Mariano: Baker Tax Breaks Not “Necessary At The Time”
[Coverage Developing] Buoyed by surplus tax collections and federal aid, House leadership unveiled a nearly $50 billion budget for fiscal year 2023 that Speaker Ron Mariano said will reinvest in the state’s lower- and middle-class residents and gird the economy for “tough times” in the future.
The House Ways and Means Committee’s budget recommendation, which totals $49.629 billion and is expected to be debated the week of April 25, would increase spending by $2.015 billion, or 4.23 percent over the current year’s budget, and proposes to spend $1.398 billion, or 2.9 percent, more than Gov. Charlie Baker recommended in his January budget filing.
In addition to the early education and workforce development initiatives that Mariano and Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz rolled out Monday, the House budget also boosts local aid, fully funds the next year of the 2019 school finance reform law known as the Student Opportunity Act, eliminates communication costs for incarcerated people and their families, provides free school lunches for another year, and pushes the state’s stabilization fund to an estimated balance of $6.55 billion by the end of next June.
“We are on our way towards filling some of the holes that were created during the pandemic with a $49.6 billion spending package that we think addresses a lot of the needs and it’s based on state tax collections that have been very strong [and] a lot of help from the federal government,” Mariano said Wednesday.
The budget includes $6 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increases the minimum per-student aid amount from $30 to $60, accelerates by one year the charter school reimbursement process, and increases higher education scholarship funding by more than $25 million. There is also $912 million for early education and child care, $853 million for housing initiatives and $638.4 million for workforce development.
Michlewitz said the budget his committee released “presents the commonwealth with a unique opportunity to invest in the middle class and start to tackle some of the challenges that a post-COVID economy has created.”
The state generated a surplus of more than $5 billion last fiscal year and is already more than $2 billion ahead of expectations this fiscal year. On top of tax revenue, the state still has more than $2 billion of American Rescue Plan Act money to put to use in the coming years and a record amount of money socked away in the stabilization fund.
The state’s strong revenue performance has led to a chorus calling for tax relief for residents who are also dealing with higher prices across the board, but Mariano and Michlewitz made clear Wednesday that they think the money will do more good if the Legislature spends it in a targeted way rather than putting it back into taxpayers’ pockets.
“With growing revenue returns from the state, a record $5.76 billion expected dollars in our rainy day fund by the end of this fiscal year, this once-in-a-generation opportunity allows us to build for a better future, one that is more resilient, more equitable, and more rewarding for all of us in the commonwealth,” Michlewitz said.
Mariano pointed to the House’s funding for early education and child care as the kind of investment that will have an outsized impact on the state’s workforce and economy.
“There are many things that we can spend our money on and we chose to do that because I think these programs in the early childhood and day care support systems are the underpinning of our middle and lower class workforce,” Mariano said. He added, “And I really feel, and thank goodness the chairman agrees, that strengthening these underpinnings is the most important thing we can do right now.”
Mariano had announced Monday that the House budget would not include any of Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed $700 million worth of tax breaks. Asked Wednesday why the House decided to leave those out, the speaker said, “Well, we felt they weren’t necessary at the time.”
The House budget also looks to bolster the state’s stabilization fund, the savings account that serves as a reserve in case of an economic downturn, with a deposit of at least $785.7 million in fiscal year 2023. Asked why the House is continuing to boost the rainy day fund rather than deploying that money in the annual budget, Mariano suggested darker economic days could be ahead for the Bay State.
“These good times may not roll forever. We want to make sure that we have money in case there is a sudden downturn. You know, we’re on the brink of major confrontations in Europe, the oil production is being cut way down; if I was a economic prognosticator, I would think we were in for some tough times,” the speaker said. “So obviously we wanted to strengthen our ability to pivot if revenues do take a downward plunge.”
Stock market instability. Rising interest rates. Signs of inflation. The Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And a stubborn pandemic which isn’t going away.
“We’ve certainly weathered many storms since our last time together two years ago,” said Ed Manzi, the chairman and chief executive officer at Fidelity Bank, in welcoming remarks. “But just as Fidelity Bank provides clarity, confidence and care for our clients, you have also done the same for your colleagues, friends and neighbors which has made our communities stronger despite the challenges presented before us.”
The Economic Forecast Breakfast crowd.
Despite plenty of obstacles, there was a profound sense of optimism at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast held on Friday, April 8th at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg.
“You persevered before and you’re expected to do it again. Very inspiring,” Manzi told a gathering of more than 200.
