Government Affairs Update

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 .

Chamber Staff Promoted

The Chamber is pleased to announce two promotions. Sandie Cataldo, who joined the staff in 2015, has been promoted from Economic Development Manager to Senior Economic Development Manager, and Maribel Cruz, who joined the staff in 2021 as our Community Business Advisor, has been promoted to Economic Development Manager.  The promotions were made to better reflect their responsibilities and seniority, recognize their success and contributions to our organization, and better align with the changes we have made at the Chamber’s economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. Please join us in congratulating them on their well-deserved promotions!

Sandie Cataldo, Senior Economic Development Manager

Maribel Cruz, Economic Development Manager

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce celebrates accomplishments at 38th Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon

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.

Foster-Healey Continues to Evolve Through Technology While Keeping Tradition Alive

Originally founded in 1924, Foster-Healey Real Estate, Inc. has thrived in the local North Central Massachusetts area for nearly 100 years.

President Richard Healey became a realtor at 26 after graduating from Colby College in 1977, and took over running the family-owned business after his father had passed in 1982. Since then, Healey and his wife has owned and operated the company under his father’s principles, and for the last fourteen years, they have worked together with their son Taylor, who knew he wanted to be a realtor and get more involved with the business.

“Real estate is much more about problem-solving, rather than being a salesman,” said Healey. “People need places to live or had a house to sell, and they needed our help.”

What sets Foster-Healey apart from the other larger national companies is that they are a local-focused firm.

“We are a local firm. So much of local business is talking about shopping local, and when you look at real estate firms, most of them offer the same technology that we’re offering, but they’re owned outside of the local area.

“We like to say, ‘We’ve been here, and we’ll be here.’ If someone has an issue, they know that they can call me,” said Healey. “Our agents are local, have local knowledge, and we have state-of-the-art technology through drone and aerial photography, as well as Matterport technology for 3D tours.”

The 3D Matterport tours are included in every house they sell on the market. According to their website, “A Matterport Tour is an immersive, 360º virtual experience. It is a great tool for engaging our potential home buyers by allowing you to really feel like you are walking-thru the home. What is so neat about the tour, is the fact that you can press the play button at the bottom of the screen, sit back and enjoy a walk-thru video. Or you can click on the circles located on the floor to move from room to room. This is a great option if you are wanting to see a specific room and you don’t want to sit through the entire tour to get there.”

With approximately 800-1,700 consumers viewing the tours each month, they are able to control what rooms they want to view, rather than a standard virtual walkthrough. This game-changing technology provides the opportunity for people to control where they are going in the house listed. The camera revolves 360 degrees and there is a camera every 6 feet, which is then digitally stitched together and measures everything, which can prove to be beneficial for making sure your couch fits, or how high the ceilings are without having to leave the comfort of your own home. As an immersive technology, it allows the consumer to really understand and dive into the question, “Is this my house?”

“Very little replaces the actual touching, feeling everything, and looking around in person,” said Healey, “but the Matterport tours really help to make that first decision for the consumer, and saves sellers from so many people having them walk through the house.”

Through the pandemic there were a lot of adjustments. Fortunately, Foster-Healey and other real estate businesses were described as essential businesses. Although both buyers and sellers are now feeling more comfortable doing things in person, both parties still really heavily on technology to be able to assist them.

The Matterport tours are especially convenient if a consumer is from the Boston area, and looking to move further away from the city, as they realize they can work from home or go into the city once or twice a week, or even once or twice a month. “We want to make sure we get our listings up on the internet in the best possible way.”

In 2024, Foster-Healey Real Estate, Inc. will be celebrating their centennial of being in business in the local North Central Massachusetts area, and for a large portion of that time, they have been a Chamber member with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. In fact, President Healey was a former chairman of the board in 1995.

“It’s a great opportunity of other local businesses to interact with each other and other local businesses, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce provides us that opportunity,” he said.

For Healey, he believes that the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce keeps the economy up and the local businesses thriving.

