A Legislative Update for Members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

Overview

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a budget reconciliation bill that reduces taxes, modifies spending for various federal programs, increases the statutory debt limit, and addresses agencies and programs throughout the federal government that was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. This budget reconciliation package consolidates policy priorities from 10 Senate committees into a single, sweeping legislative framework with 870 pages of provisions that significantly impact tax policy, business operations, and federal spending across multiple sectors.

Key Business Tax Provisions

Small Business Benefits

Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A)

• Makes the 20% qualified business income deduction permanent (originally set to expire December 31, 2025)
• Expands the phase-in range by increasing thresholds from $50,000/$100,000 to $75,000/$150,000 for single/joint filers respectively
• Introduces an inflation-adjusted minimum deduction of $400 for taxpayers with at least $1,000 of qualifying business income

Enhanced Business Expensing

• Permanent 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025
• Increases Section 179 small business expensing cap from $1.25 million to $2.5 million
• Temporary 100% expensing for certain newly constructed nonresidential real property used in qualified production activities (construction must begin after January 19, 2025, and before January 1, 2029)

Research and Development

• Permanently restores the ability to immediately expense domestic research and experimental expenditures for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024

Business Interest Deduction

• Reinstates the more favorable EBITDA-based calculation for business interest deduction limits, replacing the less favorable method that had been in effect since 2022

State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Relief

• Temporarily increases the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for individual taxpayers ($20,000 for married filing separately) beginning in 2025 through 2029
• Phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $500,000 ($250,000 for married filing separately), but the deduction cannot fall below $10,000
• Cap increases by 1% annually through 2029, then reverts to $10,000 permanently in 2030
• Particularly benefits small business owners in pass-through entities (partnerships, S corporations, LLCs) who pay state and local taxes on business income through their individual returns
• Preserves existing pass-through entity tax (PTET) workarounds that many states have implemented, allowing small businesses to continue deducting state taxes paid at the entity level

Reporting Relief

• 1099-K relief: Reverses the planned reduction of 1099-K reporting thresholds, reinstating the $20,000 and 200 transaction requirements (previously scheduled to drop to $600 for 2026). This significantly reduces reporting burdens for businesses using payment platforms.
• 1099-MISC/NEC threshold increases: Raises reporting thresholds from $600 to $2,000 for independent contractor payments beginning in 2026, reducing administrative burden for businesses hiring freelancers or contractors.

Individual Tax Changes Affecting Business Owners

Personal Income Tax Rates

• Makes permanent the individual tax rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• Increases standard deduction to $15,750 for single filers, $23,625 for heads of household, and $31,500 for married filing jointly (adjusted for inflation)

Estate Tax Provisions

• Permanently increases estate tax exemption to $15 million for single filers ($30 million for married filing jointly) beginning in 2026, indexed for inflation

Employee-Related Provisions

No Tax on Tips and Overtime

• Tips Provision: Eliminates federal income tax on qualified tips up to $25,000 annually
  • Income limitations: Deduction phases out for individuals earning more than $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers) – reduced by $100 for each $1,000 over the threshold
  • Occupational restrictions: Limited to occupations that “customarily and regularly received tips” on or before December 31, 2024 (Treasury Secretary must publish qualifying occupations list within 90 days)
  • Qualifying industries: Expected to include waitresses/waiters, rideshare and food delivery drivers, taxi drivers, beauticians, hair dressers, bartenders
  • Excluded industries: Not available for certain industries (specific list to be published by Treasury for later guidance)
  • Cash tips only: Includes cash payments and charged tips, excludes non-cash tips (gift baskets, movie tickets, etc.)
  • Service charges excluded: Mandatory service charges and auto-gratuities do not qualify
  • Social Security/Medicare taxes still apply: Only eliminates federal income tax, not payroll taxes
• Overtime Provision: Eliminates federal income tax on qualified overtime pay up to $12,500 annually ($25,000 for joint filers)
  • Income limitations: Same phase-out thresholds as tips provision ($150,000/$300,000)
  • FLSA requirement: Only applies to overtime required under Fair Labor Standards Act, not state law or voluntary overtime
  • Premium pay only: Only the premium portion of overtime pay qualifies (e.g., if regular pay is $10/hour and overtime is $15/hour, only the $5 premium qualifies)
• Temporary provision: Both tips and overtime deductions expire after 2028

Child Tax Credit

• Permanently increases the child tax credit to $2,200 per qualifying child beginning in 2025

