Western Mass Economic Development Council

10/22/2026

A lot is happening in Franklin County, and it's a story worth sharing across Western Massachusetts.

Last week, Western Mass EDC President & CEO Aaron Vega and Chief Marketing Officer Justin Roberts visited Greenfield for a great conversation with Amy Cahillane from the City of Greenfield, Jessye Deane from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, and Hannah Rechtschaffen from the Greenfield Business Association.

We talked about the new businesses bringing energy to downtown Greenfield, the strength of Franklin County's tourism and food economy, and opportunities to support continued growth. We also discussed challenges around housing, infrastructure, and workforce development — and where stronger partnerships can help make a difference.

One thing that really stood out was the collaboration already happening among Franklin County's local leaders, businesses, and organizations.

That's exactly the kind of partnership we want to continue strengthening throughout Western Massachusetts.

Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties each have something special to offer. By sharing ideas, connecting resources, and supporting one another's successes, we can create more opportunities for the entire region.

A big thank you to Amy, Jessye, and Hannah for the conversation and everything they're doing for Franklin County. We're looking forward to building on these connections!

One Western Massachusetts. Stronger together.


City of Greenfield
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Greenfield Business Association

10/20/2026

Statewide investment. Regional impact.

We’re pleased to share an important workforce development announcement from the Healey-Driscoll Administration that brings nearly $340,000 in FY27 TRAIN grant funding to Western Massachusetts.

Congratulations to Springfield Technical Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Greenfield Community College on these important investments:

• Springfield Technical Community College — $131,250 for Certified Nursing Assistant training
• Holyoke Community College — $111,287 for paraeducator training
• Greenfield Community College — $97,459 for Certified Nursing Assistant and phlebotomy training

Together, these investments strengthen critical workforce pipelines in healthcare and education, expand opportunity for residents, and help address regional employer needs.

At the Western Mass Economic Development Council, part of our role is making sure important information like this is elevated, shared, and connected back to the regional stakeholders, institutions, and employers it impacts most. We’re proud to help convene and relay updates that matter to Western Massachusetts and to highlight the partners doing the work on the ground.

We’re especially proud to see all three institutions recognized, and to continue working alongside them through the Western Mass Higher Ed convening and broader regional collaboration.

Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this investment in workforce development and in the future of our region.

10/08/2026

Attended tonight’s Pioneer Valley Planning Commission annual meeting.
Inspiring to not just hear about the hundreds of projects they have worked on but also being in the room with PVPC MA staff, mayors, elected officials, city and town employees who are all working towards a stronger Western MA.

10/05/2026

More than $55.8 million is coming to Western Massachusetts through the Commonwealth’s FY27 Community One Stop for Growth awards.

Across Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, 89 awards in 42 communities will support projects ranging from infrastructure and housing to downtown redevelopment, business growth, site readiness and community planning.

We went through the awards to answer a simple question:

What does this investment mean specifically for Western Massachusetts?

See the regional breakdown, including where the funding is going and some of the projects that could have the greatest impact on our region.

There is a lot happening across Western Massachusetts. Our goal is to help connect those individual investments into a clearer picture of where the region is going.

Western Mass Economic Development Council Regional Economic Development Intelligence Western Mass Receives $55.8 Million in FY27 Community One Stop Awards 89 awards. 42 communities. Three counties. Explore who received funding, what the investments can unlock and how the region can help projects mov...

10/01/2026

Making sure Western Ma is represented today at the 17th annual workforce solutions group conference.

https://wsgsummit.com/agenda/

09/24/2026

Please join us in welcoming Greenfield Savings Bank to the Western Mass Economic Development Council

Founded in Greenfield in 1869, GSB has spent generations investing in the people, businesses and communities of Western Massachusetts.

Their impact goes far beyond banking, from providing capital that helps local businesses grow, to supporting hundreds of community organizations, to significant investments in places like downtown Greenfield and Easthampton.

That is why we wanted our first New Member Spotlight to do more than simply announce their membership.

We wanted to tell the story of what Greenfield Savings Bank contributes to the Western Massachusetts economy and why having organizations like GSB connected at the regional table matters.

Welcome to the Western Mass EDC!

Read the full story in comments.

One Western Massachusetts.
Connect. Convene. Advocate.

09/22/2026

One event. $39.3 million in regional impact.

The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade and Road Race are beloved Western Massachusetts traditions. A new Cambridge Econometrics study also shows just how significant their economic impact is.

The celebrations generate an estimated $39.3 million in economic output across Hampden and Hampshire Counties, supporting 275 jobs, $10.6 million in local wages and more than $23.2 million in visitor spending.

But what stands out to us is how far that impact travels.

People may come for an event in Holyoke, but they stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop at local businesses and experience communities throughout Western Massachusetts.

When one part of our region succeeds, there is an opportunity for the entire region to benefit.

We took a closer look at what the study tells us about our connected regional economy.

Read more →
https://www.westernmassedc.com/one-event-39-3-million-in-regional-impact-what-holyokes-st-patricks-celebrations-tell-us-about-the-western-massachusetts-economy/

Congratulations to the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee of and the hundreds of volunteers, businesses, sponsors and community partners who make these celebrations possible.



Holyoke City Hall
Mayor Joshua A. Garcia

Economic activity does not stop at a city or town line. A visitor coming to Holyoke for the St. Patrick’s Parade may stay at a hotel elsewhere in the region, eat at a restaurant in another community, shop locally, visit another attraction and discover another reason to return to Western Massachuse...

09/18/2026

This is what working as One Western Massachusetts looks like.

Yesterday brought together CEOs, mayors, higher education leaders, elected officials, economic development partners and organizations from across our region — connecting, sharing ideas and working toward what comes next for Western Massachusetts.

Thank you to Scott Auerbach and UMass iCons, Representative Carlos González, Senator John Velis, and every leader who brought their energy and perspective to the room.

Because One Western Massachusetts isn’t just something we say.

It’s how we work.

Connecting people and opportunities.
Convening the right voices.
Sharing information and celebrating our wins.
Working together on the challenges facing our region.

And making sure that when someone asks “Why Western Massachusetts?” the answers are clear — and plentiful.

We’re excited about what comes next.

Connect. Convene. Advocate.
One Western Massachusetts.

Have a win, opportunity or challenge we should know about? Add your voice: westernmassedc.com/owm

09/16/2026

Higher education is economic development.

Today, Western Mass EDC President & CEO Aaron Vega joined the Holyoke Community College community in celebrating 80 years of HCC.

As both an HCC Trustee and a leader of the EDC, Aaron sees firsthand the role institutions like HCC play in preparing talent, creating pathways to opportunity, partnering with employers and strengthening the communities that make Western Massachusetts a place to build a career, a business and a life.

HCC is also a valued member of the Western Mass EDC, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside them.

Congratulations to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and entire HCC community on 80 years of impact, with much more ahead.

Happy 80th, HCC! 🎉