Foster-Healy Real Estate aims to continue to try to make sure that they have state-of-the-art services and continue to be involved with what’s happening around them. They are located at 50 Central Street, Leominster, MA, as well as 26 Pearson Boulevard, Gardner, MA and can be reached at for more information on finding your next home.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.1 Million in Awards through the Regional Economic Development Organization Grant Program

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.

Mass. Home Prices Set More Records In April

State House News Service

Colin A. Young

Warren: Rising Rates May Send Buyers To Rural Markets

So many people are fighting for the precious few homes for sale in Massachusetts that the intense competition in April propelled the median sale prices of both single-family houses and condos to new record heights, real estate market watchers at The Warren Group said Tuesday.

“The median single-family home price of $560,000 marked a new all-time high for Massachusetts,” Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group, said. “Under normal conditions, this would be a reason to celebrate, but only if you currently own a home and you’re looking to sell and don’t need to buy a new home. With such limited inventory — not only across Massachusetts, but also across the country — finding that next place to live will prove to be challenging.”

There were 3,862 single-family home sales in Massachusetts last month, a 14.8 percent drop from April 2021. The median sale price increased 9.8 percent from the $510,000 mark established in April 2021 to its new all-time high, the Warren Group said.

April sales were about equal to sales in April 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic, but the median price since then has soared 30 percent from $430,000 to $560,000, The Warren Group said.

The 13,580 single-family home sales in Massachusetts so far this year represent an 11.1 percent decline compared to the first four months of 2021 and the year-to-date median sale price of $510,000 is up 9.7 percent from the same period in 2021 and up 26.9 percent from the same period in 2020.

Potential buyers in search of a condo did not fare much better last month. The 2,149 condo sales in April 2022 marked a 15.2 percent decrease from April 2021. Meanwhile, the median sale price “took off like a rocket in April,” Warren said, shooting up 11.6 percent on a year-over-year basis to $530,000.

“As the spring and summer housing markets continue to heat up, it will be interesting to see where prices go from here,” he said.

Among Massachusetts’ 14 counties, Nantucket leads the way with an April median sale price of $1.627 million and was the only county to post a drop in median price from last April (down about 20 percent from last year’s mark of $2.025 million). There have only been 40 homes sold on Nantucket so far this year (with a median price of $2.223 million) compared to the 70 sold at this point last year.

Martha’s Vineyard is close behind as Dukes County last month reported a median sale price of $1.325 million, up almost 33 percent from $1 million last April. Like Nantucket, year-to-date sales on the Vineyard are down markedly — there have been 61 homes sold in Dukes County this year ($1.1 million median price) compared to 109 at this point last year.

Plymouth County most closely mirrors the statewide picture. April sales there dropped more sharply from April 2021 than the average (down 21 percent versus the statewide average of down 15 percent) but the median price in Plymouth County ($530,000) was closest to the statewide number of $560,000 and Plymouth’s 12.5 percent growth was similar to the statewide 9.8 percent figure.

Only two counties — Hampshire and Franklin — saw sales increase from April 2021 to April 2022 and only Hampshire County is ahead of its 2021 pace four months into 2022 (though Franklin County is within a handful of sales of its 2021 mark).

“Meanwhile, as interest rates continue to increase, buyers will continue to expand their searches to more rural communities — adding even more competition in markets that have historically been more affordable,” Warren said.

Celebrating a Centennial of Tradition with Oak Hill Country Club

Oak Hill Country Club just recently celebrated their 100th 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.

Surveys Show Mixed Views Of Business Climate

State House News Service

Michael P. Norton

Larger Companies Optimistic, Small Biz Struggles Continue

Business surveys in Massachusetts are delivering mixed reviews this week.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts reported Monday that employers grew more confident in April despite high inflation and the economic contraction in the first quarter. The trade group’s business confidence index posted its third straight monthly gain, rising to 58.1 on a 100-point scale.

“Massachusetts companies remain optimistic about the sustainability of the economic expansion even amid tightening financial conditions and uncertainties related to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine,” Sara Johnson, chair of the AIM Board of Economic Advisors, said in a statement.

Johnson said every element of the business confidence index was in optimistic territory in April, and the highest reading was recorded for employers’ views about the prospects of their own companies.

