The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of a new customized market research service that will help member businesses and organizations save money by finding and reaching new prospects more effectively.   The Chamber can now help members make their existing direct-mail or telemarketing lists more efficient, analyze sales data to build a profile of their ideal customer targets, or even build a marketing list from scratch based on more than 100 data points such as  income level, geography, education,  interests, and purchasing tendencies.  This information can help local businesses in North Central Massachusetts learn more about their current customers, help them find and reach like-minded prospects, and acquire new customers.

For example, companies offering products & services for the home might benefit from knowing which families have purchased new homes or recently moved into the area.  Customized reports comparing a business’ customer profile with that of their target geographic area can provide enhanced segmentation, insight, and personalization to improve current marketing efforts.  Additional tools enable businesses to update and verify information, remove duplicates, and improve the odds of response to direct-mail offers, marketing like large companies on a small business budget.

 “We are excited to launch this new service that offers businesses greater access to potential customers.  This type of high-value market information has traditionally been out of reach for many small and mid-size businesses,”  said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO  “We think that access to this customized research will be a powerful tool that can give North Central Massachusetts small businesses a competitive advantage.”

Current members or businesses interested in learning more about the customized market research offered through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce should contact Jeff Ardis, Manager of Member Services at (978) 353-7600 ext. 234 or via email at .

 

Donna DiMarzio, Owner of Curves of Leominster, was recognized as the 2015-16 Ambassador of the Year by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s 32nd Annual Business Meeting on June 16, 2016.

Chamber Ambassadors are volunteers who assist the Chamber with outreach to existing and new members, helping them get engaged in programs and events, as well as acting as the public relations arm of the Chamber.

Mrs. DiMarzio was recognized for her consistent, dedicated support of the Chamber as well as her passion for her community.  Due to her strong efforts for her community, she has been appointed Ambassador of the Year for a second time, the first being in 2013.

“Donna DiMarzio has always been a pleasure to work with,” said Roy Nascimento, “She has been a great champion for the Chamber and community and we appreciate her support and commitment.”

As the owner of Curves of Leominster, her everyday goal is to help make women more healthy and confident with their bodies.  She teaches Zumba classes and is constantly raisings funds for Breast Cancer research.

Donna’s outreach and involvement as a Chamber Ambassador is beneficial to both the Chamber and the Leominster Curves Franchise.  Her mission to help make a healthier community makes her the perfect fit for this title.  We thank Donna for her works and are excited to see what the future holds for her in both the Chamber and the Curves of Leominster.

Chamber Unveils New Look

Today the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is beginning a new chapter in our history – with a new, updated look.  We are still the same great Chamber that you’ve gotten to know – with trusted resources, a strong business network and a support system to keep your business and North Central Massachusetts moving forward!  But starting today, we have a new look – a new face to the world – that better represents who we are and where we are heading in the future.

 

Several months ago, the Chamber commissioned the development of a new logo.  The objective of the new logo design was to present a fresh, more contemporary look that was both respectful of the Chamber’s brand and history, yet reflective of the organization’s continued growth and transformation.

About the New Logo:

The new logo was created by Ladybugz Interactive, a web & marketing firm and member of the Chamber.  The new logo as well as an updated tagline were approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors at their May meeting following a review and revision process that encompassed several months.

The new design maintains elements of the original logo, while incorporating more contemporary fonts and an updated image to reflect our dynamic regional organization.  The swirl image from the original logo – which signified regional focus, leadership and collective action – remains, but has been updated with a more modern design.  The new logo design also maintains the green color theme to relate to the business world and to reflect balance, stability, prosperity and growth.

About the Updated Tagline:

The Chamber’s updated tagline – “Building Businesses. Building Communities.” – succinctly communicates the Chamber’s principal mission of  creating a stronger, more dynamic and prosperous business sector, while speaking to the connection between a strong business sector and a healthy prosperous community.  The new tagline conveys the goals of the Chamber and its affiliates around supporting the economic advancement of the region.

We are starting the transition to the new look now – first on our website – but the transition will be gradual and we anticipate that it will take six to twelve months to fully implement the change on all of our signage and marketing materials.

