGIC PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE
Co-Chairs, Tricia Canavan, CEO, Tech Foundry (left), and Christina Royal, PhD President and CEO, Infinite Unlearning, LLC (below)
The focus: Driving equitable career opportunities, responsive workforce development and economic growth through strategic planning and innovation are key goals of the EDC’s Strategic Planning Subcommittee. This analysis and framework supports future planning for the EDC, and charts the course for the work of the organization.
The work in 2024: The subcommittee now works to support the EDC staff and board to effectively operationalize the goals defined through our 2023 planning process. As we review the accomplishments of 2024, we are proud to report that 90% of strategic goals for this year were achieved, including advancing advocacy for the $70 million Economic Development Bond Bill, securing funding for the cybersecurity center and the quantum and food science industry sectors. To view the current strategic plan, visit westernmassedc.com.
Sneak peek at 2025: Continue with implementation, including aligning priorities with the state’s economic development bill that passed recently.
Membership
The EDC is governed by a Board of Directors that includes elected representatives of the EDC’s membership. The membership includes the region’s mayors, CEOs of major corporations, and the chancellors and presidents of area colleges and universities. These local leaders embrace our vision for the future, and they share ownership of our accomplishments. Meet our leadership team and members.
EDC Executive Committee
Christina Royal BOARD CHAIR PRESIDENT AND CEO, INFINITE UNLEARNING, LLC
Gus Kim FIRST VICE CHAIR VICE PRESIDENT AND LEGAL COUNSEL, MGM SPRINGFIELD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Charlie D'Amour
MEMBER AT LARGE PRESIDENT AND CEO, BIG Y
Sam Skura SECOND VICE CHAIR PRESIDENT, BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, HOSPITAL OPERATIONS, BAYSTATE HEALTH
George Arwady MEMBER AT LARGE PUBLISHER AND CEO, THE REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER
Jaimye Kelley TREASURER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL BANKING, M&T BANK EXECUTIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Tricia Canavan PAST CHAIR CEO, TECH FOUNDRY
Board of Directors and Membership
NEW MEMBERS: REPRESENTED WITH AN • , BOARD MEMBERS: REPRESENTED IN BLUE ITALICS
AECOM/Tishman, Tom Tilas, Vice President
A.L. Griggs Industries, Inc., Al Griggs, President
All States Materials Group, Craig Reed, CFO
American International College, Nicole Cestero, Interim President
Amherst Business Improvement District (ABID) - Affiliate, Barry Roberts, ABID Chair
Associated Builders Inc., John Ciolek, Vice President of Sales, Finance & Administration •
Balise Auto, Tim Ingerson, Executive Vice President & CFO
bankESB, Gary Turku, Senior Vice President
Bay Path University, Sandra Doran, President
Baystate Health, Inc., Mark Keroack, President & CEO
CLERK PRESIDENT AND CEO, GOLDEN
Eric Weinstein MEMBER AT LARGE LEAD GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ADVISOR, MASS
Berkshire Bank, Keith Nesbitt, Senior Vice President, Team Leader Business Banking
Berkshire Gas, Sue Kristjansson, President & COO
Big Y Foods, Inc., Charlie D'Amour, Executive Board Chair and Former President & CEO
Bradley International Airport, Kevin Dillon, Executive Director
Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas, LLP, Daniel Finnegan, Esq., Partner
BusinessWest, Kate Campiti, Associate Publisher
City of Agawam, Christopher Johnson, Mayor
City of Chicopee, John Vieau, Mayor
City of Easthampton, Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor
Cesar Ruiz
YEARS HOME CARE SERVICE
City of Greenfield, Viriginia (Ginny) Desorgher, Mayor
City of Holyoke, Joshua Garcia, Mayor
City of Northampton, Gina-Louise Sciarra, Mayor
City of Springfield, Domenic Sarno, Mayor
City of West Springfield, William Reichelt, Mayor
City of Westfield, Michael McCabe, Mayor
Comcast, Daniel M. Glanville, Vice President Government Affairs, CT-West Region
Common Capital Inc., Raymond Lanza-Weil, President
Community Foundation of Western Mass, Megan Burke, President and CEO
Country Bank, Paul Scully, President
CRRC MA, Wang Zhaofu, President
CSX, Maurice O’Connell, Senior Director State Relations
Davis Foundation, Laurel Ferretti, Chair of the Board
Dean Tech, Joel McAulliffe •
Delta Dental Massachusetts, Francis Orlando, Vice President of Public Affairs •
Eastern States Exposition, Gene Cassidy, President
Eastman Chemical/Solutia, Shawn Pace, Site Manager Indian Orchard
Elms College, Harry Dumay, President
East of the River Chamber (ERC5) - Affiliate, Erin Bissonnette, ERC5 Chair
Eversource, Mike Vedovelli, Manager Community Relations & Economic Development
FirstLight Power, Inc., Andy Brydges, Director of Community Relations
Fitzgerald Law, Seth Stratton, Managing Shareholder
Florence Bank, Matt Garrity, President & CEO
Focus Springfield, Steve Cary, President
Freedom Credit Union, David Chase Sr., Vice President Member Business Services
Golden Years Home Care Services, Cesar Ruiz, President & CEO
Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB)Affiliate, Gene Cassidy, GSCVB Chair
Greenfield Community College, Michelle Schutt, President
Greenfield Co-Operative Bank, Anthony Worden, President & CEO
Health New England, Richard Swift, President
Holyoke Community College, George Timmons, President
Holyoke Gas & Electric, James N. Lavelle, General Manager
Hope Foundation for Youth and Families, Robert Bolduc, President
Individual Contributor, Dianne Fuller Doherty
Infinite Unlearning, LLC, Christina Royal, President & CEO
Kinsley Power Group, David Kinsley, President •
Liberty Bank, Glenn Davis, First Vice President, Community Development /CRA Officer •
LLumin, Edward Garibian, President
M & T Bank, Jaimye Kelley, Senior Vice President, Team Leader
Markens Group, Inc., Ben Markens, President & CEO
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., Ron DeCurzio, CEO
MassLive, Josh Macht, President
MassMutual, Eric Weinstein, Lead Government Relations Advisor
Maybury Material Handling, John Maybury, President
MGM Resorts International, Gus Kim, Vice President and Legal Counsel
Monarch Enterprises, Paul Picknelly, President
Monson Savings, Daniel Moriarty, President
Mount Holyoke College, Danielle Holley, President
National Grid, Kevin O’Shea, Director of Government Affairs
New Valley Bank and Trust, Jeffery Sullivan, President & CEO
OMG, Inc., Hubert McGovern, President & CEO
Peerless Precision, Inc., Kristin Carlson, President
PeoplesBank, Thomas Senecal, President & CEO
Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc., Peter A. Picknelly, Jr., President
Pharmaceutical Care Management Assoc., Sam Hallemeier, Director, State Affairs
Polish National Credit Union, James Kelly, President
Savage Arms, Al Kasper, President & CEO
Six Flags New England, Peter Carmichael, Park President
Smith College, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President
Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) - Affiliate, James Hickson, SBID Chair
Springfield College, Mary Beth Cooper, President
Springfield Regional Chamber (SRC) - Affiliate, Daniel Keenan, SRC Chair
Springfield Technical Community College, John Cook, President
Sulco Warehousing & Logistics, Todd Goodrich, CEO
TD Bank, Nathaniel L. Tassinari, Regional Vice President, Western Massachusetts
Tech Foundry, Tricia Canavan, CEO
The Republican, George Arwady, Publisher & CEO
The Vann Group, Kevin Vann, Chairman
Town of Amherst, Paul Bockelman, Town Manager
Trinity Health/Mercy Medical Center, Deborah Bitsoli, President, Medical Group & Provider Services
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Javier Reyes, Chancellor
U.S. Tsubaki Automotive, Daniel Butterfield, President
Verizon, Ellen Cummings, Regional Director of External Affairs
Wayfinders, Keith Fairey, President & CEO
Western Mass News-Gray Television, Patience Hetrick, News Director
Western New England University, Robert Johnson, President
Westfield Bank, Philip Goncalves, Senior Vice President
Westfield Gas & Electric, Tom Flaherty, General Manager
Westfield State University, Linda Thompson, President
Westover Airport (WMDC) - Affiliate, John Libera, WMDC Chair
WWLP-22 News, Robert Simone, Vice President and General Manager
YWCA of Western Massachusetts, Elizabeth Dineen, CEO
Fostering a Global Reach.
