Government Affairs Update

While the legislative session has wound down, election season is in full swing, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber continues to remain engaged on both fronts. Earlier this Summer, the Chamber partnered with a number of community partners and local media outlets as part of the Elect North Central Coalition for a series of forums with the state’s gubernatorial candidates. The forums with the candidates that chose to participate can be viewed online. The Chamber also continues to interview candidates running for statewide seats as part of the Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast: Election Series which can be streamed on the Chamber’s website as well as Apple and Spotify.

The Chamber is in the process of reaching out to our elected officials as well as candidates that will appear on the ballot in our local and statewide races for our Annual Legislative and Candidates Reception. The Legislative and Candidates Reception is one of the most exciting events of the year, providing members of the business community the opportunity to engage the region’s elected officials and those looking to hold office. This year’s event, sponsored by Mount Wachusett Community College, will be held at the Chocksett Inn in Sterling on Thursday September 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

At the end of July, Governor Charlie Baker signed his eighth and final budget as Governor to the tune of $52.7 billion, a 10.7 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. The State’s budget for the new fiscal year saw crucial funding to a number of priority areas including local aid, K-12 education, career pathway programs and other workforce development programs as well as economic development initiatives which will benefit the region.

Although formal sessions have wrapped up, the Chamber continues to monitor Beacon Hill as they continue their final push on a number of pieces of legislation. In the middle of August, Governor Charlie Baker signed off on a new climate bill that will boost offshore wind and solar despite his voiced concerns over a provision allowing a group of ten cities and towns to ban the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations. The Chamber will continue to monitor this development and its potential impact on the North Central Massachusetts business community. Earlier in the same week, Governor Baker signed off on a bill legalizing sports betting, setting Massachusetts up to better compete with neighboring states who have already been capitalizing on the industry. We are also closely monitoring the proposed economic development bill which, as of this writing, has yet to make it across the finish line. We continued to advocate for the region as the House and Senate put together their priorities for that bill. At the end of July, state budget officials announced a preliminary surplus of $1.9 billion following the approximately $3 billion in tax refunds to Commonwealth taxpayers. Despite ongoing talks of tax relief for Commonwealth residents, nothing has been set in stone yet.

Down in Washington D.C. the House came together to approve what has been come to be known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, sending the bill to the President’s desk. Major components of the bill fit the President’s build back better pledges that he campaigned on during the 2020 election. The bill includes $370 billion in climate investment, proposes changes aimed at saving consumers money on prescription drugs, and according to the administrations, it also upholds President Biden’s commitment to ensure families earning less than $400,000 per year do not see any tax increase. The bill contains a major provision imposing a 15% Corporate Minimum Tax, additionally it would impose a 15% domestic tax on the approximately 200 largest corporations that currently pay less than that corporate tax rate.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at 978.353.7600, ext. 224; or via email at tcondon@northcentralmass.com.

Pictured is Senate Clerk Michael Hurley carrying the clean energy bill and its amendments during the final hours of the legislature’s formal 2022 session. Photo courtesy of the State House News Service.

 

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to host Legislative and Candidates Reception

Premier event connects elected officials, candidates for office, with local business and community leaders

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce today announced the 2022 Legislative and Candidates Reception will be held on September 22, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chocksett Inn, 59 Laurelwood Road in Sterling. Mount Wachusett Community College is the premier sponsor for the event.

The Legislative and Candidates Reception, held every fall, is one of the region’s premier events intended to offer local business and community leaders the opportunity to connect with the region’s elected officials, as well as those seeking public office.

“Government affairs and public policy advocacy are key components in our efforts to promote a healthy, active business climate throughout the region,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This reception offers direct access to our legislators and candidates running for office in a casual environment where our members can ask questions and learn more about the issues and opportunities for businesses in our region.”

“At Mount Wachusett Community College, we understand the importance of engaging with the region’s business and legislative communities. These connections and insights help guide the college in various areas such as programming and outreach,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “It is vital for our region’s business leaders, legislators, and policy-makers to meet and network so that they can engage and learn from each other. I am delighted that we will be gathering in person again this year for this important event.”

