The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $2 million in grants to 59 organizations across the state through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program, an initiative administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) that supports marketing initiatives and events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This is the second round of grants through this program, which provided $1.5 million in grants through the first round in September 2024.
Of the 59 projects across the state funded this round, 10 are located in Gateway Cities. Gateway City projects include Springfield Performing Arts Ventures, which will receive $16,000 for Revolutionary Love Community Theater’s Saving the Revolution, a musical drama and video series highlighting Col. Henry Knox’s 300-mile cannon trek and love letters; and Discover Central MA, which will receive $50,000 for its Central MA250 Revolutionary Firsts Trail campaign that highlights the region’s Revolutionary history through digital content, trail maps and event promotion.
Other projects include:
— Deerfield: Historic Deerfield: Picturing the Revolution — A Visual and Documentary History of the American War for Independence $40,000.
— Deerfield: Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association — Brewing Massachusetts $25,000
— Hadley: Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation — the North Garden and the Pursuit of Happiness $15,000.
— Hatfield: Hatfield Historical Society — A Walk on Native Land, and The Dead Do Tell Tales $5,000.
— Greenfield: City of Greenfield — Greenfield Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with Downtown Sidewalk Art Tour $15,500.
— Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau — Western Mass 250 $40,000.
For a full list of awardees and project descriptions, visit mass.gov/info-details/fy26-ma250-grant-awardees.
******************************************************************************
Representatives from Hyundai Motor America visited Holyoke Community College to deliver a $5,000 check to benefit the college’s food pantry.
The check ceremony was held in the Thrive Center Food Pantry on the second floor of the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.
This is the fifth consecutive year Hyundai Motor America has donated to the HCC food pantry, bringing their total donations to $32,150. This is in addition to donations made by local auto dealer Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai and a member of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors, whose efforts on behalf of HCC brought the Thrive Center and Food Pantry to the attention of the Hyundai corporate offices in California.
The Thrive Center manages the college’s food pantry and provides services, such as food and housing assistance, that help address students’ basic needs.
******************************************************************************
Monson Savings Bank has made $2,500 donation to the South End Community Center in Springfield as part of the bank’s 2025 Community Giving Initiative. The donation was presented to Wesley Jackson, executive director of the South End Community Center, by Monson Savings Bank’s Executive Vice President and COO Michael Rouette and President and CEO Dan Moriarty at the Bank’s Loan and Operations Center in Wilbraham.
The donation will support the organization’s mission to provide educational, recreational, cultural, and social programs to the residents of Springfield.
****************************************************************************
With over 50 years of combined Food & Beverage Industry Experience, Springfield resident Michael Zucco and longtime Springfield Restaurateur Christopher Arillotta have partnered to transform a property into the new Sophia’s Bar & Grill. Located at 465 Breckwood Blvd, Zucco and Arillotta took ownership in June of 2025 and have already completely renovated Sophia’s Bar & Grill with an exciting facelift, expanded menu, new drink offerings and a sports bar vibe with many new TVs to catch all the games.
A Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 6, 4 p.m. The Cathedral High alums are inviting all news outlets, general public and local politicians to join for a ribbon cutting ceremony. There will be a complimentary buffet from 4 to 6 p.m. along with raffles, giveaways and entertainment.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
