The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Bruno as Manager of Events and Programs. In this role, Ms. Bruno will be responsible for planning and executing the many events and programs of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations. These include signature events such as the Good Morning North Central breakfast series; Annual Meeting; Legislative and Candidates Reception; Congressional Luncheon; Economic Forecast Breakfast; and numerous other workshops, seminars and special events geared towards supporting our members and advancing the region.
“At the core of our membership benefits are the robust programs and events offering the opportunity for members to exchange ideas, expand horizons, and develop business relationships,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “With Valerie’s unique background of being an entrepreneur, our members can expect robust event and programming opportunities geared with the business and community leader in mind under her leadership.”
Ms. Bruno brings a diverse background in events and entrepreneurship. She joins the Chamber from Originally Crafted Events, LLC, a small business she founded in 2020 specializing in the production and execution of small- to large-scale events. She previously worked at Redi, serving as Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist, where she was responsible for identifying and planning community and industry events.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Framingham State University and an associate’s degree in business administration from Middlesex Community College. While in college, she was active on the Entrepreneur Advisory Board, and was recognized in 2016 with the Entrepreneur Award. An active member of her community, she currently resides in Fitchburg.
Existing members or businesses interested in learning more about the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s events and programs can reach Valerie at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or via email at .
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If recent data from the North Central Massachusetts 2024 Economic Survey is any indication, the area, as well as the Commonwealth, could see light at the end proverbial tunnel of what have been uncertain and unsettling economic times in recent years.
The survey, in its 12th year and sponsored by Fidelity Bank, is conducted annually to North Central Massachusetts consumers and business owners, measuring perceptions on the current state of the regional economy, thoughts on last year’s economic performance, and projections for the remainder of 2024.
“There is a general tone of cautious optimism,” said Joseph Silva, chief lending officer, Fidelity Bank, as he presented the survey results recently before a capacity crowd of North Central Massachusetts business leaders at the 12th Annual Economic Forecast breakfast at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg. “A year ago we had serious concerns about recession, the Federal Reserve and interest rates, and global tensions. While we are weathering through these issues, inflation remains a hot-button item.”
Respondents to the 2024 survey identified inflation, cost of living, and the availability of skilled labor as ongoing threats to growth in the coming year. Gaining momentum are the key issues of immigration and the political climate as the US and the Commonwealth prepare for a major election cycle this fall. “The good news is, concerns over these issues have moderated year over year,” adds Silva, noting, “in particular, recessionary fears have eased considerably.”
According to the survey, regional business owners plan to increase investment in the coming year through hiring, training, new equipment, and expansion. Investment in technology is also expected to improve, with commitments towards website development, IT upgrades, and workflow automation leading the way. “Businesses investing in their futures is an excellent bellwether as to how local companies are feeling,” says Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “These insights are invaluable in helping us understand what lies ahead for the North Central Massachusetts economy.”
Consumers, however, are taking a more cautious approach. While feeling secure jobwise, the data shows they are a bit more pessimistic about improving total family income potential. They are also taking a conservative approach to spending, while focusing on saving, paying off debt, and budgeting.
“We need to accept the premise that the economy is doing well,” commented Curtis Dubay, chief economist, United States Chamber of Commerce during remarks to attendees. “To consumers, it’s just not feeling that way because of the sting of inflation on basic necessities like groceries, housing, and energy.”
Rachael Aiken, CFP®, vice president and senior investment officer, Cape Cod 5, and contributor on the cable network, CNBC, echoed the optimism. “The concerns remain—geopolitics, elections, deficits and debt, however, the bulls are running and we should see a healthier market this year, despite expected volatility.”
The survey was completed by 700 consumers and business owners during the months of February and March, in partnership with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber as well as our four neighboring chambers—the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, and the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce. Respondents were asked for their thoughts on the health of the Commonwealth and local economy now and into the future, threats and opportunities facing businesses, and thoughts on overall economic growth in the region, hiring plans, and the political climate, among others.
“The data clearly shows we are slowly turning the corner from a sentiment standpoint,” adds Silva. Coming off a strong 2021 and the resulting economic challenges we have faced as consumers and business owners the past two years, 2024 feels like we are starting our comeback.”
For the complete survey results and data compilation, go to 2024 Economic Survey.
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The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced at the YMCA of Cape Cod that 16 school districts are receiving $3.4 million to support their efforts to expand access to affordable high-quality preschool through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI). Nine currently participating districts will be expanding their efforts, adding 32 preschool classrooms, representing an additional 488 seats across public schools, family child care, YMCAs, Head Start and other community-based preschool programs. Further, the administration is awarding a first round of new grants to: Fitchburg, Quincy, Pittsfield, Worcester, Barnstable, Wareham, and the Gateway Regional School District that includes seven rural communities in Western Massachusetts.