All legislators representing, and candidates running for office, in the Chamber’s 27 communities are encouraged to attend.

As of September 13th, the following elected officials have confirmed their attendance:

Confirmed Officials:
Senator Jo Comerford, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District
Senator John Cronin, Worcester and Middlesex District
Senator Diana DiZoglio, 1st Essex District
Senator Anne Gobi, Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex District
Representative Natalie Higgins, 4th Worcester District
Representative Meg Kilcoyne, 12th Worcester District
Representative Michael Kushmerek, 3rd Worcester District
Representative Dan Sena, 37th Middlesex District
Sheriff Lew Evangelidis., Worcester County
Adam Costa, Assistant Register of Deeds, Worcester Northern District
Governor’s Councillor Paul DePalo, 7th District
Mayor Stephen DiNatale, City of Fitchburg
Mayor Mike Nicholson, City of Gardner
Councilor Paul Beauchemin, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Couture, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Sally Cragin, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Couture, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Bernard Schultz, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Samantha Squailia, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Peter Angelini, City of Leominster
Councilor Mark Bodanza, City of Leominster
Councilor William Brady, City of Leominster
Councilor Susan Chalifoux Zephir, City of Leominster
Councilor David Cormier, City of Leominster
Councilor Todd Deacon, City of Leominster
Councilor Claire Freda, City of Leominster
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski, Town of Athol
Town Manager Heather Lemieux, Town of Lunenburg
Town Administrator Bill Caldwell, Town of Sterling
Town Administrator Stephanie Lahtinen, Town of Westminster
Selectman Peter Cunningham, Town of Groton
Selectwoman Alix Turner, Town of Lancaster
Selectman Michael-Ray Jeffreys, Town of Lunenburg
Selectwoman Heather Sroka, Town of Lunenburg
Selectman John Kilcoyne, Town of Sterling
Selectman Sam Albert, Town of Westminster
Selectwoman Melissa Banks, Town of Westminster
David Quiroa, Regional Director, US Senator Ed Markey
Nyanna Slaughter, Regional Director, US Senator Elizabeth Warren

The event will feature an open bar and gourmet appetizers and hors d’oeuvres. Cost for members is $35 and non-members is $45. Registration is available online at www.northcentralmass.com. Please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or kdeal@northcentralmass.com for more details.

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North Central Massachusetts Chamber Welcomes Tippawong and Young to its Professional Staff

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition to its professional staff of Vicky Tippawong as Marketing Manager and Terry Young as Manager of Talent and Education Initiatives.

Tippawong will be responsible for the marketing and communications efforts of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations – Visit North Central Massachusetts and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. This includes managing its multiple websites, social media, media buys, PR and our other marketing channels. Tippawong has broad experience in graphic design and marketing. She comes to the Chamber from NEWW Packaging and Display in Gardner. Earlier in her career she also worked for Checkerboard, LTD; LCI Paper; and the Merrimack Repertory Theatre. She lives in Leominster and holds an Associate degree from Mount Wachusett Community College in Graphic Design. She is also the owner and designer of her own small business which offers custom party decorations.

In the newly created position of Manager of Talent & Education Initiatives, Young will be working with employers, regional partners and education leaders on developing strategies and programs to build and strengthen the region’s current and future workforce. She comes to the Chamber with 25 years of experience in non-profit management, program development and community organizing. She joins the Chamber from Maine General Hospital, where she served as the Program Director for their Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Prior to Maine General, she worked at the Community Health Network of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. where she oversaw multiple grants, capacity building and in-kind programs as well as project development as Director of Programs. She holds a Bachelor degree in Natural Health Sciences/Nutrition and lives in Ayer.

“We are very excited to have Vicky and Terry join our growing team and help contribute to the Chamber’s work of improving the business climate and advancing the economy of North Central Massachusetts.” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

Vicky Tippawong can be reached at 978.353.7600 ext. 240 or via email at vtippawong@northcentralmass.com and Terry Young at 978.353.7600 ext. 244 or via email at tyoung@northcentralmass.com.

