On July 26, 2018, St. 2018 c. 154, § 68, was enacted into law, amending the EMAC Supplement statute, to require that the Director of the Department of Unemployment Assistance, in consultation with the Secretary of Administration and Finance develop a hardship waiver process for a employers experiencing financial hardship due to liability for the EMAC Supplement.

For a hardship to be approved an employer must fill out the application and include sufficient supporting documentation justifying need. After review, a determination without appeal rights will be issued to the employer. A hardship waiver is temporary and related to a specific quarter. Hardship waiver requests must be received during the first two weeks of the filing period. Employers who receive a waiver will be required to timely file and pay any additional contributions or the waiver will be reversed and the total amount (including interest) will be payable.

Click Here to read the updated EMAC Supplement Hardship Waiver regulations

For additional information about the EMAC Supplement Hardship Waiver, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-emac-supplement-hardship-waiver

The Chamber recently unveiled its Public Policy Agenda for the new fiscal year–outlining the Chamber’s legislative priorities on issues important to businesses and the advancement of North Central Massachusetts. The agenda was developed to serve as a blueprint for the Chamber’s government affairs efforts and were reviewed and approved by the Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors.  The agenda can be found online at www.NorthCentralMass.com. 

The Chamber continues to be active on the local level, monitoring legislation and advocating on behalf of members. In Fitchburg, the Chamber testified at the annual tax classification hearing and successfully secured an unprecedented eight point reduction to the property tax shift. This move towards a single rate reduces the impact on commercial and industrial property owners and makes the city and region more competitive. The Chamber will also advocate in Leominster for the city to maintain its single tax rate and in the Town of Clinton for a reduction in their dual tax rate. 

Fitchburg’s license commission also recently held a public hearing in regards to proposed regulations on BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) establishments. The Chamber submitted a letter opposing the current proposal and articulating the concerns of many local businesses.  Energy costs, the EMAC assessment and Ballot Question 1 were also issues that Chamber staff were involved with over the Fall. 

In other news, the Chamber plans to reconvene its Manufacturing Taskforce to continue its efforts to improve the workforce pipeline and improve the business climate for this important industry for the region. The Chamber will be compiling the recommendations from the taskforce and issuing a final report after the first of the year. The report is intended to help the Chamber and private sector work more effectively with government at all levels to ensure that the region has a competitive workforce and can support our local manufacturers.

In the coming months, we look forward to turning back towards the state as we convene our annual Legislative Briefing to organize efforts on Beacon Hill to address a number of crucial issues for businesses in the region. 

If you run a business in North Central Massachusetts and wish to make your voice heard on any of these issues, please reach out to Christopher McDermott at 978.353.7600 ext. 224 or cmcdermott@northcentralmass.com. We want to hear what’s important to you! 

Fitchburg’s City Council took a historic step this past October, voting to close the gap between commercial and residential property tax rates by an unprecedented six points. This brought the business community’s share of Fitchburg’s property tax burden to 106 percent of the residential levy. Massachusetts allows two models for property taxes: single and dual rates. The single rate means that both residential and commercial properties are taxed at the same level. Meanwhile, a dual rate system dictates that one group – typically businesses- shoulders more of the burden and pays a higher share of taxes based on a property’s assessed value. 

A single rate tax system has come to be recognized as a key indicator that a community is open for business, and the Council acknowledged this at their annual tax classification hearing. Through a spirited discussion, a number of councilors pointed out that that seventy eight percent of Fitchburg’s property fell under a residential use. If Councilors hoped to reduce the tax share carried by voters, the only responsible method would be to attract new commercial investment, as had been done with Great Wolf Lodge and GameOn Fitchburg. Maintaining a dual rate would only serve to discourage such efforts and perpetuate the root problem.      

As always, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was present at the meeting and attested to the importance of this shift. In particular, they spoke to the impact felt by the types of small businesses which make Fitchburg unique. “Though some would argue that business owners can afford a higher levy,” stated Chamber President Roy Nascimento in his testimony, “these taxes can prove a serious hardship to the local businesses which typify Main Street.” He went on to argue that it placed an additional hurdle before investors who might otherwise take interest in the community. 

Ultimately, the Council voted 7-3 in favor of reducing the burden on commercial property owners.  Commercial property tax owners will still see modest increases, but at a lower value than if there had been no change. Overall, this reduced the tax burden on businesses by $702,836. The Chamber would like to thank Councilors Kushmerek, Green, Clark, Donnelly, Zarrella, Kaddy, Fleming, and Walsh for supporting this historic action. 

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will host its first Winter Reception on Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Groton Inn, 128 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450. This holiday gathering will provide an opportunity for Chamber members, dignitaries and community leaders from throughout North Central Massachusetts to mingle and foster relationships in a relaxed and upscale setting. AIS, Inc. is the premier sponsor of the Chamber’s 2018 Winter Reception.

Don’t miss this opportunity to kick off the holiday season with complimentary refreshments, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and festivities. Guests will be able to network with the rolling hills of Groton as the beautiful backdrop for this special evening occasion. The Groton Inn reopened its doors May 2018 after a fire destroyed the original, and America’s oldest inn that dated back to 1678. The new building features architecture honoring the original design while offering 21^st century amenities. This a wonderful occasion to tour this newly opened treasure in our own backyard.

Many thanks to AIS, Inc for their generous sponsorship of this evening. The Winter Reception will feature complimentary beer, wine and gourmet hors d’oeurves. In addition, the head bartender will be mixing a specialty cocktail created exclusively for this event. This promises to be an evening to remember.

To register for the Winter Reception, please contact Kathleen at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or email kdeal@northcentralmass.com or register online at northcentralmass.com/calendar.  The cost is just $20 per person for members and $30 per person for non-members. Please RSVP by November 30th.

At its September meeting, the Board of Directors of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce adopted a new strategic plan designed to serve as a roadmap for the future success of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations over the next three years.

“Our new strategic plan is crafted to take a look towards the future and ensure that we are continuing to meet the needs of our members and region,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We have set some very aggressive goals around economic development, membership, programming, micro-lending, and regional promotion. Our goals and focus are to make North Central Massachusetts the best region in the state to live, work, raise a family, or build a business.”

The Chamber’s new strategic plan is focused on promoting the region’s strengths, expanding existing businesses and business opportunities, and significantly improving the economic future for all who call North Central Massachusetts home. The strategic plan was prepared as a result of a comprehensive planning process that included input provided by members, the Board, staff and other stakeholders.  The plan, vision, and mission serve as a blueprint for the future success of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations as well as help drive programs, services and value the Chamber is creating for members. The new plan includes areas of focus, goals and quantifiable metrics and targets.

Members can view the new strategic by visiting www.northcentralmass.com/ncmcc-strategic-plan. Programs and projects will be undertaken with care and consideration of actual resources of the Chamber and its members. The plan is also a fluid document that the Chamber will update as needed to reflect the changing world.

A special thanks to all those members who assisted with the development of the business plan, either by completing a membership survey, participating in a meeting, or providing input. Members are encouraged to contact Roy Nascimento at 978.353.7600 or via email at rnascimento@northcentralmass.com with any questions or feedback on the strategic plan.