Rolling Out The Welcome Mat: North Central Massachusetts Shines as a Visitor Destination

With 130 plus restaurants, 1,420 rooms to stay, 27 communities to visit and more than a million visitors annually, North Central Massachusetts is on the map as a growing drive destination for family fun, outdoor activities, and sporting events for those throughout New England and beyond.

Want to take a walk?  Hop on a bike? Or even a scooter? There’s a trail waiting for you. State and community parks, conservation areas, even former railroad routes make North Central a haven for those who like to move their bodies. Want to check out a soccer game or enjoy a night on the town with friends? We’ve got dozens of fields home to sporting events, and restaurants and breweries abound!

“We are confident in North Central Massachusetts’ ability to entice individuals and families to rethink their vacation plans. Easily drivable amenities, food and farm attractions, and arts and culture venues present an appealing and affordable alternative to hectic air travel to far-flung destinations in the U.S. and around the world,” said Henry Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge, a family destination located in Fitchburg that attracts more than half a million people annually and employs more than 700 staff, known as Pack Members.

In 2020, a group of local business and community leaders, dignitaries and other key regional stakeholders got together to really understand what makes our region tick. The result is One North Central, a regional economic development plan to set a path forward for growth and opportunities. The group analyzed dozens of quantitative and qualitative data and factors to identify target industries as viable targets to invest in the region and grow their businesses. 

One of the top industries identified was the tourism sector. 

Prior to the pandemic, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism identified tourism as the third-largest industry in Massachusetts, providing more than 155,000 jobs and a payroll of $5.9 billion state-wide, with North Central Massachusetts offering the potential of more than 16,000 jobs in the industry and more than $185 million in direct visitor spending. Post-pandemic, tourism in in North Central Massachusetts is slowly rebounding, proving the region’s potential in the industry. 

Rick Walton, President of Moon Hill Brewing Co., and the Gardner Ale House, knows a thing or two about hospitality. His businesses serve more than 150,000 customers annually, with approximately 50 full- and part-time jobs filled. “Right now, many businesses are experiencing crickets when it comes to hiring workers, but we are doing more to retain our current workers, including offering higher wages and providing opportunities for growth in the business,” said Walton. “Rather than having a revolving door of workers, we want to cultivate an evolving family of employees.”

Tessman echoed Walton’s thoughts as Great Wolf Lodge grapples with finding and retaining qualified workers. “While local companies must spend more money on training and developing employees to run their business, I’m fortunate to have strong corporate training programs to train someone on a skill if they have the drive to work at a family resort,” said Tessman. “We are also working with our local trade schools, high schools and colleges to seek employment, but it would be great if our educators would look to providing areas of hospitality for study so we can more clearly identify our future workers.”

For Dean Hirtle, Senior Vice President, Game On Sports and Performance Center in Fitchburg, running a tourism business is fairly new, as the facility formally opened in late 2021. “Businesses have a major opportunity to invest in North Central Massachusetts,” said Hirtle. “There is a lot of growth here and when people visit, they are surprised by what this region has to offer.”

Game On is situated in West Fitchburg on more than 100 acres of land, with only 40 acres currently developed—the additional 60 acres will be transformed into additional turf fields, parking areas, and there are plans to build a hotel to accommodate the more than 5,000 to 10,000 visitors at Game On during any given weekend. “Fitchburg is getting on the map, but we need to utilize marketing opportunities to make people aware of what is happening here. We live and work in a competitive youth sports market so the opportunity here to increase visitor spending will positively impact the economy for the region.”

In addition to hosting sporting events, such as soccer, lacrosse, and basketball for teams from across New England and up and down the East Coast, Game On also serves as the home field for Monty Tech and Fitchburg High School sports. “We take great pride in supporting local athletic departments to use our facilities.” 

While Game On is fast becoming a sports destination for athletes, the region is also home to large athletic field complexes in Lancaster and Devens, which host a variety of soccer and lacrosse games, to name a few. 

Tessman said the sporting complexes provide additional tourism dollars for all the local businesses in the region, including Great Wolf Lodge, which is located just minutes west on Route 2A from Game On. “With the current and future growth this region is experiencing, we will see more businesses expand or create additional opportunities to cater to these travelers,” he said. 

