HILLTOWNS – At the Village Enterprise Center in Chester, home base for the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center (SHAEC), SHAEC Program Director Michele Kenney was excited.

“We just learned that the Community Development Block Grant was fully funded,” Kenney said, meaning that the GED high school equivalency courses, basic adult education and computer literacy classes for residents of Russell, Huntington, Middlefield and Chester will continue for another year, thanks to the grant of $87,322 obtained by Erica Johnson of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC).

“The Center benefits from many local residents who provide training on a wide variety of topics, including HiSet preparation.             “A long history of high-quality and well managed programs has ensured the continued success of the  Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center as well as the other long-running social service programs supported through Community Development Block Grants,” Johnson said.

These classes are the foundation of the adult education center, but by no means the extent of its offerings.  On its 20th anniversary, the center, which was formed as an outreach of the UMASS Partnership for Worker Education (formerly the Labor Management Workplace Program), now offers classes to support small business, sustainability, health and wellness, among many other areas of interest to hilltown residents.

Joseph Connolly, director of the Partnership for Worker Education, was there when the program began in the fall of 1999.

“I think Michele (Kenney) has done a wonderful job of directing the Southern Hilltown Project,” he said, acknowledging that it’s their oldest off-campus project. “She is incredibly responsive to the communities, their education need, and their economic need.”  

Connolly also gave credit to Johnson and the PVPC, and the town sponsors of the program.

Kenney, who has served SHAEC for 10 years, has managed to attract volunteers and join in partnerships with many other area organizations to expand class offerings. Kenney said she has always offered classes to support small businesses. Due to her long-time involvement with the Jacob’s Ladder Business Association (JLBA), and as the owner of a small business (Functional Art Insulated Window Treatments), she could see the need.  

She has also made an effort to reach out and ask the community what they want.

Her outreach led to her newest partnership with the Hilltown Community Development Corporation (HCDC), based in Chesterfield, which started with HCDC providing some technical assistance classes for small businesses for SHAEC.

Executive Director Dave Christopolis also saw the partnership as a way to expand HCDC’s mission to support economic development in the hilltowns. He said he did not have a lot of contact in the southern hilltowns, and JLBA was on their radar as a group to support. Two years ago, he hired Kenney as a part-time economic development coordinator to reach out to the business association and help them to expand.

Initially, HCDC helped JLBA to fund the Hilltown Destinations Map, a guide to local attractions, businesses, and landmarks across the Hilltown region, created in partnership with the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers and its founder, Elizabeth Massa.  

Christopolis also helped JLBA as a consultant on its governance and growth.  He said in the past year, JLBA’s membership has doubled. They’ve also partnered with HCDC on the longstanding HIlltown Business Directory.

“Michele is excellent in engaging the community,” Christopolis said. “We have expanded trainings and classes, gotten more grant funding, and doubled JLBA membership in one year.”

HCDC also sponsors the new Friday Farmer’s Market in the town square in Huntington.

“It’s been great all around and has allowed HCDC to be more active in those towns,” Christopolis said.

Through the partnership with HCDC, Kenney said she is able to do even more to support small businesses, to work one on one with them, and have others work one on one.

She said they have received a grant from the Mass Growth Capital Corp. in conjunction with the three Western Mass CDCs and is able to use that to work with businesses in 23 area hilltowns.

“The focus for the two grants is very different,” Kenney said.  The CDBG focuses exclusively on adult basic education and computer literacy, while the MGCC is exclusively for business owners.

In the beginning, SHAEC was located in the Hilltown Social Services building in Huntington, and then moved into a classroom at Gateway Regional for many years. This is the organization’s first year in the Village Enterprise Center, a cheery location at 26a Main St. in Chester that is also a satellite office for HCDC.

“It’s been a super successful first year,” Kenney said.  “We can have classes in the daytime.  People can stop by,” she added.

This week, Kenney was giving an afternoon GED English class to Shirell Lopez, who recently relocated to Chester from Arizona.  Lopez initially stopped by to meet Kenney’s Chihuahua Bella, who sometimes joins her at the center.  After speaking with Kenney, and hearing about the course offerings, Lopez said she would like some English tutoring.

Kenney said SHAEC also offers other classes thanks to volunteers and the Friends of SHAEC, a fundraising arm to support sustainability classes, hikes, and other health and wellness programs.

Friends of SHAEC will be holding a fundraising hike at The Retreat at Norwich Lake, 128 Norwich Lake in Huntington on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.. For the hike, Friends of SHAEC is teaming up with the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers to celebrate SHAEC’s 20 years of adult education in the Hilltowns. More information may be found at www.shaec.org.

“This is all in response to public input. Although it’s not the focus of either of the grants, I feel it’s important for a well-rounded program,” Kenney said.

Upcoming course offerings

All classes are free to hilltown residents.

• Accounting for Small Businesses: Sept. 10, 6 -8:30 p.m. Village Enterprise Center (VEC), 26A Main St., Chester.