AIM analysts said Bay State businesses continue to be hampered by supply chain constraints and attributed prices increases and material shortages locally at least in part to COVID lockdowns in China and Russian’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Companies are being forced to use every bit of creativity they can muster to secure the supply of raw materials and get their products into key markets,” said AIM President John Regan.

The view from small businesses nationwide, as reported Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, is markedly different.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, which samples sentiments of NFIB members monthly, was unchanged in April, and the number of small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased to the lowest level recorded in the 48-year-old survey.

NFIB Massachusetts chief Chris Carlozzi said the small business outlook in Massachusetts is “very similar” to the outlook nationally. Small businesses, he said, continue to struggle to fill open positions and are spending more for labor and materials, which leads to higher prices.

“All across the board you’re hearing these struggles continue,” Carlozzi told the News Service on Wednesday.

While some larger employers barreled through the pandemic by switching to remote work, Carlozzi said NFIB members in the retail, hospitality and services sectors were among those that were shut down completely during the pandemic and have struggled since to bring back workers. Many smaller businesses don’t have the same purchasing power as their larger counterparts, he said, and some have been forced to pivot to entirely new models of operation.

Carlozzi urged lawmakers to adopt unemployment insurance policies that would provide more relief to small businesses, avoid new “labor mandates,” and pass estate tax reforms that he said would make Massachusetts more competitive with other states. Gas tax relief, he said, would also help businesses that need to deliver their products and can’t escape record-high inflation and gas prices. Massachusetts lawmakers have so far rejected gas tax suspension plans.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday reported that inflation remains at extremely elevated levels, increasing 8.3 percent for the 12 months ending April, compared to the 8.5 percent increase for the 12-month period ending in March.

As he unveiled a $49.7 billion fiscal 2023 budget bill on Tuesday, Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues flagged supply chains problems, the situation in Ukraine and “mounting inflation” as among the factors contributing to “increasing economic anxiety, turbulence and uncertainty at home.”

But Rodrigues said Massachusetts has shown “economic resilience” and described a state ready to meet future needs due to in part to the work of its taxpayers, who have helped post record budget surpluses and build the state’s rainy day fund to $4.6 billion, with a $6.7 billion balance in the forecast.

On Wednesday, HarborOne Bank released recent survey results indicating 91 percent of consumers in the bank’s footprint of eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island believe their communities “should be doing more to support small businesses” and their recovery from pandemic impacts.

HarborOne Bank President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph Casey characterized the results as “encouraging news” for local small businesses.

“There is no question that people in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are eager to patronize local merchants, restaurants, and service providers as more in-person spending resumes and strengthens,” Casey said.

Of all respondents surveyed by Seven Letter Insight, 86 percent described the local economy where they live to be at least “fair” and 54 percent said they have “resumed shopping, dining and purchasing with the same volume that (they) did before the pandemic,” with another 32 percent planning to do so.

The bank’s consumer perceptions poll, completed at the end of March, surveyed 452 respondents across six income categories. The poll also found 60 percent of respondents believe the pandemic is probably or definitely not over.

Baker-Polito Administration Releases Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Investment Plan

$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.

Local Students Awarded Scholarships through the Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

Students will be recognized at Scholar’s Breakfast on May 13 at Great Wolf Lodge

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce today announced the recipients of the annual Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce scholarship program which recognizes the region’s most outstanding high school seniors.  The awardees will be acknowledged during the Chamber’s Annual Scholar’s Breakfast, scheduled for Friday, May 13 from 6:45 to 8:45 a.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg.  This popular breakfast program is a celebration of student achievements and includes a strong turnout among students, parents, business and community leaders.

Proceeds from the breakfast program will benefit the Chamber Foundation and help support Chamber scholarships in future years.  Maria Milagros will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and keynote speaker for the Scholars Breakfast.  Maria Milagros (Vazquez) is an award-winning speaker, award nominated author, TEDx speaker, storyteller and empowerment life coach.

For the Class of 2022, a total of $52,000 in scholarships are being awarded this year from either endowments or funds provided by local companies and individuals.  The Scholarship Committee selected the recipients from among college-bound seniors who live in one of the 27 communities served by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce based on a student’s overall merit, including academics, sports, volunteer work and employment.