Business leaders from the region gathered to learn the results of a Regional Economic Outlook Survey, which was compiled from feedback from 519 consumers and 200 business leaders in Central Massachusetts.
Generally, the survey produced optimistic results from employees and business leaders. The biggest concerns among consumers/employees is inflation (20%) and the effects of COVID-19 (17%). For business leaders, the availability of skilled labor (28%) was the greatest concern, followed by inflation (18%).
The survey yielded signs of optimism, however. A majority (53%) of business owners, presidents or managers said they would increase pay to their employees this year, while 30 percent said they planned to spend more over the next 12 months.
Three speakers enlightened the audience – Dr. Nancy Murray, Fitchburg State University’s dean of the School of Education; Dr. Mark Melnik, the director of Economic & Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute; and Dr. Mahesh Ramachandran, the chief economist for the Executive Officer of Labor and Workforce Development.
Murray said Fitchburg State is meeting the challenge of producing students ready to enter the workplace by offering new majors and examining a MassHire survey which revealed, among other things, that access to childcare is preventing some people from returning to jobs. Murray said FSU is creating pathways in the STEM field and English for students to transfer to the school from Mount Wachusett Community College and supportive pathways for students to transfer from Fitchburg High to FSU.
Murray urged business leaders to “think outside the box” as they look to the rest of 2022 and beyond.
Melnik told the audience that “conditions on the ground” are shifting in Massachusetts and the North Central region from pre-pandemic days to the world going forward. Things are improving in the state, he said, noting that the unemployment rate in Massachusetts was 16.4 percent in April 2020. Today it is 4.7 percent, although the national average is 3.8. The COVID recession is the most uneven recession on record.
“Growing labor supply is critical for Massachusetts,” said Melnik, pointing out that in 2021, for the first time, the number of deaths in Massachusetts surpassed the number of births.
Chris McCarthy, Fidelity Bank’s president and chief operating officer presents the Economic Survey results.
Melnik said 9,400 jobs in the North Central region were lost during the pandemic, 7,000 of which have been recovered.
Ramachandran said Massachusetts is on the road to recovery, though the recovery is uneven due to a mismatch between skills demanded and skills available. The Leominster-Gardner area has a 5.2 percent unemployment rate, a far cry from the 17.6 percent rate in April 2020. There are plenty of opportunities for growth in healthcare, professional, scientific and technical service jobs, according to Ramachandran.
There were plenty of graphs and PowerPoint slides filled with numbers. But there was also a palpable sense that it was great for business leaders to see each other again. Two of the speakers said they were worried about forgetting how to tie their ties, drawing laughs from the audience.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 in-person gathering to be canceled and the 2021 event shifted to online. The face-to-face gathering in a packed ballroom for the Economic Forecast Breakfast was a welcome sight for many weary from constant Zoom meetings.
“It’s good to be with people again,” said Chris McCarthy, Fidelity Bank’s president and chief operating officer. “While our Economic Forecast survey results included new categories related to the pandemic and how we foresee the next year as we move forward in the new normal, these results prove our region is resilient, strong and certainly optimistic that better days are ahead.”
The weather seemed to mirror the mood of business leaders weary from two years of unique challenges but optimistic about the future. Morning rain and plenty of clouds – with clearing skies and sunshine predicted for the afternoon.
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently approved a $44,000 loan to RA Aldrich Trucking in Fitchburg to assist with the purchase of a 2020 Peterbilt tractor Model 389 to replace the current truck that NCMDC financed a couple of years ago.
“When I started my business three years ago, I applied for a loan to facilitate the purchase of my first truck to make petroleum deliveries,” said Rafael Aldrich, owner, RA Aldrich Trucking. “Thanks to the financial assistance and support from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, I’ve been able to update my equipment and continue growing my business.”
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.
Aristotle once equated the essence of life to serving others and doing good. While the philosophy seems like a fulfilling endeavor, it’s not quite practical given that we lead super busy lives. With our already jam-packed schedules, it’s impossible to think of giving away your time and energy for free without a financial reward.
However, volunteering is beneficial for several reasons, and the best part about it is that it doesn’t have to take up much of your time and effort. The advantages of volunteering not only benefit the community, or person receiving the assistance, it also benefits the individual or the organization offering the help.
Such benefits can probably explain why there has been a steady rise in popularity in volunteering in the past few years. Research shows that more than 25% of adults in the United States volunteered from 2008 to 2017, with women taking the lead at a staggering 27.8% against 21.8% of men.
