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Advocating for Business Success: Your Voice in Government Affairs
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce serves as the trusted voice of local business, advocating on behalf of our members on local, state, and federal issues that impact our region’s economic climate and advancement.
How We Work
Our member-driven Government Affairs Program establishes positions on issues affecting our members and region, educates elected officials about business priorities, and facilitates member involvement in advocacy initiatives. We continuously monitor and analyze policy developments while building strategic coalitions and relationships to advance our region’s interests.
Our Strength and Expertise
The Chamber’s effectiveness stems from our membership base of prominent business and community leaders, combined with our deep understanding of complex local and regional issues. Our proven advocacy and community development expertise, alongside a proactive public policy agenda, enables us to engage directly with policymakers through regular forums, events and direct engagement.
Leadership and Approach
As a non-partisan organization, we focus on issues rather than candidates. While we do not endorse candidates, we actively facilitate dialogue between our elected representatives and candidates with the business community to ensure our region’s economic priorities are clearly communicated and understood. Our Government Affairs Committee and professional staff drive our advocacy efforts through strategic relationship building across both sides of the aisle, direct advocacy with decision-makers, and coalition building among businesses of all sizes.
Building Strategic Relationships
We cultivate strong partnerships with local, state, and federal policy leaders to foster trust and credibility, support informed decision-making, and promote collaborative solutions. “From the North Central region to Beacon Hill, the Chamber is known for being an influential voice and an organization that gets things done,” notes State Senator John J. Cronin.
Stay Informed
Follow our latest advocacy efforts and learn about legislative changes affecting your business through our regular updates and communications. Stay connected with us on social media for real-time policy updates, news, and insights that impact your business. Visit our Policy Positions page to review our current stance on key issues affecting North Central Massachusetts businesses and our regional economy.
Join Our Voice
Your membership in the Chamber strengthens our collective voice and advances our ability to create positive change. When you join the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, you’re not just joining a business organization – you’re investing in a powerful advocate for your business’s success and our region’s prosperity.
Contáctanos
For more information about our Government Affairs Program, please call 978.353.7600 ext. 224.
Our Impact in Action
From major policy victories to individual business support, our advocacy creates real change. Recent successes include securing a single tax rate in Fitchburg, bringing high-speed internet to local businesses, developing workforce solutions through research-driven initiatives, and helping members overcome immediate business challenges. These achievements showcase our commitment to businesses of all sizes. Click below for examples of our impact.
A Victory for Business: Securing a Single Tax Rate in Fitchburg
In 2019, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce achieved a landmark victory when the Fitchburg City Council voted to adopt a single tax rate, marking a historic shift in the city’s approach to property taxation. This significant policy change eliminated the split tax rate system that had placed a disproportionate burden on local businesses.
Prior to 2019, Fitchburg operated under a split tax rate system that required businesses to pay a higher property tax rate than residential properties. This disparity not only strained existing businesses, but also deterred new investment in the community, impacting Fitchburg’s economic competitiveness in the region.
The Chamber led a coordinated advocacy campaign that included direct engagement with City Council members, mobilization of local business leaders to share their perspectives, presentation of economic data demonstrating the benefits of a single tax rate, and building community support through educational outreach.
The successful transition to a single tax rate created a more equitable tax structure, relieving the burden on local businesses while positioning Fitchburg as a more attractive location for new investment and business growth. This policy change has proven beneficial for the entire community, spurring increased economic development and attracting new businesses to the area. The resulting expansion of the commercial tax base has generated additional tax revenue for the city, providing more resources for essential services and infrastructure improvements that benefit all residents while also creating more local job opportunities. This virtuous cycle of growth and investment demonstrates how pro-business policies can create widespread community benefits.
This accomplishment demonstrates the Chamber’s ability to effectively advocate for policies that strengthen our regional business climate and drive economic advancement for businesses and residents alike.
Expanding Digital Infrastructure: The Crawford Street Success Story
The power of Chamber advocacy was clearly demonstrated in the transformation of Crawford Street in Fitchburg, where a critical infrastructure challenge threatened business operations. Prior to 2017, more than 20 businesses along this bustling commercial corridor struggled with unreliable and inadequate internet service, despite the street having one-and-a-half miles of telephone pole wires.
The situation was untenable for modern business operations, with companies unable to perform basic daily tasks due to weak connectivity. Recognizing the severity of the issue, the Chamber took decisive action, leveraging its relationships with local government and service providers to champion a solution.
Through persistent advocacy, the Chamber worked closely with Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale and his administration to bridge communications between businesses, state officials, and service providers. This coordinated effort led to a comprehensive review of the area’s needs and ultimately resulted in the installation of high-speed internet infrastructure.
“We really needed high-speed internet to make our businesses run smoothly, but we just couldn’t get it to work with our service providers,” said Mark Freeman, President of SteelFab, Inc. “The Chamber reached out to Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale, state officials, and other business advocates to have the service providers take a fresh look at what we needed. In the end, Mayor DiNatale was able to help bridge the gap to obtain the service with the state and help us get the bandwidth we needed, and the Chamber never wavered in their commitment to help us.”
The timing of this infrastructure improvement proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Freeman noted, “Without the high-speed internet, we wouldn’t have been able to serve our customers by providing virtual inspections, use our systems and honestly just get work done, so we are happy to have the service and I know our neighbors on the street are happy about it as well.”