“It’s all about relationships. We need to build the relationships in a way that is beneficial to both sides. There is a great deal of respect and mutual benefit.”
Rick Sullivan President and CEO
Our work in building relationships does not end at the Massachusetts borders. We have also been nurturing a global perspective that went into high gear this year. In 2024, we participated in a fellowship program with the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of International Relations and hosted a professional fellow from El Salvador. We also strengthened relationships with leaders in Dingle, Ireland, in the spring, visiting the country with members of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Visitors Bureau. Our goal was to learn about that country’s economics and tourism strategies for engaging visitors. Conversations with the Kerry County Consulate continued in the fall, when a contingent visited our region, enjoying the Big E, UMass Amherst, and Holyoke Community College. Shortly afterwards, we had a visit from the Canadian Consulate.
“It’s all about relationships,” President and CEO Rick Sullivan says. “We need to build the relationships in a way that is beneficial to both sides. There is a great deal of respect and mutual benefit.”
Learn more about our global reach and perspective.
Welcoming a Fellow from El Salvador
Natalia Fernandez was the fellow from El Salvador who worked with us as part of an exchange via the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of International Relations. We did, indeed, exchange much, each learning from the other about economic and workforce development in our respective countries.
We learned from Fernandez that the El Salvadoran government is structured in a way that does not encourage its citizens to work. Roughly 40 percent live in severe poverty, and there is no infrastructure in place for working parents, disproportionately impacting moms, many of whom are forced to leave their children with neighbors or friends in order to earn an income. There are no childcare
options that are affordable and trusted. Creating a system for working mothers became the focus of the action plan that Fernandez was charged with creating as part of her fellowship.
Fernandez was mentored by Xiomara Albán DeLobato, vice president and chief of staff for the EDC, from May 15 through June 7. Fernandez met many leaders in Western Mass, and she took part in meetings and special projects, but the visit that most resonated was with Dawn DiStefano, Square One’s president and CEO. Fernandez learned about the nonprofit’s supports for mothers, including at-home childcare centers operated by moms. “Natalia was interested in that. It could be a game changer for her country,” DeLobato says. “That made sense for us to explore.”
Fernandez says the fellowship opened a new way to see how human interconnections work to help others achieve their goals. “I’ve come to the conclusion that interconnection driven by empathy is the game-changer for social impact.”
Presenting in the Emerald Isle
Our president and CEO Rick Sullivan traveled to West Springfield’s sister city Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, for eight days in May with the presidents of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Visitors Bureau, Diane Szynal and Mary Kay Wydra, respectively. Because tourism is a key industry sector in Western Mass, Sullivan, Syznal, and Wydra wanted to learn more about Ireland’s economics and tourism strategies for engaging visitors.
Wydra organized the trip with a focus on the traveltourism relationship and says, “We were delighted to lead the tourism and economic development trip to Dingle in County Kerry Ireland in 2024. Explore Western Mass
“Explore Western Mass and the Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance have collaborated for several years to promote the sister cities in our regions, so it was a natural extension of this relationship to add economic development officials to expand these efforts.”
- Mary Kay Wydra president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau
and the Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance have collaborated for several years to promote the sister cities in our regions, so it was a natural extension of this relationship to add economic development officials to expand these efforts.”
Sullivan says one key, unexpected highlight was the opportunity to do a presentation and introduction on the EDC’s white paper, commissioned in 2023 and published in January 2024. (See pages 17 and 18 to learn more about the white paper.) “The presentation was brief, but we laid out the groundwork, and what was fascinating was the immediate connection and interest in the work in food science being done in this area,” Sullivan says.
The group learned that Irish companies are also working on similar concepts, such as food storage, raising organic foods, the creation of local ice creams and the potential for local manufacturers, and higher-lever, cutting-edge research on alternative proteins. Our Irish hosts were captivated by the work being done in this area at UMass Amherst.
Their interest led them to visit Western Massachusetts in September.
Kerry County Consulate Enjoyed the Big E, UMass and Other Tours
Members of the Irish consulate have been visiting Western Mass for many years to take in the Big E in September. But this year when they journeyed here, they also had a keen interest in following up on the work being done in our region in food science.
For four days in the middle of September, EDC President and CEO Rick Sullivan and other leaders accompanied delegates from Kerry County, including mayors and business leaders, on stops with local educators working on sustainable food processing and strategies. This visit was a direct result of the relationship with the Greater Springfield
Visitors Bureau and its president, Mary Kay Wydra. Wydra and her team coordinated the trip and brought in all the local stakeholders.
The tour began at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke with John Goodhue, its executive director. The group then visited the $6.43 million facility available to Holyoke Community College’s culinary art students; at Cubit Coworks, visitors met with Jeff Hayden, vice president of business and community services. At the next stop, UMass Amherst, the contingent toured the dining hall and botanical garden and heard a presentation from Ken Toong, assistant vice chancellor of auxiliary enterprises administration, on food science and the university’s award-winning dining services.
“There were so many questions and connections,” Sullivan says. “They’re looking to connect back and have additional conversations on Zoom and connect with key people here to dive deeper.”
A Visit from the Hon. Bernadette Jordan
The Hon. Bernadette Jordan, Canada’s consul general, visited Western Mass in early October to meet with community leaders and those in manufacturing. The EDC hosted a round table discussion with industry leaders on the import and export of goods.
Xiomara Albán DeLobato, vice president and chief of staff for the EDC, said key in the discussions was building relationships not only with Canadian manufacturing leaders but also with those in communities from southern Vermont up to the Canadian border and as far south as northern Connecticut. “There is significant business mobility there,” DeLobato says. “We produce so many materials in this region, and down into Connecticut, that are then shipped to Canada. It generates a lot of revenue, and we want to take more advantage of it and be more strategic and collaborative.”
Action, Investment, and Future Growth
When our white paper was published by MassINC and Cambridge Econometrics Inc. in January 2024, it sparked a series of fantastic events we could not have predicted. Those interested in the substance of “Accelerating Inclusive Growth in the Pioneer Valley: A Prospectus for Transformative Investment in 21st Century Industries,” ranged from journalists to donors to state leaders and legislators.
“It was the catalyst for a lot of work that will move us into 2025,” says Xiomara Albán DeLobato, vice president and chief of staff for the EDC.