The $3.4 million, through revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment, was included in Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal to increase access to high-quality preschool and put the state on a path towards universal access to preschool. The proposal was supported by the Legislature and included in the final budget. Governor Healey’s proposed “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda will further expand these efforts, investing an additional $15 million in fiscal year 2025 to move Massachusetts closer to meeting the goal of universal, high-quality preschool access for four-year-olds in all Gateway Cities by the end of 2026.
“We know that the high cost of child care is holding back our families, providers and our economy. That’s why I am proud to be in Barnstable today to announce that we are expanding access to affordable, high-quality preschool in 16 school districts, creating hundreds of new seats for children in Gateway Cities and rural communities across the state,” said Governor Healey. “Our ‘Gateway to Pre-K’ agenda would build on this progress by expanding high-quality pre-k access to even more communities, lowering costs for more families, and ensuring our hardworking providers have the support they need to deliver high-quality care.”
“As a former Mayor, I know how important access to high-quality preschool is for families and for closing the learning gap before kids enter kindergarten. This funding is going to local school districts and community-based early education and care programs, highlighting our commitment to supporting cities and towns from Pittsfield to Cape Cod in meeting the needs of their residents and making Massachusetts a more affordable and equitable place to live, learn, work and play,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll.
“As the Director of Rural Affairs and a former school teacher, I know how extremely important it is that every child regardless of where they live in the commonwealth, have an opportunity to start out on the right pathway. I appreciate the investment the Healy Driscoll administration is making in our youngest students. I congratulate the Gateway school district, and all they do to educate students and prepare them for a life of success,” said Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi.
A main driver in the administration’s approach to expand preschool access and promote kindergarten readiness, CPPI establishes a district–wide preschool program across classes in public and community-based early education and care programs. By working across the state’s mixed early education system, districts are expanding access to a range of programs that meet different needs of working families. CPPI also promotes equitable access to special education to ensure full inclusion of children with disabilities across all settings. Through this program, the CPPI funding also provides scholarships to participating families to enroll at no or low cost and enables full day/full year services through the mix of public and community-based classrooms.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to expanding access to affordable high-quality preschool. We delivered $13 million earlier this year, and with $3 million more now we’re making the necessary investments to reach more kids in more communities,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “This is not just an investment in our children and families, early childhood educators, and local communities—it’s a downpayment on the future success of our state.”
“The Administration is focused on expanding access to low or no cost preschool to provide all children across the Commonwealth with the high-quality early education experiences we know give them the academic and social-emotional skills they need to enter kindergarten,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “I am excited to see our current grantees expand to more classrooms and serve additional families, including through community-based centers and family child care programs. We look forward to working with our new grantees to support them in planning and implementing universal access to pre-k in their districts through our diverse mixed-delivery system.”
“The CPPI grant is a great example of educators working across sectors for the benefit of children,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston. “It’s a pleasure to see the collaboration taking place in each of these communities and to know that students will get a strong start to their education.”
“As a Gateway City the Town of Barnstable welcomes Governor Maura Healey’s announcement of her “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda that includes delivering universal, high-quality preschool access – at low or no cost – in communities like Barnstable by the end of 2026,” said Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells. “‘Gateway to Pre-K’ will fundamentally transform the early education system in Massachusetts by lowering costs for families to enroll their children in childcare and Pre-K. By achieving this agenda the Governor can make early education and child care more affordable and accessible for all families across Massachusetts.”
“Barnstable is proud to be one of the CPPI Planning and Implementation Grant recipients. A strong preschool learning experience is the foundation upon which young children build social-emotional, physical, and academic skills. Indeed, a strong preschool experience springboards students towards school readiness and improved outcomes in their future school years. We appreciate the support of Governor Healey and her administration in serving even more learners,” said Superintendent of Barnstable Public Schools Sara Ahern.
“We are thrilled Governor Healey has come to Barnstable to announce this continuation of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s dedication to our workforce. This program offers crucial support to working families in Cape Cod’s biggest town. Both our members and local economists agree that providing top-notch early education and childcare is the fastest way to strengthen our local workforce. With Barnstable Public Schools’ esteemed reputation and strong alumni network, we’re confident their administrators are eager to join this important partnership,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, Chief Executive Officer, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
“The Massachusetts YMCAs, as the largest provider of early education programs across the Commonwealth, applauds the Healey Administration’s commitment to expanding access to our youngest learners. The YMCAs are honored to be a trusted partner with the Administration and our school districts as we look at the next phase of quality early education, ” said Kate-Marie Roycroft, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs.
School districts not currently participating in CPPI could apply to support planning and early implementation of a universal access to affordable high-quality preschool plan. Districts in the early planning stage receive $50,000 to build partnerships with local community-based early education and care programs, develop a leadership team, conduct a needs assessment and draft a strategic plan. Districts who already have strong partnerships with community-based early education and care programs and have conducted a needs assessment can receive a higher amount of funding to develop or update a strategic plan and begin early implementation.