So why is there a spike in volunteering? Well, it seems as though more and more people are starting to realize the immense benefits one can derive from volunteering. People are beginning to see how helping each other benefits all parties involved, and more businesses are joining the helping bandwagon.
Benefits Businesses Derive from Volunteering
Connecting With the Community
A huge benefit that volunteering has is its impact on the community. It allows organizations to connect to the community to improve it. Even helping out with small tasks can make a significant difference to the lives of those in need, and it’s a two-way street.
Setting aside time to help others helps employees network and make new contacts and friends by sharing activities. Volunteering allows employees from different companies in the Chamber to meet for a common goal and form connections. These connections made during the volunteering process make for an incredible opportunity to expand business ties outside the organization.
Volunteering Has Immense Health Benefits
Scientists coined a term for the physical effect doing good deeds has on the human body. The term is known as Helper’s High. Volunteering promotes good physical and mental health by counteracting the effects of anger, stress, and anxiety while also combating depression by maintaining a regular contract with others. It also increases self-confidence and provides employees with a sense of purpose, thus increasing employee empowerment.
Team Bonding
Teaming employees up outside of the work environment to participate in a worthwhile activity fosters a sense of teamwork. Pulling together to partake in a common goal, especially a community project or charity, helps employees build bonds that last long, thus making for a renewed sense of commitment to the job and one another.
Business Success
According to research, organizations that integrate social impact into their daily processes can increase sales by about 20% and productivity by 13%. Such organizations also drastically reduce employee turnover while increasing the company’s share price by up to 6%.
Enhanced Skills
Volunteering lets employees use their already learned skills to better the community. They can also use the opportunity to acquire a valuable skill that can come in handy in the work environment. Employers don’t require financial investment to offer opportunities for employees to develop or enhance their skills.
Increased Brand Awareness
Organizations that go out of their way to help the community by working in new environments usually earn a positive reputation for their good deeds. Nowadays, people want to associate themselves with brands that are working to create change in society. Therefore, volunteering in new or familiar environments helps establish relationships with customers and helps build brand awareness and loyalty.
In Conclusion
With the benefits of volunteering being evident, we hope that more enterprises become more involved in helping. The more value we add to others, the better our world becomes. So why not start today?
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, Micron Solutions in Fitchburg is a world class contract manufacturer for the Medical Device, Defense and Life Sciences markets.
It strives to be a true manufacturing “one stop shop.” According to the website, where others are forced to outsource numerous core components increasing cost and lead times, Micron has expanded its capabilities to offer an integrated set of services to handle jobs completely in-house.
“Our mission,” explains President & CEO Bill Laursen, “is to be the go-to partner for our clients. We develop elegant, yet robust automated manufacturing solutions. We function like other larger contractors yet offer a hand-crafted, personalize business experience.” Micron works with clients of all sizes to provide manufacturing solutions and assembly services to expeditiously help its customers meet their goals.
As Micron’s website explains, “our specialties include Precision Machining, Thermoplastic Injection Molding, Mold Making, Assembly Services and Sensors. Whether it is partnering with clients to help with design for manufacturing on new programs or to support existing applications, Micron Solutions, Inc. is prepared to commit all resources necessary to find a solution. As a Full-Service Supplier, each member of our manufacturing, engineering, research and quality teams stand ready to work in collaboration with clients to meet any challenge.”
Founded in 1972, Micron now employs 120 people in its 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. As the website states, Micron “is capable of serving customers’ projects from start to finish.” Laursen explains the company’s core values are to “do it right the first time!” He strives to build a “customer-focused, collaborative” work culture. Even during the past two years amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, he noted how proud he was of his loyal team. During the business slowdown, Laursen noted “Our folks wanted to come to work. We were proud to maintain our team.”
Evidence of the company’s commitment to its employees and its clients shows with its regular “Micron Matters” town-hall style meetings with employees and management. In those meetings, Laursen notes they are always focusing on celebrating the company’s collaborative work culture, accountability and continuous improvement.
As a local business, Laursen said Micron supports the local community by providing employment opportunities through internships and co-ops to local high school and college students. Many returned to work for the company during and after completing school. He also highlighted the strong legacy of manufacturing in North Central Massachusetts. While the business has clients world-wide, he said the region’s close proximity to the healthcare and bioscience industries provides tremendous opportunity. They primarily rely on their sales force, social media and their website for promotion but, Laursen added, Micron’s customers are the businesses strongest source.
