A mix of targeted digital media on Facebook and Instagram platforms are set in place to target key markets in Greater Boston, New Hampshire, New York and Connecticut.
For more information on North Central Massachusetts, please go to:
Revealing your Spring/Summer 2020 Guide To North Central Massachusetts Cover!
Interested in advertising in the guide? Please contact Diane Burnette |
On January 10th, the Chamber hosted a legislative briefing with the region’s state house delegation to discuss our budget and policy priorities for the coming year. The presentation touched on economic development priorities, including tourism, manufacturing, education, workforce development and transportation infrastructure.
Thank you to the North Central Massachusetts Delegation for helping secure a $100,000 grant in the FY19 budget to help our efforts to develop a comprehensive economic development plan for the region. Special thanks to Senator Dean Tran for sponsoring the item in the budget.
A new report released today by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce provides an in-depth look at the twenty-seven communities that comprise North Central Massachusetts. The Regional Economic Profile was compiled by a research team at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and combines detailed economic, labor market and socioeconomic data, as well as analysis on the economic conditions within the region. The Chamber commissioned the Economic Profile report to support economic development efforts and serve as a resource for local businesses to make evidence based decisions.
“Our top priority is to advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “This research validates what we already know – that North Central Massachusetts is a great place to live, work, visit and grow a business. We envision using the report to showcase the region, answer queries and support ongoing economic development efforts.”
“We are very excited to have worked with the Chamber on this report, and accompanying online data tool, highlighting the competitive advantages and issues facing North Central Massachusetts. It provides extensive benchmarking indicators comparing the region to other places around the state” said Mark Melnik, Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute. “We hope this report will be a useful resource to help support economic development in the region and can serve as a model for other regions around the state.”
Some key highlights of the Economic Profile research include:
A full copy of the Economic Profile study can be found here.
The Economic and Public Policy Research (EPPR) group at the UMass Donahue Institute is a leading provider of applied research, helping clients make more informed decisions about strategic economic and public policy issues. EPPR produces in-depth economic impact and industry studies that help clients build credibility, gain visibility, educate constituents, plan economic development initiatives, and prioritize investments. For more information on the group, please visit www.donahue.umassp.edu/EPPR.
This research is part of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s continuing efforts to help promote the region and advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations, please visit NorthCentralMass.com or contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600.
Los estudiantes interesados en solicitar una beca para 2020 a través de la Fundación de la Cámara de Comercio del Norte Central de Massachusetts deben contactar a su departamento de orientación vocacional de la escuela secundaria para presentar una solicitud. La fecha límite para las solicitudes es el viernes 28 de febrero de 2020. Cada año, cada escuela en el área de servicio de la Cámara presenta un número limitado de solicitantes de becas, los cuales luego son revisados por un comité de miembros de la Cámara.
Muchos de estos premios son posibles gracias a las contribuciones de los miembros de la Cámara de Comercio del Norte Central de Massachusetts. Las becas financiadas a través de la Fundación de la Cámara a menudo se nombran en honor a miembros prominentes de la comunidad empresarial del Norte Central de Massachusetts, cuya filantropía y compromiso con la comunidad han ayudado a dar forma al Norte Central de Massachusetts.
La Fundación de la Cámara es una organización sin fines de lucro 501 (c) 3 enfocada en ayudar a mejorar la región a través de actividades de caridad. Los fondos recaudados por la Fundación se utilizan principalmente para iniciativas de desarrollo educativo/laboral y actividades benéficas en el centro-norte de Massachusetts, incluyendo becas para solicitantes elegibles que cursan estudios y subvenciones para apoyar proyectos de desarrollo económico y comunitario.
Para más información sobre el programa de becas de la North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation o una lista de becas con nombre, visite northcentralmass.com o llame al 978.353.7600 ext. 222.
This publication is the region’s most comprehensive collection of this specialized information, outlining available industrial sites and local manufacturing related businesses, describing products, contact information and more. The directory is designed to promote and connect manufacturers with suppliers as well as serve as a resource for companies looking to relocate or expand throughout the region. Ad rates start at just $350. Please email Yasmin Loft at for more information or to reserve your advertisement.
In a momentous week, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was on hand to testify before elected officials in Clinton and Fitchburg this week as the two communities reviewed their tax shifts for the year. In a major win for local business, Fitchburg councilors elected to move to a single rate, eliminating what remained of a six point shift! A night later, Clinton’s selectmen voted unanimously to move to a 1.52 tax shift, narrowing their split by two points and committing to moving towards a single rate over time.
Massachusetts allows two models for property taxes: single and dual rates. The single rate means that both residential and commercial/industrial properties are taxed at the same level. Meanwhile, a dual rate system dictates that commercial and industrial property taxpayers shoulder more of the burden and pays a higher share of taxes based on a property’s assessed value. A dual tax system increases costs for businesses, disincentivizes business investment and puts a community at a competitive disadvantage compared with neighboring communities that maintain a single rate.
“Your decision to gradually move towards a single tax rate is the right decision long term for the City” stated Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the Chamber during the Fitchburg’s City Council tax hearing. “Making the commercial tax burden more competitive will position Fitchburg to attract new business investment, retain existing businesses, increase tax revenues and change outdated perceptions that the City is unfriendly to business.”
Tax shifts became a common tool to alleviate the tax burden on residents- at the expense of businesses- in the 1980s. Since then, many communities have come to recognize that imposing a split tax rate places them at a competitive disadvantage, incentivizing businesses to locate in other communities with more equitable tax policies. For that reason, only a handful of communities within the region still maintain a tax split. In smaller communities, where a greater share of real estate is zoned as residential, a tax shift is particularly frustrating as the share of the levy is transferred over to a smaller collection of stakeholders. As such, a 1.50 shift can sometimes increase a commercial ratepayers bill by as much as double in absolute terms.