Enhanced Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit

• Makes permanent the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave (originally set to expire December 31, 2025)
• Credit ranges from 12.5% to 25% of wages paid to qualifying employees during family and medical leave
• New provision allows employers to claim the credit against premiums paid for qualifying paid leave insurance policies
• Expands qualification requirements, allowing employers to reduce the employment period requirement from one year to six months
• Allows employers previously disqualified by state leave requirements to qualify by counting amounts above what is required by state law

Employer-Provided Childcare Benefits

• Dramatically increases the maximum employer-provided childcare tax credit from $150,000 to $500,000 annually
• Increases the percentage of covered expenses from 25% to 40% of qualified childcare expenses
• Special benefits for small businesses: Maximum credit increases to $600,000 with a 50% credit rate for eligible small businesses (those with gross receipts of $31 million or less in 2025)
• New childcare pooling provision: Allows small businesses to pool their resources together to provide childcare services to their employees while retaining eligibility for the tax credit
• Permits businesses to utilize third-party intermediaries for childcare services while maintaining credit eligibility

Student Loan Assistance

• Makes permanent the exclusion of employer-paid student loan repayments from employees’ taxable income
• Maintains the $5,250 annual limit with inflation adjustments beginning in 2027

Economic Impact Analysis

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation would increase deficits by $2.4 trillion over 10 years, with additional debt service costs of $551 billion, bringing the total deficit impact to $3.0 trillion. Independent analysis estimates the Act would increase long-run GDP by 1.2 percent while reducing federal tax revenue by $5 trillion over the next decade.

Potential Challenges for Businesses

Healthcare and Labor Costs

• Medicaid coverage reductions: The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million Americans could lose health coverage under Medicaid over the next decade, potentially increasing the number of uninsured workers in the labor pool. This may lead to:
  • Higher demand for employer-sponsored health insurance as workers lose public coverage
  • Increased healthcare costs for businesses that provide insurance
  • Greater likelihood of employees seeking jobs specifically for health benefits
  • Potential productivity impacts from workers with untreated health conditions
• SNAP cost-shifting: Shifts costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to states with error payment rates above 6%, beginning in 2028. This could result in:
  • Reduced SNAP benefits in affected states, potentially increasing financial stress on lower-wage employees
  • Higher employee turnover as workers struggle with food insecurity
  • Increased requests for wage advances or emergency assistance from employers
  • Greater need for employee assistance programs
• Healthcare Provider Business Impacts: Healthcare businesses face specific operational challenges:
  • Reduced patient volumes as 11.8 million Americans lose Medicaid coverage, directly impacting revenue for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities
  • Provider tax limitations with maximum rates gradually decreasing to 3.5% by FY2032, potentially reducing state funding available to support healthcare facilities
  • Rural healthcare funding provides $50 billion over five years (2026-2030) but ends in 2030 and may not offset broader Medicaid reductions
  • State-directed payment limits restricting payments for hospital and healthcare services under Medicaid managed care contracts to Medicare payment rates rather than higher commercial rates
  • Increased uncompensated care as more people become uninsured, straining finances particularly for safety-net hospitals and community health centers

Energy Sector Changes

• Terminates numerous tax incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency programs
• Ends tax credits for new and used electric vehicles, installation of home EV charging equipment, and energy efficiency improvements

Regional Considerations for North Central Massachusetts

Manufacturing and Production Benefits

The enhanced business expensing provisions and R&D incentives should particularly benefit the region’s manufacturing sector, allowing for immediate deduction of equipment purchases and domestic research investments.

Service Sector Impact

The permanent 20% qualified business income deduction will continue to benefit many service businesses in the region. The no-tax provisions on tips and overtime will primarily benefit middle-income workers in qualifying occupations, as lower-income tipped workers often already owe little to no federal income tax. Higher-earning tipped workers (over $150,000) will see the benefit phase out. The enhanced FMLA tax credit and childcare pooling provisions create new opportunities for small businesses to collaborate on employee benefits.

Small Business Support

The increased Section 179 expensing limits and enhanced bonus depreciation provide significant tax advantages for small and medium-sized businesses looking to invest in equipment and expansion. The childcare pooling provision is particularly beneficial for North Central Massachusetts small businesses looking to improve employee recruitment and retention. It allows multiple small employers to work together to provide childcare services that might be individually unaffordable, while all participants remain eligible for the enhanced tax credit – helping address one of the biggest challenges working parents face when choosing employers.

