“I think that every sexual position is fundamentally comic.”
—Judith Butler, American philosopher, born February 24, 1956
When people study why entrpreneurs choose to build their businesses where they do, they find that their reasons have little to do with the things that politicians and economists go on and on about: tax rates and regulations. Nope: the questions they ask are whether a city is a nice place to live, whether it’s a good place to raise a family, if young people want to move there, and whether they’ll find other people like them there. These factors are certainly strong points about the Pioneer Valley, towns and cities that want to grow should keep them in mind in their plans. Yeah, I’m looking at you Greenfield, Holyoke and Springfield.
When we moved our family business up here from New York in 1991, it was easy to choose Northampton because of the lifestyle and cultural opportunities that the area offered. Some of us had children, and some didn’t, but there were compatible people and activities for all of us. It didn’t hurt that we had easy access to lots of young, well-educated people we could hire to work in our company. If we’d been making our decisions based strictly on utility, we probable would have wound up in Missouri or Alabama.
DEADLINE February 28: List media-related company, union, organization, talent, production rentals and services, skill, learning opportunities, location, studios, festivals and whatever else you have to offer for film and media production in Western Massachusetts.
Life Sciences 2014–2015 Internship Challenge announced. Get on it.
Today and Tomorrow in #westernma
| MONDAY | FEBRUARY | 24 |
| 8:00AM-10:00PM | Springfield | Valley Venture Mentors’ Cambridge/Boston Innovation Tour |
| 11:30AM-1:00PM | Springfield | Affiliated Chambers Springfield Outlook 2014 |
| 5:00-6:45PM | Northampton | Entrepreneur Allies |
| 5:00PM | Southwick | The Business Network |
| TUESDAY | FEBRUARY | 25 |
| 8:00AM | Agawam | MarketRight |
| 5:00-7:00PM | Springfield | 1-2-3s of Financial Literacy for Small Businesses |
| 6:30PM | Indian Orchard | The Geek Group of Western Mass |
Reading
Why People Put Their Businesses Where They Do
“The study’s executive-summary portion was:
- Entrepreneurs at fast-growing firms usually decide where to live based on personal connections and quality of life factors many years before they start their firms.
- These founders value a pool of talented employees more than any other business-related resource that cities can offer.
- Access to customers and suppliers is the second most valuable business-related resource that cities can provide, according to these entrepreneurs.
- The founders in our study rarely cite low tax rates or business-friendly regulations as reasons for starting a business in a specific city. “
The Parks and Recreation Theory of America’s Future
Internships for Students and Recent Graduates in the Life Sciences
“The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has announced the launch of the 2014–2015 Internship Challenge. The workforce development program, first launched in 2009, creates hundreds of new paid internship opportunities each year throughout Massachusetts.
“Eligible college students and recent graduates can apply online through the MLSC’s website for an internship with one of over 300 life sciences companies registered to host interns. Companies review candidates through a web-based interface in which they can match skills with their needs. Upon conclusion of the internship, the MLSC reimburses companies for stipends paid to their interns.
“Over the past five years, the program has placed over 1,400 interns at more than 380 companies throughout Massachusetts. At least 250 of the interns were hired into either full or part-time positions with their host companies at the conclusion of their internships.
“In 2012, the MLSC received an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand the Internship Challenge over four years as part of the $5 million Metro Boston Skilled Careers in Life Sciences (SCILS) initiative to grow and maintain the area’s life sciences workforce.”
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Announces Internship Development Challenge
Film and Video Folks: Get Listed In IMAGINE’s 2014 New England Production, Resource & Location Guide
“The 2014 IMAGINE Production, Resource & Locations Guide Invites you to be in it. Yes, we have a category for you. Become a part of IMAGINE’s 2014 New England Production, Resource & Location Guide. It’s a 411 for our Region!
“Give Hollywood a Shout Out by listing your industry related company, union, organization, talent, production rentals and services, skill, learning opportunities, location, studios, festivals and whatever else you have to offer our burgeoning Film and Television production business.
“This Guide becomes a part of our combined March/April edition of IMAGINE and will be given to thousands of studio executives, producers and location scouts at AFCI’s 2014 Location Show at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, nestled between LA and Santa Monica – Century City is home to many industry firms and professionals and just a brief walk from Fox Studios.
“This is an outreach that IMAGINE makes on the New England industry’s behalf every year in our quest to vie for the billions of dollars that will choose a location this year. Plus, this Guide stays online for one whole year. This big double issue will also be distributed at NAB in Las Vegas April 5th – 10th.”
Get Listed in our Annual Production Guide
The Last Word
“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.”
—Jules Renard, French dramatist, born February 22, 1864