Current CPPI grantees could also apply to expand their efforts. First Round of FY24 CPPI Expansion Awardees:
School District
Community-Based Partners
Award
Brockton School District
Self Help Head Start, Brockton Day Nursery, Early Learning Center YMCA (new)
$216,812
Lawrence School District
Greater Lawrence Community Action Council/ Lawrence Early Achievement Partnership (LEAP), The Community Group
$690,000
Lowell School District
YMCA Greater Lowell YMCA Nursery School, Community Teamwork, Lowell Day Nursery, Small Steps (new)
$36,000
Lynn School District
Gregghouse, LEO Head Start, Lynn YMCA (new)
$404,602
Northampton Public Schools
Community Action Head Start, Gummybears Family Child Care, Meadowlark Childcare Center, Nonotuck Community School, Cloverdale Preschool, New Village/Farm Hands Family Child Care program, People’s Institute, Smith College Center – Fort Hill, Montessori School of Northampton, Gan Keshet Preschool (new)
$330,000
Salem Public Schools
Salem YMCA, Salem Community Child Care Center, Ashley Preschool and Daycare, Pathways for Children (new), Angela’s Preschool and Daycare (new)
$250,000
Sandwich Public Schools
Joyful Noise, Montessori Beginnings, Maureen Raymond Family Child Program (new), Bobbie Jo O’Brien Family Child Program (new), Melissa White Family Child Program (new), Julie Coughlan Family Child Program (new), Diane Hill Family Child Program (new) Sandwich Montessori (new), It’s a Special Day (new)
$250,000
Somerville Public Schools
Elizabeth Peabody House, Dandelion Montessori, CAAS Somerville Head Start, Open Center for Children, Bigelow Cooperative Day, Pooh and Friends Child Care, Tree House Academy, Kingdom Rock Children’s Village, Somerville Child Care Center, JHC Allen Street Head Start (new)
$103,000
Springfield Public Schools
Community Partners for Community Action, Square One, YMCA of Greater Springfield
$594,000
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Awards recognized clients of the NCMDC for service to community, growth.
Entrepreneur Success Award: Pictured (L to R) Megan Marszalek of MassTech; Alexis Kelleher owner of Crust Bake Shop and Birch Tree Bread Company; Karen Thorne of Main Street Bank and Chair of the NCMDC’s Award Selection Committee; and Roy Nascimento, president of the Chamber and NCMDC.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), recognized several small businesses and individuals at its inaugural Entrepreneur Awards Reception and Resource Showcase, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Leominster on March 28, 2024.
The awards celebrate entrepreneurship in the region and showcase successful NCMDC clients who are helping to advance our economy and communities. “We received numerous nominations for our inaugural Entrepreneur Awards, which speaks to the innovation, determination, and success of our business owners,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the NCMDC. “Our entrepreneurs represent the risk takers and innovators that are helping to advance our economy. It was truly an honor to recognize their work, both in their small businesses and in their communities.”
The Entrepreneur Success Award recognized Alexis Kelleher, owner of Crust Bakeshop and Birch Tree Bread Company, located in Worcester. Kelleher first opened Crust Bakeshop as a small bakery in 2007 and grew to a second location in the city in 2020, only to realize the business needed a better kitchen to keep up with production for the two locations.
“We found out that Birch Tree Bread Company was for sale and moved forward with the acquisition for this third business with the help of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation,” said Kelleher. “I still can’t believe how much our little business and my little dreams have grown in the last seven years, and I am excited for what the future holds.” Today, the business provides 65 jobs and records annual revenues of more than $3 million.
“A lot of other restaurants in the Canal District in Worcester have had to close in the last two years, and I think the fact that we have survived so many hurdles is a testament to our community and perseverance,” she added.
Community Impact Award: Pictured (L to R) to right Megan Marszalek of MassTech; Joshua Halterman, owner of Joshua Allen Design and recipient of the Community Impact Award; Karen Thorne of Main Street Bank and Chair of the NCMDC’s Award Selection Committee; and Roy Nascimento, president of the Chamber and NCMDC.
The Community Impact Award recognized Joshua Halterman, owner of Joshua Allen Design (JAD), located in Sterling. Halterman, who has owned the full-scale interior design business, has deep connections in the community.
“As a small business owner, I have always been passionate about giving back to my local community to bring about positive and measurable change,” said Halterman. “Since founding the company, JAD has sponsored many local sports teams, preschool fundraisers, and provided goods and services for those in need while also offering internships to local high school and college students. This gives students the opportunity to obtain real world work experience in a myriad of ways.”
JAD is also heavily engaged with Rise Above/Start Above Foundation, which assists children in foster care to obtain items and activities that would not be afforded otherwise. Through JAD, program participants receive a surprise home makeover in addition to learning about interior design.
“I helped assist the launch of the Start Above Initiative to provide young adults who have aged out of foster care and are now living on their own with necessities for living independently, as well as furnishings and décor to make a space feel like home.”
The Dream Big Award recognized Kimatra Maxwell, owner of Connecting to Greatness, a small, mental health practice founded and led by an LGBTQ woman of color.
