Reserve Your Spot in the Official Guide to North Central Massachusetts

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An ad in the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Guide is the best marketing decision you will make all year. This publication is the only one reaching visitors and long-time community members on a year-round basis. The publication is distributed at over 350 locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Canada. Work is underway now for the Spring edition. Contact Diane Burnette via email at burnette@visitnorthcentral.com or call 978-534-2829 to reserve your spot today. Space is limited.

Chamber Welcomes Fitchburg State University Intern:

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daveinternThe North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome David Ginisi as an intern at the Chamber’s headquarters this semester. Ginisi is currently a senior at the Fitchburg State University majoring in communications with a concentration in professional communications.  His interest in public relations and marketing drew him to the Chamber for his internship.

David is a native of Worcester and graduated from Holy Name High School.  He is a member of the dean’s list at Fitchburg State University and also volunteers at Special Olympics.  As part of his internship, David is learning a variety of aspects of the Chamber and its affiliates. He has been gaining hands on learning experience by assisting with drafting press releases, helping to organize special events and supporting the launch of the Chamber’s new Gift Local Initiative.

“We are excited to welcome David as part of our team this semester,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the Chamber.  “He is a bright and ambitious student who will benefit from his time working with our members and supporting the advancement of North Central Massachusetts. I have no doubt that he will make a positive contribution to our organization.”

David was connected to the Chamber through Fitchburg State University’s Internship program, which allows students to explore a career field and gain relevant work experience, apply academic learning to real world situations, and build critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and professional skills. Please contact the Chamber at 978-353-7600 ext. 244 for more information.

TOURISM INTEREST SOARS AS FESTIVAL GOERS HEAD TO WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN

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Wachusett Mountain kicked off their Fall festival season with four of their biggest festivals, Farm Fresh Fest, Kidsfest, BBQfest and Applefest. We were able to exhibit at three of the major events, Kidsfest, BBQfest and Applefest in these past few weeks. While attendees spent their weekends enjoying the sights, sounds, beauty and pageantry of these events, we were able to tap into those joyous feelings and passed on wealth of information on the regional attractions that are featured in North Central Mass.  All three festivals were the perfect way for families to spend quality time together all while supporting our local small business vendors and learning about the region’s ideal areas to visit with their families.

The 26th Annual Kidsfest was the getaway that all kids dream about. It was two full days of music, food, and family fun. Live shows, walk-around entertainment, magic shows, clowns, and Mount Wachusett’s scenic summit SkyRide were at the epicenter of this eventful weekend. Parents got to enjoy great food and product sampling by our local small business vendors.

The 7th Annual BBQfest featured some of the area’s best BBQ vendors. Highlights of this year’s event include the Oysterfest, which featured oysters on the half shell, clam chowder and shrimp, along with an oyster shucking competition. The People’s Choice Awards featured Chili on Saturday and Pulled Pork on Sunday. Then the ever-famous Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair (including more than 75 vendors), and Beer Tent were present throughout the weekend.  Dozens of small business vendors were in attendance and gained great notoriety from the public.

The 33rd Annual Applefest, one of the region’s most popular festivals, featured over 75 Craft Fair & Farmers’ Market Booths, family entertainment, scenic foliage skyrides to the Summit, mountainside barbecue, pony rides, clowns, wall climbing, jugglers and magicians for the kids. Applefest also featured an Oktoberfest Celebration complete with authentic German cuisine, a multitude of tasty beers in the Beer Garden and live music and entertainment.

Hundreds of families living outside our region are now looking forward to what North Central has to offer from here on out. Attendees left these weekend events, happy, tired, full and in many cases excited to seek out new places of adventure and fun here in North Central Massachusetts.

New Gift Card Program – Sign up to participate!

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gift local cardThis November, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will be rolling out a new regional gift card program to encourage shopping local and to support our regional economy. Dollars from gift cards sold can only be spent with local businesses participating in the program. Similar programs launched by other chambers and merchants groups have been successful in generating new sales for participating businesses and bringing significant new dollars into their local economies.

This is your chance to have your business included on the list of participating places that accept these gift cards. Redeeming the gift cards is easy and participating businesses will be featured in the advertising campaign this holiday season to promote the gift cards. Nearly twenty local restaurants, shops, farms, attractions and other businesses have already signed up to participate! Don’t miss this opportunity to be included. Click Here for details on how the program works or contact the chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 234.  Ready to sign up? Click Here for a merchant sign-up form.

 

 

Did You Know…Health Insurance

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DID YOU KNOW . . .
That the North Central Massachusetts Chamber offers Health Insurance for our members?

The Chamber partners with most major carriers in Massachusetts allowing for multiple plans with varying deductibles and coinsurance levels, including:
• Fallon
• Blue Cross / Blue Shield
• Tufts
• Harvard Pilgrim
• Neighborhood Health Plan
• dental coverage from Ameritas, Delta, and Altus

and we’ve just added health plans from Health New England, which is expanding in our region.

Chamber Insurance programs offer excellent coverage at a reasonable cost for individuals and small businesses, who often find it challenging to find good benefits they can afford in traditional insurance markets.

Think of the Chamber as a “shopping service” to help you find the right health insurance for your business. But we’re also a trusted advisor to help you choose the right options. Confused about facility and provider networks? The trade-offs between co-payments and deductibles? Let us help you figure it out.

You don’t have to wait until annual Open Enrollment next spring – contact the Chamber today to discuss your needs and to find the best plan for your budget.

Please contact Jeff Ardis, Member Services Manager, on (978) 353-7600 x234, or at JArdis@NorthCentralMass.com, for more information.

You can help grow your Chamber!

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You can help grow your Chamber!

Our annual Membership Drive is coming up on September 27 & 28. It will be a fun, competitive telethon to recruit new Chamber members, and we hope we can count on your help!  New members build a larger network for ideas, referrals, products, and services, which benefits everyone.  Last year we recruited more than 100 new members during our campaign!

There are two ways you can help:

1)      VOLUNTEER

We need enthusiastic callers who enjoy engaging people, asking questions, and sharing their positive experiences with our Chamber of Commerce!  All we ask is a few hours of your time in the morning or afternoon of one day or the other.  We’ll coach you on how to be successful and even feed you lunch.

2)      DONATE

A motivated volunteer is a happy and successful volunteer!  We are collecting a range of items (bottles of wine, sports tickets, gift cards, etc.) to offer as volunteer incentive prizes as the new memberships come rolling in.  Anything you can donate to represent your business will be much appreciated.

For more information, please contact Jeff Ardis, Member Services Manager, on 978.353.7600 x234.