We are immensely grateful to these organizations that helped fund the white paper: The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, The Davis Foundation, MassDevelopment, and The Massachusetts Competitiveness Partnership.
Authors Ben Forman and Dan Hodge describe the white paper as an economic development prospectus for Western Massachusetts. Prepared in partnership with Cambridge Econometrics, the analysis calls attention to the region’s competitive advantages in food science, advanced materials, and clean energy.
The 30-page document—available at massinc.org/ research/accelerating-inclusive-growth-in-the-pioneervalley/—was commissioned to help the EDC set the direction for the future. In addition to offering analysis and
The white paper was the biggest ask in Western Mass history with the $500 million suggested investment. What has been authored through an Economic Bond Bill is roughly $70 million for the creation of two new sectors: quantum computing and food science.
recommendations, the white paper also provides statistics on the local GDP—in Springfield, $50,000—and demographics for the region’s population. The authors identified the region’s three leading industries as paper, fabricated metal, and plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and the top five employers as MassMutual, UMass Amherst, Baystate Health, Big Y, and Westover Air Force Base.
The report made the case for targeted state investment in the Pioneer Valley and describes how a dedicated $500 million economic development fund would position the region for success in these sectors. It also outlined that such an investment would help the region leverage federal and private investments, and the combined spending would allow the region to:
• Attract and retain researchers
• Produce new income and payroll taxes
• Stimulate private construction, generating property taxes and sales taxes on materials and equipment
• Increase income and payroll taxes for workers involved in designing and building new facilities
The white paper was the biggest ask in Western Mass history with the $500 million suggested investment. What has been funded through an Economic Development Bond Bill is roughly $70 million for the creation of two new sectors: quantum computing and food science.
“These smart investments in intentional sectors will allow us to grow those economies. We have to leverage that and take advantage of it.”
Rick Sullivan President and CEO
With quantum, DeLobato explains, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative is a partner and was recently awarded $16 million to begin to develop a quantum science hub in Holyoke at the Massachusetts Computing Center. The hub will be a center for the development of various strategies on quantum science and how it dovetails into manufacturing.
“Quantum hardware production is one area in which, here in Western Mass, we have a competitive advantage. We have a talented labor workforce, and we also have the scientists,” DeLobato says.
Partners in the food science sector will, of course, center around UMass Amherst, and the chancellor is supportive. UMass has the number one best food science program in the country—and third best in the world—with food science experts, researchers and testing and development capabilities.
“We’ve been advocating for a Food Science Hub to help expand the Food Science Department at UMass,” DeLobato says, noting that entrepreneurs and businesses in food service across the region could make use of the hub to refine products. “The community would have access to some of the brightest minds in the industry and access to state-of-the-art equipment. This will evolve as funding is in hand and priorities are set.”
President and CEO Rick Sullivan says, even in development, these new hubs will create jobs in the region, and, once up and running, they will continue to enhance workforce development, supported by our flagship and ivy universities, community colleges, and tech schools.
“These smart investments in intentional sectors will allow us to grow those economies. We have to leverage that and take advantage of it,” he adds.
Industry Insights
The Western Mass EDC is honored to serve as the region’s recognized catalyst, leader, and influencer on issues related to business, economic growth, and workforce development.
As an organization, we aim to stimulate and facilitate a vigorous regional economy, encouraging and sustaining capital investment and quality job growth, and providing resources and information to businesses operating in or entering the region by aiding in expansion, relocation, and networking.
We believe, as part of our role, we are also educators, providing knowledge about key industries in our region. Our Industry Insight series was created to showcase key sectors. To date we’ve highlighted financial services, agriculture, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, tourism, and utilities.
“When neighbors look out for each other and share the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, great things can happen.”
Roger Crandall chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual
Financial Services
Our region is known as a powerful force in both national and international markets, and our members in the financial services industry in Western Massachusetts play a key role in that success. Contributing to the major accomplishment are multi-national banks, diverse alternative financing venture capital and angel investors options, and a dense concentration of insurance giants such as MassMutual.
Founded in 1851 in a single room, MassMutual had one purpose — to help people secure their futures and protect the ones they love. As breakthroughs in manufacturing moved more families into the middle class, insurance agent George Rice and his cousin, Caleb Rice, showed them how to protect their newfound wealth by helping them build long-term financial security for their families.
MassMutual issued $370,000 in life insurance coverage to families in its first year, and in 1923, reached the milestone of $1 billion in coverage issued. Today, MassMutual has more than $1 trillion in life insurance protection in force, helping generations of individuals and families endure the financial loss of a loved one.
As a mutual company, MassMutual’s interests have always been aligned directly with customers’ long-term needs. MassMutual’s commitment to strengthening communities is central to its Live Mutual philosophy. To this end, MassMutual and the MassMutual Foundation are dedicated to advancing social and economic opportunities so that all families can build their financial capability and thrive.
“Every company needs a strong base from which to build and grow, and for nearly 173 years, Massachusetts — and especially our home city of Springfield — has been our foundation,” says Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “When neighbors look out for each other and share the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, great things can happen.”
The MassMutual Foundation has provided immeasurable financial assistance across the Valley. Its recent list of philanthropic initiatives is long and includes: a $560,000 gift to the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts in 2024 to support greater access to social and economic opportunity via community grants; a $2 million grant to Way Finders’ City of Homes pilot program for equitable and affordable homeownership opportunities in the Springfield area; and a $1.5 million investment in New North Citizens’ Council’s Barbara Rivera Community Center in Springfield, a one-stop hub for social service programs.
Other EDC members in the financial services sector also do much to support the community’s health and wellness. They include bankESB, Berkshire Bank, Common Capital Inc., Country Bank, Florence Bank, Freedom Credit Union, Liberty Bank, M & T Bank, Monson Savings Bank, New Valley Bank and Trust, Peoples Bank, Polish National Credit Union, TD Bank and Westfield Bank.
Agriculture
Our agriculture sector literally feeds the region. It also offers rich history, a promising future, sustenance, innovation, economic growth, and opportunity.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources reports there are roughly 7,100 farms across Massachusetts that cover about 464,000 acres and offer an annual market value of over $607 million. Together Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties represent 27 percent of those agricultural sales. Top crops are hay, vegetables, corn for silage, potatoes, corn for grain, tobacco, and squash.
The Big E is one major champion of agriculture in the region, showcasing the importance of farming and providing a platform for local farmers and businesses to display their products to a massive audience. With agricultural exhibits, farm-to-table demonstrations, and livestock competitions, the fall fair highlights the critical connection between agriculture and the local economy.
“Agriculture is our culture,” says Eugene Cassidy, president and chief executive officer of Eastern States Exposition, a trusted EDC member.
For over a century, The Big E has celebrated the farms that supply our local populace, define our community’s way of life, and build a foundation for our future, seed by seed. This year, it recognized three local farms—Prospect Valley Farm in Westfield, Ciesluk Farms in Deerfield, and Cook Farms in Hadley—in a video series, “Stories from the Farm.”
Big Y is also an essential partner in the region’s agricultural ecosystem. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, Big Y has worked alongside area growers to bring fresh and local produce to their customers whenever possible during the growing season.
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates 84 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut,
“Our teams listen to farmers every day to keep a pulse on each crop as it is harvested and delivered to our markets."
Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y’s executive chairman
including 71 supermarkets, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors, and 10 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees.