Impact on Massachusetts State Government and Programs

Based on Congressional Budget Office estimates and the official legislation, Massachusetts faces several significant impacts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that extend beyond the business provisions outlined above.

Healthcare System Changes: The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million Americans will lose health insurance coverage by 2034 due to new Medicaid work requirements, eligibility changes, and marketplace modifications. Massachusetts, having expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, will face new federal work requirements for non-disabled adults aged 19-64 in the expansion population. The state will also experience limited ability to fund the state share of Medicaid and overall decreased federal funding for state Medicaid programs, along with increased administrative burden for state eligibility staff.

Food Assistance Program Changes: Starting in 2028, Massachusetts will be required to pay a share of SNAP benefits based on the state’s payment error rates, representing a shift from the current system where the federal government pays the full cost. This change will require the state to either increase funding for food assistance or potentially reduce benefits if federal funding gaps cannot be filled.

Higher Education Funding: The legislation modifies Pell Grant eligibility requirements and eliminates grants entirely for students attending college less than half-time, which will disproportionately impact community colleges. However, the Act also creates new “Workforce Pell Grants” for students enrolled in eligible workforce programs that provide 150-600 clock hours of instruction over a minimum of 8 weeks, potentially benefiting community colleges and other accredited training providers that offer short-term workforce programs. These changes could affect thousands of Massachusetts students, particularly those in workforce development and continuing education programs.

State Fiscal Response: According to the Congressional Budget Office’s distributional analysis, the legislation will affect state fiscal responses through changes in state taxes and spending resulting from changes in federal program funding. Massachusetts will need to make policy decisions about whether to backfill federal funding reductions or allow program cuts to take effect.

Implementation Timeline

• Immediate Effect: Many provisions took effect upon signing on July 4, 2025
• January 1, 2026: Most individual tax provisions become effective
• 2028: SNAP cost-sharing with states begins for those with high error rates
• 2031: Deadline for qualified production property expensing benefits

What Businesses Should Do Now

1. Review Tax Strategy: Consult with tax professionals to understand how the permanent QBI deduction and enhanced expensing provisions affect your specific situation
2. Capital Investment Planning: Consider accelerating equipment purchases to take advantage of 100% bonus depreciation for property acquired after January 19, 2025
3. Employee Compensation Review: Evaluate compensation structures in light of the no-tax provisions on tips and overtime, keeping in mind income limitations and occupational restrictions. Ensure proper reporting requirements are met for qualifying tip and overtime income.
4. Employee Benefits Review: Consider implementing or expanding paid family and medical leave programs to take advantage of the enhanced tax credit, including potential insurance policy arrangements
5. Childcare Partnerships: Small businesses may want to consider exploring opportunities to pool resources with other local employers to provide childcare services, taking advantage of the enhanced credit and new pooling provisions
6. Estate Planning Update: Business owners should review estate plans given the increased exemption amounts
7. R&D Planning: Companies engaged in research and development should reassess their tax strategies given the return to immediate expensing

Conclusion

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the most significant tax legislation in years, with substantial changes affecting businesses through enhanced deductions, permanent tax rate reductions, and improved capital investment incentives. The legislation also presents challenges, particularly around healthcare costs, energy tax credits, and federal program changes. The impact on North Central Massachusetts businesses will vary significantly depending on industry sector, business size, and individual circumstances, with some businesses benefiting substantially while others may face increased costs or operational challenges.

Business owners should work closely with their tax and legal advisors to fully understand and optimize their position under the new law.

Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and is based on official sources including Congressional Budget Office reports, the official legislation text, and government publications. This information does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. Tax laws are complex and subject to interpretation and change. Members should consult with qualified attorneys, certified public accountants, or other professional advisors before making any business decisions based on this information. The Chamber strongly recommends that businesses seek professional guidance to understand how these legislative changes may specifically impact their individual circumstances.

Sources

Primary Legislative Sources:

• H.R. 1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress.gov. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1
• Text of H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress.gov. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text
• Summary of H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress.gov. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/summary

Congressional Budget Office Reports:

• Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (As passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025). Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61461. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61461
• H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Dynamic Estimate). Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61486. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61486
• Distributional Effects of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61387. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61387
• How H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Would Affect the Distribution of Resources Available to Households (Interactive Tool). Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61469. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61469
• Debt-Service Effects Derived From H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61459. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61459
• Preliminary Analysis of the Distributional Effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61422. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61422

Additional Official Sources:

• Estimated Budgetary Effects of a Bill to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (As ordered reported by the House Committee on the Budget on May 18, 2025). Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61420. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61420
• Estimated Budgetary Effects of an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Relative to CBO’s January 2025 Baseline. Congressional Budget Office, Publication 61534. Available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61534

North Central Massachusetts has a proud manufacturing heritage that can be sorted into two broad categories: “legacy” manufacturers of consumer goods like furniture, car parts, and food products, and “high-tech” firms specializing in innovation-driven products like pharmaceuticals, electronic components, and machinery parts.

