At the time of this writing, candidates’ signatures are being verified for federal and statewide offices as election season continues to shape up. The Chamber has engaged with candidates for the Governor’s race and the major constitutional offices.  Efforts have included interviews with the candidates on our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast: Election Series, which is available on our website as well as Apple and Spotify. The Chamber is also monitoring a number of other races in North Central Massachusetts. The region’s two Congressional delegates are expected to face challengers this November, and in addition to at least two open seats, a number of our State legislative delegation will also face opponents in November.

In April, Governor Charlie Baker signed a supplemental budget for FY22. One of the biggest impacts for our members was the extension of outdoor dining and to-go cocktails through April 1, 2023.  The midyear spending bill also included an additional $700 million to be directed to the ongoing COVID-19 response and $100 million for road repairs. The Governor also filed a $3.5 billion economic development bill that, if passed, would enable new infrastructure and jobs, and invest in every city and town in the Commonwealth. The proposed Act Investing in Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce, and Revitalized Downtowns (or FORWARD) contains a significant set of opportunities to advance community and economic development, including a number of shovel-ready projects in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, while ensuring that every community would receive at least $250,000 in funding, although a number of communities in our footprint would be poised to receive a larger amount.

After the Governor released his $48.5 billion budget proposal for FY23, the Chamber spent time engaging with House delegates while they crafted their $49.7 billion version of the budget in the latter half of April. The Chamber also attended a roundtable with Senate President Karen Spilka at the MassHire North Central Career Center. The roundtable, organized by Senator John Cronin, provided the region’s stakeholders the opportunity to engage the Senate President on a number of issues facing the region including the need for an increase in resources for English language learners in education, the ongoing shortage of available workers, and the need to further support initiatives to develop the workforce and talent pipeline.  In late May, the Chamber engaged the region’s Senate delegation in several priority areas including workforce development, economic development, and tourism before they unveiled their $49.9 billion budget.  The budget now moves onto conference committee where differences between the House and Senate will be reconciled.

In addition to the budget discussions, the Chamber continues to monitor Governor Baker’s $700 million tax relief proposal released earlier this year along with his $1.7 billion proposed supplemental budget unveiled in May. While attempts to suspend the state’s gas tax have been thwarted, there is hope that the Governor’s relief package or something comparable could pass in the legislature. The Department of Revenue announced that April tax collections came in more than $3 billion more than what was collected in April 2021 and more than $2 billion above their own monthly benchmark.  Other big issues that are still pending before the legislature include sports betting, mental health, round 2 of the ARPA budget, and climate and energy policy.

The Chamber is continuing to work to advance North Central Massachusetts through multiple initiatives contained in the One North Central regional economic development plan. Senator Cronin spearheaded an effort to secure funding in the first round of ARPA funding that will aid us in reconvening the education compact to work on initiatives surrounding workforce development and developing a talent pipeline. Fitchburg and Gardner, along with the Chamber’s economic development arm, are also contributing funds to help with a new initiative aimed at attracting new investment to the region.

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 .

The 38th Annual Meeting and Business Luncheon for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg.

This annual event celebrates businesspeople working together to ensure a bright future for North Central Massachusetts and presents an opportunity for the region’s business and community leaders to build camaraderie among peers.  In addition to the Chamber’s annual recognition awards and commencement for the Class of 2022 Community Leadership Institute, a tabletop Business Expo will also be offered.  The expo will showcase local businesses before and after the formal event giving exhibitors the chance to reach hundreds of business and community leaders from throughout North Central Massachusetts.  The Business Expo will start at 10:30 a.m., the Annual Meeting and Luncheon will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the expo will close out the event from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The event is funded by the generous support of various businesses and organizations, including Premier Sponsor Fidelity Bank; Business Expo Sponsors MassHire North Central Workforce Board and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation; and Supporting Sponsors Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts; Great Wolf Lodge; Avidia Bank, Enterprise Bank; Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority; Resource Management, Inc.; and TD Bank.

This year’s keynote speaker is Doug Griffiths, President and CEO of The 13 Ways, a company dedicated to helping communities grow and thrive.  He is a popular community strategist and author of the best-selling book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.  Throughout his career, Doug has supported, guided, and inspired hundreds of communities to create effective change.  A former Canadian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, he retired from politics in 2015 to actively pursue his passion for helping communities.  Doug’s mission is to help North American communities identify what is holding them back from finding success, and he works with communities to develop strategies to help them overcome their weaknesses.  His solutions have built up many communities and allowed them to get on a better path.  He grew up on a ranch outside of a small community, and his upbringing provided practical education, as it gave him a strong work ethic and critical thinking skills.  He holds both an honors bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Alberta and completed the Executive MBA program at the University of Alberta.

