Checks of up to $2,500 have been sent to 100 Western Massachusetts farms that are recipients of this year’s Local Farmer Awards. Representing a diverse range of farm operations and infrastructure projects, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture along with other funders, awarded a record number of recipients in the program’s 10th year.
A team of independent reviewers read each of the 199 applications submitted this year. These reviewers selected 100 farms to receive a 2024 grant from the Local Farmer Awards. The capital projects include the purchase of an egg washing machine, livestock pasture expansion, reusable harvest bins, cover crop flail mower for reduced tillage, mobile chicken coops and more.
Funders collectively contributed over $230,000 to assist local farmers. Funders include Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, Big Y, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, PeoplesBank, Ann and Steve Davis, Charles and Elizabeth D’Amour, Barbara Deslauriers, Audrey and Chick Taylor, Andrews, Farm Credit East, Hood, the DeNucci Group at Merrill, Baystate Health, Country Bank, Eastern States Exposition, Three County Fair, bankESB and Franklin First Federal Credit Union.
Nearly 25 percent of recipients are new farms (in business one to five years); 36% have been in business for over 20 years. Thirty-five are in Hampshire County, 34 from Franklin County, 17 from Berkshire County and 14 from Hampden County. The most common “primary product” were vegetables, followed by others including meat, fruit, maple, milk, and flowers; 46% of the winning projects will help farms with the growing process followed by processing (24%), planting (15%), and processing (15%)
Anyone interested in supporting the 2025 Local Farmer Awards should contact Cari Carpenter at the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation at Cari@hgf.org
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Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management Executive Director Thomas Ashe and City Forester Alex Sherman report that the Arbor Day Foundation has once again recognized Springfield as a Tree City USA for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
Springfield achieved Tree City USA recognition for the 38th year by meeting the programs requirements including maintaining a Forestry Division and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Additionally, the city was recognized once again with a Tree City USA Growth Award for the 11th time for its exceptional tree care and environmental improvement.
The city celebrated Arbor Day on April 26 at Washington Elementary School in the Forest Park neighborhood with a ceremony that included a tree planting.
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Mercy Medical Center in Springfield announces its achievement of TeamBirth Recognition.
Mercy Medical Center implemented TeamBirth in 2023 to optimize teamwork and communication before, during and after labor and delivery. TeamBirth was developed by the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
Recognition is achieved when a site attests to core components of TeamBirth, submits results from an observed huddle and demonstrates ongoing commitment to TeamBirth through an engagement activity. Recognition is renewed every three years.
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The Western Mass Economic Development Council and Associated Industries of Massachusetts hosted over 250 guests at their Supplier Diversity Summit at the MGM Springfield on April 25. The event was sponsored by Verizon and MGM Springfield.
This event provided local vendors and contractors, including those from minority-owned, women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, as well as business leaders and stakeholders in the region to connect with resources and support from community resource partners such as Tech Foundry, the Supplier Diversity Office, Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Inc., Center for Women & Enterprise, and the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Common Capital and Mass MEP.
Those in attendance enjoyed exploring future contract opportunities with procurement teams from Big Y, Baystate Health, MGM Springfield and PVTA.
The EDC will host another supplier diversity event in the fall through its Western Mass Anchor Collaborative.
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Square One’s school-age child care program received a $5,000 boost from Liberty Bank. The funds will be used to enhance the experiences of Square One’s children, kindergarten through grade 5, who attend after-school and summer programming. Enhancements will include a partnership with Mass Audubon, and educational and recreational field trips.
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Ocean State Job Lot announces the conclusion of its inaugural “Buy-Give-Get” bike program.
The program invited customers to buy a children’s bike for $100 at any store, give it back to the store, and get a $100 Crazy Deal gift card for future purchases. Ocean State Job Lot provided 1,800 bikes to children of military families across the Northeast.
The donated bikes were distributed with the help of partners such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, USA Veterans, and other veteran services. Significant events include donations at Vets Fest in Philadelphia and at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, where bikes will be given to the children of recovering veterans.
