Don’t get left out! The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation is getting ready to publish the 2020 edition of the Manufacturers Directory and Industrial Parks Guide for North Central Massachusetts.
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.
Fake and poorly trained “service dogs” – you’ve probably seen them in airports and grocery stores, on public transportation, in restaurants and hotels – can interfere with the life-saving work that legitimate Service Dogs perform for their human partners.
NEADS is committed to doing everything it can to help our working Service Dog teams navigate the world without worry. That means educating the public about what it takes to create a legitimate Service Dog and advocating to stop this epidemic of Service Dog fraud.
Here in Massachusetts, we’re doing our part through our support of H3657, An Act relative to the misrepresentation of a service animal, filed by Representative Kimberly Ferguson. We are currently requesting signatures for a petition in support of this bill.
We believe H3657 is important because it will discourage pet owners from identifying their dogs as service dogs in order to obtain special status by presenting the dog as a Service Dog or Service Dog in Training, thus allowing them to obtain the rights and privileges afforded disabled persons accompanied by Service Dogs, but unavailable to people and their pets. Plus, businesses will be better prepared to protect the public and legitimate Service Dog teams from aggressive, untrained, poorly trained and/or unsound pet dogs. Removing untrained dogs from public venues will help restore the credibility and safety of highly trained Service Dogs and their disabled partners.
If you have questions about the issue and/or the House Bill, please contact us for an interview or additional information.
Wachusett, Wormtown, and Greater Good Get Together to Raise Money for Menard Children’s Fun
Three of Central Massachusetts most well-known brewers are coming together for a very worthy cause. In response to yet another tragic death of a Worcester Firefighter, the three breweries are brewing and launching the beer “Worcester’s Bravest” with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Menard Children’s Fund. The fund that has been set up by the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Worcester International Association of Firefighters Local 1009 in support of the family of fallen Worcester Firefighter Lt. Jason Menard.
“We were beyond devasted to hear about the loss of Lt. Jason Menard” said David Fields, Managing Partner of Wormtown Brewery. “While it pales in comparison to the sacrifice our local heroes make every day, Worcester’s Bravest is a way we can give back to them and their families. We are honored to be a part of a strong community that will forever cherish his legacy. ”
“We said the last time we made this beer together that hopefully we would never have to do it again” said Christian McMahan, President of Wachusett Brewing Company. “However, when we have the ability to make a difference and support something so meaningful, we will do it each and every time.”
“We’re a tightly bound community” added Paul Wengender, Founder & President of Greater Good. “The strength of our community was tested, yet again. If one of our own goes down we will always rally together in vigorous support”
The beer style for Worcester’s Bravest is a Belgian Wit, a light-bodied, unfiltered, wheat beer. “It has sweet and zesty citrus notes with some complex pepper spice and herbal hops” said Ben Roesch, Brewmaster of Wormtown Brewery”.
“Worcester’s Bravest” will be released on draft in January at each brewery’s tap rooms as well as having a limited amount of cans being made available for sale. Beer launch and fundraising events will take place at each brewery. Wormtown will host their event on Friday January 24th, Wachusett on Saturday, January 25th, and Greater Good on Friday January 31st.
Donations can also be made directly to the Menard Children’s Fund and mailed to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union, 34 Glennie St, Worcester, MA 01605
For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.com
Leominster Credit Union (LCU) has announced the promotion of Kelli J. Rooney to the position of Senior Vice President, Community Engagement and Marketing. For the last year and a half, Rooney has been the Vice President of Marketing. In this newly created role, Rooney will lead LCU’s strategic relationship development, community engagement, advocacy and marketing. She will focus on strengthening the LCU brand and establishing collaborative opportunities while continuing to manage our marketing programs.
“Kelli is a great fit for this role,” said LCU President John O’Brien. “She has done a great job leading our marketing efforts and is very involved in the communities we serve. She is well known and respected and is always an advocate for our members and communities. Partnering our marketing and community involvement efforts will be a win-win for LCU and our member communities.”
Rooney serves as a board member for the Leominster Education Foundation, the Monty Tech Foundation, and the Beacon of Hope Community Services, an organization that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of individuals with developmental disabilities. She also serves on the Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts Committee and the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s Social Responsibility Committee. She is a North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and a member of the Montachusett Area Rotary Club. Rooney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Framingham State University and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Communication Studies from Fitchburg State University. Rooney resides in Leominster with her husband Chuck and their daughter Raegan.