Walton also believes the region has a lot to offer, where one can hike, ski, paddle, sit and relax all within the same day. “We are quintessential New England,” he said. “Every region in the world has its benefits, so it is necessary to compete with other areas to obtain the tourism dollars. We have a solid Chamber of Commerce and a solid regional tourism council, but we just need the funding to promote ourselves and get the word out about what we have to offer.”

Tessman agrees that state funding is critical to ensure success of the industry. “We have proven that tourism dollars stimulate all other business sectors, but we have to fight every year to expand or maintain marketing dollars,” he said. “Other states in New England spend more dollars on tourism and those states experience the benefits of it. While it’s unfortunate that most of the funding the state does spend on tourism marketing ends up in the Boston area, we need to start screaming a little louder here in North Central to prove our value.” Make no mistake, Tessman added, that Great Wolf Lodge has experienced eight years of success in North Central Massachusetts, with plans to invest upward of $40 million in upcoming renovations for the future. “We look forward to many, many more years of presence here in Fitchburg.”

Local business owners can help the tourism industry capitalize on the region’s assets to promote good health, happiness, and well-being. In addition to good jobs and a lower cost of living, the proximity to tourist amenities makes our region a beautiful place to live and work, which helps in the recruitment of hiring talent who do not call North Central home.

Rachel Lopez, Division President of Resource Management located in Fitchburg, was born and raised in North Central. As a local employer in the region who hosts colleagues and potential employees residing out of the area, Lopez utilizes the region’s amenities and assets to attract talent. “To attract and retain a talented workforce, you have to offer an appealing place for someone to call home,” she said. “While I am biased because I grew up here, I’m always thinking about ways to show my out-of-town colleagues and guests the best of what this region as to offer. I’d love to have someone visit the area and consider entertaining a job opportunity here because of the experience they had when they visited us.”

Lopez added she encourages out-of-town colleagues to make a family trip out of their visit by staying at Great Wolf or skiing at Wachusett Mountain, and looks to local museums, restaurants and farms when planning employee events. “While we have been on a hiatus for hosting large group functions due to the pandemic, I am really looking forward to bringing back employee outings and annual celebrations to share the local area with my colleagues in Florida.” 

“I encourage our local business owners to take their employees out to local establishments,” said Walton. “Instead of going into Boston, do a brewery tour, take a dive at Great Wolf, go skiing, and frequent our many restaurants. Also, think about buying gift cards to support our businesses, too.” 

The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts manages a robust collaborative regional marketing program to support the visitor and hospitality industry which includes paid digital marketing, social media campaigns, public relations, and participation in trade shows. Printed twice per year, The Guide to North Central Massachusetts promotes tourism and travel in the region with stories and a calendar of events that encompass some of the great events happening here. The Chamber also operates the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center that welcomes 165,000 visitors each year.  

Roy Nascimento, President and CEO of the Chamber, believes the region is well positioned to continue to benefit from tourism and placemaking efforts. “North Central Massachusetts is a very special place located right in the heart of New England,” he said. “It’s up to all of us to share the many opportunities and experiences our region offers with our friends, family and colleagues from outside the area to not only help our tourism industry succeed but to make our region shine.” 

 

By the Numbers

Tourism in North Central Massachusetts

U.S. Adult Trips Annually
1,087,751 

Jobs Benefiting from Tourism
16,000

Direct Visitor Spending
$185.4 Million

State Taxes Generated
$9.4 Million

Local Taxes Generated
$5 Million

Top Five Origin Markets
Boston, Providence/New Bedford Area, Connecticut, New York and Maine

*Data represents pre-pandemic numbers from CY2019 and is sourced from Arrivalist Travel Data, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the RKG Study conducted by the Chamber.

MTF Estimates “Historic” Budget Surplus Of $3.6 Billion

State House News Service

Colin A. Young

 