“Our teams listen to farmers every day to keep a pulse on each crop as it is harvested and delivered to our markets,” says Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y’s executive chairman. “We are grateful to our farmers, local produce teams, and customers for their daily assistance in keeping local agriculture a vibrant part of our community.”
Hood and Agri-Mark are also among our largest and bestknown producers in the sector.
Healthcare
Boasting over 50,000 workers, nine hospitals, and 100 clinics or related facilities, healthcare is the largest private industry in Western Massachusetts and a primary economic driver for the region. Standing as the largest healthcare organization in Western Massachusetts and a powerhouse for economic growth is Baystate Health.
The local giant’s integrated healthcare system includes Baystate Medical Center, a teaching hospital and the region’s only level one trauma center; Baystate Children’s Hospital, the region’s only accredited, full-service children’s hospital; and three other community hospitals.
Baystate Health’s network also includes over 80 medical practices; Health New England, a health insurance provider; home care and hospice services; and comprehensive regional laboratory and diagnostic services. And each year, the network:
• Serves over 800,000 people throughout western New England
• Provides over 1.8 million outpatient visits
• Logs over 180,000 emergency visits
• Performs more than 37,000 surgeries
• Births more than 4,000 babies
Established with the founding of Springfield Hospital in 1883, Baystate Health has provided high-quality and compassionate healthcare in the Pioneer Valley for over 140 years and remains dedicated to its mission of improving community health with quality and compassion.
Baystate’s commitment to progress is evident in the “Hospital of the Future”—a nearly $300 million project that continues to move forward. This and the completion of Valley Springs, a $72 million inpatient behavioral health hospital in Holyoke, reflect the ongoing dedication to advancing healthcare infrastructure.
Baystate Health also strives to enrich the lives of those in the community through educational programming, local procurement of products and services, creating an inclusive and equitable work environment, and maintaining a commitment to economic growth and development.
Examples of its vital role in healthcare workforce education today include robust residency and fellowship programs, academic innovation, area college and university partnerships, and other innovative opportunities.
Baystate Health has received much recognition from esteemed associations in the industry, and Mark Keroack, MD, MPH, former president and CEO of Baystate Health, was recognized as a Health System CEO Influencer. Peter D. Banko now serves as president and CEO as Baystate Health continues its legacy of transformative leadership. He and Baystate are critical in the region’s Anchor Collaborative. It has also worked with the EDC and Common Capital to build a diverse business mentorship pilot that onramps local vendors and grows their businesses with Baystate, and it supports the EDC’s New Industry Sectors Subcommittee.
We are also proud of these EDC members in the healthcare sector: Delta Dental Massachusetts, Golden Years Home Care Services, Health New England, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, and Trinity Health/Mercy Medical Center.
Higher Education
Our area is known by some as the Knowledge Corridor as it boasts several esteemed higher education institutions that serve as pivotal economic engines. Our colleges and universities generate substantial economic activity through the creation of diverse jobs; an influx of student spending; groundbreaking research; and access to a wide array of cultural events, performances, and exhibitions.
The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts (AICU), which consists of 59 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities across the Bay State, commissioned an independent national research firm to conduct the first comprehensive assessment of the impact of their private colleges and universities since forming nearly 50 years ago. The 2023 report highlighted that, statewide, the annual economic impact is estimated at $71.1 billion.
In Western Mass, there are 11 AICU institutions, and it was noted that their annual economic impact is $3.3 billion. Further, the study noted that our colleges and universities support over 19,400 jobs, create $1.9 billion in operational spending and $140 million in alumni spending power.
Because systematic and financial barriers mean that two million Massachusetts residents over the age of 25 do not have a college degree, there exists a devastating gap in employed and non-employed individuals throughout the area. So, we are thrilled that the Department of Higher Education, in partnership with our public community colleges, created MassReconnect, a program aimed at making education more affordable and accessible to adult students. All three Western Mass community colleges—Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College—are eligible to serve
students through the MassReconnect program. Although evolving, the future of higher education in Western Massachusetts is promising. With ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships between academia, industry, and government, as well as initiatives focusing on workforce development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, we are poised to further boost the region’s economy. Our Education Subcommittee, led by Tiffany Espinosa, executive director of professional and graduate education programs at Mount Holyoke College, heightens the importance of both secondary education and higher education in relation to our growing workforce. (Read the subcommittee’s report on 2024 on Page 9.)
Our partners at Valley Venture Mentors also collaborate in the higher ed arena. VVM and The Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have a partnership that has resulted in the successful creation of the Collegiate Summer Venture Program—a two-month intensive training and curriculum offering support, lessons from subject matter experts, and investor connections. (Learn more about VVM’s work on Page 31.)
We are proud to partner with these stewards of economic progress and cultural enrichment, all of whom play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our region: Infinite Unlearning, LLC, American International College, Bay Path University, Elms College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Western New England University, and Westfield State University.
Manufacturing
While the roots of manufacturing in Western Massachusetts date back to 1905, the sector remains a vital part of our local economy. Although large manufacturers have declined, and thus the workforce they employ has as well, there are many smaller companies that now play a key role in employment and production. According to the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, most of these small to medium enterprises are engaged in aerospace defense, including robotics, medical devices, commercial, and renewable energy.
In our midst, companies are producing parts for stealth fighters, medical devices, and even green concrete. Our member OMG in Agawam makes specialty roofing fasteners and tools, and U.S. Tsubaki Automotive in Holyoke and Chicopee produce automotive timing chains. Other recent success stories include the awarding of sizable grants to five area companies, including Bay State Machine in Easthampton and Cartamundi in East Longmeadow.
“We’re not your grandfather’s shop. Machinery is both more complex and cleaner, and one ongoing challenge is educating not only young people but their parents about this new reality.”
Susan Kasa President of Boulevard Machine
The ripple effect of these manufacturers, which is vital for sustaining regional economic health, is the robust ecosystem created to support suppliers, service providers, and logistics companies. This interconnectedness was evident in another regional victory—the mutual success story of Cofab Design and Clean Crop Technologies. Clean Crop is an agtech company, and Cofab Design, a mechanical product development studio. They now share a building in Holyoke and collaborate one floor apart.
The future of manufacturing in Western Massachusetts is promising, with ongoing investments in technology, sustainability, and workforce development. Again this year we partnered with FORGE, MassDevelopment, and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing to hold the “State of Manufacturing.” Local manufacturing leaders gathered to reflect on the economic successes in 2024, explore trends and industry news, foster collaboration discussions, and take a peek at opportunities in 2025.
We also commissioned a paper with the Donahue Institute, “Massachusetts Strengths & Challenges in the Post-Pandemic
Economy.” The document highlights that Massachusetts has experienced a strong recovery from the pandemic; knowledge-based industries continue to drive growth; prosperity has not been felt evenly throughout the state; demographic headwinds will limit economic growth in coming years; and domestic outmigration is a serious concern for the state.
Quantum—or precision—manufacturing is a growing center of excellence in our region. (Learn more about this on pages 17 and 18.) This helps debunk the perception that manufacturing is old school. Susan Kasa, president of Boulevard Machine in Westfield, told BusinessWest, “We’re not your grandfather’s shop. Machinery is both more complex and cleaner, and one ongoing challenge is educating not only young people but their parents about this new reality.”