Get your books ready for reporting 2019 self-employment income.  Great for new business startups.  Discussion topics: Organizing, Income and Expenses, Employees vs consultants, Estimated taxes, Depreciation, and Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss statements: Why are they important? Long time accountant and tax preparer Dorine Lasky will go over business accounting principles, best practices, and will answer your questions.

Pre-registration is essential: Call 354-1055, or email MicheleK@hilltowncdc.org with your contact information, and choice of session/ location.

• Linking Digital Advertising to Small Business Success: Drop-in sessions, Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to noon, VEC, Chester.

Dreaming of reaching all of your best customers like a pro? Learn how to get organized digitally, identify, grab and convert your best customers to paying clients, utilizing content marketing, video marketing and paid traffic. The eight Topic sessions will be offered multiple times between September and December.

Please call Michele Kenney for more information at 354-1055 or email MicheleK@hilltowncdc. org

• Biztro: Drop-in support for small businesses at VEC, Chester. Selected Monday evenings 5-7 p.m – Sept.  9 / Oct. 7 and 28 /Nov. 18 / Dec. 9.

 Need help with your business website? Want to talk about marketing & advertising? Stop by a business-bistro “Biztro” session anytime and get hands-on help with broad range of projects to make your small business flourish in the Hilltowns! Led by Jeanne LeClair, Economic Development Director of the Gateway Hilltowns. Appointment not necessary, but is appreciated. Please call 354-1055 or email Southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com

• Business Plan Workshop: Wed. Sept. 18, VEC Chester, 6-8 p.m

Got a great idea for a small business? Not sure how to start? Want to grow your existing business? We’ll discuss creating an executive summary, a marketing plan, budget, and more. Class led by Jeanne LeClair, Economic Development Director of the Gateway Hilltowns. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please call 354-1055 or email with your contact information to Southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com

• Starting an Airbnb:  Sept., 25   6-7:30 p.m, VEC Chester

Got an extra room in your house, apartment above the garage, or small cottage on your property? Perhaps you want to consider renting out your space for extra income? Airbnb prescreens your tenants, and takes care of collecting payments from your clients. It’s free to sign up as a guest host. Class led by Jeanne LeClair, Economic Development Director of the Gateway Hilltowns. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please call 354-1055 or email with your contact information to Southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com

• Computer & Phone Drop in Help: Select Tuesdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m, Russell Senior Center at the Town Hall: 65 Main St, 2nd floor. Sept 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26, Dec 10. Wednesdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m at the VEC, 26A Main St, Chester

Need help with new software? Can’t find a file? Need one-on- one assistance to learn a specific skill? Come to our Question and Answer Sessions, and get the help that you need. No appointment necessary, just stop by for friendly, compassionate assistance with your computer, phone, or android device.

• Google Calendar for Home and Business: Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-12 p.m, Russell Senior Center, Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m VEC, Chester

Google Calendar can be a businesses' best friend, which can make your business and personal life more efficient. With more features than any other online calendar, Google Calendar allows you to not only keep track of events, but share those events with others.  You can access your calendar when you're away from your desk with two-way syncing to your phone or tablet, as well as   use a mobile version made for small screens.  Great for both personal and professional schedules.

• Microsoft Excel Basics: Sept. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., VEC, Chester

Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel in this two-hour introductory course.  You’ll become familiar with program basics, workbook structure, tabs, and toolbars.  We’ll learn about column and row identifiers, how to select cells and enter information.  We’ll explore how to move around in the sheet, do some basic calculations using formulas, and end with conditional formatting. Taught by hilltown resident Jennifer Shaw.

• Prepare for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSet) MATH GED/ HiSet test Prep. Mondays and Thursdays, Sept. 16 through Dec. 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m, VEC Chester

Susan Borsella is an experienced Math teacher, having taught math to people of all levels and abilities. Math can be intimidating, especially if it has not been studied in years. Borsella will help take that fear away.  The course will be interactive and tailored to the needs of the enrolled students.  This will be a relaxed educational experience, and students can be taught tricks to deal with math anxiety.

The GED Math Prep course will cover the following topics: Number Operations and Number Sense, Measurements, and Algebraic equations, Data analysis and statistics. The course will explore both the calculator and non-calculator sections of the test, understanding and using a formula sheet, and general test-taking skills.   It will involve both group work and one-on-one tutoring when needed.   Pre-registration is essential by calling 354-1055, or by email at Southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com.

• Open to all. Join SHAEC and the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Hike at Neuman Marsh Trail, Chester Blandford State Forest,  Sept. 21,  10 a.m.

Come hike a beautiful mountain trek along the H. Newman Marsh Memorial Trail on Observation Hill in the Chester-Blandford State Forest in Chester. Round-trip length is 1.5 miles. Hike rating is moderate with uphill climbing and steep descent with rock steps and roots.  

Meet in the parking lot of Sanderson Brook Falls in the Chester-Blandford State Forest, across from Bannish Lumber on Route 20.  Trail head is on Sanderson Brook Road, inside the State forest. Maps and bottled water will be provided.    Please be aware that there are no facilities at the trail. Good Dogs are welcome! No registration required, hike is free, donations are welcome! Learn more at www.westernmasshilltownhikers.com