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 .
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.
Expansive Guide highlights the region’s vast manufacturing firms and industrial space
The Chamber and its development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), announce the publication of the 2022 edition of the Manufacturers Directory and Industrial Parks Guide for North Central Massachusetts. The publication is designed to promote and connect manufacturers with suppliers as well as serve as a resource for companies looking to relocate or expand throughout the region.
Working with multiple sources, the NCMDC confirmed the operating status and primary product line of each company listed in the directory. In addition to the listing of local manufacturers, the publication also includes a section on life science companies, a listing of suppliers and a guide to business and industrial parks in North Central Massachusetts.
The 2022 edition of the publication was supported by advertising and is being circulated to manufacturers throughout the region. For more information or to request a copy, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7607.
WORKFORCE STUDY: In partnership with Fitchburg State University, the Chamber has commissioned the UMass Donahue Institute to conduct a study to assess and recommend ways to enhance the labor pool in the region. Specifically, we will be looking for strategies to recruit populations in the region that may not be currently participating fully in the labor market, including people with criminal backgrounds, the disabled, mature older populations, women, immigrants and veterans. The study is funded from a state grant that we collaborated on with the university.
EDUCATION COMPACT: The Chamber Foundation was awarded $150,000 in funding through an earmark in the ARPA budget passed by the legislature recently. The funding will be used to help support the North Central Massachusetts Education Compact initiative. The compact, comprised of leaders in education, business and workforce development, was established in late 2019 to help facilitate partnerships around the shared goals of improving college and career pathways for students. Special thanks to Senator Cronin and the other members of the delegation for their efforts to secure these funds for the region.
MINI-GRANTS: The Chamber’s economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, was able to provide 14 grants totaling $60,000 to local small businesses. This was a one-time grant initiative launched in partnership with New Vue Communities and funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development to support vulnerable small businesses impacted by COVID-19 with their recovery and growth. The grants ranged between $500 – $5,000 for professional services including accounting/bookkeeping support, marketing and social media support, website upgrades, legal services and signage
EQUITABLE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT COHORT: A North Central Massachusetts team comprised of the Chamber, Mount Wachusett Community College and the Spanish American Center have been accepted in the Equitable Credential Attainment Cohort offered through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The ACCE Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, is sponsoring this 18-month program to support communities in building partnerships that allow more workers, and particularly BIPOC workers, to gain the credentials or degrees they need to secure well-paid jobs with career advancement opportunities. Our team will receive technical assistance and subgrant funding to help work together to drive the growth of credentialing and degree programs that place workers in well-paid jobs. We were one of seven teams selected from throughout the country to participate in this competitive program.
JOBS BOARD: Over 1,000 jobs are currently listed on our WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board and over 7,500 jobs have been posted since we launched the online resource. Several new
Education Compact
optional features have been added since the introduction of the jobs board to improve the functionality, including a “Quick Apply” feature that allows employers to collect applications directly through the jobs board; an auto acceptance/rejection notification; and a follow-up survey to the employers to determine if they have filled the position. The jobs board continues to be one of the most visited sections of our website.
CHAMBER BUILDING: The Chamber has invested in some improvements to the Chamber’s headquarters in Fitchburg. These include some repairs to the interior, repaving the entry road and implementing some technology upgrades in the conference room to allow for hybrid or virtual meetings. In the Fall, the Chamber also had some heating tape added to the roof to prevent ice dams and invested in some landscaping to improve the appearance of the Chamber grounds from the road. The parking lot is scheduled to be resealed in the Spring.
Repaved Driveway
GIFT LOCAL: The Chamber is currently exploring revamping the Gift Local gift card program to make it easier to redeem for both the merchants and the gift card recipients. We are looking for a new provider that will enable participating merchants to redeem the cards via the credit card network versus a separate platform or integrating it with a POS system.
AUDITS: The Chamber and its affiliates the Chamber Foundation, Visit North Central Massachusetts and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation each completed their fiscal years and underwent their annual independent audits. The audits were completed on time and with no findings reported
HEALTH INSURANCE: Open Enrollment is upon us once again. Preparations are being made to provide participating members with new rates, benefit changes, plan discontinuations and their available options. Members interested in health insurance through the Chamber should contact our office for quotes.
