Chamber Updates – Your Chamber in Action!
As your dynamic partner in North Central Massachusetts, we continue to drive initiatives that strengthen our business community and foster regional growth. Our impact spans from direct business support to innovative community development, and we are pleased to share these updates with you that are not covered elsewhere in the newsletter.
THE STRATEGY TABLE: Collaboration breeds innovation, and we’re creating new opportunities for members to tackle business challenges together. In partnership with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Clark University, the NCMDC launched “The Strategy Table”, a new monthly program where members and loan clients can address pressing business challenges, exchange ideas, and collaborate on growth strategies. This initiative is designed to foster problem-solving through collective expertise and provide a supportive peer network to help businesses overcome obstacles and accelerate growth. Following a successful introduction in September, the first full session began in November. This program exemplifies our commitment to creating spaces where regional businesses can learn from each other’s experiences and build the collaborative relationships that drive sustainable growth. The Strategy Table offers a powerful complement to our one-on-one business assistance, creating a community of practice where shared wisdom strengthens every participant’s business acumen.
SMALL BUSINESS LENDING: Strong capital plus strong partnerships equals stronger communities – that’s the formula driving the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), our Chamber’s economic development arm, as it expands access to crucial small business funding. As of September 30, 2025, the NCMDC loan portfolio stands at 87 loans totaling $3,274,410.59, representing significant investment in local entrepreneurs who often can’t secure traditional financing. For the fiscal year ending September 30th, we closed on a total of 20 loans totaling $722,228. These loans, ranging from $1,000 to $121,500, included twelve SBA loans, six RRF loans, and two EDA loans, creating or saving 73 jobs across our region while revitalizing properties and strengthening our shared economy. Beyond the direct impact, these strategic investments leveraged an additional $380,814 from private sources and banking partners, multiplying every dollar invested. Looking ahead, momentum continues building with a robust pipeline. As of October 23, 2025, we have a total of $1,491,313 in our pipeline, including two loans totaling $215,313 that have been approved but not yet closed; five loans totaling $385,000 in loan requests being reviewed; and twelve loan requests totaling $891,000 that are in the early stages and still awaiting review. NCMDC continues strengthening our regional business ecosystem, creating opportunities for all Chamber members through expanded customer bases and more robust supply chains.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE: Strong businesses build strong communities, and our economic development team continues proving that targeted support makes all the difference. Through September 30, we’ve delivered 2,093 hours of hands-on technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and small businesses—from ambitious startups to established operations ready to scale. Our comprehensive approach focuses on preparing businesses for financing success through our development corporation, providing both pre-loan guidance to strengthen applications and post-loan support to ensure sustainable growth. We also assist with marketing strategies and connecting businesses with the right resources at the right time. Beyond our direct support, we serve as connectors, linking businesses with specialized expertise through our partnerships with other resource partners. This collaborative network creates a ripple effect that strengthens our entire regional economy and benefits all Chamber members through increased local business activity and job creation.
TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING DISTRICT: Local control over tourism promotion is becoming a reality for our region. The Chamber has been working with hospitality industry members throughout the region to explore the potential for tourism destination marketing districts (TDMD). This is a business-led initiative that gives our region greater control over tourism promotion, enhances regional efforts, and reduces reliance on state funding, allowing local businesses to directly invest in and shape marketing efforts that drive visitors to their establishments. In October, with the support of our member Great Wolf Lodge, the Chamber presented a petition to the Fitchburg City Council to formally establish a district for Fitchburg. It was approved and will commence in January 2026, marking a significant milestone in our region’s tourism development strategy. We plan to explore expanding this model to other communities throughout the region. This collaborative approach to destination marketing positions North Central Massachusetts to compete more effectively for visitor spending while giving local hospitality businesses direct influence over promotional strategies that impact their bottom lines.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EXPANSION: Investing in tomorrow’s workforce starts with supporting today’s students. As part of our strategic plan, the Chamber has set an ambitious goal to significantly expand our Chamber Foundation’s scholarship program—both our traditional scholarships and innovative non-traditional scholarships awarded each May. These scholarships make a real difference, helping students pursue higher education and career training while building the skilled workforce our region needs to thrive. As we enter this year’s scholarship season, we’ve launched a comprehensive campaign to engage corporate sponsors who share our commitment to developing local talent. We’re reaching out directly to member companies who are well-positioned to make this meaningful investment, sending personalized letters to prospective sponsors while promoting the opportunity across our social media channels and member communications. To support these outreach efforts, we’ve developed compelling new promotional materials that showcase the program’s impact and make it easy for businesses to participate. Here’s what makes this program special: 100% of every scholarship sponsorship goes directly to students – not a single dollar is used for administrative costs. Every contribution makes a direct, tangible impact on a young person’s educational journey and future career success. Our non-traditional scholarship committee deserves special recognition for their proactive approach, actively cultivating relationships with potential sponsors to support students pursuing alternative educational pathways, including vocational training, certificates, and career programs that lead directly to in-demand jobs in our region. By expanding our scholarship program, we’re doing more than helping individual students achieve their dreams. We’re investing in the future prosperity of North Central Massachusetts, demonstrating our business community’s commitment to workforce development, and ensuring local young people have the resources they need to build successful careers right here at home.