“Our journey reflects the resilience and determination of female entrepreneurs, like my mother and grandmother, who overcame significant barriers to pursue their dreams, making it possible for me,” said Maxwell. “This award validates our hard work and dedication but also is an opportunity for us to amplify our message of hope and healing as we provide a vital lifeline for the more than 400 individuals and their families we have served across Massachusetts.”
In addition to the recognition, these three small business clients of the NCMDC also took home cash awards of $500 each.
During the program, the Chamber also presented its Community Partner of the Year and Banker of the Year awards.
Community Partner of the Year Award: Pictured (L to R) Megan Marszalek of MassTech; Sarah Tavitian of NewVue Communities; Dolores Thibault-Muñoz of New Vue Communities; Karen Thorne of Main Street Bank and Chair of the NCMDC’s Award Selection Committee; and Roy Nascimento, president of the Chamber and NCMDC.
New Vue Communities was recognized with the NCMDC’s Community Partner of the Year in recognition of its active partnership with the NCMDC in supporting start-up businesses. The NCMDC consistently partners with NewVue Communities to support small businesses. Founded in 1979, NewVue is the only Community Development Corporation in the region and provides services in housing development, homeownership, financial coaching, and community organizing.
The agency has been supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs through its technical assistance program for the past 25 years, counseling over 1,000 under-20-employee businesses that have created or retained hundreds of jobs, and secured over $10 million in financing, including from the NCMDC, since 2010.
Christina DiRusso was recognized with the NCMDC’s Banker of the Year Award in recognition of her active involvement and support of the NCMDC. DiRusso serves as vice president of commercial lending at bankHometown. She is a resident of Leominster and is very active in the community, including serving as Treasurer of NewVue Communities and as a NCMDC board member. She also serves on the North Quabbin Loan Fund review committee and the NCMDC’s Loan Committee. She is a strong advocate for the work of the NCMDC, often referring clients or partnering directly with the development corporation on gap loans.
In addition, the event featured a Resource Showcase for entrepreneurs to connect with other business owners as well as with banks and other professional services to help them succeed in the pursuit of their dreams.
Special thanks to premier sponsor MassTech for its support of the awards program as well as corporate sponsor Fidelity Bank, supporting sponsors bankHometown, GFA Federal Credit Union, Main Street Bank, Rollstone Bank, and TD Bank, and media sponsor, the Worcester Business Journal.
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National Grid announced it will donate $800,000 to eight Chambers of Commerce in Massachusetts to support local small businesses.
Each chamber will receive $100,000, which they will then distribute in grants of $1,000 to small businesses with fewer than 150 employees.
This pledge follows a similar donation by National Grid in January 2023, when the company distributed $1 million to four small business organizations to help with energy bills. The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), the Retailers Association of Massachusetts (RAM), the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA), and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce each received $250,000 to then distribute to their small business members.
“After seeing the positive benefit our previous grant funding effort had on the small business community of Massachusetts, we decided to expand that reach by partnering with additional chambers of commerce,” said Stephen Woerner, President of National Grid, New England. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing jobs and supporting the vibrancy of communities across Massachusetts. We’re pleased to be able to support those businesses that continue to need help as everyone continues to adjust to higher costs for basic goods and services.”
“We have thousands of small businesses in our region for which these funds will help support efforts of growth and sustainability,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “National Grid is a strong community partner in our region, and we are grateful they identified our Chamber as a partner for this generous funding opportunity.”
This second round of funding comes as part of National Grid’s ongoing commitment to uplifting the well-being of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Massachusetts. Previously part of its Customer Savings Initiative, National Grid has expanded upon its “season of giving” with renewed customer assistance efforts. Since October 2022, National Grid has donated $3.8 million.
About National Grid National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Throughout the Winter, we continued to promote the region with a blend of print and digital advertising strategies across our target markets. The creative messaging for these ads focuses on “Everything You Love About New England… A Lot Closer to Home”. We also encouraged travelers to visit the region with the tag: “Drive to, not through, North Central MA.” To achieve this, we focused on developing fresh and engaging content for our website. This included creating captivating Blog Articles as well as compiling a comprehensive listing of upcoming events. To attract more visitors from the drive market, we implemented a range of strategies combining both print, social media, paid search and digital advertising.
We invested in paid social media campaigns to reach a wider audience through MassLive; employed targeted and geofenced digital advertising to maximize our outreach through Cumulus; and utilized paid Search Engine Marketing techniques to improve our online visibility through Local IQ. We also utilized print/digital campaigns through Boston Magazine and Boston Spirit; custom content listings and emails through Visit New England; and listings in Trip Advisor. All these efforts were carefully crafted to effectively showcase the diverse attractions and offerings of our region and to increase web traffic. By utilizing a combination of print and digital platforms, we aimed to captivate potential visitors and encourage them to explore the unique experiences available in North Central Massachusetts.
Visitor Guide
We published 40,000 copies of the Fall/Winter edition of the Guide to North Central Massachusetts, a popular glossy, full-color magazine aimed at informing and inspiring readers. It showcases the region as a unique destination for living, working, and visiting. The guide was distributed to over 300 high-traffic locations throughout New England and a digital version was also shared on our website, social media, via email, and shared with the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) to maximize its reach and engagement. We are currently working on finalizing the Spring/Summer edition.