The Department of Revenue is still counting, but the budget watchers at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation expect that the Legislature will have a surplus of $3.6 billion when the final accounting of the fiscal year that ended last week is complete. Through May, the state had collected $36.969 billion in tax revenue for fiscal year 2022 — $2.666 billion or 7.8 percent ahead of expectations. Combined with two upgrades the executive branch made during the budget year, MTF said Massachusetts is $5.932 billion ahead of benchmark. But that’s not the anticipated surplus. Supplemental spending has wiped out about $1.6 billion of the overage, about $1.2 billion in above-benchmark capital gains will be statutorily bound for reserves and more than $250 million is due to the School Building Authority and MBTA. When all is said and done, including accounting for an addition $750 million in federal revenue, MTF said it anticipates the final FY2022 surplus will be roughly $3.588 billion, which it notes would be more than twice as large as the roughly $1.5 billion surplus of fiscal year 2021. “The primary reason the surplus is larger this year is because the original FY 2021 budget relied on close to $2 billion in one-time resources, including the Stabilization Fund. Much of last year’s excess tax revenue was used to eliminate the need for these temporary revenues. The original FY 2022 budget did not rely on the Stabilization Fund or other one-time resources, freeing up excess tax revenues for the surplus,” MTF wrote in its brief. The organization pointed out four things that could change its calculations: if June revenues come in above the $3.363 billion benchmark, the surplus will increase; a greater amount of above-benchmark capital gains would divert more to the state’s rainy day fund; an updated view of outstanding account deficiencies could eat away at some of the surplus; and significant reversions, or appropriated funds that go unspent, could increase the surplus. “The FY 2022 budget surplus will be historic and it will require careful planning to use it effectively and sustainably,” MTF said.In addition to any FY2022 surplus, the Legislature also has $2.3 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act money at its disposal and is expecting that the state will collect at least $36.915 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2023, which began July 1.

Chamber Welcomes New Members at the Thirsty Robot Brewing Co.

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will host a new member orientation and reception on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Thirsty Robot Brewing Co. at 265 Summer Street, Fitchburg, MA.  

Thirsty Robot brews a variety of beer with a “focus on aroma-packed and flavor-driven beers, with an emphasis on New England IPAs” states owner and brewer Bill diMario.  The venue has ample indoor and outdoor seating along with an interesting menu, Thursday Trivia night and live entertainment from a variety of local musicians.   

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. 

Highway “Takes The Cake” In $15 Billion Spending Plan

State House News Service

Author: Chris Lisinski

Department of Transportation overseers stamped their approval Wednesday on a five-year capital plan calling for spending nearly $15 billion on improving reliability, modernizing and expanding the state’s transportation system. MassDOT’s board voted unanimously in favor of a $14.9 billion proposal covering fiscal years 2023 through 2027, embracing a plan that looks ahead a half-decade rather than a single year for the first time since COVID-19 hit. More than half of the spending would go toward reliability projects such as routine maintenance and repairs. A bit more than a quarter would go to modernization efforts, including required accessibility and safety improvements. The rest would be divided between expansions, Chapter 90 reimbursements to help municipalities with road and bridge maintenance, and other planning services. Projects funded by the plan include the major ongoing Sumner Tunnel rehabilitation effort, replacement of the Rourke Bridge in Lowell, and design and permitting of the once-in-a-generation push to reorganize the confluence of highway, rail and pedestrian infrastructure in a narrow sliver of land in Allston. Highways across Massachusetts feature as the largest target for investment in the five-year plan — or as MassDOT Director of Capital Planning Michelle Ho put it, “highway does take the cake” — with more than $10 billion set to flow to reliability, modernization and expansion of the state’s roadways. About $1.4 billion of the MassDOT plan would put state dollars toward MBTA expansion and state of good repair projects, and the transit agency also has its own $9.6 billion five-year plan in place for other major projects including South Coast Rail.

Lauren Howe named North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce 
2022 Ambassador of the Year

Howe recognized at Chamber’s 38th Annual Meeting

Lauren Howe, principal and owner of empHowered PR, has been named as the 2022 Ambassador of Year by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.   The announcement was made at the chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 9, 2022.

Chamber Ambassadors are valued volunteers to the Chamber who serve as the face of the organization in the community.  They assist the Chamber with communications to new and existing members, participate in ribbon cuttings and help connect members at various Chamber events.  Howe was voted Ambassador of the Year by her fellow Chamber Ambassadors at their May meeting. 

“We are grateful to Lauren for her dedication and support of our Chamber as we work to advance our goals throughout the 27 communities that comprise our region,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “While Lauren is a fairly new member of our business community, she quickly become an engaged business leader across North Central and a sought-after expert in the areas of public relations and communications for a variety of businesses. We are eager to see what the future holds for Lauren, both through her work with the Chamber and with her business.”

Howe founded empHowered PR in March 2020 following an esteemed 23-year career in a variety of communications roles in the health care, manufacturing and non-profit industries.  While her plans to launch her business were delayed due to the pandemic, she currently serves a variety of clients around the region, the country and the world. Her tailored services focus on brand strategy, corporate social responsibility, reputation management and thought leadership to effectively position her clients with key stakeholders to deliver long-term business goals. 