Area schools, vocational programs, and higher education institutions are aligning with manufacturers to cultivate a skilled and ready workforce. Programs emphasizing STEM, alongside internships and apprenticeships, equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in high-tech manufacturing environments and provide valuable hands-on experience.
We are pleased to have these manufacturing enterprises in our membership: All States Materials Group, CRRC MA, Eastman Chemical/Solutia, Maybury Material Handling, OMG, Inc., Peerless Precision, Inc., Savage Arms, U.S. Tsubaki Automotive, and Yankee Candle.
Tourism
In Western Massachusetts, the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry play a tremendous role in our economy, including impacts such as increased tax revenue, personal income growth, more employment opportunities, investment in infrastructure, sustainable development, and the conservation of cultural and natural heritage.
We work closely with our affiliates at the Greater Springfield Convention Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) to understand the priorities and needs of businesses in this sector. Most recently, the bureau shared information from a study it commissioned in early 2023 that examined survey data from visitors to three Western Massachusetts counties. The study also looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and lodging and meals tax receipts from various municipalities, among other sources.
The results, gathered through research conducted by Tourism Economics, a tourism industry firm, provided a much-needed reminder that the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy of the region cannot be underestimated, as it continues to represent a significant share of the state’s income.
A snapshot of the findings:
• Four million visitors came to the region during 2022.
• In that same year, tourism in Western Massachusetts had a cumulative economic impact of $1.3 billion across Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties.
• That impact included $136 million in taxes for the region's cities, towns, and the state.
• Direct spending by visitors on such things as hotels, retail, and restaurants, totaled $872 million.
• Overnight visitors typically spent almost three times more than day-trippers.
• The largest share of visitors to the area came from Boston and New York City, with other “visitor feeder markets,” including Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence, and Albany.
• Tourism supported 11,466 jobs in the region, which was up 7 percent over 2021.
“We have many members who directly benefit from tourism,” says Grace Barone, executive director of Western Mass EDC Affiliate, the East Of The River Five Town Chamber (ERC5). “However, tourism is about more than just those who directly profit from it. It also benefits residents. For example, when someone visits the area, those visitor dollars help keep our local attractions and amenities open for locals to enjoy.”
Each of the three counties served by the Western Mass EDC has terrific tourism attractions and events generating significant economic impact. In each, there are historic and outdoor attractions, and each has its own special giants as well, which can include walkable downtowns, notable races and competitions, bicycle trails, concert series, festivals, and many other attractions.
Proud to call itself home to many famed attractions, Western Mass can boast of Six Flags New England, Yankee Candle Village, the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, MGM Springfield, and Historic Deerfield.
Thank you to our members in the tourism and hospitality industry: Eastern States Exposition, MGM Springfield, and Six Flags New England.
Utilities
The utility industry in Western Massachusetts serves as a vital foundation for not only the region’s households but also businesses and essential services. Across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, this sector delivers electricity, natural gas, water, and, increasingly, renewable energy. As communities strive toward sustainability, the role of utilities is evolving rapidly, incorporating new technologies and innovative approaches to meet the area’s current and future needs.
Utility companies in the region employ many area residents and support numerous small businesses in maintenance, repair, and infrastructure services. Economically, the sector contributes significantly to the local economy and generates substantial tax revenues that support public services and infrastructure development.
This data on the state as a whole, provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, is compelling:
● In 2022, about 52% of Massachusetts households used natural gas for home heating; about 27% relied on petroleum products; and 18% used electricity. The rest used wood or other fuels and some used no fuels.
● In 2021, Massachusetts used less energy to produce a dollar of GDP than any other state except New York.
● In 2022, Massachusetts consumed twice as much electricity as the state produced, but the state uses less electricity per capita than all but four other states.
● In 2022, solar energy accounted for 22% of Massachusetts' total in-state electricity net generation and accounted for 61% of New England’s total solar electricity generation. Massachusetts also ranked eighth in the nation in net generation from all solar in 2022.
The roots of the utility industry in Western Massachusetts date back to the late 19th century, with the establishment of small-scale electric plants and water systems. By the early 20th century, as electrification swept the nation, local power companies began constructing larger facilities across the region. Over time, the industry consolidated into regional providers that developed sophisticated networks for electricity, water, and natural gas, improving reliability and expanding coverage.
More recently, a push toward renewable energy sources has encouraged further investment in solar, wind, and hydropower, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future in the region. Western Massachusetts has become a center for utility-sector innovation, particularly in renewable energy and smart grid technology. Local utilities have invested in projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency, with the region’s community solar programs standing out as a national example.
Through these programs, residents and small businesses can buy into solar power without needing installations on their property, fostering widespread renewable energy access. The area’s utilities are also embracing smart grid advancements. These systems enable real-time monitoring of energy flows, reducing waste and enabling quicker responses to outages. Collaborations with institutions like UMass Amherst allow the region to tap into local expertise, creating a pipeline of innovative ideas and skilled workers who are ready to advance the industry.
Western Massachusetts has celebrated several recent successes and wins in the utility sector with national accolades granted to Eversource, currently the primary electricity provider in Western Massachusetts, when it was named on TIME’s List of World’s Best Companies for 2024. And recently, the state awarded just shy of $2 million in grants to cities and towns across the commonwealth, including many in Western Mass.
Looking ahead, the utility sector in Western Massachusetts faces challenges and opportunities. Aging infrastructure and rising demand for energy are pressing concerns, yet the region’s commitment to renewable energy and technological innovation presents a path forward.
We appreciate our members in the utility sector: Berkshire Gas, Comcast, Eversource, FirstLight Power, Inc., Holyoke Gas & Electric, LLumin Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., National Grid, and Westfield Gas & Electric.
Amplifying the work of our affiliates
Nine area organizations serve as our partners and affiliates, operating under our umbrella organization.
We have always been closely tied, supporting them with business services such as pension plans, 401K plans, and HR and IT support in a shared model that works for all involved.
Because our relationships are important to us, this year, we began the work of sharing visions with our affiliates to align our business objectives and goals. We are intentionally lifting up our affiliates and their initiatives, helping them build key relationships outside of their day-to-day operations.
“We’re making sure we’re amplifying their work and connecting them to the resources they need in the community and in the legislation, supporting their projects and introducing them to the region,” says Xiomara Albán DeLobato, vice president and chief of staff for the EDC. “We have been much more active in making sure that people know what is happening with our affiliates. We have a much more collaborative approach in strategizing alignment.”
AMHERST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
35 South Pleasant St., Amherst amherstdowntown.com
Formed in 2011 to promote business and cultural activity in Amherst, the BID continues to build a connected and resilient district. This year, leaders spearheaded several creative initiatives that attracted locals and visitors to the downtown—everything from outdoor dining parklets, holiday lighting, and outdoor concerts. A focus remains on downtown clean-up, beautification, and placemaking. Amherst remains a quintessential New England college town and a vibrant year-round destination, boasting global dining, unique retail, and excellent salons and services. An arts and culture hub, Amherst is home to world-class museums, award-winning independent cinema, and it’s alive with public art, galleries, and frequent festivals, live music, and performances, among other cultural activities in downtown, and the colleges and university in town.
