News from our members

Golden Girl Granola Donates to Face Shield Project

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Golden Girl Granola Sends Granola to Dark Monk Arts Equipment

Shirley, MA April 14 – Golden Girl Granola donated granola snack packs to hungry volunteers and staff at Dark Monk, a performing arts shop that has been converted into a face shield manufacturer during the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 cases of assorted snack packs were sent to Dark Monk as they produce face shields for hospitals across the northeast. 

Dark Monk is a 1,500 square foot shop in Charlestown, Massachusetts known for their fire entertainment equipment. Owner Chad Bennett decided to help create personal protective equipment in the form of face shields as the need for this equipment became dire. Dubbed the Charlestown Face Shield Project, volunteers are producing thousands of face shields that are donated to hospitals in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and across the northeast.

When Dark Monk reached out to Golden Girl Granola, the wholesale bakery wanted to help. “Dark Monk called us and asked if we could donate granola for their volunteers. After hearing about the wonderful work they were doing, I didn’t think twice about sending our granola and support.” explains Deborah O’Kelly, owner of Golden Girl Granola.

The Charlestown Face Shield Project continues to make thousands of face shields as the hospital demand is still high. Since they are donating the equipment, there are costs that can be offset to help them continue production. They have a GoFundMe page where people can support the initiative.

“A month ago, Dark Monk was creating torches and wands. Now they’re creating life-saving equipment for our medical professionals and donating it to our community hospitals. They are an inspiration.” says Deborah.

About Golden Girl Granola:
Golden Girl Granola™ is a woman-led, family-owned wholesale bakery based in Shirley, Massachusetts that crafts the best-tasting artisan granola in New England. Golden Girl Granola uses a twice-baked and hand-stirred method using the finest all-natural ingredients to create a crunchy, wholesome and delicious taste. Products include loose granola offered in seven flavors and chewy granola bars. Golden Girl Granola offers the complete line nationwide for chain supermarkets, independent supermarkets, gourmet food stores, club stores and convenience stores.

www.goldengirlgranola.com 

FAM Presents Art in Bloom: A Virtual Online Experience

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Every spring, The Fitchburg Art Museum partners with the Laurelwood Garden Club to host Art in Bloom. This popular event invites local floral designers, garden clubs, and community members to interpret the art in their galleries with flower arrangements. FAM is closed this April, but FAM still wants to make their art bloom. And they invite you to help!

Starting on Monday, April 13th, FAM will share images of artwork from each of our galleries, plus a bonus piece from their collection that is not currently on display. You can find these images on their Facebook or Instagram, as well as their website. We hope you will choose one of these images and interpret it with flowers.

A new set of images will be shared each Monday through May 3rd. In honor of Mother’s Day, the fourth and final week will feature artwork from our collection featuring the theme of motherhood. You can interpret as many times as you wish. You are not limited to one.

READ FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE HERE

Roots Natural Foods Launches Online Market

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Sitting home, rained in and looking for some amazing groceries to be delivered to your door this week? Roots has you covered!
As the state ramps up safety measures for grocery store workers, Roots urges everyone to choose curbside and delivery when possible.

Delivery or Curbside options are available with online shopping, however, Roots is accepting your orders via email for curbside pick up as well.

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE

  • All orders are next day (Tues-Sat)
  • Roots has been very lucky to work with local, regional and national distributions. Their order team will call you with alternate products if some of your items are not in stock.
  • If you don’t see something you want or like.. please inform the team

SHOP NOW

WACHUSETT BREWING COMPANY LAUNCHES GLORY AMERICAN IPA TO SUPPORT LOCAL UNITED WAY CHARITIES

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New beer will support United Way COVID-19 Funds across Central Massachusetts communities

Wachusett Brewing Company and Atlas Distributing are releasing a new beer together that will directly raise money to support three COVID-19 response funds in the communities where they operate.  The funds are the United Way of North Central Massachusetts Stand United Fund, the United Way of Tri-County Community Response Fund and ‘Worcester Together’, a joint effort between the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

“During these difficult days, we are humbled to partner with Wachusett Brewing and United Way to offer some assistance to our local communities”, said Jamie Salois, of Atlas Distributing. “We are so grateful to both Wachusett and United Way for their continued work in the community we serve every day.”

“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Atlas Distributing and United Way” said Christian McMahan, President of Wachusett Brewing Company.  “We work in these communities, our employees and their families live in these communities, and we want to do everything we can to help support these communities when they need it the most.  These are crazy times, if we can find a way to do some good through of all of this, that’s exactly what we will do”

“We could not be more grateful”, says Tim Garvin, President & CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts. “Atlas and Wachusett both have a long history of philanthropy in Central Massachusetts and to do something like this during this crisis is incredible.”

“We are proud to partner with Wachusett Brewing Company on this important initiative to support our community during this unprecedented time” added Kory Eng, President of United Way of North Central Massachusetts.

Glory American IPA is an approachable and modern expression of the IPA style that is double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Citra and Azacca hops.  It will be released in 6pks the week of April 13th.  