To register for the Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600, ext. 222 or ext. 235 or email or register online at northcentralmass.com.  The cost is just $55 per person for members and $70 per person for non-members and includes lunch. Reservations are required. Supporting sponsorships and tables of ten are also available.  Please RSVP by June 6, 2022.

Awards support 38 projects focused on regional business growth, small businesses, and economic recovery in downtowns and main streets

Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of approximately $2.1 million in awards to nine eligible entities across the Commonwealth to fund 38 projects that seek to strengthen the state’s economy on a regional basis through support for existing small businesses, business growth, and efforts to increase economic activity in local downtowns and main streets.
 
The Regional Economic Development Organization grant program was established in partnership with the Legislature and is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.  The program provides competitive grants that are awarded to applicants based on the ability to successfully support businesses through proposals that account for the varying regional needs of the Commonwealth’s economy.  This round builds on a prior round of REDO awards which resulted in an additional $3 million to 11 regional economic development organizations to sustain ongoing efforts to foster economic activity at regional levels, and to support 29 additional projects in support of economic development priorities.
 
“With the REDO program, our Administration can continue supporting efforts that help drive economic growth based on the needs of each, individual region of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “By strengthening the businesses we have now, and by working to attract new businesses to our downtowns and main streets, we can ensure that each region benefits from the increase in economic activity created through the support of this program.” 
 
“By helping regional economic organizations execute on solutions that best address the individual needs and challenges of each of the state’s regions, we can accelerate our progress toward economic recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “I want to congratulate the recipients in this round of REDO awards and I look forward to their efforts to help leverage the unique assets that exist in all corners of Massachusetts to help our business community continue to grow and thrive.”
 
REDO grant recipients’ efforts will focus on a range of initiatives including: an assessment of competitive strengths, weaknesses and opportunities; representing the regional business community in long-range workforce planning efforts to ensure robust skills and talent pipelines that meet regional needs; representing the regional business community in collaborative, long-range workforce skills, transportation and land use planning; promoting regionally significant industry clusters; promoting connections across sectors of the regional economy; maintaining an inventory of key development parcels; marketing their respective regions; and providing assistance to businesses and industrial prospects which may locate in the region.
 
“The REDO program has been critical to our recovery by providing necessary resources to allow economic development entities to create regionally-tailored economic development initiatives that meet their respective needs,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “In addition, REDO’s flexibility allows us to take a targeted approach to supporting our small businesses, which helps ensure our economic recovery is evenly distributed and statewide.”
 
Examples of eligible grants include non-construction façade improvement and investments in signage and aesthetic improvements, continuation of pop-up businesses, projects similar to the Shared Street and Spaces Program that support enhanced foot traffic and local commerce, and main street recovery projects with high local impact for small businesses.

The full list of grant recipients can be found here.

Oak Hill Country Club just recently celebrated their 100^th anniversary. Back in 1921, the country club’s initial 9-hole golf course, designed by Wayne Stiles. Oak Hill expanded to an 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross in 1925, with additions such a pool area, dining facility, tennis court, and clubhouse shortly after.

According to their website, Oak Hill has been a prominent site for local and regional championships. Beginning with the 1935 Massachusetts Open – won by Gene Sarazen – Oak Hill has hosted 15 Massachusetts Golf championships, three New England Amateurs, three New England PGA championships, the 1966 Tri-State matches, and countless Mass Golf and USGA qualifying events. Local golf officials consider Oak Hill to be one of the state’s best competitive venues, a recognition that has resulted in the club being awarded a 7th Massachusetts Open Championship in its Centennial Year of 2021.

Nature, over time, has since then taken its toll on the original course design, and Audra Kirtland, Marketing Communication and Membership Director, and Jeremy Jarvis, General Manager, look to bright horizons with strategic planning to bring the course back to its original design and history.

“What sets us apart is the history of the Country Club in North Central Massachusetts,” said Kirtland. “We are just east of route 495, and we are very proud of the legacy and conditions that we have posted, including seven pro-amateurs and our exclusive Oak Hill memberships.”

Jarvis chimed in, including various plans to go back to the original Ross design. “We plan on upgrading and revisiting the original designs, as they changed over the years, including the topography of the course,” he said. “A lot of thought and strategic planning goes into the design to make up the 18 holes. The landscape itself changes over the century; bunkers need to be redone every ten or so years. There are a lot of different elements that go into it.”

In addition to updating and revamping the original course design, Oak Hill looks to expand on memberships, providing new opportunities for everyone that discovers this hidden gem.

