Latest news with #SpringfieldRegionalChamber
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business owners and entrepreneurs get together for a night of networking
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – As you walked into the Marriott ballroom Thursday evening, life-size cutouts immediately caught your eye. Each one of those cutouts displayed a cocktail creator who designed a drink with the help of the Marriott bartenders for the annual 'Fire and Ice' networking reception. Hosted by the Springfield Regional Chamber, 'Fire and Ice' brings together business owners, entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and others for their greater benefit. Across the room, different cocktails and mocktails were offered along with bar bites as professionals got to know one another. 22News also took part in the annual fire and ice reception. Reporters Nicole and Victoria Buddie designed a mocktail called the 'double axel'. The drink was on brand with the ice theme, their passion for figure skating, and a double for their identity. The double axel is known as a figure skating jump. Other cocktail creators were inspired by their roots, like the Caribbean. 'I'm from the mountains, so I'm like I want a mountain-ness, coconut-infused drink that will bring the people, taste testers back to the island,' shared Maria del Carmen Rodriguez. Also in the room were local mental health services and recreation opportunities like the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club. The Springfield Regional Chamber supports businesses year-round. They serve as the voice for the community and push for economic growth in the region. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bike ride with Westfield mayor along city streets and rail trail to promote safer streets
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The 16th annual 'Mayor's Bike Ride' is scheduled to take place Wednesday evening. The event, which attracts between 30 to 50 participants, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is invited to join the 7 to 8-mile ride along city streets and the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Local mayors share economic challenges and budget struggles during Springfield Regional Chamber's annual forum The bike ride gives residents the chance to get involved in physical activity and view scenic, safe means of traveling around the city. The Rail Trail is 3.1 miles from the Westfield River to the Southwick town line, which connects to the New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway, an 80-mile path. Transportation safety consultants will speak about roadway safety and address residents' concerns regarding walking, biking, driving, taking transit, or using a mobility device. All ages are welcome to attend, the ride will be partially escorted by Westfield police. Afterwards, cyclists will be greeted with free ice cream, courtesy of Northside Creamery. In case of inclement weather, the ride will be postponed to May 28th. The announcement will be made on the City of Westfield's website and Facebook pages. Scattered showers are likely this afternoon but the rain will mostly be light. High temperatures will be in the upper 60s and low 70s. The showers may be a bit heavier this evening. 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
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
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Healey walks fine line on working with Trump
BOSTON (SHNS) – As President Donald Trump passes 100 days in his second term in office, Gov. Maura Healey says she's still willing to work with him, but called his administration 'a disaster' so far. 'I said at the outset that I would work with this administration where it benefits Massachusetts, our residents, our economy, our state, but it's become clear to me that this administration is not interested in helping people, and day after day, they seem to be doing the opposite — slashing funds, hurting people, scapegoating, targeting the vulnerable, trying to divide us as Americans,' Healey said at an event Wednesday to celebrate the culture and arts in Massachusetts. Springfield Regional Chamber takes to Beacon Hill Asked after the event if those comments meant she had changed her position and was no longer willing to work with the president, Healey said 'No, my tune hasn't changed at all.' 'Any governor in any state wants to have a good working relationship with the federal administration, and that continues to be the case,' she said. 'What is also clear after 100 days is that this federal administration is finding ways to hurt our states left and right.' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a Democrat who has ties to Healey and an increasingly national profile, has been in the news recently for cultivating a relationship with Trump. Healey visited Whitmer along with other female governors at Mackinac Island in Michigan in the summer of 2023, and Whitmer made a visit to the State House in Boston last year. The two have also publicized the group chat they are in with other women Democratic governors, where The 19th reported they've formed friendships, as well as just working relationships. Whitmer has come under fire from some Democrats for fostering a closer relationship with Trump in recent weeks, taking a meeting at the White House last week and on Tuesday joining the president at Selridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, where they reportedly hugged. Whitmer co-chaired former Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign against Trump, and has criticized the president in the past, but said she's willing to work with the administration on priority goals — including on ensuring the Air National Guard base in Michigan, which supplies tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of jobs to the state, doesn't close. National outlets, many of which refer to Whitmer as a 'probable 2028 presidential contender' have speculated about the Democrat's political positioning, as Democratic governors around the country have tried to decide how much, or little, to work with an administration that they see as perpetrating harm. Asked about Whitmer's developing relationship with Trump, Healey said: 'I think every governor is out there advocating for their state. I'm doing, you know, I'm doing my best to advocate for Massachusetts,' Healey said. She continued, 'You've got to continue to advocate, and you've got to point out when things aren't going the way they should, and when your state is getting harmed.' In a 'town hall' streamed Tuesday night on YouTube, Healey joined fellow Democrat Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Kathy Hochul of New York to discuss the first 100 days of Trump's second term. Healey said his this go around 'is far worse than what we saw with with Trump one.' 'We need to continue to stand up to him and to speak out against what he is doing when he's doing things that hurt people, that hurt our economy — tank our economy — are illegal and unconstitutional,' she said to the national audience. She was asked how Democrats should think about how to 'package the party' for both the midterm elections in 2026 and in the 2028 presidential election. 'I see people standing up every day around this country as more and more people are realizing the pain and the consequence of Donald Trump and what he is doing. And I just encourage people to continue to stay at it,' Healey said. 'This is going to be a marathon. It's going to take some time, and we just got to stay at it every single day.' Healey encouraged listeners to share posts they see on social media about the Trump administration that they find important, and talk to each other about politics, because 'politicians matter, but everyday Americans matter more.' 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
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield Regional Chamber takes to Beacon Hill
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Springfield Regional Chamber held its Beacon Hill Summit on Wednesday–a chance for western Massachusetts business leaders to engage with lawmakers on critical policy issues. This group champions business interests throughout the western part of the state through education opportunities, legislative advocacy, and fostering community. At Wednesday's event, they heard from their state government counterparts. Springfield Representative Carlos Gonzalez says this is a perfect time for business leaders to visit the State House, as House budget negotiations are underway. He spoke to the role of western Massachusetts employers and employees during these important fiscal conversations. 'Business impacts us all. It impacts us from micro-business to a small business to a corporation to the hospitals that are having challenges today,' said Gonzalez. Speakers at the Summit ranged from the Senate President to insurance and transportation issues. The Healey Administration's Housing Secretary spoke to chamber members about how their work within their communities can promote the state's housing goals. 'You all are going to have credibility in your local communities in a way that not everybody does. You're going to be able to speak from an important part of the tax base of the community,' said Secretary Ed Augustus. Chamber members have the opportunity to ask questions of their local lawmakers as well. The Springfield Regional Chamber was also recognized on the House floor, as representatives paused their budget negotiations to applaud. 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.