Lauren holds both a master’s degree in Organizational and Professional Communication and a graduate certificate in Health Care Leadership Communications from Regis College.  She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Mount Wachusett Community College.  Lauren is a member of the Worcester Business Journal 40 under Forty class of 2014 and a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Worcester program.  She currently serves as Chair of the Public Relations Society of America Independent Practitioner’s Alliance and is a member of the board at the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts.  She also serves as the regular host of the Chamber’s “Good Morning North Central,” the region’s most popular morning gathering featuring high-profile guests discussing topics of interest with business, civic and community leaders. 

“As a small business owner starting out at the beginning of the pandemic, the Chamber provided me with information and connections to successfully launch my business, literally from my kitchen table,” said Howe. “I am honored to be recognized by my peers as their Ambassador of the Year and look forward to continued collaboration and success with my fellow Ambassadors in the years to come.” 

Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Set For Aug. 13-14

State House News Service

Author: Sam Doran

Tarr Says Surplus Shows Holiday Can Be Expanded

The Legislature on Monday set the dates of this year’s sales tax holiday weekend, settling on Aug. 13 and 14, when Massachusetts shoppers will get a break from state sales tax on most retail items less than $2,500.

The annual sales-tax-free weekend was made permanent by a 2018 law, which calls on the Legislature to set the dates by June 15 each year, otherwise the Department of Revenue gets to pick.

As part of the “grand bargain” law, retailers in 2018 dropped their push for a ballot question lowering the 6.25 percent sales tax to 5 percent. That law also raised the minimum wage will rise from $11 to $15 an hour over a five-year period, phased out time-and-a-half pay for workers on Sundays and holidays over that same period, and solidified the launch of a paid family and medical leave program overseen by the state government and backed by a payroll tax.

Economic Development Committee co-chairs Sen. Eric Lesser and Rep. Jerry Parisella sponsored the date-setting measures in their respective branches Monday.

Prior to the Senate’s vote, Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said the Legislature was being “proactive” and setting the date, but he found it “unfortunate” no other tax relief steps had yet been taken.

“While we are here to at least accomplish two days of sales tax relief, I would hope with the remaining time in this session that we would consider still expanding this sales tax holiday,” Tarr said, “as one of the best ways to be able to give tax relief to the citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, who are watching these debates, and asking themselves — repetitively — if we have billions of dollars in surplus, and we are properly funding all of our accounts, then why is it that we cannot find the ability to reach consensus on offering substantial, responsible tax relief?”

The holiday does not apply to purchases of some specific goods or services: motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, marijuana products, telecommunications services like prepaid calls, natural gas, steam, or electricity.

Christopher McCarthy to Chair North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Christopher W. McCarthy, president and COO of Fidelity Bank has been elected Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2022-2023.  The announcement was made at the chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 9, 2022.

McCarthy was named president and COO of Fidelity Bank in 2015, after more than twenty years of experience in community banking.  Headquartered in Leominster, Fidelity Bank is one of the oldest and continually growing independent, local community banks in Central Massachusetts.  Fidelity offers a full range of banking, investment and insurance products and programs, and operates full-service branches in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton and Winchendon.

McCarthy earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree from Nichols College.  He also holds a post-graduate degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. 

In addition to his involvement with the chamber, Mr. McCarthy also serves on a number of boards and charitable organizations, including the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Worcester Business Development Corporation and Saint Vincent Hospital.  He is also active in his alma mater, Nichols College, serving as a member of the College’s Board of Advisors.  

He succeeds Rachel Lopez, president of Resource Management Inc. (RMI) who now moves to the position of Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.

“It is an honor and privilege to have been elected Chair of this dynamic and respected organization that plays such an important role in North Central Massachusetts,” expressed Mr. McCarthy, “I am excited to continue Rachel Lopez’s efforts and make sure the Chamber remains a strong resource for the local business community.”

McCarthy was first elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2016 and has held several leadership positions including Vice Chair, Treasurer and has served on the Chamber’s Leadership Council, the One North Central leadership committee and the executive committee. As the Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Mr. McCarthy will work with the Board, Chamber staff, and membership to champion the Chamber in its mission to serve the region’s business community. 