Their website states that Oak Hill members come from a wide variety of business backgrounds and professions that coalesce into a diverse group that all have one thing in common – they love this club. “We truly believe that there is no other membership like that of Oak Hill.”

Oak Hill Country Club provides Family Golf membership, House membership, and Individual Golf packages for anyone interested in joining the private country club. All memberships include exclusive access to the clubhouse, practice facilities, tennis courts, and swimming pool area.

“Being in the location that we are [in Fitchburg, MA], we see all walks of life come through our doors: from blue collar to white collar, the small business owner, a roofing company… you name it!” Kirtland said.

Currently, Oak Hill Country Club has just under 400 memberships, and over 1,000 members.

“A unique aspect of the country club is that we are very family-oriented. We have a lot of generational families, which you don’t really see any more at country clubs,” Kirtland said.

In addition to the avid golfers and non-competitive folks, Oak Hill sets the scene for weddings and functions that are member-sponsored. The newly renovated Garden Room and customized wedding packages offer a unique compliment to your special day. The Garden Room is the perfect location and venue for large functions including birthdays, holiday parties, and other events. While the 1921 Room “offers a quaint and intimate space” for smaller gatherings or corporate functions.

“Here at Oak Hill, we strive to ensure competitiveness, fun, or a successful themed event. We do a lot to make sure that the reason they come is to have a good time at Oak Hill,” Jarvis stated.

“The relationships that we form with the different local businesses through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce are incredibly beneficial; you get to know people and we love to share our facility with these different groups, knowing who we are and taking their business here for small events or dinner parties as well,” Kirtland said.

A naturally social distant activity, the championship golf course and memberships at Oak Hill Country Club are unlike any other. Rich with Massachusetts history, Oak Hill looks to set forth their strategic plan while revisiting and honoring their roots.

Oak Hill Country Club is located at 840 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420 and the Clubhouse can be contacted via their website or by calling 978-342-2717. You can learn more about them on their website www.oakhillcc.org, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

$2.78 billion to be invested in FY23 as part of $13.9 billion five-year plan

The Baker-Polito Administration released its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Capital Investment Plan, which provides $2.78 billion in state bond cap spending in FY23 to support investments in transportation, economic development, climate resiliency, housing, education, technology and health and human services.

The plan reflects a balanced and fiscally responsible approach to long-term planning, with funding dedicated to the care and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s existing assets as well as targeted new investments that will support Massachusetts’ economic development and growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to outlining state bond cap allocations for FY23, the plan charts a pathway for capital investment across the next five years, providing a blueprint for a total of $13.9 billion in FY23–FY27 bond cap spending that leverages the unprecedented amount of federal funding the Commonwealth will benefit from in the coming years.

“The capital budget is an important vehicle for enabling long-term economic growth and improving the way state government serves its constituents, and our FY23-FY27 plan supports infrastructure initiatives that will benefit residents in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to release our eighth Capital Investment Plan today, and we look forward to the lasting positive impacts it will drive in the coming years.”

“Our Administration’s capital plan invests in critical initiatives across the state and continues to provide local communities with resources that will enable them to better serve their residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “With substantial funding for housing, education, climate change mitigation, technology infrastructure, public safety and more, this plan will make Massachusetts a better place to live, learn and work.”

Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito joined Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan today at the Quincy courthouse to release the capital plan. The plan provides $3.5 million in FY23 and budgets for $52.9 million over the next five years to continue efforts to replace the courthouse with a new Norfolk County regional justice center that consolidates court departments.

“The Baker-Polito Administration’s FY23–FY27 capital plan continues to be grounded in fiscal discipline and thoughtfully leverages available resources to maximize the impact of our capital spending,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The plan carefully balances the maintenance of existing state assets and investments in new infrastructure– a responsible approach that will drive growth and deliver outsized benefits to the people of Massachusetts over many years.”

The capital plan continues the Administration’s approach to strategically using available funding sources. Along with funding to support the implementation of major transportation and environmental program expansions enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) over FY23–FY27, the plan provides more than $700 million in state matching funds to allow Massachusetts to access opportunities for significant additional federal funds that support highways and bridges, municipal water infrastructure and electric vehicles infrastructure.

The FY23-FY27 plan continues efforts to strengthen and revitalize Massachusetts communities. It builds on the last seven years of capital investment as well as significant state and federal support over the last two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included over $2.4 billion in total from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund and $2.9 billion in allocated state aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA also provided $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities, $2.6 billion for housing and economic development initiatives, $1.1 billion for transit, $315 million in child care stabilization funding, and $200 million in Child Care Development and Block grant funding.

