Northampton offers air quality grants to business owners

NORTHAMPTON — The city is offering grants to business owners for improving indoor air quality as part of a joint project of its Ventilation Task Force and the Downtown Northampton Association.

Owners of restaurants, indoor event venues, or bars in Northampton can apply for up to $1,000 to make such improvements. The city is using American Rescue Plan Act money to pay for the grants.

Businesses interested in learning more may visit northamptonma.gov/245 or call 413-587-4903.

Loomis hires new executive director of Applewood

AMHERST — Kristen Lamoureux is the new executive director at Applewood Retirement Community in Amherst. Applewood is a part of senior living provider The Loomis Communities.

Lamoureux has over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management, most recently serving as vice president of recovery environments at Community Healthlink/UMass Memorial Health, where she oversaw residential programs and housing for adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Prior to Community Healthlink, Lamoureux served as vice president at The Arc of Opportunity, where she oversaw programming and support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Lamoureux began her career as a mental health clinician, working with people of all ages. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Assumption University and her Master of Arts in forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Florence Bank hires new manager of its customer service center

FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently announced that Ashley Swett of Ware has been named manager of the bank’s Customer Service Center at the main office in Florence. In her new role, she will oversee the staff responsible for assisting Florence Bank customers who contact the bank via telephone or email.

Swett has 16 years of industry experience and is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. She holds a certificate in supervision from the Center for Financial Training.

Active in the community, Swett is currently a member of the Holiday Flair in Ware, where she enjoys the annual festival and parade.

Five Colleges hires development, sponsored programs director

AMHERST — Ina Clark, a veteran nonprofit development leader, has been named the director of development and sponsored programs for the Five College Consortium.

Clark’s nonprofit background is extensive, including development work at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian Design Museum; Ms. Foundation for Women; and Sesame Workshop. She also recently served as interim director of SPCA International.

At Five Colleges, Clark will oversee the consortium’s broad portfolio of sponsored programs, which most recently has included grants from the Mellon Foundation for expanding the Native American and Indigenous Studies curriculum of its member campuses and for creation of a faculty leadership development program, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for increasing inclusion and accessibility of museum collections. In addition, she will oversee several long-standing externally funded Five College programs: the Center for East Asian Studies, Five College Partnership Programs, and Learning in Retirement.

Clark will begin work at Five Colleges on Jan. 16.

Monsoon Bistro opens at Holyoke Mall

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall has added a fourth full-service restaurant, Monsoon Bistro, located on the upper level near Macy’s.

The locally owned and operated bistro combines traditional Chinese and Thai dishes to showcase the culinary landscape and region. The restaurant will host a grand opening event later this month with details to be announced. The menu, designed to celebrate Southeast Asian cuisine, features Dim Sum, Drunken Noodles, Mango Chicken, Red Curry Fish, and more.

Monsoon Bistro is hiring both front and back of house positions including waitstaff, kitchen staff, runners, and bussers. Those interested should visit the restaurant to apply.