In the News

An additional $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding is coming Pittsfield’s way, to the Berkshire Innovation Center. The U.S. Department of Commerce will give the center $914,465 over two years to establish a “manufacturing academy” that’s meant to spur growth, and jobs, in that business sector. The center opened in 2020 and is located at the William Stanley Business… Read more »

Federal officials (figuratively) lifted their glasses and toasted Vanished Valley Brewing Co., recognized on Monday morning as a small business success story. The Ludlow brewery welcomed U.S. Small Business Administration officials, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and local dignitaries as the SBA marks its 69th anniversary this month. Having first brewed its beers in a… Read more »

The Small Business Administration is celebrating 69 years of helping small businesses grow, expand and recover from disasters. One local brewery’s doors have stayed open thanks to the Small Business Administration and support from Congress. Vanished Valley Brewing Company in Ludlow has seen continued success even through the pandemic. Vanished Valley received PPP and COVID-19 Economic… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal joined President Joe Biden and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh Wednesday on Air Force One on a trip to Cleveland touting the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act and its protection of pension plans.   The Butch Lewis Act was the first piece of legislation introduced by the Springfield Democrat as chairman of the House Committee… Read more »

The Springfield building will house all the agency's social service programs One neighborhood in Springfield, Massachusetts has longed for a community center for decades. Now, it is just a little more than a year away. The groundbreaking ceremony in the North End neighborhood Monday for the $15 million project spearheaded by the New North Citizens Council drew well over 100… Read more »

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged his British counterpart to continue "good faith" talks with the European Union as the latest post-Brexit row over Northern Ireland flared up. In a call with U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Blinken urged the U.K. foreign affairs chief "to continue good faith negotiations with the EU to reach a solution that preserves the gains of… Read more »

he January 6th Select Committee held another public hearing on Capitol Hill this morning. Bi-partisan senators announce deal on first gun control legislation in decades The committee continues to outline a 7-part plan by former President Trump to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Monday’s hearing focused on the former president’s deliberate narrative that the election was… Read more »

U.S. Rep Richard Neal visited the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s West Parish Filters water treatment plant in Westfield Friday afternoon as workers continued working on the new clearwell and backwash pump station project.   The $25 million project at the Westfield facility, Phase 1 of which began in December, is part of a $550 million effort across 20 projects by the… Read more »

The vacant parcel of land in the city’s North End that used to be home to a neighborhood landmark will become a lasting tribute to a neighborhood legend.   Members of the New North Citizens Council, along with community, civic and political leaders, held a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday on the grounds of the former Chestnut Junior High School at Chestnut and Prospect streets. The… Read more »

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s 250,000 customers across the lower Pioneer Valley might take the water in their tap for granted.   “It’s amazing,” said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, Friday on a tour of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission West Parish Filters Water Treatment Plant in Westfield.   He stopped off as workers craned… Read more »