American Cancer Society Event Raises Funds, Awareness
FITCHBURG, Mass., December 10, 2019 – Workers Credit Union is the top fundraising team in this year’s Greater Gardner Relay For Life. Workers Credit Union’s Relay Team raised $42,433.98 for the Relay event which funds cancer research along with things like free rides to chemotherapy, nights at area hotels near treatment hospitals and a 24/7 helpline for answers and support. This year’s amount is $16,000 more than the team’s original goal of $26,000.
Greater Gardner Relay For Life was held June 7 at Mount Wachusett Community College. The 24-hour walk is dedicated to funding cancer research and is one of the largest relay events in the country. The Workers Team comprised 44 employees and their family members, several of which are cancer survivors. Fundraising for the teams concluded August 21.
Since 2005, Workers Credit Union has sponsored the event and its Team have raised more than a combined $307,000. Workers Credit Union provided a donation of $10,000 to start this year’s fundraising. Workers Credit Union employees Rosa River and Jaclyn Hayes co-chaired the Workers Credit Union Relay team.
“We are so humbled by the support from our employees, members and Relay team,” said Rivera, a Senior Mortgage Originator at Workers. “This is a cause that is so special to our entire team – cancer has touched the lives of many of us and we work tirelessly each year on this fundraiser. We especially want to thank our members for coming out to events like our Dining for a Cause. We couldn’t have raised so much without their support.”
Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in thousands of communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give their time and effort because they believe it’s time to take action against cancer. Relay is a team fundraising event where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path. Each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps. Cancer patients don’t stop because they’re tired, and for one night, neither do the Relay teams. Workers Credit Union, headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, is a member-owned financial institution with full banking services to meet a lifetime of financial needs including the $3 million GiveBack program. With 15 branches in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend and Westford, Workers is proud to offer traditional banking channels as well as the latest technologies to more than 104,000 members.
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 next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast series is scheduled for Friday, January 10, 2020 from 6:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA. The January edition is sponsored by Resource Management, Inc.
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.
Wachusett Brewing Company has announced that Valerie Brock has been promoted to the position of Director of Fermentation and Cellaring and will be leading the 25-yr Massachusetts brewery’s brewing department moving forward. Valerie will be replacing longtime Brewmaster Dave Howard who is stepping down after 20+ years with the brewery.
“I could not be more proud to have someone of the caliber of Val to lead us into the future,” said Wachusett CEO/Founder Ned LaFortune. “She has consistently been a leader for us since the day she arrived here, and I am confident of all the incredible things she is going to do for our company moving forward,” LaFortune concluded.
Valerie has most recently held the position as the brewery’s Microbiologist. She comes with 10 years of experience in the areas of bacteriology, fermentation science, quality assurance, and sensory analysis.
“I look forward to the challenges of this role,” Brock shared. “We have an amazing team of brewers, cellarmen, and lab staff who care about producing great beers, ciders, and seltzers. We are excited to be working together to create new recipes and brew old favorites.”
For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.com
About Wachusett Brewing Company
The company produces a diverse, award-winning line of beers ranging from their best-selling Blueberry Ale to their highly-rated Wally New England IPA series. WBC is the largest brewer in Central Massachusetts and was named the 43rd largest craft brewery in the US in 2018.
Recognizing the importance of fostering an environment that attracts, retains and develops young talent in our communities, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has established a creative suite of programs and initiatives to help members meet their workforce goals while also helping to forge the next generation of business leaders.
Young Professionals Committee | From Left to Right: AJ Tourigny, City of Fitchburg; Kelli Rooney, Leominster Credit Union; David Ginisi, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce; Paulie Chlebecek, Edward Jones; Natalia Oliver, AIS, Inc.; Kelsea Benoit, The International; Courtney Brooks, Contemporary Design & Construction; Brendan Hannen, North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation
The Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts is a talent initiative of the Chamber that helps engage, develop and empower professionals ages 21-40 in the region. This program offers a variety of events designed to give young professionals the opportunity to grow their business network, build relationships with their peers, establish valuable mentor experiences with business leaders and contribute to the future of the region. Events range from the CEO Unplugged series that provides mentoring opportunities with established CEOs, to behind the scenes company tours and unique networking experiences. Within these events, young professionals develop leadership, communication and organizational skills through practical experience. The group relies on young professionals within the membership for direction and guidance, and has recently formed a new leadership committee to help bring new energy and keep the programs relevant and impactful.
“I believe it is crucial for a developing professional to surround one’s self with a network that shares a similar passion and drive for success. Our highest aspirations can be reached by collectively motivating and supporting one another,” said Paulie Chlebecek, Financial Advisor from Edward Jones and Chair of the Young Professionals Leadership Committee. “The Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts encourages like-minded individuals to do just that; to connect in a manner that will build strong and successful business relationships, while provoking an approach that resonates uniquely with our next generation of talent and leadership.”
