small business Archives — Connecting Point

Retail Association of MA's Jon Hurst and small business owner Judy Herrell discuss the impact the new health care fee will have on small businesses.

Health Care Fee for Massachusetts Businesses

By WGBY / Dec 26, 2018 / No Comments

Addressing rising health care costs is a challenge for politicians, families and businesses. In 2017, a passed to implement the Employer Medical Assistance Contribution Supplement, …

Senator Don Humason and Judy Herrell from Herrell's Ice Cream in Northampton advised the Massachusetts Senate Retail Task Force on the needs of small businesses in western Mass. Carolee McGrath sat down with Humason and Herrel to learn more about the challenges Massachusetts businesses face in 2018.

Massachusetts Senate Retail Task Force Advisors

By WGBY / Jun 12, 2018 / No Comments

The Massachusetts Senate Retail Task Force was formed to help businesses prosper in the Commonwealth. The task force held regional meetings with local business owners …

Thanks to a state grant program subsidy, small and mid-sized Massachusetts companies will be able to access the cutting-edge facilities at the UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences for their own projects.

UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences Grants for Massachusetts Businesses

By WGBY / May 2, 2018 / No Comments

The UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences is a rarity in western Massachusetts: it’s a $150 million facility where education and industry work, sometimes in …

With a goal of revitalizing downtown Holyoke, MA, SPARK (Stimulating, Potential, Accessing, Resource & Knowledge) has been helping entrepreneurs launch small businesses in the Paper City. Director Tessa Murphy-Romboletti talks about the progress SPARK has made bringing businesses back to the city.

Revitalizing Downtown Holyoke with SPARK

By WGBY / Mar 7, 2018 / No Comments

With a goal of revitalizing downtown Holyoke, SPARK (Stimulating, Potential, Accessing, Resource & Knowledge) has been helping entrepreneurs launch small businesses in the Paper City. …

Common Capital’s Local Investment-Shared Future

By WGBY / May 8, 2017 / No Comments

Chris Sikes, CEO at Common Capital, discusses Common Capital’s mission to help local people gain the financial support to start businesses under the motto: “Local …

Visit Brattleboro, VT's In the Moment Records, to find out why playing music on old school vinyl records is surviving and thriving in the digital media age.

Making It Here: In the Moment Records

By WGBY / Apr 24, 2017 / No Comments

Saturday, April 22 was Record Store Day, a celebration of independent record stores who help to keep the tradition of playing music on vinyl alive …

Based in Easthampton, MA, Julie Tuman's Crooked Sticks Pops focuses on providing fresh, healthy, and uniquely flavored ice pops.

Making It Here: Crooked Stick Pops

By WGBY / Mar 27, 2017 / No Comments

After considering several business ventures in the food and beverage industry, Julie Tuman realized that the Valley was already saturated with bakeries, bars and restaurants, …

North Adams, MA has been chosen as a finalist for the Small Business Revolution, an online competition to earn $500,000 towards downtown revitalization.

North Adams and the Small Business Revolution

By WGBY / Feb 15, 2017 / No Comments

Like many towns throughout the state, the city of North Adams has struggled economically, with traditional manufacturing jobs disappearing along with the huge industrial businesses …

Valley Venture Mentors’ Diversify Access to Capital

By WGBY / Jan 11, 2017 / No Comments

Valley Venture Mentors CEO Liz Roberts and Springfield Venture Fund Co-Manager Jay Leonard discuss their recently-announced “Diversify Access to Capital Pledge,” part of the launch …

Visit Brattleboro, VT's Vintage Steele & see how owner Josh Steele's passion for vintage motorcycles grew from a garage hobby into a burgeoning business.

Making It Here: Vintage Steele

By WGBY / Nov 30, 2016 / No Comments

Brattleboro-based Vintage Steele was born several years ago in owner Josh Steele’s garage, out of a love of riding and wrenching on old motorcycles. Producer …