ERC5 EAST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
280 North Main St., Suite 2, East Longmeadow erc5.com
The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce continues to experience remarkable growth, with a thriving podcast series and expanding membership reaching beyond the five towns we represent. The chamber remains committed to supporting local youth and providing career exploration opportunities. It has also obtained another dementia/ age-friendly designation for Wilbraham, leaving just two more towns to achieve this important designation. The chamber’s newsletter, ribbon cuttings, and overall value to members have all seen impressive increases, demonstrating the chamber’s pivotal role in fostering economic development in the region.
FOCUS SPRINGFIELD
1200 Main St., Springfield focusspringfield.com
FOCUS Springfield Community TV is the city’s television station, offering three specific channels for coverage of arts and cultural events, documentaries, etc.; educational content primarily from the city’s schools; and government meetings. In 2024, a significant success story was watching the number of viewers in the online audience grow. Coverage of municipal meetings reached over 20,000 viewers in 2024. This represents a continued increasing trend of civic engagement since FOCUS Springfield expanded coverage during the pandemic. A second inspiring moment came with the city’s high school graduations, recorded in June. Many of the students were first-generation graduates. These ceremonies were witnessed by almost 40,000 viewers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. And finally, the 2024 Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival once again featured our camerawork on a 35-foot screen in front of over 5,000 live audience members over the two-day festival, and available ondemand afterwards on the FOCUS YouTube channel. While our traditional television audience remains our primary mission, getting the positive stories about Springfield beyond our city line via the internet is good news indeed.
GREATER SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
1441 Main St., Springfield explorewesternmass.com
The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) is a membership-based destination marketing organization promoting Western Mass as an ideal location to convention and meeting planners, leisure visitors, sports rights holders, and group tour operators. Highlights from the year 2024 include hosting the second annual IRONMAN 70.3 Western Mass Triathlon, which grew by 200 participants and included eight different communities for this year’s course. We also welcomed the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Tournament to the MassMutual Center in March and the Motor Maids Inc. convention in July. The GSCVB led a second successful tourism and economic development mission to West Springfield’s sister city Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, and also met with travel writers and social media content creators in Dublin in the spring. Numerous familiarization tours and special events to promote the region during our shoulder season were also hosted. Tourism and hospitality remains a leading industry in the region, representing over 11,000 jobs, which makes it the third largest employment sector. Western Mass attracts over four million visitors who contribute $1.3 billion in total sales to the local economy and contribute $136 million in state and local taxes.
MAKE-IT SPRINGFIELD
286 Bridge St., Springfield makeitspringfield.org
Make-It Springfield serves the creative needs of our community. We schedule workshops, hire skilled instructors, maintain equipment, and have free open studio hours for public access. We respond to community interests, like hosting a social circle for creative men, sponsoring tables at the local farmer’s markets for makers to sell products, providing space for groups to gather for events and collaborating with organizations to provide skills training for adults. We also partner with schools and run summer teen programs with adult mentors and transportation options for those who need it. Starting in 2016 as a pop-up makerspace in an empty storefront in downtown Springfield, Make-It is now a thriving organization occupying almost 4,000 square feet and hosting over 3,000 visits in 2024.
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
1243 Main St., Springfield springfielddowntown.com
The Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID), established in 1998, is the oldest BID in Massachusetts. Covering 26 blocks of downtown Springfield, SBID is a private, not-for-profit organization that serves as a catalyst for economic, cultural, and social revitalization. As the third-largest city in the state, Springfield is a vibrant hub of arts, culture, and entertainment, offering galleries, museums, theaters, restaurants, music, and stunning architecture for residents and visitors alike.
Since its inception, the SBID has been committed to fostering growth and development within the downtown community. The organization’s mission is to revitalize and connect downtown Springfield by leveraging resources and partnerships. Efforts focus on enhancing marketing and visibility, collaborating with cultural organizations, maintaining clean and safe streets, upgrading and renewing infrastructure, and supporting local businesses. Through these initiatives, the SBID aims to create a thriving and attractive district where people want to live, work, and play.
SPRINGFIELD CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS
127 State St., fourth floor, Springfield springfieldculture.org
At the Springfield Cultural Partnership, we are proud to reflect on a year of growth and creativity. Our mission to foster civic engagement and arts education in the city of Springfield continues to thrive as we work to create and sustain a vibrant cultural environment that authentically engages institutions, artists, and the community. The year 2024 was a remarkable one for the arts and culture sector in Springfield. Through collaboration and community
partnerships, we were able to achieve great things that highlight the power of creativity and community. We participated in 20 community events that offered a connection to the arts. Over 40 local artists were paid for their contributions, and we covered exhibit and vending fees for 20 others, creating pathways to more creative opportunities. In addition to our direct support of artists, we proudly held seven creative sector advocacy roles, working to amplify the voices and needs of Springfield’s cultural community. These efforts underline our commitment to nurturing the creative economy and ensuring its continued growth and vibrancy. We express our heartfelt gratitude to every artist, partner, and supporter who has joined us in this journey. Together, we look forward to an even brighter and more art-filled 2025.
SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1441 Main St., Springfield springfieldregionalchamber.com
The Springfield Regional Chamber proudly aligns its mission with that of the EDC. For over a century, the chamber has worked to strengthen and improve the region’s economy as “the voice of business” for hundreds of members. As supporters for innovation and prosperity, the Springfield Regional Chamber drives economic vitality through business support, legislative advocacy, member communication and programming—and by convening leaders and influencers and championing local business growth. Chamber members work across all industries in the for- and nonprofit sectors. As part of its work, the chamber promotes member businesses and organizations through events, media outreach, newsletters, social media, and its website.
WESTOVER AIRPORT
255 Padgette St., Chicopee westoverairport.com
Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation is a quasi-public agency created in 1974 to convert former military property at Westover Air Force Base to civilian use. The corporation has acquired over 1,300 acres and has developed them into four industrial parks and the civilian airport. Over 50 companies have located in the parks, employing over 3,200 people. Today, the corporation manages the highly secured dayto-day operations of Westover Metropolitan Airport, the maintenance of four industrial parks, and the continuing development of commercial and industrial real estate at each of the parks.
Of note at Westover in 2024:
• We proudly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation, marking half a century of dedication to aviation excellence and community service.
• The 31,500 square-foot heated hangar, which can accommodate ultra-long-range business jets, will be available to aircraft tenants in March 2025.
• The airport launched a new website at westoverairport.com with a fresh design and improved functionality.
A Glimpse at Our Community Impact in 2024
Annual Meeting Offers Solidarity, Tour of Holyoke’s Clean Crop Technologies
In May, the EDC held its annual meeting in downtown Holyoke on the canal at the Fame Lounge/Eatery on Dwight Street. Over 125 members and community partners attended for a look back on the past fiscal year, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll offered a keynote address.
Clean Crop Technologies’ proximity next door to Fame gave everyone the chance to tour the facility and learn about its work in sustainability. “This is another local business reemphasizing where EDC is heading,” President and CEO Rick Sullivan says.
CEO Dan White co-founded Clean Crop Technologies in 2019 with plasma tech expert Dr. Kevin Keener and former Cargill executive Daniel Cavanaugh. In five years, the business has launched a commercial cold plasma seed treatment facility, signed $3.4 million in purchase orders, and created a sales and pilot pipeline worth $47 million in annual recurring revenue from companies that represent 39 percent of the global vegetable seed market.
Members learned that Clean Crop Technologies has a proprietary process through which it deploys high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma technology to inactivate a broad spectrum of contaminants from seed surfaces in a dry, automated, and residue-free process to improve the yields and health of crops.