ENERGY SAVINGS: From its inception in August 2014 through December 2021 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 10,215,626 kWh of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program. Total value of these credits is $2,217,053 and the collective savings to participants totals $1,884,495.
DIGITAL MARKETING: Traffic in FY2021 averaged approximately 11,955 unique page views each month to our two main websites – NorthCentralMass.com and VisitNorthCentral.com – excluding our other websites. That represents a 4% increase over the prior year, and traffic for FY2022 is currently running 33% over the same time period in FY2021. Our social media platforms have also grown to boast over 21,000 total followers. In CY2021 our social media platforms garnered an average of over 217,000 impressions monthly and a total of over 2.4 million impressions for the year. That represents a 20% increase over the prior year.
New Loans
NEW LOANS: The Chamber’s economic development arm – the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has closed seven micro-loans for a total of $333,500 since October 1, 2020. The loans were made to a mix of existing and start-up businesses and ranged from $6,000 to $150,000. There are another three loans totaling $325,000 that have been approved but haven’t closed yet. We are also excited to share that the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized the Development Corporation in December for its success in providing micro-loans.
ELECT NORTH CENTRAL COALITION: The Chamber has reconvened the Elect North Central Coalition to explore organizing debates and other initiatives to engage candidates for statewide office. There are a number of important elections occurring this November, including for Governor; Lt. Governor; Attorney General; and State Auditor. The Elect North Central Coalition was formed in 2018 and is comprised of the major community institutions and media in North Central Massachusetts. The Coalition’s mission is to make the democratic process accessible and assure that local and regional issues are examined and addressed by candidates running for statewide and federal offices.
MEMBER DISCOUNTS: We have recently revamped our member discounts page on the website. We are hoping to increase the use of the member to member discount program among members. If you would like to offer a member discount, please contact Lauren Goulet, Operations Manager, at .
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: During the last quarter, our team provided over 350 hours of direct technical assistance to small businesses. Most of that was delivered via phone and ZOOM and focused on providing clients with information on the SBA Cares Act payments as well as continued updates on resources available, including PPP, EIDL, ADVANCE, grants and Restaurant Revitalization Fund through the SBA.
Sales of both single-family homes and condos in Massachusetts declined in February as housing prices rose even further.
Single-family home sales tumbled 14.7 percent last month as the median home sale price increased 5.4 percent on a year-over-year basis to $470,000, up from $446,000 in February 2021, according to The Warren Group.
Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group, said Monday that buyers are chasing after a shrinking stock of available homes, noting the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported that inventory of single-family homes for sale was down 50 percent in January.
“New listings and pending sales were down as well,” Warren said “February was the eighth month in a row where the number of homes sold declined while the median price continued to rise. It is a familiar trend, one that is likely to continue unless sellers flood the spring market with new homes.”
Condo sales in February were down 17 percent over-the-year, with the median condo sale price rising 5.3 percent to $440,000.
The median sale prices for homes and condos in February both set new record highs.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday identified the difficult housing market in Massachusetts as the single biggest headwind on the local economy. Public policies have so far failed to lead to a major surge in housing production, and critics of local zoning control say that dynamic often works against the creation of new supply and more options for buyers.
Since 1908, the Aubuchon Hardware name has been a staple for hardware stores around the New England area. The business itself – W.E. Aubuchon Co., Inc.– has always been a good, old fashioned family company, with fourth generation family member Will Aubuchon currently as President and CEO.
The first and initial generation – founder William (Willie) Aubuchon – decided to expand quite rapidly, even through the hardships faced during that time due to the Great Depression. He had a plan to grow and with that, the second generation took advantage of the tailwinds of WWII, with so much growth and acceleration throughout New England, including more sophisticated warehousing and distribution methods. The third generation not only persevered through an onslaught of new big box competition but continuously reinvested back into the business with not only capital but training and development as well.
Aubuchon Hardware recently celebrated its 114th anniversary in February 2022, and with it embraced a rebrand of the corporate entity to “The Aubuchon Company.”