Fam Trips & Travel Shows
We actively participated in FAM Trips & Travel Shows. We partnered with MOTT to host a familiarization tour for US Travel Media to our region. We also continued our collaboration with two other Regional Tourism Councils (Discover Central MA and MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau), implementing an off-season marketing campaign funded from a federal grant. We have several advertising campaigns underway and are working with CM Communications, a Boston-based PR Agency that specializes in destination marketing, to assist us with generating more interest in the region among the travel media and other travel influencers. We participated in the Dream Destinations Travel Show, American Bus Association Marketplace, and the North of Boston Tourism Summit to connect with tourism influencers and promote our region as a desirable travel destination.
Social Media & Website
From November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, Visit North Central Massachusetts’ Facebook page had a reach of 269,873, a 81.6% increase over the same time frame the previous year. Our Facebook channel also attracted 3,515 new followers, a 11.4% increase. Total followers are currently at 34,700. In addition, the page also had 5,300 content interactions and 5,100 link clicks. Paid reach was 150,439 and 430,803 paid impressions. On Instagram, the page achieved a reach of 12,502, a 177.5% increase over the previous year, and gained 83 new followers for a total of 2,800. Our Instagram page also had 665 content interactions and 353 link clicks during the same timeframe.
Google analytics indicates that our website experienced a 21.5% increase in pageviews; a 27% increase in sessions; and a 24% increase in unique users from November 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 when compared to the same timeframe the previous year. During the same time period we also had over 485,417 google impressions.
Lodging & Visitor Data
Lodging data was also very strong. Data from Smith Travel Research indicates that YTD hotel occupancy through December was 73.4%, a 5% increase over the previous year; ADR was $181.65 which is a 5% increase; RevPar was $133.43, a 10.3% increase over the previous year; total room revenue was up 9.6%; and rooms sold was up 5%. Data from Datafy indicates that our top four origin markets were Boston; Hartford/New Haven; New York; and Providence-New Bedford.
What’s Next
As we move into the winter and spring seasons, our main objective is to raise awareness and attract visitors to North Central Massachusetts. We will continue implementing our successful strategies that highlight the region’s outdoor attractions and showcase traditional New England experiences. With people seeking outdoor activities, we aim to provide them with exciting itineraries for seasonal adventures in North Central Massachusetts. To achieve our goals, we are continuing to focus on a more digital marketing approach. This includes incorporating various tactics such as paid search, paid social media advertising, geofenced ads targeting the Route 2 corridor, digital display and sponsored content ads, print ads, targeted YouTube advertising, branded content, and organic social media engagement. In addition, we are continuing to work on refreshing our home page to ensure it aligns with our updated marketing efforts and provides a captivating user experience. By combining these strategies, we aim to engage a broader audience and encourage them to explore the benefits of visiting North Central Massachusetts compared to our neighboring states.
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Rozanna Penney, president and CEO, Heywood Hospital in Gardner
In January, the Worcester Business Journal announced its 2024 Economic Forecast, which focused on the future of several topics in Central Massachusetts but paid particular focus on the current health care landscape here in North Central. The publication forecasted that our region would see more challenges related to access to health care services, especially with our most vulnerable populations.
While it’s no surprise that our nation’s health care system is at a critical tipping point with staffing challenges, more demand and long wait times to obtain care, our region’s health care leaders are working diligently to combat the issues and find opportunities in the challenges while continuing to provide quality health care services to our communities.
Steve Roach, president, UMassMemorial Health—HealthAlliance Clinton Hospital, said he agrees with the WBJ’s forecast, but added this is not just an issue in North Central, but everywhere.
“Across health care, we have a workforce issue, from general hospital staff to nurses and tech aides, while also dealing with the challenges of finding physicians as many [physicians] have retired or moved on during the pandemic,” he said. “These staffing challenges then present a domino effect, which results in additional wait times for people to get seen or to be sent to nursing homes or other long-term care facilities from the hospitals. When this happens, there is a bigger delay and creates a backlog of the inpatient flow as patients in the emergency room wait to get a bed in the hospital.”
Rozanna Penney, president and CEO, Heywood Hospital in Gardner, agreed that bed capacity continues to be a challenge throughout the Commonwealth for medical as well as behavioral health patients.
“This is not unique to our region,” said Penney. “The only way we will be able to effectively make an impact in this crisis is by investing and growing strong community-based programs. North Central Massachusetts has a strong collaborative network of healthcare services and community-based programs with a focus on supporting those who are most marginalized, but more resources are needed.”
Penney said that through Heywood Hospital’s community engagement across schools and community partnerships, improved access and care coordination is how the hospital is focusing on the region’s most vulnerable youth and families. “School and community initiatives span across school-based acute care, behavioral healthcare, youth mentorship, trauma response, economic empowerment, access to healthy foods, diversity, equity and inclusion, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. These services and programs are designed to equip youth and families for a healthy future.”