Continuing efforts to protect the Commonwealth’s natural environment, the capital plan supports investments in climate resiliency measures, food security and public outdoor spaces. It also provides substantial new funding for building infrastructure projects across the higher education system, and maintains investments for information technology and cybersecurity upgrades, public safety and health and human services.

The FY23 capital plan’s $2.78 billion bond cap represents a responsible $125 million (4.7%) increase over FY22, which is in line with the recommendations of the Debt Affordability Committee.

The five-year plan will be supported by authorization the Administration has filed for across several bond bills, including the General Government Bond Bill, the MassTRAC infrastructure bond bill and the FORWARD legislation. The majority of spending in FY23 is covered by existing authorizations.

To view the FY23–FY27 Capital Investment Plan, visit: www.mass.gov/capital.

FY23 Capital Plan Highlights:

Transportation

The combined MassDOT and MBTA capital plan is funded from a variety of state and non-state sources. $1.1 billion of FY23 spending is supported by state bond cap.

• $200 million for the Chapter 90 Program for local road and bridge repairs
• $25 million for the Municipal Pavement Program, established in the 2021 Transportation bond bill to assist municipalities with roadway pavement improvements
• $15 million for the Administration’s Municipal Small Bridge Program
• $15 million for the Complete Streets Program
• $8.5 million for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which was started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to help municipalities and businesses adapt their operations
• $5 million for the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program
• $5 million for Transit Infrastructure Partnership Program

Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM)

• $171 million to continue work at Commonwealth-owned health care facilities, including the Department of Public Health’s Laboratory Campus in Jamaica Plain, the Newton Pavilion/Shattuck Hospital, and the Soldiers’ Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea
• $6.8 million ($120 million over FY23-FY27) for new major higher education projects at Massasoit Community College, Salem State University, Springfield Technical Community College and University of Massachusetts Lowell
• $50 million for smaller critical repairs and $24.3 million for accelerated building infrastructure projects across the higher education system
• Planning efforts for the construction of a new Regional Justice Center in Quincy

Economic Development

• $97 million for MassWorks to provide municipalities and other public entities with funding for infrastructure projects that promote economic development
• $35 million for the Life Sciences Capital Program to foster job growth and innovation in the life sciences industry
• $21.7 million for the Underutilized Properties program to rehabilitate or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties
• $16 million for research and development projects that spur innovation and enhance job growth
• $16 million for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation programs, established in the 2021 economic development bond bill, which supports research centers around emerging manufacturing technology
• $12 million in Seaport Economic Council Grants

Housing

• $151 million for the production and preservation of affordable housing in addition to programs that support neighborhood stabilization, transit-oriented housing, and climate resilient affordable housing
• $110 million to support our state-aided public housing portfolio

Energy and Environmental Affairs

• $34 million for improvements to campgrounds, recreational facilities, and comfort stations
• $17.5 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to aid municipalities with climate change vulnerability assessments and planning and adaptation projects
• $12.5 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Program
• $12 million for inland dams and seawalls
• $10 million in municipal matching grants through MassTrails to enhance and maintain shared use paths and recreational trails
• $8.3 million for Greening the Gateway Cities, which has already planted nearly 33,000 trees and has a goal of planting at least 20,000 more trees over the next four years
• $8 million for grants to municipalities for park improvements and open space protection

Public Safety

• $5 million for the Protective Fire Equipment Grant Program which provides direct assistance to municipalities to ensure access to safe and reliable firefighter equipment
• $4 million for the Municipal Body-Worn Camera Grant Program and $837,000 to support a pilot Body-Worn Camera program for correctional officers at the Department of Correction Souza-Baranowski maximum-security facility
• Support for the Body Armor Replacement Program which provides a state match for the reimbursement of bulletproof vests by municipalities

Technology and Cybersecurity

• $78.6 million for technology solutions to improve operational efficiency and performance of state government
• $48.1 million for improvements to constituent-facing government applications to improve access to services
• $27.5 million for IT technical infrastructure modernization
• $11.3 million for cybersecurity
• $5 million for Community Compact IT Grants, which support cities and towns in their efforts to modernize their technological infrastructure
• $4 million for Municipal Fiber Grant Program to strengthen municipal IT security

Education

• $15 million for Workforce Skills Capital Grants to improve students’ skills and knowledge and better meet the needs of employers in the Commonwealth
• $6.9 million for Early Education and Out-of-School Time Grants to improve the indoor and outdoor space at early education and out-of-school time programs in which more than 50% of the children served are eligible for financial assistance

To view the full FY23 Capital Plan, please click here.