EASTHAMPTON — The city recently completed the Ferry Street Mill Improvement Project, a $3.9 million MassWorks grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (DHCD).
The grant was awarded to the city in May 2019, with additional funds awarded in June 2020, leveraging $90 million in private investment.
“When awarded a grant, there is deserved fanfare,” Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said in a statement. “Closing out a grant is less sparkly but as important. The close-out report compares public dollars budgeted and expended by the City. Easthampton and DHCD collaborated to produce a once-in-a-generation project with a high level of fiscal efficiency.”
The project improved Ferry, Pleasant, and Lovefield streets to support the One Ferry Street mixed-use development. The Ferry Street mill complex was one of the last mill complexes in Easthampton that was vacant and unused. At the grant project close, the city spent all but $18,625 of grant funds.
Infrastructure improvements included the design and construction of a mini round-about, new sidewalks and crosswalks, a public parking area with two electric vehicle chargers at Lovefield Street, improvements to the Manhan Rail Trail crossing at Ferry Street, construction of a retaining wall next to the rail trail, a multiuse walkway on Ferry Street at Lower Mill Pond, improvements to the Lower Mill Pond earthen impoundment and the management of invasive plant species, new pavement and curbing, landscaping, planters, street trees, benches, the placement of utilities underground on Ferry Street and the addition of street lighting throughout the project area.
HOLYOKE — Gary Rome, president of Gary Rome Auto Group, was sworn in last month as a member of the national board of directors of Hyundai Hope On Wheels. Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, will represent the Eastern Region and their 169 Hyundai dealerships.
Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a nonprofit committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving lives.
This is the 24th year of Hyundai’s fight against pediatric cancer. Gary Rome Hyundai has been an active supporter of Hope On Wheels each year, especially during the month of September, which is as pediatric cancer awareness month.
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Savings Bank has made a series of promotions and hires in recent weeks.
Among them are:
■Jocelyn Alvord of Florence has been named manager at the Shelburne Falls branch. Alvord has been with GSB since 2015, starting as a teller and then quickly moved up to super banker in the new GSB office in Hadley. She was promoted to assistant manager in the Hadley branch before moving back to Shelburne Falls, where she has been serving as assistant branch manager.
Kimberly Zabek of Greenfield is the new branch manager and officer at GSB’s South Deerfield branch. She has been in banking for more than 25 years, most recently serving as the assistant branch manager in Hadley.
■Mpress Nembhard of Greenfield has joined GSB as a CRA analyst and community outreach officer. She helps create and update financial aid outreach presentations to a wide range of community partners, businesses, schools, and customers, focusing on low to moderate income applicants and minority/women-owned businesses.
■Sherie Lewis of Dummerston, Vermont, has been named vice president and operations officer. In her new role, she oversees the deposit and loan operations teams.
FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently announced it has presented its 2022 Community Support Award to Linda Bushey of Northampton, a mortgage specialist at its main office in Florence.
The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing employees who are active in the community and give their personal and professional time to local nonprofit organizations.
Each year, the award recipient can select an organization of his/her choice, and the bank will donate $500 to that organization. Bushey chose to support two organizations, so $250 will be granted to the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society/Three County Fair, which promotes agricultural education and scientific agriculture, and $250 will be granted to the Greater Northampton St. Patrick’s Committee, Inc. Bushey was hired at Florence Bank in 1994 as a teller and held a variety of positions before becoming a senior mortgage processor. She is now a mortgage specialist with 32 years of banking experience.