Laursen credits a company advisor by the name of Mike Kelly as one of Micron’s biggest influencers in its ability to grow the business. Retired after a successful career at several large Medical Device companies, he said Kelly has been instrumental in the company’s success in creating an “honest, helpful work environment.”
As the website concludes, “we strive to provide results that exceed your quality requirements, meeting your financial needs and help grow your business.” Yet, even with its customer and client focus, Laursen notes the company’s highest priority is safety – it has all culminated in 50 years of success for Micron.
The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts, focused its marketing efforts last quarter on promoting the region as a Winter destination, with a heavy emphasis on utilizing digital strategies. We invested in an assorted mix of strong content on VisitNorthCentral.com highlighting winter activities and businesses. This included developing a new Winter landing page and blog articles such as “A Winter Getaway Might be Closer than you Think” and “Snow on the Mountain”. We also conducted several sponsored content campaigns targeted to the drive market. During the Winter season we also invested in some paid social media; targeted and geofenced digital advertising; YouTube advertising; and some limited print advertising. Our Facebook page garnered 221,443 impressions, reach of 78,845 and 8,004 engagements since the start of the Winter season. “Find Your…” was utilized as the overarching theme for our advertising campaigns during the season. The campaigns centered around the wide range of activities, lodging, restaurants, breweries and cultural attractions in North Central Massachusetts. Our winter activities were promoted as “Find Your Thrill” through geofenced digital ads on MassLive and LocalIQ affiliate websites and targeted YouTube advertising. The MassLive display ads garnered 251,401 impressions and 216 clicks thus far. The LocalIQ digital ads garnered 57,235 impressions and 72 clicks thus far. The targeted YouTube advertising campaign resulted in 98 clicks, 40,872 interactions and a 47.28% view rate. We also worked with MassLive and Telegram & Gazette to promote the region as a winter getaway destination through “Find Your Slice of Simplicity” branded content. The content focused on the unique lodging options, restaurants, museums and relaxing winter activities in the region. The MassLive content resulted in 39,701 impressions, click through rate of 0.61% and 244 clicks. The Telegram & Gazette content garnered 9,894 reads, a 20.06% click through rate, and 1,985 clicks. The sponsored social media post resulted in 6,247 link clicks, over 400 reactions, and nearly 150 shares. For print media, we advertised in AAA magazine in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York as well as Baystate Parent monthly issues through “Find Your Winter Wonderland”. These advertisements were targeted towards families with young kids centered around the family-friendly experience our region provides. We also partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, the Massachusetts Ski Association and five other regional tourism councils on a collective winter campaign with Hearst media highlighting the state as a ski and winter destination. And, during the season we implemented some shop local marketing to promote supporting local businesses. Preliminary data from Arrivalist indicates a 14% increase in visitors traveling to the region over the same period the prior year, but down 27% over pre-pandemic 2019. Top four origin markets were Boston; Rhode Island; Connecticut; and New York.
As we move in to the Spring, we will continue our past strategies of promoting the outdoor assets of our region as well highlighting local attractions and businesses. We will do so through pivoting to a more digital focused marketing mix with geofenced and targeted digital ads, connected-app streaming ads, targeted YouTube advertising, paid Pinterest ads, branded content, social media and print media. We are also planning to resume some sale development activities, including participating in some travel industry trade shows in the Spring to promote the region.
After being closed to the public for more than 700 days, the Massachusetts State House reopened to the public in February. As local communities also rescind or revise their mask ordinances, the reopening of the State House certainly represents a major shift in the pandemic. While COVID-19 continues to remain present, communities across the Commonwealth are adapting and learning to conduct business in this new environment. As the Chamber continues our advocacy efforts, we look forward to the opportunity for staff and Chamber members to interact with legislators on important issues in the people’s house.
Election season is also heating up, with contested races for all of the major constitutional offices, some of which will be decided in the state primary on September 6th. The Chamber once again looks forward to playing an informative role throughout the process, and we have launched a new election series as part of our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast focusing on candidates for these statewide seats. Episodes will continue to be posted in the coming weeks and will remain up through the election. The Chamber is also monitoring races in the House and Senate. 1st Middlesex District Representative Sheila Harrington was recently appointed to be clerk-magistrate of Gardner District Court while 1st Worcester District Senator and former senate president, Harriette Chandler, announced she would not seek reelection leaving at least two open seats in North Central Massachusetts. We are working to engage candidates in regards to our members’ priorities and our initiatives.
