North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation Funds New Artisanal Gift Shop

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$40,000 in financing approved for Handcrafted Artisanal Marketplace, bringing unique local shopping experience to Airport Road in Fitchburg

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, recently approved $40,000 in start-up financing for Handcrafted Artisanal Marketplace, a new specialty gift shop at 68 Airport Road in Fitchburg. The funding supports the latest addition to the region’s growing creative economy.

Known as the H.A.M. Gift Shop, the store features handcrafted products from local artisans, hosts monthly workshops, and provides special events that showcase regional talent. The business offers both direct sales and consignment opportunities for area craftspeople.

“My hope is for the gift shop to provide our region with a central hub for artisans while supporting personal and community causes,” said founder Katelyn Murphy. “Since we opened, we have received such a warm welcome from the community and our guests really enjoy meeting our mascot, Ham, too!”

The shop’s unique name stems from Murphy’s Quaker Parrot, Ham, her companion since 2020. “Ham has helped me through college, milestones, and hardships,” she added. “I named The H.A.M. Gift Shop after him to combine two of my passions, creativity and birds.”

Murphy developed her business plan in collaboration with NewVue Communities before securing financing through the NCMDC. To learn more about the gift shop, please visit https://thehamgiftshop.com/.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.

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North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation approves financing for Butler Machine and Prototype in Gardner

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The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, recently approved $70,000 in financing to Butler Machine and Prototype, located at 400 Matthews Street in Gardner. The funding will support the purchase of various pieces of equipment, tooling and working capital while also creating one job with two additional jobs planned within the next year. NewVue Communities of Fitchburg assisted with the development of the company’s business plan.

Founded by David Butler, Butler Machine and Prototype is a custom machine shop for small lots and prototype design for machine shops. A graduate of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, Butler earned a two-year apprenticeship certificate and has worked at various machine shops gaining professional and leadership experience over the past 30 years. Most recently, he worked for a machine company prototyping and fixturing for medical devices.

“With over 30 years of experience as a Class A Machinist and more than 15 years of experience as a tool and die maker in metal stamping and cold metal framing, I am excited to bring my years of knowledge and experience to my customers,” said Butler. “With the collaboration of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and NewVue Communities, I am able to do what I love to do while achieving the dream of entrepreneurship.”

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.

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NCMDC Loan Update

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The Chamber’s economic development arm – the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has closed seven micro-loans for a total of $333,500 since October 1, 2020. The loans were made to a mix of existing and start-up businesses and ranged from $6,000 to $150,000. There are another three loans totaling $325,000 that have been approved but haven’t closed yet. We are also excited to share that the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized the Development Corporation in December for its success in providing micro-loans.=

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is a non-profit economic development corporation with the mission of creating jobs and improving the economy. NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program. The NCMDC works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects in 76 communities in Worcester, Middlesex and Franklin Counties with loans and business assistance.  Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $8,000,000 in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy in the region.

SBA To Provide Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans

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WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza issued the following statement today in response to the President’s address to the nation: 

“The President took bold, decisive action to make our 30 million small businesses more resilient to Coronavirus-related economic disruptions. Small businesses are vital economic engines in every community and state, and they have helped make our economy the strongest in the world. Our Agency will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest disaster recovery loans to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the situation. Additionally, the SBA continues to assist small businesses with counseling and navigating their own preparedness plans through our network of 68 District Offices and numerous Resource Partners located around the country. The SBA will continue to provide every small business with the most effective and customer-focused response possible during these times of uncertainty.” 

Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
  • Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance. 
  • Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities.
  • SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. 
  • These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. 
  • SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. 
  • SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail .

Chamber Regional Economic Study

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The Chamber and its economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, have commissioned the UMass Donahue Institute to develop a robust data driven economic profile of the region. This economic profile is intended to provide focused data and research for North Central Massachusetts that will be used to support our economic development goals. We anticipate that the data will be used to showcase the region, answer queries about the region, support ongoing projects and help make evidence based decisions.

The customized profile is expected to combine detailed economic, labor market and socioeconomic data, as well as provide analysis on the economic conditions within the region. The project is expected to be completed by October, 2019. ◊

This update is from the latest Chamber Report

Last Chance to Advertise in the Manufacturers Directory

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Don’t get left out! The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation is getting ready to publish the 2018 edition of the Manufacturers Directory and Industrial Parks Guide for North Central Massachusetts. A limited number of advertising spots are still available.

This publication is the region’s most comprehensive collection of this specialized information, outlining available industrial sites and local manufacturing related businesses, describing products, contact information and more. The directory is designed to promote and connect manufacturers with suppliers as well as serve as a resource for companies looking to relocate or expand throughout the region. Ad rates start at just $350. Please contact David Ginisi at 978.353.7600 ext. 240 for more information or to reserve your advertisement.