For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.com

For more information about Atlas Distributing, visit www.atlasdistributing.com

About Wachusett Brewing Company 

Celebrating 25 years in 2019, WBC produces a diverse, award-winning line of beers ranging from their best-selling Blueberry Ale to their highly-rated Wally New England IPA series. WBC was named of the top 50 largest craft breweries in the US in 2019.

About Atlas Distributing

Atlas Distributing, Inc. is a family owned and operated, full-service beer and beverage distribution company servicing licensed and non-licensed customers throughout the central Massachusetts market. Atlas has proudly served customers, consumers, and the community since 1933. The Atlas Team is proud, honored, and humbled to be serving this community for over 86 years!

Launch of FRA Grant for Fitchburg’s Small Business Community

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The Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) is pleased to announce the launch of its Emergency Economic Development Resiliency Grant for local businesses within the city of Fitchburg as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.
In view of the current state of the local economy due to the coronavirus, the FRA has developed the Emergency Economic Resiliency Grant consisting of an award of up to $2,500 to eligible grantees having a physical space within the Fitchburg business community. Funding is limited but the FRA hopes to provide relief to approximately 40 businesses that have been significantly vulnerable during this unprecedented time.

Applications for the grants will be available online through the FRA’s new website and Facebook page starting Monday, April 13, 2020 and review will continue until the funding runs out.

UNITIL DONATES $225,000 TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS IN NEED

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Donations part of multi-tiered approach to provide customers with financial assistance

HAMPTON, N.H., April 1, 2020 — Unitil Corporation, (unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, has donated $225,000 to help customers with their utility bills and other pressing needs during this difficult time.

Unitil has created the Unitil Customer Assistance & Recovery Effort (U-CARE) Fund and has donated $150,000 directly to Community Action Programs (CAPs) working locally in Unitil’s service territories to provide direct utility assistance to residential customers impacted by COVID-19 related job loss or reduced wages. The remaining $75,000 will be donated to COVID-19 based programs at agencies, such as the United Way, to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse, while also supporting first responders where we can.

“As an organization, we care deeply about the well-being of our customers,” Unitil CEO and President Tom Meissner said. “The creation of this fund is part of a comprehensive plan designed to give families and businesses as much support as possible as the economic impact of the fight against this virus comes into focus.”

On top of the donations, Unitil has made the following commitments to its customers:

  • Unitil customers will not have to worry about losing service while staying safe and caring for loved ones during this crisis. Until further notice, all shutoff and collection activities have been suspended.
  • Unitil recognizes flexibility and understanding is required as we work together to protect both the local businesses that drive our economy and our loved ones most at risk from this disease. All late payment or non-payment fees are currently being waived.
  • Unitil’s customer service team will work with you to set up a personalized payment plan designed to spread costs out over time.
  • Unitil is working closely with federal and local assistance agencies. Our customer service team can discuss a wide array of assistance programs, including those available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which may be able to help.

Unitil urges all customers with financial challenges to reach out to their local CAP Agency or our own representatives at 1-888-301-7700 so we can provide assistance to get families through this ongoing crisis.

About Unitil Corporation
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices and technologies that lead to dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 106,000 electric customers and 83,600 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies and community involvement please visit unitil.com.

Town of Clinton announces Small Business Resiliency Program as part of COVID-19 Emergency Response

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At a special meeting on Thursday, March 26, the Clinton Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to make $150,000 available from the town’s Community Development Fund to create a Small Business Resiliency Program to assist Clinton’s small businesses absorb financial impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 State of Emergency.

Loans of up to $5,000 are available, subject to the availability of funds. Requests for larger amounts may be considered on a case- by-case basis.

“Small businesses, which are historically sensitive to interruptions of cash flow, have been meaningfully affected by the ongoing State of Emergency,” said Clinton Community and Economic Development Director Philip Duffy. “The intent of this program is to get this money out quickly. It’s likely that larger assistance from the federal government will be arriving at some point. In the meantime, we want to address the needs of some of our businesses that are under stress right now, to make sure they’re still here when this is all over.”

Businesses located in Clinton, as evidenced by a commercial lease or mortgage, or Clinton businesses that, in addition to the owner, withhold payroll taxes for at least one employee are eligible.

Small Business Resiliency assistance targets financial impacts of COVID-19 from March 10 to April 30, 2020, including:

  • Difficulty in meeting monthly fixed costs as a result of COVID-19
  • Loss of business, as demonstrated by either:
    • a greater than 50-percent reduction in gross receipts, or
    • a greater than 50-percent reduction in full- or part-time staffing
    • Certain increased expenses that result from COVID-19

If approved, eligible Clinton businesses can use this funding for such things as:

  • Employee payroll and benefits
  • Rent and other fixed costs
  • Loss of inventory
  • Unusual expense related to COVID-19 response

For a loan application and more information, including criteria for consideration and loan terms, GO HERE​.

Questions about the program should be directed to:

Phillip Duffy
Director, Community and Economic Development Office
242 Church Street Clinton, MA 01510
978-365-4113