We are continuing to monitor the State’s COVID-19 response. In February, Governor Baker signed a $101 million COVID-19 spending bill that included $76 million in direct state spending aimed at boosting access to masks, vaccines and rapid tests, particularly for schools, congregate care facilities and homeless shelters, along with another $25 million in available federal funds to be directed to the state’s COVID emergency paid sick leave program. At the end of February, the Baker Administration also announced a new $75 million dollar grant program to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program comes as part of the $4 billion ARPA spending plan signed into law in December. These funds will be administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation through two different grant programs, the New Applicant Grant Program and the Inclusive Grant Program. Applications for the programs are open until April 4, 2022.
Following the announcement of Governor Baker’s final proposed budget of $45 billion, the Chamber met with the region’s delegation virtually for our annual Legislative Briefing. The briefing provided an important opportunity to thank the delegation for their ongoing support of Chamber priorities, while advocating for a number of items in the upcoming budget and legislative session. The Chamber is focused on securing support for a number of crucial areas that will help advance North Central Massachusetts including economic development, workforce development, education and tourism.
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.
Imagine a modern renaissance, built on our past with the vision of a sustainable, modern future. Guess what? It’s happening right now in North Central Massachusetts. With more than 7,500 businesses based in the 27 communities that encompass North Central, we are building on the strong bones of our industrial past to redevelop buildings and create green living spaces, all while staying true to our traditional New England roots.
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.
One critical factor that bubbled to the surface early on was the North Central Massachusetts real estate market’s affordability compared to Greater Boston. Our region is home to more than 52 million square feet of industrial, retail and flex space, which is an increase of 375,000 square feet since 2006. And, with industrial and office lease rates approximately $15 per square foot, the region offers a relatively large share of competitively priced warehouse and distribution space. In fact, North Central Massachusetts offers the highest potential for industrial space demand, more than double when compared to the other four Massachusetts regions identified in One North Central. In fact, we have a unique competitive edge over many other regions closer to Boston—the lower cost of both owner and renter housing. It’s an advantage which could attract new talent to live in the region who could purchase homes typically out of reach in many other parts of the state.
The region’s plethora of unique historic downtowns and town centers with a variety of community types offer a wide spectrum of opportunities for businesses and families alike. Want to take a commuter rail to a walkable downtown or open a small business in an old mill? You can. Interested in building furniture in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, learning to design a video game in a tech lab or visit a farm or orchard for fresh produce? You can do that, too. For our region’s largest communities, downtown areas are fast becoming destinations for arts and culture, restaurants and green space that attracts residents, employees, and visitors to live, work, learn and enjoy.
“A major focus of our economic development is our Urban Renewal Plan focusing on the Mill Street and Downtown areas which are designed to create opportunity for private investment, stimulate economic growth, and improve and expand housing opportunities,” said Trevor Beauregard, Director, Community Development and Planning, City of Gardner, and Executive Director, Gardner Redevelopment Authority. “In concert with state funding and grants, the availability of lending for private development in Gardner is also stimulating the city’s targeted areas for development and growth.”
Beauregard highlighted the Timpany Crossroads Project as a well-sighted, successful private investment located along the commercial corridor at the corner of Route 2A and Route 68, which offers businesses convenient access to major roadways and provides maximum high visibility. And in March 2021, Community HealthLink announced it purchased 13 acres of land next to Walmart on Timpany Boulevard to build a new 20,000-square-foot facility. The new building will be fully ADA-compliant and LEED certified, and offer primary and family medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as urgent care.
“We have a two-pronged approach to economic development in Fitchburg,” said Tom Skwierawski, Executive Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Fitchburg. “We are
looking at the west and east sections of the city in very different ways. On the east, we have agricultural, greenfield development sites with the potential for tremendous commercial development. On the west side, we have a commercial recreation hub that started with Great Wolf Lodge and is now home to Game On, both of which provide family experiences for recreation.”
A big challenge for Skwierawski is the current real estate market’s low inventory which is making it difficult to welcome new residents to the city. “While we want to create continuous activities for the weekend traveler, we also want to attract people who’ve been priced out of the greater Boston area. We want them to purchase a home and raise a family here, but that’s hard to accomplish when there is little to no real estate inventory available.”