This week’s votes are significant as the tax shift is perhaps the most immediate and direct manner in which municipal officials can impact businesses within their communities. “We recognize that tax rates are only one factor in an economy – energy costs, workforce, health care costs, and many other things also play a role”, Nascimento stated while speaking before Clinton’s Selectmen. “But there is nothing you can do about health care costs, energy costs, and so on. Adopting a more competitive tax rate and working towards a single rate is something that you can do something about.”
The Chamber applauds the actions of the Fitchburg City Council and the Clinton Board of Selectmen. The adoption of the single tax rate passed by an 8-2 margin at the Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Fitchburg City Council meeting with Councilors Marcus DiNatale; E. Thomas Donnelly; Marisa Fleming; Amy Green; Joel
R. Kaddy; Michael Kushmerek; Elizabeth Walsh; and Anthony Zarrella voting in favor and Councilors Samantha Squailia and Paul Beauchemin voting against. The reduction in the property tax shift from 154% to 152% passed unanimously at the Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Board of Selectmen meeting with select board members William F. Connolly, Jr.; Sean J. Kerrigan; Edward J. Devault; Michael J. Dziokonski; and John J. Boisoneau all voting to adopt the reduction.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently convened a meeting of the inaugural North Central Massachusetts Education Compact. The Education Compact is an outgrowth of the Chamber’s report published earlier in the year called Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts. Among the recommendations in the report was strengthening the relationship between employers and schools throughout the region through a group of this nature that could serve as an ongoing channel of communication between stakeholders. This high-level leadership group is intended to help facilitate partnerships around the shared goals of improving college and career pathways for students. The group is comprised of leaders in education, business and workforce development.
“We are excited to convene this group of decision makers from throughout North Central Massachusetts to continue the conversation about how we can work together to shape the educational experience for students and ultimately better prepare them for college and careers,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Through the Education Compact we are unified under a collective commitment to action and leadership!”
During the meeting, Chamber President Roy Nascimento presented data on the region, economic trends and the current and future workforce challenges faced by employers and school leaders. The group also examined several successful initiatives that were developed from similar collaborative models in other parts of the country. The Education Compact plans to meet periodically to continue the dialogue and action needed to advance schools in the region.
“In many ways, our schools are the best in the country- the world”, stated Steve Rocheleau, owner and operator of Rocheleau Tool and Die. “Conversations between educators and business are vital to be sure we close any gaps between curriculum and needs of business so together we can help our region develop opportunities for our youth to succeed here in North Central Massachusetts and provide a strong workforce for global competitiveness.”
Convening the Education Compact is part of the Chamber’s continuing efforts to advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. The Chamber has long been a champion of education and has been actively engaged in supporting schools and students. The Chamber recognizes that the quality and accessibility of our educational institutions is critical to the health and prosperity of the state and regional economy. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Education Compact or to inquire about joining the group, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600.
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 speaker is Dr. Mark Melnik, Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. The Donahue Institute is the economic development arm of the UMass President’s Office. Dr. Melnik will be presenting the findings of an economic profile study of North Central Massachusetts that was commissioned by the Chamber. The economic study combines detailed economic, labor market and socioeconomic data, as well as analysis on the economic conditions within the region. The Chamber commissioned the study to support economic development efforts and as a resource for local businesses.
Dr. Mark Melnik specializes in demographic, socio-economic, and labor market issues and leads a 15-person team working on variety of economic and public policy research projects informing clients in government, private industry, and the non-profit sectors. In his time at the Institute, Dr. Melnik has served as the principal-in-charge on projects with such clients as the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the Boston Foundation, the City of Boston, the City of Cambridge, MassDOT, the New England Foundation for the Arts, MassEcon, MassDevelopment, the Boston Private Industry Council, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, and the MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Dr. Melnik serves as the Senior Managing Editor of MassBenchmarks, the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the Institute in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
He holds a doctorate in sociology from Northeastern University. His dissertation explored skill and credential mismatches in the greater Boston labor market. He received his master of arts
from Northeastern University and his bachelor of arts from Youngstown State University, both in sociology.
The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, o register here.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliates, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Visit North Central Massachusetts, recently unveiled a new economic development video intended to highlight the region as a great place to live, work, visit and grow a business. The video is the third and final video in a series that was commissioned over the last year to promote the 27 communities which comprise North Central Massachusetts.
This short video includes strong visual content showcasing the dynamic and diverse nature of the region. It highlights the advantages of living and working in North Central Massachusetts, including quality of place, affordability, education, workforce and the region’s convenient proximity to Boston, Worcester and other population centers. The video also spotlights the region’s strengths in manufacturing, small business and its scenic beauty. Only two minutes and thirty-five seconds in length, the video clip creates an immediate impact and leaves the viewer with positive impressions of the region long after viewing it.
“We created this video to help tell the story of North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to show businesses, families and young people that North Central Massachusetts is the ideal place in New England for them to build their business, career and life.”
The Chamber worked with TDO Productions to create the promotional video, which will be shared with multiple audiences, including developers, businesses, employees and residents. The video also incorporated footage from Creative Eye Productions and Wachusett Ski Area. The two previous videos focused on manufacturing, tourism and quality of life and were released in late 2018 and early 2019 respectively. The new video can be accessed via the Chamber’s website at NorthCentralMass.com and ChooseNorthCentral.com, as well as on the Chamber’s Facebook and YouTube social media platforms. Or simply click here. The video will also be shown at select meetings and events.
This video is part of the Chamber’s continuing efforts to help promote the region and advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations, please visit NorthCentralMass.com or contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600.