Chamber Welcomes New Members at The Barn Door

*The new member reception is being postponed to the rain date Tuesday, September 27, 2022

(North Central, MA) – The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will host a new member orientation and reception on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the outdoor patio area at The Barn Door located at 51 South Road, Pepperell, MA.

The Barn Door is a gourmet grocery store and a destination in the community for local gatherings and culinary experiences. The Barn Door features several beautiful outdoor patios, nestled under a pergola with an open-air pizza oven and prep kitchen. Inside the store you will find farm fresh seasonal vegetables, gourmet food items and an extensive selection of beers, wines along with coffee and tea products.

Chamber staff will explain the many benefits and programs of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce including networking events, government affairs, educational workshops and seminars, advertising opportunities and health insurance, to name just a few. The orientation is geared towards new members, but is equally valuable for current members who want to get the most value from their membership, or those interested in learning if chamber membership is right for them. The orientation will be followed by a reception for new members to connect and engage with other business and community leaders. Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided.

“This is a great opportunity for members and non-members to learn about the dynamic nature of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce,” said Roy Nascimento, president & CEO. “Attendees will learn about the important work that we do advancing the region as well as the tremendous resources we offer for businesses of all sizes and industries.”

There is no cost to attend the new member reception, but online pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, please visit www.northcentralmass.com or contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 235.

Business owners unable to attend but interested in learning more about chamber membership may contact Tracy Gagnon at 978.353.7600 ext. 239 or via email at tgagnon@northcentralmass.com to schedule a brief introduction to the programs and services.

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North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation provides $25,000 grant to ReImagine North of Main

Grant supports the Façade Improvement Program to revitalize the City of Fitchburg downtown area

North Central, Mass.—The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, today announced it has provided $25,000 in funding to ReImagine North of Main to support their Façade Improvement Program in the City of Fitchburg.

The program, which provides an opportunity for downtown property owners and businesses to upgrade their building’s exterior, aims to help the city retain and attract businesses, strengthen the downtown area, increase utilization of existing business, and enhance property values.

“Part of our Urban Revitalization Plan focuses on supporting a diverse mix of downtown businesses and the facilitation of the redevelopment for significant vacant or underutilized properties,” said Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, City of Fitchburg. “This façade program is instrumental to the plan and also provides ReImagine North of Main, now known as InTown Fitchburg, the opportunity to take the lead on larger, more meaningful impact projects as they work with the city towards its goal of revitalizing the downtown corridor.”

“With the momentum we’re building in downtown Fitchburg, these funds could not have come at a better time,” said Joe Ferguson, Director, InTown Fitchburg, which is housed in the Fitchburg State University Theater Block on Main Street. One of the businesses benefiting from the program will be located in a storefront adjacent to the theater. “Our storefront improvement grant program is designed to incentivize commercial occupancy in redeveloped storefronts, many of which have been vacant for a long time. These funds will support a locally owned, woman-owned business that has adamantly sought a physical, brick-and-mortar business offering on Main Street.”

Formerly known as ReImagine North of Main, InTown Fitchburg is a partnership of local anchor institutions, businesses, government, nonprofits and residents focused on making a collective impact to improve the quality of life in the downtown neighborhood and commercial district.

“Our recent Economic Regional Development Plan identified one of the critical factors for our region’s growth is focusing on our downtown areas,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “With this grant, the city will be able to improve and enhance the exterior of its many historic buildings while positively impacting the downtown’s revitalization.”

The funding came from a competitive regional economic development grant secured by the NCMDC from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

Property or business owners interested in applying for improvement grants should contact InTown Fitcchburg to discuss the potential project prior to applying.

 

Oak Hill Country Club to host September edition of North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s Business After Hour

(North Central Massachusetts) – Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg will partner with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to host the Chamber’s September edition of the Business After Hours series. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the 1921 Room located at Oak Hill Country Club, 840 Oak Hill Rd, Fitchburg, MA.

Oak Hill Country Club is a prestigious, member-owned private country club located in North Central Massachusetts, with easy access directly off Route 2. Established in 1921, Oak Hill is best known for its panoramic views of the golf course and its elegant club house which offers wonderful culinary experiences to members and their guests.