Virtual Member Stickers

We are proud to have your organization as a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. We have created virtual membership stickers with the new logo as a digital badge to show your involvement in and support for North Central Massachusetts through participation in the Chamber. Click here if you would like to take advantage of these new virtual stickers.

 

Your comments or feedback are always welcome.  Click here to let us know what you think of the new look or to provide us with any comments.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) recently unveiled a new logo design. The new branding features updated fonts and a new, more contemporary look to symbolize the vibrancy of the regional economic development organization and its work advancing the economy of North Central Massachusetts. The new logo is also reflective of the organization’s growth and transformation over the years while also signifying its connection as an affiliate to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

“This rebranding is coming at a perfect time as we are in the process of adding new and progressive programs that will make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to receive alternative loans and technical assistance from us” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the NCMDC.

Along with the new logo, the NCMDC will be unveiling an upgraded website in the upcoming month. The new website will make it easier to find information on available loan programs, as well as build awareness about the region as a place to do business. The new logo, and the website redesign, were both created by Ladybugz Interactive, a marketing firm and member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is a non-profit corporation with the mission of creating jobs and improving the economy of North Central Massachusetts.  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 with loans and business assistance.  The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $4.2 million in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy in 26 communities in the North Central Massachusetts region.

For more information about the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation’s new logo or its programs, please call 978-353-7607 or visit https://www.northcentralmass.com/doing-business-here/.

 

 

On May 18, 2016, the federal government announced changes to the existing overtime regulation. This change will impact employees who are eligible for overtime pay, and may require businesses to make changes in how they pay or schedule certain employees. This change is expected to impact 84,000 workers in Massachusetts.

The information below is intended to help you better understand these changes. Because this is such an important issue, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a workshop on this topic. For more information on that workshop, click here, or read more below.

Understanding the change

Under the new regulation by the United States Department of Labor, most salaried workers earning up to $47,476 a year must receive time-and-a-half overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours during a week. The previous salary threshold for overtime pay was $23,660.  The changes are expected to either see employees’ salaries rise above the new threshold, or workers below the new threshold working fewer hours during the week.

Who is entitled to overtime?

Employees who are are entitled to overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act have traditionally been considered non-exempt employees. Employers must pay these workers overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. There are some exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act that classifies workers as exempt employees. These employees are administrative, executive, professionals, or outside sales staff. These employees are exempt from required overtime pay.

Exempt status can usually be determined by testing whether or not an employee spends most of their time in a decision making role. Because this test is open to interpretation, the salary threshold is another standard in determining overtime eligibility. So even employees who are legitimately in management positions or in decision making roles are still eligible for overtime pay if their salary is below $47,476 – under the most recent rule change. Teachers, doctors and outside sales representatives continue to be exempt from overtime pay requirements.

What’s next?

The new regulation will go into effect on December 1, 2016. Part of the new regulation calls for the overtime salary threshold to be updated every three years to keep up with inflation. At this point, it is recommended that employers assess their organizations, especially exempt employees who earn less than $47,476. There are several considerations that can be made like reclassifying workers, shifting duties or responsibilities, and increasing pay to meet the threshold.

 Possible Congressional Response

There are several potential actions Congress may take to block the new regulations, which include 1) adopting a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act; 2) enacting specific legislation, such as the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (S. 2707 and H.R. 4773), which would overturn the proposed rule; or 3) attaching a rider to an appropriations bill to block enforcement of the rule for a year. However, any action by Congress to overturn the new regulatory changes are unlikely to be successful since it is expected that the President would veto any of these measures and it doubtful that there are sufficient votes (two-thirds in both the House and Senate) to override any Presidential Veto.

Chamber Workshop on New Regulations

In an effort to help members better understand the impact of the new overtime rules and to help prepare for them, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special edition of its HR Council on Wednesday, June 15th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 pm Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg MA. Employment attorney Corey F. Higgins of Mirick O’Connell will discuss the new overtime rules. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. To register, please click here or contact the Chamber at 978-353-7600 ext. 235.