“They are now scaling and growing pretty quickly,” Sullivan says. “The technology has been tried and found to be cutting-edge. They are certainly attracting national and international attention, and there will be a high and quick growth trajectory for them.”
EDC serves as a financial fiduciary for Clean Crop Technologies.
Springfield WORKS a Catalyst and Thought Leader for Many
Employing experts from the community whose focus is on career mobility, trauma-informed programming, human-centered design, and systems-change initiatives, Springfield WORKS is a catalyst and thought leader in many areas of the region and beyond.
Its mission is to remove systemic and racial barriers to economic and family well-being, and its vision is thriving communities in which resilience, growth, and economic opportunity is possible for all. The primary goal of the organization is to directly target the root causes of systemic challenges, ensuring that we not only provide immediate relief but also set the stage for long-lasting systemic change.
Springfield WORKS has secured a role as a hub for communication, coordination, and strategy for the diverse organizations working directly with its most atrisk residents to develop pathways towards meaningful employment and resources for job retention. It is widely understood that Springfield WORKS’ role within the regional workforce ecosystem is to push organizations out of their comfort zone toward adaptive and proactive change. To challenge the default position of “This is how we’ve always done it,” Springfield WORKS asks, “How might we?” and introduces new perspectives, tests new behaviors, and encourages adopting new mindsets.
Through several signature projects, the organization is centering the voices and lived experiences of job seekers who are members of the BIPOC and lowincome communities. It has also introduced an innovative, problem-solving process to its traumainformed practices to understand and mitigate social determinant barriers. “Bringing the worker voice directly into learning, hiring, and employment processes, practices, and policies is impacting Springfield WORKS project outcomes in ways that have not happened previously,” says Anne Kandilis, director of Springfield WORKS/Working Cities Challenge.
Other achievements by Springfield WORKS in 2024 include the following:
TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF THE PARA EDUCATOR CAREER PATHWAY TRAINING
In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, Holyoke Community College (HCC), and Springfield Public Schools, the program has served nine cohorts since its inception in 2022 and has a 73 percent placement rate. It is funded through 2026. In 2024, HCC received $1.6 million to expand the program to provide training and placement for 330 participants for paraprofessional educator jobs. Many community colleges and employers are part of this important work.
PILOTING THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ECONOMIC MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP FOR SPRINGFIELD PARENTS
Springfield WORKS partnered with Springfield Public Schools to pilot the Two-Generation/Whole Family Approach to Career Pathways collaborative model. The focus of the project was to build pathways between the school and parents of children attending. Family liaisons were recruited to serve in the schools and were trained in a trauma-informed and responsive approach. At the end of the initiative, 23 of the 27 participants completed a post-program survey and 85 percent were on a path to securing employment or training, including 10 who secured employment and 10 who enrolled in postsecondary paraeducator training. All parents reported improved relationships with SPS. The model proves to be a scalable one.
SUCCESS THROUGH THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS
This program was founded in 2022 through the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment grant provided by EOED to challenge the stigma of criminal histories. Workers shared their real-life barriers to employment and discussed solutions with employers. Significant for 2024 in breaking the stigma of a criminal
history, a worker voice named the central principles of the program as a “movement.” After involvement, another said, “I now feel like I can go out and find employment without feeling embarrassed of my past.” One senior leader employer member added, “How do we start to get this on the agenda with more companies?”
STUDYING THE DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION IN NURSING PATHWAY EDUCATIONAL TRACKS
To address this trend, Springfield WORKS secured funding from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions for our Industry Partnership + Community College Initiative. Springfield WORKS, Baystate Health, Holyoke Community College, and the regional Workforce Board developed an “inside-up” career pathway model based at Baystate Health to provide existing front-line certified nursing assistant employees with academic support, and comprehensive services needed to advance to the position of licensed practical nurse. This groundbreaking, public-private model provided reduced scheduled work time to allow for classroom and study while continuing to pay their employees a full-time wage. Upon completion and licensure as an LPN, this program assures a substantial pay hike.
ADVANCES IN THE STATEWIDE CLIFF EFFECT PILOT, NOW KNOWN AS BRIDGE TO PROSPERITY
Springfield WORKS reached several key milestones across multiple projects that have significantly advanced its mission to promote economic mobility and address the challenges of the benefits cliff, including expanding key partnerships to support the pilot. Through what is now called the Bridge to Prosperity pilot—rather than the Cliff Effect pilot—the group added recruitment and referral pathways from the Economic Justice Hub at Boston Medical Center for Boston-area participants; developed a partnership with UpTogether, which will administer bridge payments to participants payment via direct deposit, virtual wallet, or reloadable debit card; and continued to build relationships with coaches and funders.
Valley Venture Mentors
Closely Aligns with the Springfield Creative City Collective
Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) is in a time of transition, evolution, and change, yet 2024 saw advancement in the development of the Western Mass Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Coalition.
Hope Ross-Gibaldi, executive director of VVM, left the organization mid-year to take on the role of director of
entrepreneurship and innovation at Williams College in the ’68 Center for Career Exploration. Tiffany Allecia, the executive director of the Springfield Creative City Collective, has taken on the reins for VVM as the two organizations are collaborating on a resource mapping and coalition-building project to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
SourceLink was a major partner this year in the creation of a categorized map of resources for entrepreneurs in Western Mass. Ross-Gibaldi says the final product should be available in 2025. “VVM has been around for a long time and our entrepreneurial ecosystem has evolved a lot since its inception,” she adds. “These organizations, initiatives, and resources operate in silos and are often competing for funding. This coalition work is to create a broader, unified front and a more organized ecosystem that is more equitably accessed. Organizations can come together and position themselves and our region for broader impact.”
As part of the mapping work, Allecia says one focus this year was on creating pathways across the region’s four counties to enable easier communication and partnering. With that goal in mind, VVM and the Springfield Creative City Collective held quarterly summits in 2024. “We wanted to come together to build social infrastructure that’s meaningful so we aren’t communicating via email but instead we’re building relationships with legislators and local elected officials—actively collaborating on large- and small-scale initiatives,” Allecia says. “The goal is to have a stronger identity and presence, and advocate.”
In January, the first of four entrepreneurial economic ecosystem summits was held in Hampden County at TD Bank Conference Center, and they continued in April, in Franklin County, at Launch Space; in September, in Berkshire County, at the Berkshire Innovation Center; and in December, in Hampshire County, at Venture Way Collaborative.
In speaking with legislators and community officials, Allecia says organizations were gathering information on funding sources, and they also were surveyed on the top issues they were facing in their communities and whether a regional approach might be impactful. “One of the biggest accomplishments of the summits getting a lot of major organizations and power players together to be committed to further development of Western Mass across all sectors,” she adds, noting they are engaging with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, Common Capital, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, and the UMass Amherst Foundation.
“We understand that many entrepreneurs in our community face barriers to success, and we are committed to providing resources and support to help them overcome these obstacles,” Ross-Gibaldi says. “Our goal is to create a community where all entrepreneurs can come together, share their talents and skills, and support one another in achieving their goals. We believe that by connecting and empowering our regional ecosystem, we can create a brighter future for all residents of Greater Springfield and beyond.”
Western Mass Anchor Collaborative’s Work
Focused on People, Partners
As is so much of our work, the focus of the Anchor Collaborative in 2024 was on people and building relationships.
