Let’s face it, 2009 certainly wasn’t anything for the business community to write home about.

For many, this was a year to simply hang in and hang on, a time when ‘flat’ translated into ‘pretty darned good.’ For businesses large and small, this was a time best forgotten — and soon.

But there were some rays of sunlight that somehow managed to break through the clouds, some stories that offer hope of better times for those who live, work, and own businesses in the Pioneer Valley. Here are five, listed in reverse order of importance, in our view, of course.

5. A Focus on Literacy

OK, we can toot out own horn a little. Actually, it’s not our horn. Yes, BusinessWest created a new recognition program called Difference Makers, so-named to honor those who are making a difference in our community, and its first class was honored last spring. That was a good story; the better story came about a few months later when one of this year’s Difference Makers, Bill Ward, director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and that group’s project manager, Maura Geary, approached us with the idea of putting all of our winners to work.

That suggestion led to an ambitious project called ‘Creating a Culture of Literacy One Book at a Time.’ This past summer, the five Difference Makers helped collect hundreds of books donated to Hasbro Summer Learning Program, and agreed that all future winners of this award would continue to focus time, energy, and imagination on a matter of vital importance to the health and well-being of this region.

4. Qteros Lands in Chicopee

A little over a year ago, the news was that this region was going to lose Qteros, a company trying to revolutionize ethanol production by using not corn, by common switch grass, to the eastern part of the state. However, through the efforts of the company’s principals and some economic-development leaders in this region, the company has made good a commitment to maintain a noticeable presence in this area.

It will do so in a research and production facility that will be located in a new office facility at Westover in Chicopee. Having Qteros in this region will provide some jobs and some additional vibrancy in the Westover area, but perhaps more importantly, it will provide inspiration to fledgling ‘green’ businesses, while sending a message that they can do business in this area code.

3. UMass Comes to Downtown Springfield

It was announced recently that UMass Amherst will be locating one of the university’s programs — an urban design center — in one of the buildings in Springfield’s Court Square early next year. The move indicates a firm commitment on the part of the university to play a substantial role in economic-development efforts in the region’s largest city.

And the better news is that all those involved with this endeavor say it is merely the beginning of efforts designed to make UMass more of a force in the City of Homes.

2. More Signs of Progress Downtown

Springfield’s central business district still has a long way to go in terms of returning to the vibrancy evident decades ago. But there were a few big steps in the right direction taken in 2009. They include the arrival of the Springfield Armor basketball team, a Developmental League franchise that should bring more people downtown; the opening of a new restaurant, Hot Table, in Tower Square; and, especially, successful efforts to re-tenant the former federal building with Springfield School Department offices, some employees of Baystate Health, and other agencies.

Together, these developments represent real progress in the work to bring more downtown — to live, work, and play.

1. The High-performance Computing Center

Six months ago, hardly anyone in this region knew what a high-performance computing center was. In truth, many still don’t know today, but the picture is starting to come into focus. A center, which brings unprecedented amounts of computing power together in one place, is going to be built in Holyoke, thanks to an impressive partnership effort involving UMass, MIT, Boston University, Cisco, and a host of other players. Holyoke was chosen because of the vast amounts of inexpensive, ‘green’ energy produced by that city’s hydroelectric facilities.

The center will create only a few dozen jobs to start, but there is enormous potential for this facility to attract government agencies, businesses from several different sectors, and support services.

This was easily the biggest and best story in a year when there was little competition.

“The potential for job growth and advances in technology and research is unprecedented,” Gov. Patrick said in a statement. Announcement of the GHPCC in Holyoke comes ahead of the Governor’s Economic Summit scheduled October 27th where business, financial, education and public policy leaders will work to promote long-term economic recovery and job growth in the Commonwealth.

Holyoke Mayor Mike Sullivan said the public-private partnership is a working example of how to transform an industrial-based economy to one driven by green technology, clean energy and scientific development. “This collaborative effort to create a technology district in the heart of Holyoke will have significant benefits for the region, from new businesses to existing businesses, from community colleges to universities, from entry level job seekers to those with significant experience,” Mayor Sullivan said during the announcement.

High performance computing has become an essential part of academia, and a catalyst for the innovation of new products and services. The project website, InnovateHolyoke.com says in describing the technology:

Considered the “third leg of science” along with theory and experimentation, high performance computing uses a large number of extremely powerful and fast computers to carry out advanced computing in key areas of research such as life sciences, clean energy, and climate change.

The public-private partnership bringing the High Performance Computing Center to Holyoke includes the University of Massachusetts, Boston University as well as private sector partners EMC, Cisco and Accenture. The coalition has not only set dates and energy efficiency targets for construction of the GHPCC, but they have also established an organizational and business model for current and future partners; created a shared research agenda and education outreach; developed an operating budget and raised well over half of the project’s costs.

“We applaud and appreciate the tremendous amount of work that has occurred over the last 120 days from the diverse and exceptional list of partners – both public and private – involved in this initiative,” Paul Bosco, VP/GM of Video & Broadband at Cisco, said. Once this project is completed, we have no doubt that our regional science, technology, and innovation leadership and vision will be greatly enhanced through the creation of this unique smart and connected ‘innovation district’ built upon green and cost competitive energy, strong local talent, and exceptional fiber connectivity.”

The newly finished planning process will keep the project, first announced in June, on target for a completion in late 2011. Officials have said the project could total an investment of $100 million or more.

“[T]he bell has sounded today for all of us to make it happen and it will,” Holyoke Mayor Sullivan said.

Plans call for the center to be located near one of the city’s canals and the Connecticut River, which would provide hydroelectric power and water for cooling.

The officials said groundbreaking for the project is tentatively set for next fall with the facility opening its doors in 2011.

“The establishment of the Holyoke HPCC would represent the most significant partnership among state government, leading research universities and private industry in the history of the Commonwealth,” said a statement issued by the project partners. “We believe that it would also represent an important catalyst for economic and workforce development in Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley.”