Ames employees at the Berkshire Mall store say they saw it coming.
Ames Department Stores announced yesterday that it would be closing all 327 stores in the chain.
34 of those stores are in Massachusetts with Ames stores at the Berkshire Mall in Lanesboro plus stores in Lenox and Great Barrington.
An estimated 169 employees from all three Berkshire County stores will be out of work.
The Connecticut-based retailer said yesterday that they would most likely use a liquidator to conduct "Going Out of Business" sales at all Ames stores.
Ames was founded in 1958 by the Gilman Brothers. They built the company over a period of years by opening stores in small towns. They went public sometime in the early 60s and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1989, emerging from bankruptcy in 1990.
For details of the Ames shutdown, click here
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Driscoll Announces $75M Build for Mass Program
BOSTON — A $75 million initiative to aid municipalities in tackling major projects was announced by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on Tuesday.
Build for Mass, a revolving loan fund, was launched by the Healey-Driscoll administration to help cities and towns finance critical infrastructure, clean energy, climate resilience, and economic development projects.
Administered by MassDevelopment, Build for Mass is the first municipal infrastructure loan program of its kind in Massachusetts, providing flexible, low-interest financing that helps communities move projects forward faster while maximizing available federal funding opportunities.
Driscoll made the announcement at the Massachusetts Municipal Association's meeting of the Local Government Advisory Commission, an independent group that advocates for the interests of local governments in their relations with state and federal governments.
"Cities and towns know what projects their communities need, but too often they face financial barriers that slow those projects down," said Gov. Maura Healey. "Build for Mass gives communities another tool to repair aging infrastructure, lower energy costs, strengthen local economies and bring more federal dollars home to Massachusetts. We're making state investments go further while helping communities move important projects from the drawing board to construction without raising taxes or fees."
Driscoll, former mayor of Salem, said she knows how difficult it is to move important infrastructure projects forward when financing isn't readily available.
"Build for Mass gives local leaders the flexibility they need to bridge funding gaps, keep projects on track and deliver results for their residents. It's another example of our administration working alongside cities and towns to solve real challenges," she said.
It was the year that Arlene Vachereau, clad in a skirt suit and white gloves, had an interview with attorney Walter J. Donovan. She was immediately hired.
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The "Massachusetts Miracle" ushered in a boomtime — despite gloomy local indicators like the relocation of Sprague Electric, loss of Adams Print Works in a massive blaze, and Photech's bankruptcy.
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