But staffing challenges are not just being experienced in hospitals. In fact, these challenges stretch across the entire health care system, including home care.
Holly Chaffee, MSN, BSN, RN, president and CEO, Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc
While Holly Chaffee, MSN, BSN, RN, president and CEO, Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc., also agreed with the forecasted assessment, she said the managed care era has arrived, with 50 percent of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, as well as a severe working shortage of staff.
“Home health has been facing continual rate reductions, workforce shortages and increased regulatory scrutiny,” said Chaffee. “We do see an increased need for our services and there are multiple challenges.”
Chaffee said among the challenges is the current reimbursement landscape and the rise of the minimum wage, which results in lower wage workers moving into other industries.
“The most urgent concern [we have] is reimbursement of home health services by payer,” she said. “Our efforts with rate setting reform legislation here in Massachusetts can help to resolve these issues, while our efforts in [Washington, D.C.] regarding Medicare cuts and legislation can also help to resolve these concerns.”
Of the workforce shortages, she added, “Home health care is a 24-hour business and staff can move onto other jobs without having to work off-shifts while they make the same amount of money. While the lack of workforce remains a very big issue, the rates we are reimbursed for home health aide services do not cover the cost of care provided. So, as the wages were increased, the payers did not increase their rates to cover care.”
Just as home health is looking to find ways to solve the challenges, Roach, and his team at UMassMemorial Health, are doing the same.
“One major weakness in Massachusetts is the proliferation of urgent care centers that are not owned or operated by hospitals that don’t accept Medicaid,” he said. “As a hospital, we must treat everyone, but the private centers don’t have to accept Medicaid. It would be great if the state went back to these private urgent care centers and said they need to treat Medicaid patients to help us alleviate the strain on our emergency rooms.”
Despite the challenges across the industry, our region’s health care systems have taken great strides to remain strong, even if their decisions were not popular among the community.
In 2023, UMassMemorial Health closed its labor and delivery unit, while Heywood Hospital announced its health care system filed for bankruptcy and stopped construction on the planned surgical pavilion.
While Roach couldn’t specifically comment on the closing of the labor and delivery unit due to pending litigation, he said the hospital has committed to investing more than $600,000 to meet patient prenatal and postpartum needs, including providing curb-to-curb transportation around the clock.
“Our initial year contract was a little more expensive, but as we get up and running, the additional funding from the transportation plan will go toward providing additional programs to ensure people are getting to appointments, are connected to doulas and other things,” he said.
With the closing of the labor and delivery unit in Leominster, Heywood Hospital has noticed an incremental increase in obstetric (OB) patients, but Penney said the hospital has the capacity to accommodate more.
“We have been fortunate to hire some of the experienced OB nurses from HealthAlliance, have re-launched our doula program, and continue to recruit OB physicians” Penney added. “Patients who come to Heywood rave about the community hospital ‘feel.’ The LaChance Maternity Center at Heywood offers beautiful private rooms to comfortably accommodate moms and their partners, and our obstetric physicians and nurses are second to none.”
While Heywood Hospital is providing continued care for the region’s OB patients, financial stabilization of the hospital has been a priority over the last several months, which Penney said is essential in the hospital’s ability to continue to provide services to the community.
“We have recognized significant annualized improvements through the renegotiation of contracts with commercial payers, vendors, and lease terminations, and this would not have been possible without the protection under Chapter 11,” said Penney. “While we have consolidated certain service lines and underwent a reduction in force, we also maintained focus on ensuring that patients in the Greater Gardner and Athol areas do not lose access to care.”
Most recently, Heywood Hospital announced it will be reopening its inpatient Mental Health Unit, which was closed during the pandemic due to workforce challenges. Penney said the hospital also reaffirmed their commitment to providing regional maternity care and relaunched its doula services, while also launching a comprehensive transportation program to provide patients with a variety of non-emergency medical transportation options in partnership with Woods Ambulance. Plans for the surgical pavilion remain paused.
“We are very fortunate to have the support of our community and our dedicated medical staff and employees, who are the reason Heywood Healthcare continues to deliver high quality care, despite challenging circumstances,” she added.
Over at Care Central VNA & Hospice, Chaffee said the agency is working hard to provide quality care to as many people as possible. “There are limitations that hinder our ability to provide care, which are directly related to insufficient rates at a federal and state level,” she added. “These rates lag behind market rates which result in a home care agencies’ inability to compete with others in the health care sector.”
Chaffee pointed to a report released in June 2023 by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association which reported that 28 percent of the 1,057 patients waiting to be discharged from the 50 hospitals in Massachusetts were awaiting discharge to home health, an increase of 200 patients from the year before. “More than 38 percent of these patients reported they have been waiting for more than 30 days,” she added.
Continuum of care remains at the forefront of importance at UMass Memorial Health.