This name change supports the idea of “multi-brand” – a clear vision that the fourth generation has in mind for the future of the company- acquiring stores well beyond the northeast, and being flexible and capable of absorbing different branded stores into the Aubuchon family. Recent examples include Village Hardware in Alexandria, VA and four True Value stores in Pennsylvania.
Despite this rapid growth, Aubuchon’s core customer still remains the homeowner.
“You’re not going to go to a hardware store to build a kitchen,” Aubuchon said, “the focus is more on home maintenance and repair.”
Pet owners, gardeners, and painters are all additional segments to the Aubuchon strategic initiative – serving businesses in local markets, not just paint or gardening tools, but anything that they need, delivering supplies out of the back door whenever they need them.
One large part of the Aubuchon rebrand is getting out of distribution and rethinking strategies to expand and grow, including technology. Historically, the company was self-admitably slow in embracing certain technologies, adding phones to stores as late as 1992 and point of sale computers in 1998. But all that has now changed as the company quickly embraces new technologies like curbside for customers and mobile devices and apps for employee productivity.
The fourth generation, Will Aubuchon’s generation, really embraced and focused on the technology aspect as computers and phones turned into the light speed they are today.
“We are fully embracing a new mindset, rethinking ways of doing business, and growing beyond New England – a collection of brands in the future. All of the generations before me had critical success: a commitment to each other as a family. We’ve had a special sensitivity to relationships, but also to attract really good employees within the company. It’s these folks that have made the success over the years,” he said.
The Aubuchon Company continues to grow despite the current pandemic.
“We prepared for all of this by luck, which also goes back to getting out of distribution pre-pandemic,” Aubuchon said. “There’s a lot of flux in uncertainty, and we just need to remain agile, and focus on productivity. You can only control what you can control and we are embracing this new mindset with curbside pick-up, inventory on the website, even upgraded technology for the front line with handheld devices with apps, making them more capable.”
Since being founded in 1908 right in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has also played a key role for The Aubuchon Company. “It was Marcus Moran, Jr. who preached that the solution to the world’s problem would be W2s; that jobs are essential to any problem. The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce helps to support and expand the number of W2s in our local community. The more W2s, the stronger the community,” Aubuchon said.
In the near future, they will be relaunching their website and adding more acquisitions this year.
You can learn more about The Aubuchon Company on their website at https://aubuchon.company.
Podcast offers state candidates the opportunity to connect with voters in the North Central Massachusetts region
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce announced it has launched a podcast series focused on providing the region’s businesses and residents the opportunity to hear directly from candidates running for state offices in the upcoming 2022 election.
The podcast, Inside North Central Massachusetts 2022 Election Series, features candidates running for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and State Auditor. The Chamber has invited all the major Democrat and Republican candidates for these open statewide offices to participate in the podcast series.
“We wanted to make sure candidates are aware of the issues important to our region,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This podcast series connects us with those who are seeking to represent us at the state level while providing the region’s voters the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates so they can make informed decisions when they head to the polls later this year.”
This special election series of the Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast is part of the Chamber’s continuing efforts to promote civic engagement and advocate for regional equity. In addition to this podcast series, the Chamber is also a founding member of Elect North Central Massachusetts, a non-partisan coalition of media, education and community leaders in North Central Massachusetts with a mission to make the democratic process accessible and assure local and regional issues are examined and addressed by candidates running for statewide and federal offices.
The special election podcast covers several topics relevant to businesses and residents in North Central Massachusetts, such as the candidate’s platform, their qualifications for the office they are seeking, workforce challenges in the region, economic development, tourism, pandemic response and equitable recovery, and climate change.
Candidates already invited to participate in the podcast include:
Governor
Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz *
Geoff Diehl
Chris Doughty
Attorney General Maura Healey
Darius Mitchell
Orlando Silva
Lieutenant Governor
Bret Bero *
Kate Campanale *
Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll *
Representative Tami Gouveia *
Senator Adam Hinds *
Senator Eric Lesser *
Attorney General
Andrea Campbell
Shannon Liss-Riordan
Jay McMahon
Quentin Palfrey *
Auditor
Anthony Amore *
Chris Dempsey *
Senator Diana DiZoglio *
*Already appeared on the podcast or confirmed for an upcoming episode
The Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2022, and the General Election is set for Tuesday, November 8, 2022, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
With state tax revenues crushing expectations but geopolitical turmoil creating economic uncertainty, the House on Wednesday will debate a $1.6 billion mid-year spending bill that would pour $700 million into COVID-19 controls like testing and vaccinations and extend relief to restaurants by allowing expanded outdoor dining options and to-go cocktail service to continue through next spring.
