Springfield Regional Chamber President and CEO Diana Szynal was a featured guest speaker at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Transportation First: State of the Highways & Bridges.” The event explored how the Highway Division collaborates with cities and towns to meet local infrastructure needs and ensure safe, efficient travel for commuters across the state.
The program opened with remarks from Massachusetts State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, who shared updates on current priorities, upcoming projects and the strategic vision guiding the Highway Division. Following his presentation, Gulliver was joined by Szynal in a conversation moderated by Greater Boston Chamber President and CEO James E. Rooney on solutions and opportunities to enhance the future of transportation in Massachusetts.
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The Healey-Driscoll administration awarded approximately $1.5 million in Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants to provide training opportunities to over 500 unemployed and under-employed people across Massachusetts.
These grants will be administered through 13 of the state’s public community colleges and are designed to equip adult workers with the skills necessary to thrive in key industry sectors.
— TRAIN Implementation Grant Awardees include:
— Greenfield Community College, certified nursing assistant and phlebotomy training, $102,309.
— Holyoke Community College, paraeducator training, $123,235
— Springfield Technical Community College, certified nursing assistant, $150,000.
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Sullivan Tire and Auto Service recently made monetary donations to more than 75 food pantries across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine. The pantries were selected to receive the donations through nominations by Sullivan Tire’s employees in those states, who are also owners of the company.
One recipient in the region is Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry, at 170 Pendexter Ave. in Chicopee.
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River Valley Co-op announced a contribution of more than $20,000 to support the Northampton Survival Center. This contribution was made through the co-op’s November “Change for Change” round up donations at the check outs in both their Northampton and Easthampton stores. This is the most recent and largest of the co-op’s last four monthly Change for Change contributions to local food security focused non-profits which totaled nearly $62,000. These contributions included $13,745 for the Easthampton Community Center, $14,064 for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, $13,915 for Manna Community Kitchen, as well as the November contribution of $20,309 for the Northampton Survival Center.
Each time a customer shops at River Valley Co-op, they are given the opportunity to “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar, with the extra cents going into the Change for Change donation fund. That fund is allocated each month to a local nonprofit organization nominated and chosen by co-op member votes.
The co-op also offers its low-income shoppers the opportunity to sign up for their Food For All program to get a 10% discount on grocery purchases from both their stores and both stores accept SNAP.