“Regardless of the category, manufacturing in North Central Massachusetts is experiencing a renaissance,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “By creating jobs, driving economic growth and demonstrating how the industry continues to evolve and innovate, our manufacturers are continuing to honor the legacy that made our region known as one of the most robust manufacturing hubs of the 20th century.”

While many of our region’s manufacturing leaders remain dedicated to the principles and values of those who came before them, the way these companies make the products their customers have come to know and trust for generations has evolved from hardscrabble workshops to clean rooms and high-tech labs.

Founded in 1880 by Laroy S. Starrett, the L.S. Starrett Company in Athol is one of the region’s oldest companies. As a manufacturer of more than 5,000 variations of precision tools, gages, measuring instruments and saw blades for industrial, professional and consumer markets around the world, the walls within the L.S. Starrett Company speak volumes of an old mill facility that is modernizing and evolving operations while continuing to honor the roots of what made the company a global leader in toolmaking.

Matthew L. Wells, director of operations and continuous improvement at the L.S. Starrett Company, said it is not uncommon for generations of the same family to work at the company. “There are times when we have up to three generations of the same family with us, some with more than 50 years of service,” he said. “This is a really important aspect of our culture because with those years of service comes a level of dedication, knowledge and deep history within the company and for our products.”

For Wells, and many other manufacturers in the region, that dedication, knowledge and history is gone when retirements occur. In fact, Wells said that in the three years since he began working at L.S. Starrett, the company has gone from 70% of its workforce having years of tenure to almost 50% of its workforce having just five years or less experience on the job. “It’s admirable to have people work with you for their entire careers and be part of your family, but when they leave it’s a big challenge for us as we have relied on an individual’s knowledge to supplement our manufacturing process.”

To bridge the gap between legacy workers and the manufacturing process, L.S. Starrett has looked to local technical and vocational schools, as well as the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), which works to provide small and medium-sized manufacturers with resources to help companies be successful.

“People are our number one asset and we have a lot of room for opportunity,” added Wells. “Through MassMEP, we established an operator training program to educate employees on how to read a Starrett blueprint and identify quality characteristics of our parts. We also partner with Monty Tech and Franklin County Technical School to offer more advanced technical programs that enable the student to work full-time during the day and attend school in the evening.”

And L.S. Starrett isn’t the only manufacturer in the region looking at today’s youth as the key to future success. SMC, Ltd., a medical device manufacturing company located in Devens, is also collaborating with local technical schools and universities to build its employee pipeline.

Brian Payson, executive vice president at SMC, said the company has partnerships with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Lowell to offer co-op programs. And through a collaboration of parents, teachers, principals and superintendents at schools across the region, the company created an internship program designed for students to explore careers at SMC.

As a global company, SMC has nine manufacturing locations around the world with 2,000 employees, of which 440 employees work in Devens. As SMC continues to grow, it is maintaining strong roots in Devens with a 250,000 square foot expansion. “We love being in Devens,” added Payson. “We made the decision early on to automate our processes as much as we can so we can concentrate on high volume products to absorb the cost of automation.”

But for Payson, the real impact of today’s industry comes when he is touring guests at the Devens facility.

“We’ve hosted tours for superintendents in central Massachusetts and welcome other groups to our facility, and it always makes me smile when they realize this isn’t their grandfather’s manufacturing,” said Payson. “They are surprised with the massive focus on our automated engineered solutions and with the huge technical demand for engineers and workers to support the maintenance of the machines. It’s just fantastic to show them what we are doing!”

For some companies, leaders need to only look within their own family to continue their legacy. Catania Oils, which is celebrating its 125th year, is a leading provider of organic oils, including vegetable oils, olive oils and blended oils, for the foodservice and retail markets. A fourth-generation employee, Joseph Basile grew up sweeping floors and doing small tasks as a child when his grandfather led the company. Now more than 30 years later, Basile is at the helm as President.