The bill represents a slimmed down version of what Gov. Charlie Baker filed last month and excludes $450 million that the governor proposed to extend stabilization grants for child care providers through the next fiscal year.
The House bill also nixed Baker’s proposal to put $50 million into the recruitment, training and salaries of guardians ad litem within the court system. The governor wants to mandate the use of the child advocates in every alleged case of child abuse or neglect in response to the disappearance of 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery, a child who had been in the care of the Department of Children and Families but went missing in New Hampshire after a Massachusetts court gave custody to her father, who had a long criminal history.
The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday morning polled a redrafted version of the governor’s bill (H 4479) in preparation for a debate on Wednesday afternoon when the House has a formal session planned.
While Baker’s bill proposed $2.4 billion in spending at a net cost of $1.6 billion to the state, the bill prepared by House leadership trimmed the bottom line to $1.6 billion at a cost of $842 million to the state.
The bill includes the $700 million requested by Baker for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses, including $432.7 million for tests, $72 million for treatments, $45.4 million for expanded vaccine access, $25 million for personal protective equipment and $124 million for related future workforce costs.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is projected to reimburse more than $440 million of those expenses.
The House bill also proposes to spend an additional $100 million to repair local roads from winter damage, $100 million in rental assistance, $55 million for rate increases for human service providers, $10 million to support the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees and $140 million to support staffing and program needs at private special education schools.
House officials said Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz chose to focus spending in the bill on fiscal year 2022 needs, and views other requests by the governor, such as $60 million for counseling, advocacy and intervention services for victims of crime until federal Victims of Crime Act resources are restored, as issues that would be more appropriately addressed in the annual fiscal 2023 budget.
After posting a surplus in fiscal year 2021, the state has continued to see strong revenue growth throughout fiscal year 2022, and collections are currently outpacing revenue projections through February by more than $1 billion, even after the Baker administration upgraded estimates by $1.5 billion.
With special pandemic authorization for outdoor dining set to expire on April 1, the House bill would extend that program through April 1, 2023. The state’s permission for restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails for take-out is also set to expire this spring, and the bill would extend that authorization from May 1 to April 1, 2023.
Baker proposed the use of guardians ad litem in all DCF cases that go before a judge as an “important way to make sure that the interests of the child are best represented when they’re in court,” but top House officials said they were bothered that the “best interest of the child” standard used by the court advocates can perpetuate systemic racism.
One senior House Democratic official, who asked to speak on background only, said Speaker Ron Mariano does not believe the supplemental budget is the “right vehicle” to address reforms within the Department of Children and Families or the courts, and indicated the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities is working on a “more comprehensive” approach.
That same House official said Baker’s proposed funding to extend Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) stabilization grants for child care providers through fiscal year 2023 would benefit private-pay child care centers without prioritizing the state’s most vulnerable children. Furthermore, it would rely on one-time federal resources that could create a “cliff effect” when the money runs out.
“The Education Committee and the Early Education & Care Economic Review Commission will soon make recommendations to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and childcare in an equitable manner. We will use those recommendations as a framework moving forward,” the official emailed.
House leaders did support Baker’s recommendation to exempt recipients of COVID-19 bonus checks from paying personal income tax on the premium pay.
The Legislature last year created a $500 million bonus-pay program for low-income workers with state funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, and the administration said last month that the first round of $500 checks would be mailed to about 500,000 low-income workers by the end of March.
The income tax exemption would cost the state an estimated $16 million.
Secretary of State William Galvin is also seeking $5 million, which was not included in the House bill, as a downpayment on the $26.6 million he says he will be needed to cover the costs of printing ballots, producing mail-in ballot applications, postage, extended polling hours and envelopes for the November elections. The Legislature has yet to finalize legislation that would permanently authorize voting-by-mail and other election reforms.