“We realize not every physician has appointments available ASAP, but we do work to get access to schedules to help maintain the continuum of care,” said Roach. “We are doing as well as we can, and having our EPIC system allows for improved communications across care teams, patients, and their families. In today’s health care environment, we realize families can be involved in the care of their parents, so by having these systems available provides caretakers the opportunity to see results to tests, appointments and more to help mom and dad.”
While our health care systems continue to pivot their respective services and programs to respond to the health care needs of our community, Roach said there is one thing we can all do that doesn’t cost money and could make a difference.
“The most important thing is that everyone needs to show compassion,” he said. “Our caregivers to show compassion to patients, our patients to show compassion to the caregivers. If we can all be a little bit nicer to each other across the board, we will come out with a better situation overall in our current health care environment.”
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Pictured: Travis Condon, Chamber public affairs manager; House Minority Whip Katherine Clark; and Roy Nascimento, Chamber president & CEO, at a meeting hosted by the New England Council.
Federal Affairs:
At the end of January, the House passed their Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. According to a House Ways and Means Committee summary, the bill includes $78 billion worth of tax breaks for businesses, expands the small business expensing cap, expands access to the child tax credit, and would allow businesses to immediately deduct the cost of their U.S. based R&D investments instead of over five years through 2025. The last portion is of particular interest to a number of our members, and while it would not create a permanent solution, it would be a step in the right direction. At the time of this writing, we are monitoring the legislation as it moves over to the Senate.
In January, Congresswoman Lori Trahan along with staff from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Markey’s offices visited the region, making a number of stops including one at the Gardner Municipal Airport to celebrate the grand-reopening following the completion of the Gardner’s recent Airport Revitalization Project. The project, which included a number of improvements to bring the facility into compliance with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards was made possible through nearly $5 million in federal funding from the FAA, $500,000 through MassDOT, with the city taking on the remainder.
Chamber staff also attended a number of New England Council events that have allowed us to further connect with Congressman Jim McGovern and other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation including Congresswoman Katherine Clark.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan along with representatives from the FAA present a check to state and Gardner officials for over $5 million dollars for runway and building improvements at the recent grand reopening of the Gardner Municipal Airport.
State and Local Affairs:
In early January, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined the Chamber as a featured speaker during our Good Morning North Central Program. Lt. Governor Driscoll highlighted the administration’s accomplishments over the past year and spoke about a number of challenges they are working to address including lower revenue growth resulting in 9-C cuts, housing shortages and the influx of immigrants in the Commonwealth.
Following her first State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Maura Healey filed her proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. The proposed budget includes $58.13 billion in total spending, representing a 3.7 percent increase over the current fiscal year. As written, the proposed budget would fully fund the fourth year of the Student Opportunity Act, boost Chapter 90 funds, increase funding for the new MassReconnect program and continue expanding access to higher education financial aid while also setting aside $7.5 million for small business technical assistance grants.
Additionally, the proposal would direct $1.3 billion from the recent income surtax toward investments in education and transportation. Education investments would include: the administration’s new Gateway to Pre-K initiative, which puts Massachusetts on the path to universal Pre-K access in Gateway Cities by 2026, expansion of child care financial assistance to thousands more families, and funding for the new Literacy Launch program. Transportation investments would include: increased funding for roads and bridges, including dedicated road aid for rural communities, implement a low-income fares program at the MBTA, and make a new investment of $250 million in transportation that will leverage $1.1 billion in borrowing over the next five years to tackle deferred maintenance statewide.
Just prior to releasing the budget, the Healey Administration also announced the Municipal Relief Package in an effort to help cities and towns generate additional resources. The proposed legislation would allow municipalities to increase local option taxes on meals and lodging while also creating a new local Motor Vehicle Excise surcharge option. The bill would also make permanent a number of popular COVID-era allowances for hybrid public meetings, outdoor dining permits and to-go cocktail sales. The Chamber is monitoring both pieces of legislation closely.
In March, the Chamber will meet with our region’s delegation as they work to craft the House and Senate versions of the budget. We plan to advocate for a number of priorities from our public policy agenda in the areas of small business support, tourism and education and workforce.
For questions or concerns regarding the Chamber’s public policy efforts, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at 978.353.7600, ext. 224; or via email at .
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CHAMBER WEBSITE REFRESH: In February, the Chamber launched a refreshed website to offer a more dynamic and valuable resource for our members and communities. The project included redesigning the homepage and several interior pages. It also included consolidating our economic development website – choosenorthcentral.com – into the Chamber website to make it easier to manage and avoid duplication. The website refresh is a work in progress. Chamber staff are continuing to work internally on updating content on several portions of the site.
CHAMBER OF THE YEAR TROPHY TOUR: Thank you to all the members who have participated so far in the Chamber of the Year Trophy Tour! You can check out photos of the tour on our Facebook page. Please reach out to Maureen Babcock at if you would like to participate and schedule a trophy tour stop at your business or organization. We are extremely honored to have received this prestigious national award and have enjoyed the opportunity to share this with the people who helped us achieve this historic milestone—our members.
