The Chamber’s economic development affiliate, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), completed its fiscal year on September 30, 2019. The NCMDC works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects in North Central Massachusetts with loans and technical assistance.  The NCMDC provided 14 microloans in FY2019 that totaled $631,000. The average size of the loans was $42,000, with the smallest loan at $10,000 and the largest at $150,000. These loans were leveraged by another $ 8,718,200 in financing from local banks and credit unions and $3,641,301 in equity from borrowers. These loans helped retain 33 jobs and created 55 new jobs. In addition to the micro-loans, the NCMDC provided over 350 hours of direct technical assistance to start-up and existing small businesses and hosted several successful workshops and forums in partnership with the Chamber. The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, please visit www.choosenorthcentral.com.

The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast series is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 6:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA.  The November edition is sponsored by Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School. 

The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational breakfast program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners.  Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.

The featured speakers for the November edition are Governor Charlie Baker and local author and lawyer, Mark Bodanza.

Charles Duane Baker Jr. is an American businessman and politician serving as the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts since January 8, 2015. A Republican, he was a cabinet official under two Governors of Massachusetts and served ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Raised in Needham, Massachusetts, Baker graduated from Harvard and obtained an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. In 1991, he became Massachusetts Undersecretary of Health and Human Services under Governor Bill Weld. In 1992, he was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts. He later served as Secretary of Administration and Finance under Weld and his successor, Paul Cellucci.

Mark C. Bodanza is a Leominster resident, accomplished writer, avid historian and successful trial lawyer. He has previously published eight books and numerous newspaper columns, and he has been a guest commentator on radio and television programs nationwide. Mark has also appeared as a lecturer at schools and colleges throughout the country. Risk Takers and History Makers is his ninth book. Mark’s interest in Leominster’s history is as strong as his participation in the city’s present: Mark served as Leominster’s city solicitor from 1990 to 1994 and is currently a city councilor and chairman of the council’s finance committee. He also serves as the chairman of the Leominster Board of Library Trustees. 

The cost is just $27 for Chamber members/$42 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet.  Tables of ten are also available. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, kdeal@northcentralmass.com or click here.

Visit North Central Massachusetts, an affiliate of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, made donations to the Athol Firefighters’ Association and Phillipston Firefighters’ Association totaling $8,157.00 in September to aid in their fire relief efforts.  The donation came from a portion of the money raised at the 2019 Appleseed Country Fair held Labor Day weekend. 

“We are extremely grateful to the hard working and dedicated members of the associations for their efforts and assistance this year with the Appleseed Country Fair,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and Visit North Central Massachusetts. “The volunteers from the Athol and Phillipston Firefighters’ Associations were critical in helping to organize the parking during the fair and did an amazing job of getting everyone in and out safely, quickly and easily.”

The Appleseed Country Fair welcomed over 12,000 attendees this year and featured over 50 vendors that range from artisans and crafters to food, beer and wine. Live music and a variety of family friendly activities entertained visitors all weekend.

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Annual North Central Massachusetts Congressional Luncheon on Thursday, October 10, 2019 featuring the Honorable Jim McGovern, United States Representative for the Second Congressional District and the Honorable Lori Trahan, United States Representative for the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts.  The program, sponsored by Fitchburg State University, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA. 

This event will provide Chamber members and community leaders the opportunity to hear directly from members of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding business issues and critical matters facing the nation.  

Currently serving his twelfth term in Congress, Congressman Jim McGovern serves as the Chair of the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation; and a member of the House Agriculture Committee.  In 2014, McGovern was named Democratic Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition.  The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and domestic commodity distribution and consumer initiatives.

Before his election to Congress, McGovern spent 14 years working as a senior aide for the late U.S. Representative John Joseph Moakley (D-South Boston), former dean of the Massachusetts delegation and Chairman of the House Rules Committee.  He was born in Worcester, the son of two successful small business owners.  His two sisters are elementary school teachers in Worcester’s public school system.

McGovern earned his Bachelor of Arts (‘81) and Masters of Public Administration (‘84) degrees from The American University, working his way through college by serving as an aide in the office of U.S. Senator George McGovern (D-SD).

Congresswoman Trahan was elected to the House of Representatives this past year following Congresswoman Tsongas’ decision to not seek reelection. She has since
been appointed to the House Committees on Education and Labor and Armed Services, has played an active role in securing federal designation of the Nashua River as a scenic waterway, and has filed legislation addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting career readiness programming in public high schools. Part of the vaunted “Pink Wave”- the largest female caucus elected to the US Congress to date- the Congresswoman holds the distinction of being the first Portuguese American woman ever to serve on Capitol Hill.  

Prior to her election, Trahan served in Congressman Meehan’s office- the same office she now holds- for nearly a decade, rising to become his chief of staff. She went on to take an executive’s post in the technology sector before cofounding the woman owned and operated consulting firm, Concire. In this role, she provided client companies advice on business strategy and steps they could take to ensure staff success- with a particular focus on female employees. 

The daughter of working class parents, she was the first in family to graduate from college, attending George Mason University on a Volleyball scholarship. 

Make sure that you reserve your spot early to hear from our congressional delegation on the many critical issues facing the business community in Washington D.C. 

Pre-registration is required and easy. Simply call the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 222, or register here.