“As Chair, Chris will play a significant role in advancing the Chamber’s goals and initiatives,” noted Roy Nascimento, Chamber president & CEO. “We are fortunate to have his respected leadership. We look forward to working with him to advance the interests of our members and promote North Central Massachusetts.”

In the same election, James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D., president of Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner was elected Vice-Chair and director Barbara Mahoney, president & CEO of Leominster Credit Union was elected to the position of Treasurer; and Dr. Richard Lapidus, president of Fitchburg State University was elected to the position of Assistant Treasurer.  Board members elected for new terms were Winfield Brown, president & CEO of Heywood Healthcare in Gardner; Jackie Cullen, Owner of RiverStyx Brewing in Fitchburg; Melissa Glenny, founder and CEO of Franklin Professional Associates in Leominster; Michael Johansen, president of Bemis Associates in Shirley; and Lori Richardson, president & CEO of Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts; 

Continuing current terms on the Board of Directors are Allie Catlin, co-owner of Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon; Tony Fields, president and owner of Cleartech Group in Leominster; Matthew Fournier, president of Elite Construction & Design in Fitchburg; Bruce Platzman, president of AIS, Inc. in Leominster; Steve Rocheleau, president of Rocheleau Tool & Die in Fitchburg; Rodrigo Souza, owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse in Leominster; Henry Tessman, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg; and John Zarrella president of Research Results, Inc. in Fitchburg.

Making Opportunity Count empowers local community through additional resources

There are a few handfuls of designated community action agencies that truly stand out among the rest. Making Opportunity Count (MOC), located in Fitchburg, Ma., has thrived through their community outreach, providing systems, programs, and collaboration for low-income individuals and families to build pathways out of poverty.

According to their website, their mission is to empower families to achieve economic security by eliminating barriers and creating opportunities. Nicole Michaud, Vice President of Advancement, said it best when asked about MOC’s clients:

“We’re here for people facing serious crisis like potential homelessness, and we’re here for people who find themselves needing a little extra support, especially since the pandemic when unemployment soared and we could help through our emergency assistance program to pay utilities or rent,” she stated. “If we aren’t able to assist clients ourselves, we will find other resources and be that connector for the local community. We do everything we can to help people avoid crises moving forward.”

Making Opportunity Count serves the 30 cities and towns that span the North Central Massachusetts region. Most recently, MOC has grown programming to include behavioral health and a youth innovation center located in Fitchburg.

The Counseling Center at MOC launched from staff recognizing that there was a need to support mental health in the local area, as well as an additional and important need to create another opportunity out of poverty. Their website states that all services are designed to meet clients’ individualized treatment needs through consultation, collaboration and coordination of care that respects their strengths and differences. Additionally, the center is committed to inclusive care and serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and types of needs.

The Counseling Center offers a variety of languages to bring mental health care access to non-English speakers, and has prioritized diversifying the Center’s staff through a variety of strategies including an intern program. Through grant funding, the Counseling Center provides paid practicum opportunities for students of color attending Fitchburg State University and other colleges in the area. The initiative removes barriers to care, keeps clients engaged, and fosters a relationship between patients and therapists while providing financial support to their interns.

Currently, The Counseling Center is serving over 200 clients since becoming officially licensed in July 2021 and has nine therapists on staff.

Making Opportunity Count also continues to further develop their Youth Innovation Center, located in the Cleghorn neighborhood in Fitchburg, MA.

The Youth Innovation Center looks to provide resources to enable youth in the area to explore and research anything that they might be interested in pursuing for their future. It was designed by the center’s Youth Founders, a core group of young individuals who guided MOC in what they wanted the space to look like, feel like, and what should be included and focus on.

“[The Youth Innovation Center] aims to be a space for them to have the resources to explore what interests them,” said Michaud.

The Center’s space includes a multimedia room for podcasting, music editing, vlogging, and other digital arts, partnered with the Fitchburg Access TV station; a makerspace with a dry studio for artwork and creativity, in coordination with the Fitchburg Art Museum; and an open floor plan for performances or wellness activities.

Additionally, the Center looks to include a mentorship component to assist youth in exploring their interests and hearing from real-life experiences in the local community. “It’s flexible and fluid; we built the space to be able to accommodate future generations of youth,” she said.

The Center is looking to open in July 2022, after final construction is complete.