Complimentary appetizers and a cash bar will be provided by Oak Hill Country Club as guests connect with old friends and meet new contacts.

“Oak Hill Country Club is pleased to host the Chamber and welcome business and community leaders to our club,” said Jeremy Jarvis, General Manager. “We are very proud of our roots here in Fitchburg and North Central Massachusetts, and look forward to showcasing our clubhouse. We hope you’ll join us for this fun business event.”

“We are excited to partner with the Oak Hill Country Club to offer members and their guests the opportunity to network in this engaging and beautiful venue,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “One of the goals of the Chamber is to offer these types of programs that offer members the opportunity to network with their peers and that also showcase the unique attractions that call North Central Massachusetts home.”

The cost to attend is $15 for chamber members and $25 for non-members, with registration available online at www.northcentralmass.com.

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September Edition of Good Morning North Central Features State Senator John Cronin and Dr. Mark Melnik of the UMass Donahue Institute

The breakfast will focus on talent and workforce efforts in the region.

(North Central, Mass.) –The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast program is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 6:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and will take place at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Way, Fitchburg, MA. The September edition is sponsored by bankHometown.

The Good Morning North Central breakfast series is the Chamber’s longest running program. The breakfast series started in 1984 and has evolved into a high-profile, fast-paced and educational morning program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners from throughout North Central Massachusetts. Over the years, speakers have included governors, senators, prominent business and civic leaders, authors and celebrities.

The featured speakers for the month of September are State Senator John J. Cronin and Dr. Mark Melnik, Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute. Dr. Melnik will present initial findings of a workforce study commissioned by the Chamber to assess and recommend ways to enhance the available labor pool in the region. Senator Cronin will highlight regional workforce efforts and announce funding for the North Central Massachusetts Education Compact.

Dr. Mark Melnik is the Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute. Dr. Melnik specializes in demographic, socio-economic, and labor market issues and leads an over 20-person team working on variety of economic and public policy research projects informing clients in government, private industry, and the non-profit sectors. In his time at the Institute, Dr. Melnik has served as the principle-in-charge on projects with such clients as the Boston Foundation, the City of Boston, the City of Cambridge, MassDOT, the New England Foundation for the Arts, MassEcon, MassDevelopment, the Boston Private Industry Council, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber. In addition, Dr. Melnik serves as the Senior Managing Editor of MassBenchmarks, the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the Institute in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He holds a doctorate in sociology from Northeastern University. He received his master of arts from Northeastern University and his bachelor of arts from Youngstown State University, both in sociology.

State Senator John J. Cronin is a former Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army and combat veteran and has spent his entire career in public service to the country. He was born in Leominster and raised in Fitchburg and Lunenburg. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and commissioned as an Army Officer in 2013. After being honorably discharged from the Army as a Captain, Cronin began work at the Harvard Law School Legal Services Center working with professors and students to provide legal advocacy to indigent veterans. Earlier this year Cronin completed his Juris Doctor at Suffolk Law. Senator Cronin has represented the Worcester and Middlesex districts since taking office in 2021.

The cost to attend the event is just $30 for Chamber members/$45 non-members and includes breakfast. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, kdeal@northcentralmass.com or visit www.northcentralmass.com.

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Baker’s $1.6 Bil Budget Bill Accounts For $2.94 Billion In Tax Refunds

Source: State House News Service
Author: Colin A. Young

The governor on Wednesday will file a supplemental budget to close the books on fiscal year 2022, make another $200 million available to the MBTA and still leave the Legislature with $1.5 billion of the year’s surplus to potentially put towards tax relief efforts.

In the announcement of the supp budget, Gov. Charlie Baker’s office also said that the Department of Revenue on Wednesday had informed Auditor Suzanne Bump that it believes that $2.941 billion is required to be returned to taxpayers under Chapter 62F, the 1986 voter law that requires excess state tax collections be refunded. If the auditor certifies that amount by her Sept. 20 deadline, Baker’s office said the state will still have a fiscal year 2022 surplus of $2.3 billion — up from the administration estimate of $1.9 billion earlier this month.

