Western Mass Economic Development Council

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! 🎉

09/16/2026

This is what it looks like when the pieces of a regional economy start connecting.

UMass Amherst is making a $120 million investment in the Future of Food, building on more than a century of leadership in food science while creating new opportunities around research, talent, innovation and industry.

But what stands out to me is that this isn’t happening in isolation.

Western Massachusetts already has the farms, food producers, researchers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, retailers and institutions that can make this much bigger than any one investment.

The The Boston Globe also highlighted research from the Western Mass EDC identifying food science as an area where our region is well positioned to compete, with an emerging food-tech cluster already taking shape.

That is the opportunity in front of us: connect the assets, convene the people doing the work, and build a regional story strong enough to attract more talent, investment and companies.

Could Western Mass become for the future of food what Greater Boston has become for biotech?

It’s an ambitious question. But increasingly, we have the ingredients to answer it.

Exciting momentum for UMass Amherst and for Western Massachusetts.

UMass Amherst is leading the charge to bring together everyone from farmers to food scientists to solve problems facing our global food system.

09/10/2026

We’re proud to congratulate Western Mass EDC President & CEO Aaron Vega on being named to the We Are ALX ALX100 Class of 2026.

The ALX100 recognizes Latino leaders and changemakers from across Massachusetts whose leadership, impact and contributions are helping shape the future of the Commonwealth.

Aaron’s recognition reflects the kind of leadership we are proud to have representing Western Massachusetts: bringing people together, building stronger connections across communities and sectors, and working to create more opportunity throughout our region.

Congratulations, Aaron, and to the entire ALX100 Class of 2026.
We’re excited to see Western Massachusetts represented in this statewide community of leaders and changemakers.

09/09/2026

Western Massachusetts is already building the next economy. Now we need to connect it.

Across our region, businesses are growing, manufacturers are innovating, colleges and universities are developing talent and research, entrepreneurs are building companies, and communities are investing in what comes next.

The pieces are here.

The opportunity is to connect them.

At the Western Mass Economic Development Council, we believe our role is to bring people together, strengthen those connections, elevate what is already happening, and help turn individual successes into regional momentum.

Because the biggest opportunity in front of Western Massachusetts is not starting from scratch.

It is recognizing the strength we already have and building what comes next, together.

Read our latest piece:

Western Mass Is Building the Next Economy. Now We Need to Connect It.

🔗 https://www.westernmassedc.com/western-mass-is-building-the-next-economy-now-we-need-to-connect-it/

What is one connection Western Massachusetts needs to make now?