“I grew up in the business from a young age and through my teenage years spending a lot of time with my grandfather at the plant on weekends,” recalled Basile. “As I got older, I would spend more time at the factory and did a lot of the jobs which look different today because the technology has grown leaps and bounds.”

In addition to SMC, L.S. Starrett is also focusing heavily on automation, especially in areas with difficult processes or tasks for lower skill sets to give employees with a higher level of skill more skin in the game on the shop floor.

“We want to give our employees more responsibility and ownership on machine fault recovery and putting in basic Lean principles on the floor,” said Wells. “We’re also working with robotics automation and leveraging AI (artificial intelligence) to detect quality issues in our inspection process.”

Jon-Michael Raymond, chief revenue officer at L.S. Starrett, said AI is also coming into play to identify marketing trends. “We can use AI to help with the sales process to identify new leads and track trends so we can have a targeted approach to the industry,” he said. “By investing in technology and using AI for data analytics, our sales [representatives] can see current trends, view hundreds of distributors, and explore thousands of products at their fingertips, which is very valuable.”

At Catania Oils, AI is something Basile and the team are watching closely. “We are in the process of making investments in AI from a resource and time perspective,” said Basile. “A lot of things today are run by computers and automation has really exploded internally in running the business.”

Whether our manufacturers are creating jobs, driving economic growth or exploring AI and automation, one thing that has stood the test of time for generations is the collaboration among other manufacturers in the region.

“Together, we can make the overall region stronger by sharing best practices on megatrends and market conditions,” said Payson. “Market [intelligence] is critical to gage where we are and where we need to go regardless of our industry so I always want to hear from other manufacturers about how they are dealing with using technology and navigating the geo-political environment especially from folks in our own backyard.”

Basile agrees. “Being involved with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, networking and coming together to understand common pain points versus being a single voice trying to get attention is a powerful thing,” he said. “By working together and compiling resources, we can draw labor to us, we can automate to do more with less, and we can have a stronger culture tied together in a network with the right people.”

For Nascimento and the Chamber team, working with 400 manufacturers that call the region home means taking the Chamber’s commitment to advocating and supporting the industry one step further. In 2024, the Chamber announced the Manufacturing Council of North Central Massachusetts to support the industry and regional economy.

“The Chamber has always been a strong champion of local manufacturing, advocating and supporting the industry in multiple ways,” said Nascimento. “I believe that our strong advocacy and support of the manufacturing industry is one of the things that helps set our Chamber apart. From hosting manufacturing tours to publishing a Manufacturing Directory and supporting workforce efforts for the industry, the Council is a natural extension of our work and reflects our commitment to supporting and growing this important sector of our economy.”

Want to learn more about the Manufacturing Council?

Council members can network with peers, participate in tours of manufacturing facilities to learn best practices, attend quarterly meetings featuring experts in the industry, gain exclusive access to policy leaders, and collectively advocate for the industry. To learn more, call Roy at 978-353-7600, ext. 225.

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Tony Fields, president and CEO of Cleartech Group, an IT solutions provider based in Leominster, Massachusetts has been elected Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce board of directors for 2025-2026. The announcement was made at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 12, 2025. As the Chair of the Chamber’s board of directors, he will work with fellow board members, Chamber staff, and membership, to champion the Chamber in its mission to serve the region’s business community.

Tony brings over three decades of technology industry experience to his new role. Growing up in a family immersed in computing—his father Tim Fields founded TAF Computer Services in the 1980s—Tony enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1992 as a Computer Operator, where he gained experience supporting Novell and Microsoft Networks. After his military service, he advanced through IT roles as a Network Administrator, Project Lead, and Senior Network Engineer before becoming an entrepreneur in 2004 with a Computer Troubleshooters franchise in Leominster.

In 2017, Tony founded Cleartech Group with the mission to “support businesses with technology that will allow them to grow and prosper.” Under his leadership, he grew his business from a home-based operation to a ten-employee Managed Service Provider.

A graduate of Park University, the Goldman Sachs 10KSB and SBA Emerging Leader program, Tony was recognized as the 2020 Massachusetts SBA Minority Owned Business of the Year. He is active in community youth programs and also serves as Chair of the Board of LUK, Inc. Fields joined the Chamber’s board of directors in 2021 and has served in leadership roles including Treasurer.

He succeeds Barbara Mahoney, president and CEO of All-One Credit Union, who now moves to the position of Immediate Past Chair of the board of directors.