“With tax revenues coming in far above budgeted amounts this year, the Commonwealth is well-positioned to deliver relief to taxpayers, while still making investments in key areas, like transportation, as we close the fiscal year,” Baker said. “Our administration is confident that with these high surplus revenues, there remains more than enough funding to support the tax relief, economic development and climate infrastructure proposals that are under consideration in the Legislature.”

The governor’s office said that the closeout supp budget would not spend down the entire fiscal 2022 surplus but leaves $1.5 billion “which in combination with $2.2 billion remaining in American Rescue Plan Act Funds, is sufficient to support the tax relief measures and other critical investments in the FORWARD/economic development bill pending with the Legislature.”

The supp budget that Baker plans to file will include $1.622 billion in spending (at a net cost to the state of $840 million) and will include $200 million to help the T address the Federal Transit Administration’s safety directives and $10 million for the agency to establish a training academy. The almost $40 million school safety plan that Baker announced last week will also be included, as will $108 million for a COVID-19 cost reserve account and an outside section mandating the appointment of a guardian ad litem in every Juvenile Court proceeding in which a child is alleged to have been abused or neglected.

The Legislature will need to act on Baker’s budget bill during informal sessions, when opposition from any single member can slow a bill down or stop its progress entirely.

Feds Order More MBTA Fixes, File 90-Page Final Report

Source: State House News Service
Author: Chris Lisinski

Federal officials on Wednesday ordered the MBTA to craft a series of plans in the next six weeks to fix major deficiencies in staffing, internal communications, safety management, and other problems.

Capping off a months-long investigation into high-profile safety failures at the T that in some cases have caused injuries or deaths, the Federal Transit Administration published an extensive, withering report with 53 findings about the agency and the Department of Public Utilities, which is the designated state oversight agency.

The FTA’s 90-page report outlines four more directives the MBTA must follow and one more the DPU must follow, adding to a series of directives issued in June before the investigation’s conclusion. The agency risks losing federal funds if it fails to address the orders.

While the FTA will remain involved to ensure changes are made, it has not opted to take over safety oversight at the T as it did with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority the only other time it conducted a similar safety management inspection.

“This is the end of our safety management inspection, but it is not the end of FTA’s involvement,” said FTA Associate Administrator for Communications and Congressional Affairs Paul Kincaid.

Investigators found the MBTA, controlled by Gov. Charlie Baker and his deputies, has overemphasized work on major capital projects at the expense of operating maintenance and day-to-day service.

At its current staffing levels, the T does not have enough workers available to simultaneously run its desired level of subway service, keep the system in sufficient shape, and fulfill the goals outlined in its multi-year capital plan, the FTA said.

MBTA officials said Wednesday morning that they would stand up a new Quality, Compliance and Oversight Office to lead the response to the FTA’s findings. That office, which will be helmed by MBTA Chief of Capital Delivery Katie Choe, will exist outside the agency’s current hierarchy and report directly to General Manager Steve Poftak.

Baker also filed a supplemental budget bill Wednesday that would make another $200 million available for the MBTA to use on safety fixes, in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars lawmakers already appropriated for that purpose.

North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation approves financing to Wonder Products

Funding to support marketing, inventory and capital to support company’s Wonder Plunger product

North Central Mass.—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 Wonder Products, a Sterling-based company focused on innovating everyday household products.

Funding will be utilized to support marketing efforts, and increased inventory and capital to grow the business surrounding the company’s newest product, the Wonder Plunger.

Founded in 2016 by Michelle Salas out of her desire to keep her home, and especially her bathroom, clean, Salas invented the Wonder Plunger. Wonder Plunger is a unique toilet plunger designed to shrink down for storage or expand for use with its patented one hand design and a ventilated base to prevent water build up following use.

“With the support of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, we will be able to expand our product reach through creative marketing efforts while also increasing our inventory and capital to bring consumers a unique plunger that provides a collapsible concept, aesthetically pleasing colors and a one-handed operational format to make our bathrooms cleaner.”

While the business has grown via word of mouth, the Wonder Plunger is sold at www.wonderplunger.com and via various online retail outlets. Small Business Development Center at Clark University assisted Michelle with her business plan and projections.

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.