The City of Fitchburg is also turning to its downtown area, which the city refers to as “InTown,” into a destination arts and culture hub surrounded by residential units for those priced out of Boston, Worcester and the Merrimack Valley. “We have the Moran Square project which includes 44 residential units and commercial development opportunities, and several projects along Main Street designed to increase traffic to the downtown area,” he said. “We’re currently working on the redevelopment of 655 Main Street which will create four rental units and become the future home of the Dario’s on Main restaurant; 805 Main Street which will provide eight units; and the former Harper Furniture building renovation which will connect with the former Summer Street Firehouse providing 44 units and commercial space.”
In addition to the city’s InTown redevelopment, Fitchburg State University was awarded a $475,000 grant from MassDevelopment in December 2021 for the Main Street Theater Block rehabilitation project, which will provide 500 to 2,200 square feet of additional space to accommodate restaurants, retail space, art galleries and studios. And, in keeping with the city’s mission of creating an arts and culture hub, the Fitchburg Art Museum and NewVue Communities are working together to create the Fitchburg Arts Community, which will bring approximately 60 units of affordable rental artist residences and workspaces to three historical buildings adjacent to the Fitchburg Art Museum.
While downtown is a key area for growth, Skwierawski said industrial development like the Amazon warehouse on Intervale Road is equally important. The 97,000 square foot warehouse, slated to open in August 2022, will provide up to 300 jobs in the region. “We are really excited about this development and are looking to expand an industrial park at the sand pit adjacent to the warehouse.”
Just as Gardner and Fitchburg are looking to enhance their downtown areas, the City of Leominster is busting at the seams with business growth in its downtown area, said Amanda Curtis, Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster. “We are making significant investments in the downtown area, from our Monoosnock Brook Gateway Project to our upcoming Façade Program for downtown buildings. We want to make our downtown accessible for walking and outdoor dining,” she said.
Planning for the Monoosnock Brook Stabilization Project began 2019 and is funded by two Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grants totaling over $367,000. It’s an important project that will replace the current stone walls along the brook and the large culvert below the municipal parking lot off Mechanic Street. “The brook is a centerpiece of our downtown and provides a quiet respite for our residents and businesspeople during their lunch hour and lets families experience nature just a few steps from a bustling downtown area,” added Curtis. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.
Part of Gardner’s Urban Renewal Plan includes a pedestrian corridor with street markings and signage to make the public walkways more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. “We are working to expand the bike path from the [Mount Wachusett Community] college to downtown through a bicycle and walking network using shared streets and multiuse paths,” said Beauregard.
Speaking of bicycle friendly paths, the Twin Cities Rail Trail, which follows an abandoned rail corridor from downtown Fitchburg to Mechanic Street in downtown Leominster, is scheduled to be open to the public in 2023. The trail runs parallel to Route 12 and will be open for all non-motorized use. “By bringing the rail trail directly to Mechanic Street, cyclists and walkers will be able to access all of what downtown Leominster has to offer while being active outdoors,” added Curtis.
Just a few miles away is Devens, home to more than 100 businesses and organizations providing more than 4,000 jobs all bolstered by approximately 2,100 acres of open space and recreation land. Formerly known as Fort Devens, the former U.S. Army base is now home to bustling businesses in technology and innovation, as well as New England Studios, producer of such television shows and movies as Dexter, Defending Jacob and Castle Rock. Growth and development abound in this community, with King Street Properties developing a 45-acre biomanufacturing campus consisting of five buildings with 700,000 total square footage. And last summer, SMC Ltd., a medical device contract manufacturer, announced plans to double its footprint with the addition of a 207,000 square foot manufacturing and warehouse facility, resulting in approximately 400 new jobs.
For all its successes, sometimes growth can present challenges, as Leominster’s downtown growing pains can attest to. With just about every square foot of downtown commercial space filled, the Economic Development Office is working in collaboration with Mayor Dean Mazzarella and downtown business owners to both find additional space while maintaining that uniquely positive small town, customer experience. Curtis noted, “We have monthly downtown business group meetings with our business owners so we are made aware of their challenges and how we can work together to create solutions.”
Curtis was quick to point out the Mall at Whitney Field is a hot topic of conversation in Leominster, with many rumors swirling about the future of the mall and surrounding area. “The mall is a work in progress and while there are many rumors about the future of the mall, including tearing it down, this is simply not the case,” said Curtis. “The investors who own the mall want to see this succeed so in this case patience is asked by all in the community while we work to figure out the best path forward.”