“When I started my first business, the Chamber’s support was invaluable to me. Now, as a more seasoned entrepreneur, I have seen firsthand how the Chamber connects businesses and strengthens our communities,” said Fields. “My goal is to continue that momentum—supporting local businesses, attracting visitors to our region, and maintaining the collaborative spirit that makes North Central Massachusetts special.”

“Tony brings exactly what we need in a board chair—entrepreneurial insight, collaborative leadership, and genuine passion for our region,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “He understands both the challenges and opportunities facing our business community.”

In the same election, Allie Catlin, owner, Smith’s Country Cheese, located in Winchendon, was elected Vice Chair. Melissa Glenny, president, Franklin Professional Associates, located in Leominster, was elected to the position of Treasurer.

Board members elected for new terms were

• Joseph Basile, president, Catania Oils, Ayer
• Mark Hettinger, president and CEO, GFA Federal Credit Union, Gardner
• Donna Hodge, president, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg
• Barbara Mahoney, president & CEO, All-One Credit Union, Leominster
• Alex Matthews, general manager, Great Wolf Lodge New England, Fitchburg
• Kayla Nault, owner of DeBonis & Davin Florist, Fitchburg; Sage Home Collections, Leominster; and Salt + Sage, Townsend

Continuing current terms on the board of directors are

• Marieke Cormier, owner, Roots Natural Foods, Leominster
• Chris Hendry, president & CEO, IC Credit Union, Fitchburg
• John Heroux, president of Micro Machine & Electronics, Inc., Leominster
• Patrick McCarty, president & CEO, McCarty Companies, Leominster
• Nicole Moorshead, general manager, Chocksett Inn, Sterling and the Colonial Hotel, Gardner
• David Moura, president, Moura’s Cleaning Service, Fitchburg
• Joshua Page, president, JP Electric and Son, Fitchburg
• Rodrigo Souza, owner, Comeketo Catering Services, Fitchburg
• James Vander Hooven, president, Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner

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Curtis recognized by fellow ambassadors for decade of outstanding service and dedication to chamber members in the North Central region

Amanda Curtis, Economic Development Coordinator at the City of Leominster, has been named the 2025 Ambassador of the Year by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made during the chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 12, 2025.

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

“We are grateful to Amanda for her extraordinary dedication and active involvement in the Chamber over the past decade as we work to advance our goals throughout the 27 communities that comprise our region,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Amanda has been an exceptional Ambassador, known for her tireless energy, infectious sense of humor, and genuine care for our business community. Her commitment has never wavered, even as her career has taken her to different organizations.”

What makes this recognition particularly special is that this marks the second time Curtis has earned the Ambassador of the Year honor during her ten-year tenure with the Chamber. Throughout this time, she has worked at three different companies yet maintained her unwavering dedication to serving as a Chamber Ambassador, demonstrating remarkable loyalty to the organization and the North Central Massachusetts business community.

Curtis currently serves as Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Leominster, where she works to attract new businesses and support existing ones in the community. Her professional experience in economic development, combined with her deep knowledge of the Chamber’s members and programs, makes her an invaluable connector and advocate for regional business growth.

A lifelong resident of the North Central Massachusetts region, Curtis was born in Leominster and grew up in Winchendon, graduating from Murdock High School. She earned an associate degree in Human Services from Mount Wachusett Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Fitchburg State University. Curtis brings extensive experience in community outreach and communications to her role, having previously served as Community Outreach Specialist at UMass HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital and in various roles at LUK, Inc., where she recruited volunteer mentors for local youth. Her commitment to community service extends beyond her professional work – she has served as a personal mentor for over six years, previously chaired the Chamber’s HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge) program, and served on the Board of Trustees for Mount Wachusett Community College from 2016 to 2019. She has also served on various non-profit boards and committees in Leominster and Fitchburg for over 20 years. Curtis joined the City of Leominster staff in 2021, bringing her enthusiasm for connecting people and businesses with her deep love for the community where her extended family has roots.

“Serving as an Ambassador offers me a unique opportunity to connect more deeply with Chamber members while also developing meaningful relationships with businesses throughout our region,” said Curtis. “Through ribbon cuttings, new member events and other networking opportunities, I’m able to see firsthand the incredible advantages and support our Chamber brings to its members and our entire region. It’s been an honor to serve in this capacity for ten years.”

Business leaders interested in learning more about the Chamber’s Ambassador program or becoming involved as volunteers are encouraged to contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 978.353.7600 ext. 239. The Ambassador program provides meaningful opportunities to connect with fellow business professionals while supporting the growth and success of the regional business community.

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