Several opportunities that MOC brings to the community could not have been possible without the assistance of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

“We appreciate the diverse program offerings and networking opportunities from the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce,” said Colby O’Brien, Senior Director of Advancement at MOC. “We love getting to know the different community drivers in the area and fostering relationships, such as AIS, who is providing the furniture for the Youth Innovation Center, and the local businesses and financial institutions who support us.

“What sets MOC apart from other agencies is our holistic approach to services that are driven by compassion – and that is what is needed in the community,” O’Brien said. “We get to see the impact we have on the community – from kids in Head Start or WIC to elders receiving Meals on Wheels. It’s great to see how quickly our staff respond with resources in such a caring and compassionate way and the positive impact the agency has in our community.”

You can learn more or donate about the Making Opportunity Count’s Youth Innovation Center on their website, www.mocinc.org. If you are interested in becoming a patient or learning more about The Counseling Center at MOC, please visit www.counselingatmoc.org, or follow MOC on Facebook @makingopportunitycount and Instagram @ making_opportunity_count.

Biopharma Expects To Grow, But Faces Talent Troubles

Most biopharmaceutical companies in Massachusetts expect to grow their workforces over the next year, but many have also had a hard time filling open positions, according to a new industry report.

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council previously projected that the industry could require up to 40,000 new workers by 2024, and an analysis BW Research Partnership conducted for MassBio calls for the field to “re-think the current workforce development pipeline,” by prioritizing regionalization and diversity.

“Given that employers project to see growth across several different entry- and non-entry-level positions over the next couple years as well as the significant hiring difficulties attributed to a small applicant pool and lack of experienced or qualified applicants, the life sciences industry will require significant workforce development support mechanisms from the state, educational institutions, and other workforce development stakeholders,” reads the report, released Wednesday.

The life sciences sector is a significant force in the state’s economy, with about 106,600 jobs across Massachusetts as of 2021, up by nearly 60,500 jobs since 2006. It’s also been singled out for major state investments — in 2018, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a life sciences bill that called for $473 million in capital spending over five years.

Short-term strategies recommended in the report include adding biopharma-specific courses or modules to existing four-year degrees like accounting or marketing; scaling up short-term, customized certification programs; increasing hands-on and lab experience in educational settings; and expanding internships with life-sciences company.

On the longer-term front, the report suggests partnering with higher education institutions that serve minority populations, developing “a central organizing workforce institute run by MassBio,” and seeking financial support from the state for both of those efforts.

Elect North Central Coalition To Sponsor Gubernatorial Forum on Tuesday, June 7

The Elect North Central Coalition, composed of leading business, educational, media and community organizations, will host a forum with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sonia Chang-Díaz at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 at the Fitchburg Access Television studios.

The program, to be moderated by Fitchburg-Leominster All Politics (FLAP-TV) host Kevin Cormier, will be streamed live and then available for viewing on demand at fatv.org. Questions will focus on issues of concern to the diverse communities and businesses of North Central Massachusetts.

The coalition has extended invitations to additional gubernatorial candidates – including Democrat Maura Healey and Republicans Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty – to participate in similar forums.

State Sen. Chang-Díaz has represented the Second Suffolk District since 2009. 

Elect North Central is a coalition of organizations dedicated to making the democratic process accessible and assuring that local and regional issues are examined and addressed by candidates running for office. The coalition plans to invite the Democrat and Republican candidates for governor to debate in advance of the general election in November.

“The members of Elect North Central include a broad cross-section of leaders in media, education, community, and business organizations, and was formed to provide residents an opportunity to hear the candidates on issues affecting them and the region,” said Lea Ann Scales, Vice President of Enrollment and Public Affairs at Mount Wachusett Community College, the chair of Elect North Central. “As we have since coming together in 2018, we will continue to collaborate on projects that will engage candidates and voters, and provide a platform to ensure the voices and concerns of our region are heard.”

The Elect North Central Coalition includes the Clinton Item; Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts; Faith Based Community Coalition of North Central Massachusetts; Fitchburg Access Television (FATV); Fitchburg State University; Gardner News; Leominster Champion; Leominster Access Television (LTV); MassLive; Minority Coalition of North Central Massachusetts; Making Opportunity Count; Mount Wachusett Community College; NewVue Communities; North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce; Spanish American Center; State House News Service; Three Pyramids, Inc; United Way of North Central Massachusetts; Vocero Hispano Newspaper; Worcester Business Journal; Worcester Telegram & Gazette; and WPKZ FM 105.3.