INITIATE SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM: The Chamber has launched a new online resource platform for members and NCMDC clients called “Initiate”. The platform can be accessed via the Chamber’s new website and provide access to new tools, resources and bilingual supports to help small businesses grow in North Central Massachusetts. The Initiate resource portal covers topics such as money, marketing, management, and resiliency resources by using a variety of learning methods including videos, templates, and guides. Email our team at to request access to the online platform. There is no cost for members.
NEW LOANS: Since the beginning of its fiscal year on October 1, 2023, the Chamber’s economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, has closed 5 micro-loans for a total of $309,500 and all loans are to underserved owners or in underserved communities. The loans ranged from $5,500 to $250,000.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: In addition to the loans, our team also provided 434 hours of direct technical assistance and counseling to small businesses for the quarter October to December 2023. So far this fiscal year, we funded 3 micro-grants, for a total $9,800, to support technical assistance needs of local small businesses, including assisting a business owner with Minority Certification.
NATIONAL APPOINTMENT: Chamber President & CEO Roy Nascimento was recently named to the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100, a group of the leading chamber executives from around the country. This is one of the most prestigious appointments in the chamber industry. The group advises the US Chamber on policy, recommends programming and strengthens outreach to the chamber community.
SOLAR: From its inception in August 2014 through December 2023 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 13,362,266 kWh of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program. Total value of these credits is $3,211,876 and the collective savings to participants totals $2,730,095.
40th ANNIVERSARY: This year marks our 40th Anniversary and we are celebrating throughout the year with some special events, spotlights and features. We hope that you will be able to join us for the special 40th Anniversary Member Celebration on April 25 at Oak Hill Country Club and please make sure the save the date of June 20 for our 40th Annual Meeting and Business Luncheon. Check out our website at northcentralmass.com for more information or to register.
SPONSORSHIPS: Our team has revamped our event sponsorship package, introducing new levels and options for every budget. Reach out to Valerie Bruno, Programs and Events Manager, for more details or to explore sponsoring a program in the future.
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Source: State House News Service
Author(s): Colin A. Young
What difference can a year make? When it comes to home sales in Massachusetts, the answer is about $50,000.
There were 2,042 single-family homes sold in Massachusetts in February, the exact same number of sales as in February 2023. But analysts at The Warren Group said the median sale price last month reached a new all-time high for the month of February at $548,250, a 10 percent increase over February 2023’s median sale price of $498,369. February’s data added to what has been a familiar trend: monthly sales that are down or flat while the median sale price regularly sets new record highs.
Cassidy Norton, associate publisher and media relations director for The Warren Group, said there’s no reason to expect that dynamic to change in the near future as the spring home buying season gets underway.
“A lack of inventory is the biggest factor driving these trends, and with fewer and fewer homes hitting the market, we can fully expect to see more recording-setting prices paired with a low sales volume in the coming months,” she said.
Through February, there have been 4,438 single-family home sales so far this year in Massachusetts, four more than during the first two months of 2023, The Warren Group said. But the median sale price so far this year stands at $550,000, a 10.2 percent increase over the $498,869 median sale price through the first two months of 2023.
Housing in Massachusetts is inaccessible or unaffordable for many residents, and Gov. Maura Healey last year identified housing as “the number-one issue facing this state.”
Legislative committees are reviewing the five-year, $4.12 billion housing bond bill (H 4138) that Healey filed in the fall seeking to kickstart the production of new housing units. And though there is broad agreement that the state has an economic imperative to make more housing available, some pieces of the governor’s bill — like the potential for local-option real estate transfer taxes — are viewed as controversial in the Legislature because they will add to housing costs.
The Housing Committee gave the bill a favorable report and advanced it earlier this month without making any changes to the governor’s proposal. It is now before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets.
On Friday, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million over approximately four years to settle antitrust litigation related to broker commissions. The longstanding practice has been that a seller’s agent gets a roughly 6 percent commission upon making a sale, with some of that money then going to the agent who represented the buyers.
Groups behind the litigation argued that the arrangement meant agents might steer buyers towards homes that would produce a higher commission for themselves, and critics bristled at the fact that the commission for the buyer’s agent was essentially taken out of any profit the seller made on a sale.
But while some industry observers have suggested the settlement could help reduce the barriers to buying a home, Norton told WCVB-TV on Friday that it’s “hard to say at this point” exactly how the settlement might change the home-buying or home-selling processes.
“What we do know, at the very minimum, is that the two agents — the buyer agent and the seller agent — cannot communicate with each other over the MLS about what they want their rate to be. They can still email each other, they can still call each other, but they can’t do it over the MLS. So that’s all we know,” she said, referring to the Multiple Listing Service platform. “Things may change beyond that. It may be that the buyer is now responsible for the buyer agent’s commission. It may be that negotiations become a lot more common because it has been about a 6 percent rate for quite a while. But we’re not really sure yet what this is going to do for the market. If it turns out that buyers end up paying their own buyer agents, that’s not good news for Massachusetts because the home prices are already so expensive.”
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