Latest news with #DianaSzynal
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local mayors share economic challenges and budget struggles during Springfield Regional Chamber's annual forum
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Regional Chamber invited its members to hear from area mayors Friday morning. Members of the area's business community are hearing directly from the people leading our western Massachusetts cities. The Springfield Regional Chamber's annual mayors forum brings together the mayors from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. 'Which means that the guests here hearing from the mayors really get this unique perspective of what's happening, you know,w really across that tri-town area, including economic development, how communities are managing their challenges,' said Diana Szynal, President of Springfield Regional Chamber. Mayor Sarno announces Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for City of Springfield This forum comes at a time when our mayors say cuts at the federal level are being felt at the local level. Their working to navigate uncertainties, which they say their 2026 budgets, will likely Mayor John Vieau spoke to recent challenges, saying the city of Chicopee issued a spending freeze for May and June, and as they finalize the budget, they're looking to cut things out of it. 'There's a lot of just uncertainty right now with what's happening. And the goal is to focus on providing the best public services that we can.' Meanwhile, in Westfield, Mayor McCabe said health care increases proved difficult this year. He said the city went from about $16 million for employee health care benefits to over $21 million, an increase of $4.6 million, that the city doesn't have sitting in cash reserve. 'When you're asked to kind of just absorb that in a budget, where you can only raise taxes by 2.5%, that's an impossibility, Michael McCabe, Mayor of the City of Westfield, told 22News. Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle tells attendees that the increases and gaps they're facing are different now than they have been historically. 'It's not sustainable how we fund our cities and towns, and how we take care of our employees and our residents.'Each city has different priorities for its 2026 budget, but all are navigating challenges in what they agree is a difficult economic time. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A look at Massachusetts legislation and economy impact at Springfield Regional Chamber's Business Outlook 2025
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Regional Chamber will be holding their annual outlook event on Friday. Outlook 2025 is the chamber's biggest event of the year, and it will look at what's going on politically and economically at the local, state, and federal levels. This year's event will be at the MassMutual Center and features a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Representative Richard Neal. Gov. Healey testifies on budget proposal Attendees can also look forward to a performance of the national anthem by Todd Angilly, the official anthem singer for the Boston Bruins. This year's keynote speaker is Rick Klein, the vice president and Washington DC Bureau Chief for ABC News. The chamber will also be discussing their upcoming legislative agenda, highlighting key policy priorities aimed at fostering economic growth, enhancing business competitiveness, and addressing challenges business leaders face in our regional economy. It helps the chamber learn how to best advocate for its members, and keep Massachusetts' economy competitive. Chamber President Diana Szynal says that watching the legislature in terms of budget and tax policy, healthcare, housing, workforce, energy, infrastructure, and the environment will help its members do just that. Mayor Sarno states, 'I want to thank Springfield Regional Chamber President Diana Szynal and her team for again holding this year's Outlook event in downtown Springfield. Thank you to all of the sponsors for your support of this opportunity to celebrate and network at the Chamber's biggest event of the year. My administration continues to focus on putting Springfield at the forefront with innovative economic development programs, initiatives and projects. Together with all of our community partners and stakeholders, we continue to move our Springfield forward. Working together with Congressman Richard Neal, Governor Maura Healey, our state delegation and all of our local community partners, especially the Springfield Regional Chamber, we are committed to advocating for initiatives and policies that strengthen business competitiveness and opportunities to build a prosperous future for Springfield and beyond.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
