Funding to support specialty business started during pandemic

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently approved a $15,000 loan to Pawsitive Identity K9 Services in Hubbardston. Owned by Thomas and Nina Welch, Pawsitive Identity K9 Services works directly with hotels and apartment complexes to identify bedbugs and collaborates with pest control companies for remediation. The loan will support the purchase, certification and training of dogs to detect bedbugs and support local pest control companies.

Tom Welch was a K9 officer for 21 years with the Worcester County Sheriff Department, where he trained and worked with several dogs during his career. When Tom retired from his K9 duties, a local pest control company recruited him to work with the company-owned dog that specialized in detecting bedbugs. At the onset of the pandemic, the company eliminated the bedbug detecting part of the business but offered Tom the company dog. Soon thereafter, Tom started his own business during the pandemic with the help of his wife, Nina, and together, they have steadily expanded their customer base.

“Nina and I started Pawsitive Identity K9 Services during the pandemic and this loan facilitated the purchase of a new dog, Charlie, to complement the work of current K9 Kirby,” said Tom Welch. “Kirby is getting older, and Charlie was recently acquired with the loan funds, which will also be used to train and certify Charlie and allow us to prepare for Kirby’s eventual retirement.”

“Thanks to the financial assistance and support from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, we have fulfilled a dream to open our own business and deliver an important service to our local community,” Welch said.   For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/pawsitiveidentityK9.

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.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, recently approved a $67,500 loan to Homestead Market, located at 59 Gardner Road in Winchendon. Funding approved by NCMDC was in partnership with Athol Savings Bank, which assisted in purchasing the real estate.

Homestead Market, owned by Tony and Morgan Ruschioni, is a small family business that provides homemade products and services focused on sustainable agriculture. Most of the organic and sustainable products are created with items locally sourced from the Ruschioni family farm, including specialty foods, gift shop merchandise, personal care items, lotions, soaps, salves and other homemade products.

In addition to managing the store, Morgan Ruschioni will lead a variety of creativity classes and specialty evenings, including paint, craft and kid’s nights. Homestead Market plans to hire one full-time and one part-time employee in the future.

“When you purchase products at Homestead Market, you are supporting a local, small farm that uses regenerative agricultural practices, and raises animals with care and respect,” said Morgan Ruschioni. “With the financial assistance and support from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, we can build a business to help our community have access to healthy, sustainable food options.”

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, and expansion and work with its 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.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) recently approved a $6,700 loan to Marcia Gagliardi owner of Haley’s Antiques and Publishing located at 488 S Main St. in Athol.

Haley’s Antiques, established in 1953, has a large selection of eclectic antiques for sale and also provides estate appraisals services. Marcia, owner, inherited the business in 1987 then added the book publishing entity renaming the business to Haley’s Antiques and Publishing. Haley’s Antiques and Publishing operates from Marica’s 1787 Georgina colonial home. This working capital loan was provided to assist with COVID recovery. For more information on Haley’s Antiques and Publishing visit them Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Haley’s Antiques or call (978) 249-9400.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for work-ing capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

About the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation

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 Busi-ness 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.

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

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) recently approved a $20,000 loan to Mark Gallant, owner of Dogfather Vending LLC at 67 Main Street in Boylston, MA, a new food-truck center and commercial kitchen.

Mark Gallant has owned and operated Dogfather Vending, a family-owned food-truck, since January of 2010. Mark recently relocated and expanded his business to include a commissary kitchen and food-truck center, which functions as a base of operations for food truck vendors to prepare food, replenish supplies, and store their food trucks.  Dogfather Vending  is conveniently located in Boylston, just over the Worcester line and with nearby access to highway 190 and 290. The $20,000 loan helped with equipment and fit-up cost for the new location. This micro loan created one part time position, retained six seasonal part-time and three full-time jobs. For more information on Dogfather Vending visit www.thedogfathertruck.com.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for working capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

(Regional) – The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) – the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce – recently approved a $50,000 loan to the 50-50 Diner in Fitchburg.

The 50/50 Diner, a restaurant in Fitchburg managed by David and Reesi Cordio and Michael Cataldo, received a $50,000 microloan to refinance high interest business debt, purchase some equipment and utilize working capital during the pandemic. As the restaurant was shut down at the height of the stay at home advisories, David and Michael decided to take advantage of the down time to make some improvements in their restaurant. They made some cosmetic upgrades to the dining room as well as to some kitchen equipment. The diner is located at 440 River Street in Fitchburg and can be found online at facebook.com/50greeneggs/.

As a microloan lender, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for working capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.