Collaboration is certainly key, not only with business owners, but also between other cities and towns in the region. “What we’ve realized over the years is that we cannot achieve our goals as a city without partnering with other cities in the region,” said Curtis. “We want our businesses to thrive and if Leominster cannot accommodate the needs of a new business or a business that needs to grow its footprint, we will work with other communities to collaborate and help our business owners find the most appropriate location to achieve their goals.”
Skwierawski and Beauregard also praised their respective city officials for collaborating with them on several of the economic development projects, both past and current.
“We are all rowing in the same direction and by having our Mayor, City Council, NewVue Communities, ReImagine North of Main, the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber in our corner, it makes our work a lot easier. But more importantly, a collaborative environment provides business owners with the confidence that we will work as a team to help them achieve their goals.” Beauregard also said the Gardner City Council and its Mayor Mike Nicholson are all very supportive of all the city’s initiatives, which makes it much easier to move projects forward seamlessly and as quickly as possible.
It’s truly an exciting time to see how our cities and towns are redeveloping areas by modernizing buildings from our past, creating sustainable housing and establishing recreation areas connecting cities together as we work toward building North Central Massachusetts for the next generation.
Eight high schools received official designation to launch new programs and fourteen school districts awarded grants to boost student enrollment
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced eight new early college programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding early college programs as part of a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school.
Through these newly awarded designations and grants, the Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in early college programs by the 2024-2025 school year. Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a college or university. Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in early college courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth.
“Early college is an invaluable tool that supports increased college enrollment among participating students, particularly students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, and helps them succeed once they arrive on campus,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s announcement will boost participation rates at schools that already have programs, as well as launch new and exciting programs that will create more pathways to college.”
Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to early college programs. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million for early college funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million.
“The more communities that launch early college programs, particularly in our Gateway Cities, the more we can provide opportunities to students that help close achievement and workforce gaps,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “By creating and supplementing designated early college programs with our municipal partners, our administration aims to break down barriers that persist between high school and higher education.”
Eight high schools and their higher education partners were awarded official designation status this month by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education to launch new early college programs.
“Successful early college programs create a coherent course of study that can change the trajectory of a student’s life,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “By designating these early college programs, we are creating a shift in the educational experience for thousands of students.”
The majority of students who participate in early college programs meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses. Early college has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. Early college students enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of early college students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in early college.
“As part of the intra-agency early college collaboration, the Board and Department of Higher Education has approached this effort, as with all our work, from an empirically-based policy analysis frame,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago. “We are therefore pleased with early data showing that designated Massachusetts early college programs have prioritized and demonstrated progress in raising college-going rates and matriculation for students of color and low-income students, who continue to confront the highest barriers to higher education.”
“It’s wonderful to see additional and expanded designated early college programs everywhere from the Berkshires to the coast,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “These programs are a great opportunity for students to see that they’re capable of college-level work and take their first steps on that path.”
The newly designated programs are:
Fenway High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
Mt. Everett Regional High School in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Narragansett Regional High School in partnership with Mt. Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University
New Mission High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge in partnership with Lesley University
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in partnership with North Shore Community College
New Bedford High School in partnership with Bristol Community College
In addition, five high schools and their college partners were awarded a total of $750,000 to create early college programs that are large-scale, with at least 400 students or the whole school participating. This new “immersive early college” model will provide students with an opportunity to earn a minimum of 30 college credits prior to graduating high school.
Each of the following schools received $150,000 in grant funding:
Drury High School in North Adams in partnership with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Saugus High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College
Mt. Everett High School in Sheffield in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Veritas Prep Springfield in partnership with Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield State University
Claremont Academy in Worcester in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University
Additionally, nine schools were awarded expansion grants, totaling more than $650,000, to support their existing early college programs and boost the number of students enrolled, particularly those underrepresented in higher education.
The grantees include:
Durfee High School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College – $75,000
Framingham High School in partnership with Framingham State and Mass Bay Community College – $75,000
Marlborough High School in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College – $59,000
Lawrence Public Schools in partnership with Northern Essex Community College – $75,000
Lowell High School in partnership with Middlesex Community College – $75,000
Salem High School in partnership with Salem State University – $75,000
Worcester Public Schools in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University – $75,000
Haverhill High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College – $75,000
Holyoke High School in partnership with Holyoke Community College – $75,000
$4,000/Employee Program Aims to Boost Hiring with Labor Force Participation Rates Still Lower than Pre-Pandemic
The Baker-Polito Administration launched a new hiring and training employer grant program, “HireNow,” which will help employers quickly hire and train new workers and get more people back to work. The new program provides eligible employers with a $4,000 per employee grant, which can be used to cover training costs or as a signing bonus for new employees. By providing employers with these flexible funds to facilitate quick hiring, the Administration is focusing on addressing continued hiring challenges faced by employers and increasing labor force participation. Employers can learn more about the program and apply at mass.gov/HireNow.
