UMassFive welcomes new community engagement pro
HADLEY — UMassFive College Credit Union has hired Kelley Jewell as its community engagement coordinator. This newly created position reflects UMassFive’s continued investment in community engagement and expands the credit union’s ability to deliver financial wellness programs, strengthen community partnerships and support volunteer efforts throughout the Valley.
In this role, Jewell will help coordinate financial education programs, community outreach initiatives, events and partnerships that connect people with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed financial decisions.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Jewell brings nearly a decade of experience connecting organizations, coordinating community initiatives and engaging people across both the nonprofit and business sectors. Drawing on her experience in fundraising at Amherst Survival Center, together with her development background with local business Provisions, she brings a unique cross-sector perspective and the ability to engage nonprofits, businesses, volunteers and community members in building impactful partnerships and dynamic community events.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank to host workshop
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank will host the next installment of its Come on Over to the Co-op small business workshop series on Wednesday, Sept. 16, featuring Jeroen van der Maat of Northfield Tech Solutions. The complimentary workshop will be held at Greenfield Cooperative Bank’s Main Office, located at 63 Federal St. in Greenfield.
The workshop, “Small Business Technology & Cybersecurity Essentials,” will offer a practical discussion of the technology and cybersecurity challenges facing today’s small businesses. Attendees will learn simple steps they can take to strengthen their business’ technology and cybersecurity, common mistakes to avoid, and proven strategies for protecting businesses from data loss, fraud and operational disruptions.
Valley CDC launches small business loan program
NORTHAMPTON — Valley Community Development has launched a new Small Business Loan Program, offering microloans ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to eligible small businesses operating in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
The loans are designed to address a growing gap in access to capital that can be a barrier for local entrepreneurs, especially for people from underrepresented communities. The Small Business Loan Program provides flexible financing to help business owners sustain and grow their businesses.
Funds can be used for a variety of needs, including inventory, payroll, rent, operating expenses, leasehold improvements and the establishment or building of credit.
Valley welcomes applications from all eligible small business owners and especially encourages entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to apply.
Business owners interested in learning more about eligibility and the application process can visit valleycdc.org.
MassHire to host multi-industry job fair in Hadley
GREENFIELD — On Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center will host a multi-industry job fair at the Hampshire Mall, located at 367 Russell St. in Hadley, in the hallway next to Target. The event will feature more than 35 employers from various industries across Franklin and Hampshire counties. This event is free to attend and pre-registration is not required. For those with questions, email bizteam@masshirefhcareers.org or call 413-774-4361.
United Way receives $28K donation from Eversource
NORTHAMPTON — United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region (UWFH) has announced that Eversource Energy, a longtime supporter of United Way agencies across New England, is providing a $28,000 donation to support the United Way’s efforts to address pressing issues facing local families and individuals.
The donation is part of the $2.6 million provided over the last year by Eversource employees and the Eversource Foundation to United Way organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The funding will help UWFH continue providing health, education and financial stability services to local families.
“This generous support from the Eversource Foundation, as well as the consistent dedication of Eversource employees to volunteer their own time and dollars, helps enable our important work to empower people and families throughout our communities despite the challenges they face,” said Geoff Naunheim, UWFH president and CEO.
Eversource Foundation President and Vice President of Community Partnership and Engagement Theresa Hopkins-Staten said United Way and its local agencies are important resources for communities served by Eversource. More than $1.2 million was collected during the company’s six-week employee and retiree annual fundraising campaign, while hundreds of Eversource employees volunteered at events supporting local United Way organizations.
Mass Humanities gets new director of development
HOLYOKE — Mass Humanities welcomes Jillian Morgan to its staff as the humanities council’s new director of development. An expert in cultivating philanthropy in the nonprofit space, Morgan will lead fundraising and donor relations for the organization. Her hire comes at a pivotal time, with the National Endowment for the Humanities facing continued pressure from the federal government.
Morgan previously served as the director of development at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts from 2022-2026, where she brought in $7 million in annual donations. She also supported a $30 million capital campaign for FBWM, as well as oversaw the annual March for the Food Bank with Monte Belmonte, which raised over $900,000 this year.
Morgan holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master’s in Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices from Bay Path University.
Her interest in the humanities stems from her experience on stage as a child, where she was inspired by the power of performance to tell stories and foster a sense of belonging. That passion for storytelling continues today, she said, in the form of improv classes.
Mass Humanities is a nonprofit foundation that creates opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable commonwealth through the humanities.