MANUFACTURING DIRECTORY: Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of our regional economy, and we’re developing a comprehensive resource to showcase this vital sector. Throughout the Fall, our staff has been busy researching and compiling detailed information about manufacturers across the region for our upcoming North Central Massachusetts Manufacturing Directory. This will be the most comprehensive and locally-focused compilation of manufacturing information in the region, serving as an essential guide for businesses, economic development professionals, and organizations looking to connect with local manufacturers. After nearly four years since our last edition in 2022, we’re bringing back this valuable resource in full color. The directory offers manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to the manufacturing industry an excellent opportunity to promote their capabilities and connect with potential customers and partners. This reference guide will be used throughout the year, providing lasting value and targeted exposure to decision-makers in the manufacturing community. The directory underscores our region’s manufacturing strength and helps businesses discover the depth of industrial capabilities available right here in North Central Massachusetts.
JOBS BOARD: In today’s competitive job market, connecting the right talent with the right opportunities has never been more critical – which is why our WorkNorthCentral.com jobs board continues to serve as a vital tool for Chamber members. From January 1 to November 4, 2025, we’ve seen strong engagement with over 1,224 job opportunities posted and more than 25,600 page views, with 75% of those views from new visitors to the site—demonstrating the platform’s reach beyond our existing network. Chamber members can post unlimited job openings at no cost, providing another valuable marketing channel for your employment opportunities while supporting regional workforce retention and growth. Submit your listings today!
CHAMBER GIFT CARDS: Keeping dollars local helps drive economic growth, and our Gift Local program through Yiftee’s Mastercard-based e-gift card platform continues supporting shop local efforts with 45 participating merchants. From January 1 through November 4, 2025, we sold 47 eGift Cards totaling $1,735 in value, with 43 cards redeemed for $1,752.62 at local businesses – demonstrating healthy circulation and use throughout our merchant network. As we enter the busy holiday season, where the majority of cards are traditionally sold as employee and client gifts, this program offers members an excellent opportunity to keep spending local while supporting our regional economy. The program remains popular for holiday gifts and business recognition awards, providing a practical solution for companies looking to celebrate achievements while strengthening the regional business ecosystem. Yiftee has introduced new Tap-to-Pay functionality for mobile wallets, improving the checkout experience for customers and streamlining transactions for merchants. As the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time for eligible members to join as redemption locations or for all members to consider these cards for holiday and client gifting—keeping spending power right here in our communities where it makes the biggest difference.
ACCOUNTING: Sound financial management underpins everything we do. Our auditors have completed the FY25 audit for the Chamber, Chamber Foundation, and Johnny Appleseed Trail Association without incident, reflecting our continued commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. The related tax returns for these organizations and Chambers Insurance were also filed on schedule. The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation’s fiscal year-end was September 30, so we have engaged our auditors and begun that audit process. These clean audits demonstrate our stewardship of member investments and ensure we maintain the financial integrity that supports our mission of strengthening the regional business community.
SOLAR INITIATIVE: Sustainability initiatives that deliver tangible economic benefits exemplify our practical approach to supporting regional business needs. Since the program’s inception, our solar initiative has generated over $4 million in Net Metering Credits for participating manufacturers. This innovative program demonstrates how collaborative Chamber initiatives can substantially reduce operating costs for member businesses while supporting environmental sustainability goals. As energy costs continue to rise, this program’s success highlights our commitment to developing creative solutions that strengthen our members’ bottom lines while positioning our region as forward-thinking and environmentally responsible.
RIBBON CUTTINGS: Celebrating member success stories strengthens our entire business community. The Fall has been a particularly busy period with eleven ribbon cuttings and member celebrations since September 1, showcasing the vitality and growth happening across North Central Massachusetts. These included Orchard Hills Athletic Club, the Town of Ashburnham’s new Play and Gathering Park, GreenDrop, Pop by Posh, Edward Jones, Aspire, Growing Places Waterford Street Regional Food Center, Welcome Home Furnishings & Decor, Coakley Family Dental’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Busy Bees Preschool Center’s 50th Anniversary, and Opportunities for Hope’s Neddy Latimer House. Each of these celebrations represents investment in our region, job creation, and enhanced services for residents and businesses alike. These milestone events also provide valuable networking opportunities where members connect, build relationships, and discover new collaboration possibilities. We’re proud to stand alongside our members as they reach these important milestones and look forward to celebrating many more success stories in the year ahead. If your business is planning an expansion, relocation, or significant milestone, contact us to explore how a Chamber ribbon cutting can amplify your announcement and connect you with the broader business community.
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