The program is open to all Massachusetts employers, including both for-profit and non-profit entities (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta announced the launch of the program today at LabCentral, a Cambridge non-profit that provides support and working space for start-ups in the biotech and life sciences sectors. LabCentral plans to hire lab operations and other technical and administrative staff this year and will use funds from HireNow to support training costs.
“Our Administration is focused on supporting Massachusetts’ economic growth and getting more people back to work, and the HireNow program is one more tool at our disposal to meet employers’ workforce needs and grow our labor force,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The flexible funds from this program will be distributed to employers quickly to help them with training costs, tuition support and other needs. We are grateful to our partners in the Legislature for allocating the ARPA funds necessary to make this program happen.”
“We know employers are ready to grow and expand by hiring new workers, and we’re excited to deploy flexible dollars as part of the HireNow program to jump-start those efforts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Massachusetts’s economic recovery from the pandemic is off and running, but we know there are still persistent workforce challenges that we must address. To boost our local economies, it is critical that we help both for-profit and non-profit employers meet their workforce needs and get more people back to work. We appreciate the partnership of the employer community as we developed this program and look forward to putting these funds to work alongside our existing, proven job-training programs.”
HireNow aims to address hiring challenges faced by employers that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are over 85,000 workers not participating in the labor market compared to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, employers’ need for workers has continued to increase, with unfilled job postings up 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels and approximately 200,000 open jobs available across the Commonwealth.
The Administration is focused on addressing these challenges through a variety of efforts, including by expanding access and awareness to its existing, apprenticeships, incumbent worker training programs, the Career Technical Initiative and more. Local MassHire Workforce Boards are also expanding resources to match employers and workers with training programs, and regions are hiring new staff members to serve as regional “Market Makers” to connect companies to graduates of new education and training programs starting up in their areas funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. These staff members will be regional points of contact to help match employers’ needs with both job-seekers and the skill-building programs needed to successfully fill open jobs. In addition, MassHire Centers are adding staff to work directly with job seekers who want to enroll in new training programs to gain more skills.
The HireNow program will build on these efforts by providing resources directly to employers that make it possible to immediately hire new employees and provide them with necessary training to fill open roles. The program will be supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“We are excited to add HireNow to our growing number of grant programs that aim to close job and equity gaps across the Commonwealth,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “We hope these funds will encourage employers to expand their hiring strategy to include those with potential for learning and growing on the job, over a direct-skills match, as this will widen the candidate pool and help both jobseekers and businesses.”
“Getting people back to work is a key element of our strategy for economic recovery and the ‘HireNow’ program allows us double down on these efforts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “I look forward to this program’s success not just in enhancing access to employment opportunities, but accelerating it.”
“HireNow will be an excellent complement to the Career Technical Initiative we launched two years ago which expands access to high-quality vocational programs for high school students and adults by creating three shifts, one during the regular school day for vocational students, one in the afternoons for students enrolled in their local high school, and one in the evening for adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “Employers will be able to recruit students from CTI programs, and use the HireNow grants to offer deeper training for their employees.”
Program Details:
Employer Eligibility: Any Massachusetts employer who is in good standing with Department of Unemployment Assistance and Department of Revenue obligations and is not de-barred by the state is eligible (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Applications must be submitted by the employer, not an education or training partner.
Application Process: Employers must pre-register online at Mass.Gov/HireNow by providing employer information. Following the employee’s hire and 60-day retention period, employers will submit a final application for funding. The Commonwealth will also approve the planned use of the funds (training costs, signing bonus, etc.) when approving the application.
Eligible Hires: Hires must be made after March 23, 2022, be retained for a minimum of 60 days, and be placed in jobs that are at least 30 hours per week. New hires need to be Massachusetts residents employed in Massachusetts. There are also limits on compensation:
Maximum eligible compensation: $42.50 / hr (~$85K annualized)
Funding: up to $4,000 for each eligible employee hired, with a limit of $400,000 per employer. Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