“It is my job and passion to introduce customers to our most valuable asset, my fellow employees. Business is about relationships, and our costumers love learning about AIS, and who our people are,” said Natalia Oliver, Tour Specialist o fAIS,Inc. “That is why I am thrilled to be a young professional member of this committee and attend these events and see people connecting and learning how they can build relationships.”
CLI Graduate, Sweta Khajurivala of the Montachusett Opportunity Council, receiving recognition for graduating the Chamber’s Community Leadership Institute program.
Another important leadership development initiative of the Chamber is the Community Leadership Institute (CLI). CLI was developed in 1989 to support access to the region’s many organizations, industries and business leaders as part of the succession plan not only for individual businesses but for the communityatlarge. Participants in CLI learn how to cooperate and work as a team with a diverse group of people with differing backgrounds and experiences which helps to challenge and empower them, as well as how to think critically about the challenges and opportunities faced by the region.
“Our region is fortunate to have a program that invests in building that next generation of business leaders,” said Kelli Rooney, Vice President of Marketing at Leominster Credit Union and a 2014 graduate of the Community Leadership Institute. “CLI helps to strengthen leadership skills, enhance the knowledge of the resources available in our community and creates meaningful and lasting business relationships. I am extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to experience this program.”
High School Senior, Betame DeBono of Nashoba Regional High School, is presented an Enterprise Bank Scholarship by SVP, Michael Toomey, at the Chamber’s Annual Scholarship Breakfast.
The Chamber’s efforts around developing future talent in the region go well beyond just these leadership development programs. The Chamber believes that the very foundation of our region’s talent pipeline has its roots in a strong educational system and has been a longstanding champion of education, actively engaged in supporting our schools. Perhaps the best example of this commitment to our schools is the Chamber’s longstanding scholarship program. Each year, the Chamber’s Foundation distributes over $50,000 in scholarships to local high school students graduating from among the 15 school districts within North Central Massachusetts. Since establishing the program, the Chamber Foundation has awarded well over $1,000,000 in scholarships – all made possible through generous contributions from members. Beyond scholarships, the Chamber’s efforts have included hosting career exploration programs, encouraging work- based learning opportunities, partnering with Mount Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University, advocating on Beacon Hill for college and career pathways, publishing reports and convening education and business leaders together to work towards improving our schools. The Chamber has even received national attention, recently receiving two national education and talent development fellowships for its efforts to cover the entire talent development pipeline.
Young Professionals Chair, Paulie Chlebecek, poses for a photo with Kieshla Rosado, Raven Miranda, and Ann Dumezil of Work, Inc. at a Chamber event.
In today’s business world, the competition for talent is intense. The Chamber recognizes this as critically important to member businesses and to the health and prosperity of our region. We have tackled these challenges and opportunities head on with this multi-pronged strategy. The Chamber will continue its clear efforts in preparing the next generation of business and community leaders while maintaining the mission of Building businesses, Building communities. ◊
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber has revealed a new online data center on its website – NorthCentralMass.com – to provide extensive data on the 27 communities that comprise North Central Massachusetts. The online portal features data profilesof the communities as well as aggregate regional totals. The data is organized into sections around different characteristics of the region, including population, economy quality of life and business climate. It also includes comparative data for the state and other regions. In addition, the data center also includes an interactive online dashboard that provides convenient access to data measures and allows analysis of selected data sets. The Chamber commissioned the Economic and Public Policy Group at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute to conduct the research and develop the new resource center.
“Our top priority is to continue to move the North Central Massachusetts economy forward.” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “We see this online data center as a new investment in our efforts. We can use this data to showcase North Central Massachusetts, answer queries about the region and support ongoing projects. Our members and other stakeholders can also utilize the data to better understand the region and support data- driven decisions.”
The online data center was funded by Chamber and its economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. Visit the data center here. For more information on the new Data Center, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600. ◊
Some examples of how the data can be utilized, include:
• Local businesses can access data to help them make evidence based decisions.
• Realtors can utilize the data to showcase the affordability and quality of life of communities within the region.
• Site selectors can utilize the data when researching North Central Massachusetts for business expansion opportunities.
• Local non-profits can use the data to write more compelling grant proposals.
• Students and job seekers can review data to discover what industries are available and growing in the region.
• Media can utilize the data for research on stories about the region.
• Municipalities and economic development partners can use the data as a resource to stay up-to-date on economic trends and opportunities in target industries.