This success story exemplifies how the Chamber’s advocacy can solve specific infrastructure challenges that directly impact business operations and growth. By bringing together key stakeholders and persistently pushing for solutions, the Chamber transformed a significant business impediment into an asset that continues to support business success and economic growth in the region.
Addressing Workforce Challenges: Research-Driven Solutions
When North Central Massachusetts businesses began reporting increasing difficulties in finding workers, the Chamber took a data-driven approach to understanding and addressing the challenge. In late 2022, the Chamber commissioned a comprehensive study from the UMass Donahue Institute’s Economic and Public Policy Research group, a leading provider of applied research on strategic economic and public policy issues.
The resulting report, “Worker Shortages and the North Central Massachusetts Region: Engaging Hidden and Future Workers to Grow the Local Economy,” provided an in-depth analysis of the region’s workforce challenges. The study outlined specific barriers related to geography, skills, structure, and work-life balance, while offering short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations for growing the North Central workforce.
“The study was intended to help shape public policy and advance thoughtful solutions to the labor challenges faced by our members,” said Travis Condon, Public Affairs Manager at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “The challenges and issues are very complex and have long-term implications for the region’s future and our ability to compete for talent.”
The Chamber has actively implemented the study’s recommendations, with a particular focus on strengthening the workforce pipeline for priority industries like health care and manufacturing that represent a significant portion of the region’s employment base. The Chamber has facilitated innovative partnerships between employers and local schools. Lillian Burkart, President of Burkart Flutes & Piccolos in Shirley, describes these efforts: “The Chamber’s leadership in workforce development has been invaluable to manufacturers like us. Through their organized manufacturing tours, educators and policymakers get to see firsthand the innovation and opportunity in modern manufacturing. Their Manufacturing Council and CEO Roundtable have created a powerful collective voice for our industry, helping ensure the next generation knows about the rewarding careers available right here in North Central Massachusetts.”
The Chamber also launched its Talent Compact, with the aim of convening employers, educators, and elected officials together to explore creative and collective solutions to these complex challenges. Each meeting spotlights unique efforts to address workforce challenges and provides a safe space for frank discussions around this tough topic.
“The Chamber’s leadership in bringing together employers, educators, and workforce development partners has been invaluable,” says Patricia Pistone, Senior Director of External Affairs at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital. “Their ability to convene key stakeholders and facilitate meaningful dialogue has helped develop innovative solutions to our workforce challenges. The Chamber’s research-driven approach and commitment to collaboration are helping build a stronger healthcare workforce pipeline for our region.”
To further support workforce development, the Chamber launched the WorkNorthCentral Jobs Board, creating a centralized platform connecting local employers with area job seekers. This resource has become an essential tool for businesses seeking talent and individuals looking for career opportunities within the region.
This comprehensive approach to workforce development demonstrates the Chamber’s commitment to addressing complex regional challenges through research, collaboration, and innovative solutions. By bringing together educational institutions, employers, and job seekers, the Chamber continues to strengthen the regional workforce pipeline and support economic growth.
Supporting Small Business Growth: The Power of Chamber Membership
While the Chamber is known for tackling major policy issues, its value to individual members is often demonstrated through immediate, hands-on support for day-to-day business challenges. The story of Tamar Russell Brown, founder of Sitka Creations, illustrates how Chamber membership can make a crucial difference in a business’s success.
Russell Brown, who recently celebrated her 20th anniversary in business, credits the Chamber with playing a vital role in her company’s growth. “I believe I would not be where I am today without the Chamber,” she says. Her experience demonstrates how Chamber membership provides both strategic support for major initiatives and practical help with immediate challenges.
In 2016, the Chamber worked alongside NewVue Communities to help Russell Brown secure funding to open a new gallery on Main Street in downtown Fitchburg, expanding her graphic design studio’s presence. However, it was the Chamber’s response to an urgent safety concern that truly demonstrated the practical value of the Chamber’s advocacy for members.
Shortly after opening the gallery, Russell Brown noticed that uneven sidewalks were creating a hazard for her elderly visitors. Despite reaching out to city officials, she struggled to get a response. “I called the city and didn’t get the immediate attention we needed so I reached out to Chamber who worked to get the issue resolved,” she recalls. “The Department of Public Works came out and fixed my sidewalk, so it really shows the power and influence of the Chamber to help small businesses get what they need.”
This kind of immediate, practical support exemplifies the daily value of Chamber membership. As Russell Brown notes, “The Chamber knows you and they are such a huge part of the community by bringing so many of us together for after-hours events and networking. If you are a member of the community and not involved with the Chamber you would have no idea of the many opportunities that exist for you.”
The story of Sitka Creations demonstrates how Chamber membership provides access to both strategic growth opportunities and practical problem-solving support. While the Chamber continues to champion major policy initiatives and regional development, it remains equally committed to addressing the immediate needs of individual members – from securing funding for expansion, to fixing sidewalks that could impact customer safety.
This hands-on approach to member support, combined with broader advocacy efforts, makes Chamber membership an invaluable resource for businesses of all sizes. Whether a company needs help with major growth initiatives or assistance resolving day-to-day operational challenges, the Chamber stands ready to leverage its relationships and resources to support member success.
“Without a doubt, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber is the most influential and effective business organization in the region. If there is a critical issue that affects local businesses, the Chamber is there working to convene key decision makers to ensure that their voice is heard and that their concerns are addressed.”