In the News

The downtown Springfield Innovation Center is finally getting off the ground.

The innovation center on Bridge Street has been in the planning stage for years.

On Wednesday, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin came to Springfield with $200,000 worth of tax credit financing from the State Historical Commission, of which he's chairman.

Galvin told 22News, what a vigorous innovation center can achieve downtown.

"We want to take care of the older buildings worthy of redemption," Galvin said. "This was a magnificent building, a piece of history. Especially the windows are important, and it's right here in the downtown area, this is where the core of rehabilitation has to occur."

Congressman Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno also joined Galvin to announced the tax credits.

"This important building, located in the heart of downtown Springfield, has been vacant or underutilized for several years,” Neal said.

The innovation center is expected to be up and running, and making its downtown improvements by the end of the year.