Business Monday ETC: June 13, 2022

HCC offers manufacturing course

Holyoke Community College is offering a free training program that provides entry-level knowledge and skills for jobs in manufacturing.

Classes start June 21, and run for seven days through June 30. All classes meet in person from 9 a.m. to noon at the college’s downtown Holyoke location, the Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center (above the Holyoke Transportation Center) at 206 Maple St.

The program, designed in collaboration with area businesses, will provide entry-level knowledge and skills for employment in the manufacturing sector in the Holyoke area. Classes are geared for students already employed by area companies or looking to gain entry to the industry.

“HCC instructors are teaching what employers want taught,” said Paul Sheehan, special projects coordinator. We’ve offered the program before and local companies have sent staff to the training.”

The course will cover general manufacturing processes and principles, math skills for manufacturing, problem-solving strategies, an overview of quality control standards such as Lean and ISO 9000, and career expectations and professional behavior.

The course is offered in collaboration with state Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, who helped secure a $50,000 line item in the state budget to get the program started.

For more information or to register, contact Paul Sheehan at psheehan@hcc.edu or fill out the inquiry form online at hcc.edu/manufacturing.

Bank supports Wilbraham festival

Monson Savings Bank announced it will be a $1,000 Peach Blossom Level Sponsor for this year’s Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival, to be held at Wilbraham Monson Academy on Saturday.

“I am really proud to be a part of Monson Savings Bank, a community-focused bank that supports local traditions, like the Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival,” said Carolyn Balicki, Wilbraham branch manager and assistant vice president-retail officer. Officer. “I grew up in Wilbraham going to the Peach Festival every year with my family. My husband and I are now raising our two young sons in Wilbraham and look forward to making the Peach Blossom Festival an annual tradition in our family.”

The festival will feature food trucks, a craft fair, live music, carnival games for kids and a quilt show. The event is back this year after a two year gap due to the pandemic.

“Events like this are important to the community because they bring people together,” Balicki continued. “We need that now more than ever.”

To learn more about the Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival, visit the website, peachblossomfestival.org.

Park Square honors 2 founders

Carolyn Coughlen and Kate Cheever, two of the three founders of Park Square Realty, are celebrating 35 years with the company.

Coughlen and Cheever were recognized at the Park Square Realty awards and recognition event held at Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick on April 6.

The two are still actively practicing real estate. Natives of Westfield, the founding brokers sought to use their experience to open what was called a “boutique” real estate firm in 1987.

Over the past 35 years, the firm has grown to 56 agents and two offices in Westfield and West Springfield.

Park Square Realty remains an independent, locally owned real estate company that handles residential, commercial, and land sales along with residential rentals. Park Square Realty closed over $121 million in sales volume in 2021.

Chamber backs ballot question

The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce recently endorsed the Flexibility & Benefits for Massachusetts Drivers ballot question.

Drivers who work with app-based companies like DoorDash, Instacart, Lyft, and Uber are seeking to remain classified as independent contractors.

“The greater Holyoke community has a dynamic business sector that relies on rideshare and delivery opportunities for transportation, access to restaurants and groceries,” said Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber. “We sadly have a deficit of public transportation here in Western Massachusetts and are in a transportation desert. This sector works to fill that gap. We support the upcoming ballot question and hope voters will take the time to understand how invaluable securing driver flexibility is for the gig economy and economic development statewide.”

The Flexibility & Benefits for Massachusetts Drivers ballot question would require gig drivers to earn 120% of the Massachusetts minimum wage — or at least $18 per hour before customer tips. Rideshare and delivery network companies would be required to pay healthcare stipends for drivers who work at least 15 hours per week, including full stipends equal to 100% of the average employer contribution toward a Health Connector plan premium for those who work an average of 25 hours or more per week. Rideshare and delivery drivers would also earn paid sick time, paid family and medical leave, and be provided with on-the-job injury protection.