“As our anchor partners have continued to increase their commitment to inclusive hiring and local sourcing, we saw the need to identify and recruit key community partners to help,” says Larry Dixon, EDC Anchor Collaborative independent consultant and expert in corporate social responsibility and social impact. It takes a systems approach to change structural barriers and leverage each other’s strengths.
In 2021, the EDC, in collaboration with Baystate Health, started the Western Mass Anchor Collaborative to bring together some of our region’s largest institutions to be more intentional about creating local, inclusive economic growth through their hiring and purchasing practices. Anchor institutions require consistent, large-volume purchases and are significant employers in their regions. They are intentional about using their economic engines in communities impacted by the legacy of disinvestment and discrimination. Anchor institutions have vested self-interest in ensuring that the communities in which they are based are healthy, safe, vibrant, and stable. Community needs around employment, investment, and local, diverse business development overlap with institutional needs around labor, goods, and services and can be drivers for economic and health equity. The key focus of the Western Mass Anchor Collaborative is to increase local procurement opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses and propel hiring and career pathways for BIPOC and marginalized
populations. This year, Health New England came on board as our ninth anchor institution. All are committed to supporting local, diverse vendors. “The challenge has been to help connect local, diverse vendors to the appropriate departments in need of key goods and services,” Dixon says.
Last year, several diverse purchasing fairs were held, bringing local and diverse vendors to meet with anchor institutions. This year, we narrowed our focus to identify facilities contracts, opening more opportunities for our trades and skilled-labor sector. Toward that end, a purchasing fair was held in November, attended by eight anchors, community partners and several local and diverse vendors.
“We’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of intentional collaboration,” said Xiomara Albán DeLobato, EDC Vice President and Chief of Staff. “By aligning our anchor institutions with local, diverse vendors, we are not just facilitating contracts. We’re creating pathways for equity and economic opportunity.”
Another learning this year for the collaborative was noting that the vast majority of anchor businesses have an ongoing need for services in the trades. With the coming employment changes coming to the trades industry, it’s critical more than ever to create pathways for vendors eligible for facilities contracts. The anchors cross all industries, from healthcare to government to retail and higher ed, and they all have a need.
Our focus in 2025 is to continue working with our anchors and financial partners like Common Capital who fill a vital role as a CDFI in the region, building supportive and sustainable practices that help vendors get insurance, build capacity, and become more competitive for major contracts.
Collaborative’s Work
Included Recompete Pilot Program
The Anchor Collaborative is part of a coalition that was awarded a Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program Strategy Development Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to reduce high, prime-age (25 to 54 years) employment gaps and increase wages. The coalition is one of 22 Recompete Pilot finalists for an award ranging from $20 to $50 million.
Partners have begun developing pilots that connect historically marginalized communities in Springfield and
Holyoke to good jobs. Residents of targeted neighborhoods have faced persistent inequity, structural racism and disinvestment, and the area’s high cost of living keeps families from getting ahead. The strategy includes workforce development and expanded employer commitments to worker-friendly jobs and integrated supports, including childcare, transportation, and case management.
Partners involved include Way Finders, MassHire, Springfield Technical Community College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield WORKS/EDC, and four healthcare institutions.
Building Our Emerald Cities in Western Mass
Emerald Cities are clean, green cities. Located in hubs in Boston, DC, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, they are communities that take ownership of sustainability.
We want to build such centers in Western Mass, so we’ve partnered with Emerald Cities, a national nonprofit headquartered in DC with offices in Massachusetts, focusing on climate change, policy, and resistance with a goal for its cities to be at the intersection of clean energy, climate sustainability, and small businesses from underserved and underrepresented communities.
Last year, we held an E-Contractor Academy as part of this initiative, and we received a grant again this year to repeat it; contractors learn to perform energy efficient and renewable energy retrofit projects. Russell Paul, senior economic inclusion manager, ran the 2024 cohort in the fall with 24 contractors in the program; they met once a week and graduated in a celebration Oct. 30 at White Lion Brewing Co.
Contractors receive technical assistance; guidance in how to run their businesses, access capital, and prevent legal liability issues; and help with IT, contracts, and education on clean energy programs and resources. Graduates get tech assistance for six months after the academy ends.
“We did end-of-course surveys after each class. The response was overwhelmingly positive,” Paul says. “Everyone sees the value of the program, how it’s great for networking, learning more about your business, making a business plan, taking care of legal. I think there was tremendous encouragement and positivity coming out of the academy.”
Every graduate of the program is eligible to receive a grant from Emerald Cities of up to $20,000. Last year, eight businesses were enrolled in the E-contractor Academy; six applied for grants and five were successful. Emerald Cities granted those businesses a total of $49,500 for capacity building, clean energy initiatives, new or replacement equipment, administrative costs, or software.
Businesses committed to our Anchor Collaborative are also involved with building Emerald Cities as contractors who take part in the program are connected to our anchors for potential service contracts. “We’re connecting contractors to the pipelines to find more work,” Paul says. “Training is great, but if you don’t have money coming in, at the end of the day, it’s not going to make much of a difference.”
A Win-Win with the UMass Amherst iCons Program
Students at UMass Amherst and businesses across the region are winning, together.
Businesses get help from well-trained young people through the UMass iCons Program, and students in this STEM-based certificate program hone communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, develop as leaders, and foster the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion as businesses in our midst reap the benefits. They succeed in the classroom and in the workplace, giving them the best preparation for the world after graduation.
This year, five interns from the iCons program were placed in internships with local businesses, including Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Markens Group, and U.S. Tsubaki Automotive. Kayla Soto, our associate director of economic development and special projects, who bridges the gap between students and companies, says, “The goal is for students to not only work over the summer, but also secure longterm jobs.”
Soto works closely with Scott Auerbach, the executive director of iCons—which stands for Integrated Concentration in STEM. Before a new cohort of students is chosen for each summer intern session, she and Auerbach meet to talk about the work performed by any interested members. Scott then informs the student interns of the possibilities, and they choose the job that meets their needs.
“The goal is that they work throughout the summer, but afterwards, the hope is that the business will become their employer,” Soto says, adding that Auerbach looks for internship placements that are prepared to hire students who perform well.
Our members are pleased with iCons. Shannon Gurek of the Community Foundation of Western Mass says of intern Sam Saunders, “Sam was a quick learner and jumped right in. It was a very user friendly process.
Arin Langan-Wytas of U.S. Tsubaki Automotive had only positive feedback for interns Robert Canavan-Gosselin, Devesh Maheshwari, and Tomer Seagal. “All three did a great job and added value to the team,” she says. “I think while they had many learning experiences, they also taught our team too.”
Our Fiscal Year 2024 Year-End Financial Review
STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS
MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION
SLOW GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION KEEP OUR DUES DOWN
We have a particularly loyal membership in the EDC, and our slow and steady growth over the years is testament to the good work we do and the strong relationships we build.
We have healthy financials because we have a strong focus on diversifying our income streams so we do not need to increase our dues. They were the same in 2024 as they were 12 years ago for our 90+ members. We are nothing if not consistent and resourceful.
Our impactful Developers Conference is also a significant source of income. Held every other year, we will host this popular event again in 2025, and we are projecting success at securing sponsorships and renewed commitment to the region.
We hope to see you there so we can build trust, celebrate achievements, and continue to learn and grow as one team, focused on the economic health of Western Massachusetts.