Twenty-six scholarships of $2,000 will be provided to the following seniors during the Scholar’s Breakfast:

 

Isabella Allen

Oakmont Regional High School

Awarded: Benjamin Asher Scholarship

Bruna Biz

Fitchburg High School

Awarded: Chamber Foundation Scholarship

Lilly Comeau

Gardner High School

Awarded: Chamber Foundation Scholarship

Taya Corn

North Middlesex Regional High School

Awarded: Ronald Ansin Scholarship

Elsa Cranson

Wachusett Regional High School

Awarded: HealthAlliance Hospital Guild Scholarship

Carolyn Darman

Nashoba Valley Regional High School

Awarded: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance – Clinton Hospital, Inc. Scholarship

Shea Divoll

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School

Awarded: George R. Wallace, Jr. and Alice G. Wallace Scholarship

Peter Epro

Leominster Center for Excellence

Awarded: Elizabeth and Anthony DiGeronimo Family Scholarship

Felicia Jamba

The Bromfield School

Awarded: Adams Family Scholarship

Emma Kenney

Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Awarded: Salny Family Scholarship

Molly Kimball

Lunenburg High School

Awarded: Chamber Foundation Scholarship

Abigail Kirrane

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School

Awarded: David L. McKeehan Scholarship

Mackenzie Kupfer

Fitchburg High School

Awarded: Leominster Credit Union Scholarship

Olivia Latino

Leominster Center for Technical Education Innovation

Awarded: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance – Clinton Hospital, Inc. Scholarship

Dominic Motoya

Leominster High School

Awarded: Edward J. Healey Scholarship

Adam Mullaney

Leominster High School

Awarded: Enterprise Bank and Trust Scholarship

Callie Nelson

Leominster High School

Awarded: M. Ruth Lee Scholarship

Caroline Oswitt

Wachusett Regional High School

Awarded: Patricia S. Alario Scholarship

Fiona Picone

Oakmont Regional High School

Awarded: Roderick W. & Donna M. Lewin Scholarship

Alisha Praileau

North Middlesex Regional High School

Awarded: Elizabeth and Anthony DiGeronimo Family Scholarship

Madeline Prechtl

Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Awarded: Barbara Silva Scholarship

Ekaterina Rau

Saint Bernard’s Central Catholic High School

Awarded: M. Ruth Lee Scholarship

Margot Sonia

Nashoba Regional High School

Awarded: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance – Clinton Hospital, Inc. Scholarship

Nora Swaine

Leominster High School

Awarded: Rollstone Bank & Trust Scholarship

Sophie Thompson

The Bromfield School

Awarded: Chamber Foundation Scholarship

Sydney VanGilder

North Middlesex Regional High School

Awarded: Workers Credit Union Scholarship

 

Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than a million dollars in scholarships to more than 625 students.  Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, with scholarships endowed through the Chamber Foundation often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community whose philanthropy and commitment to the community have helped shape the region.

“The North Central region is exceptional in its generosity, investment and commitment to supporting its future leaders,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.  “These scholarships are one way we can recognize local students as they continue their education through the support of organizations and individuals who help make these scholarships possible for our graduating seniors.”

The Chamber wishes to thank our Scholar’s Breakfast Premier Sponsor TD Bank; our Partner Sponsors Franklin Professionals Associates and Great Wolf Lodge; our Supporting Sponsors AIS, Inc., GFA Federal Credit Union, IC Federal Credit Union, Leominster Credit Union, Steel-Fab Inc., and Workers Credit Union; and our Gift Sponsor Fitchburg State University as well as the many Chamber members who contributed towards the scholarships.

The Chamber Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities.  Funds raised by the Chamber Foundation are utilized primarily for education and workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts.

To register for the Chamber’s Annual Scholars Breakfast, 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 $27 for Chamber members/$42 for non-members and includes a breakfast buffet.  Pre-registration is required. Supporting sponsorships and tables of ten are also available.  Proceeds from the breakfast program will benefit the Chamber Foundation

For more information on the Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce scholarship program or to view a list of the named scholarships, please visit northcentralmass.com or call 978.353.7600, ext. 222.