PeoplesBank, which serves Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, increased its charitable contributions to more than $1.8 million over the past year, and its associates also increased volunteer hours serving area nonprofits by 15%. PeoplesBank also reported that its associates pledged an additional $40,000 of their own salaries as part of its Workplace Giving program and that it sponsored 300 community events in its market
In 2025, PeoplesBank supported nearly 500 charitable organizations, including The Care Center, The Center for Human Development, the Hampshire Regional YMCA, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Celebrate! WeHa, CT Foodshare, The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and Hands on Hartford.
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Monson Savings Bank donated $2,500 to the Springfield Jewish Community Center to benefit programming for Springfield youth.
The Springfield JCC offers programs designed to inspire and empower young people, promoting learning, creativity and connection within the community.
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Westfield Bank employees, customers, and community members provided new toys and books to children in local communities across Western Massachusetts and Connecticut through its annual toy drive. From Dec. 1 through 15, all Westfield Bank branches collected new, unwrapped toys and books.
Each branch donated to an organization or charity local to their service area. Some of the organizations receiving donations included The Gray House, Bloomfield’s Social & Youth Services Department, the Southwick Civic Fund, The Salvation Army and the Springfield United Toy Drive.
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MountainOne Insurance Agency, a subsidiary of MountainOne Bank, announced its expansion into Greenfield through the acquisition of the Amy R. Morey Insurance Agency.
Owner Amy R. Morey and Account Manager Noelle Laprade will continue to serve clients from the Greenfield office at 91 Main St., which will soon operate under the MountainOne Insurance brand.
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The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that it has awarded $234,000 in grant funding for career and technical education in correctional facilities in four counties. This funding, provided through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is to establish or substantially improve career and technical education programs that prepare people to succeed in in-demand career pathways such as manufacturing and welding.
The grant recipients are: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (Greenfield): $44,999 for foundational manufacturing training; Hampden County Sheriff’s Office (Ludlow): $61,693 for hands-on welding education and training.
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DC Station will offer its first two public programming options beginning in February.
Demo Day with Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the business at 5 Fulton Ave., Northampton.
On Saturday, March 7, DC Station will host a workshop, “The ABCs of EV Ownership,” from 1 to 2 p.m., at its EV Base Camp.
For the Demo Day, DC Station Developer Bruce Volz said three to four Rivians will be on site for test drives. Participants may stop in to ride or sign up for a time slot on the Rivian website at https://bit.ly/4tize7K. (Follow the prompts, then click on the zip code that shows and enter “01060.”)
The 45-minute offering will be led by Greg Goff, who oversees EV Base Camp, the education center for DC Station.
DC Station opened in October 2025, offering 10 charging ports for electric vehicles and, once tenants are found, a place for drivers to grab a fast cup of good coffee or healthy meal while they wait.
The station is named DC for Direct Current.
