Making News in Business, Aug. 11

FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently presented the 2022 President’s Award to three staff members for outstanding service.

Established in 1995, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding performance, customer service and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Those named are nominated by their colleagues at the bank.

This year’s award winners are Tiffany Poirier, commercial loan support assistant manager in the Commercial Department; Shaina Snape, a customer service specialist in the Customer Service Center; and Nicholas Andrus, a customer service representative. All three employees work in the main Florence Bank branch in Florence.

Poirier, of Westfield, was hired at the bank in March 2017. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State University and has 15 years of banking experience.

Snape, of Huntington, began working at Florence Bank in 2018 and has 12 years of banking experience.

Andrus, of Easthampton, was also hired in 2018 and has eight years of experience in banking.

bankESB donates $5K to Hampshire YMCA

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently donated $5,000 to the Hampshire Regional YMCA to help fund continued wellness programming and family services in Hampshire County. This brings the bank’s total contributions to the organization over the past two years to more than $20,000.

The Hampshire Regional YMCA aims to strengthen the community by fostering healthy living, the development of young people, social connection, and responsibility in a welcoming environment for all. Each year, over 10,000 people are served at the HRYMCA through membership and programs. The funds donated by bankESB will provide scholarships to camp, child care, and other programs for those who otherwise would not be able to attend.

The donation was made as part of the bank’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the roots the bank has in its communities, its commitment to making a real difference in the neighborhoods it serves, and the belief that everyone’s quality of life is enhanced when we work together to solve our communities’ biggest problems.

Holyoke Health Center dedicates building to CEO

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Health Center, located at 230 Maple St., last week dedicated a building in honor of CEO Jay Breines who has retired after 28 years of service to the health center.

The dedication ceremony included the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Breines for the outstanding leadership that he has provided to the health center’s staff, patients and the community.

Breines started his career at Holyoke Health Center in 1994, when the organization occupied a single floor space in the basement of a community building on Center Street in Holyoke. The present day Holyoke Health Center campus consists of several multi-story historical buildings in the heart of downtown Holyoke and additional satellite sites throughout western Massachusetts.

Junior Achievement names six new board members

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts has announced the addition of six new members to its board of directors.

The new members of the board of directors include: Lisa Reilly of Florence, senior media, digital and sports marketing strategist at Saga Communications; Alexander Cerbo of West Springfield; Anthony Lorenzano of Springfield; Mark Laurenzano of Westfield; Terrell Joyner of Suffield, Connecticut; and Lena Buteau of Hampden.

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts was founded in Springfield in 1919 and is the birthplace of JA. Today more than 13,000 students in grades K–12 in Western MA participate in JA programs annually. For more information, visit jawm.org

Northampton, HCC land grants from MGM

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) recently approved the award of over $10.6 million in Community Mitigation Fund grants to numerous municipalities and other eligible entities across Massachusetts, including the city of Northampton and Holyoke Community College.

The fund, established by the gaming law, helps host and surrounding communities and other qualified applicants to offset costs related to casino construction and operation. Grant awards support a range of community needs including education, transportation, infrastructure, housing, environmental issues, public safety, and emergency services.

Northampton will use the $75,000 it receives to provide continued funding for development and improvement of the northampton.live website.

HCC Holyoke Community College received $500,000 for its Work Ready 2022 workforce development program.

The program is a collaborative effort of HCC, Springfield technical Community College, and the Springfield Public Schools to provide adult education, career readiness and occupational training to connect unemployed and underemployed residents to education, training and employment opportunities to meet the workforce needs of MGM Springfield and the region.