On March 28, 2022 the Baker-Polito administration announced the designation of eight new Early College programs including Narragansett Regional High School (NRHS) in partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University.
Early College programs provide college exposure to students in high school who might otherwise not have considered higher education as an option. The Early College Designation put forth by the Massachusetts Bord of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) states that approved designated early college programs in Massachusetts will provide equitable access; guided academic pathways; enhanced student support; relevant connection to career; and effective partnerships.
“We are proud to receive this designation, and grateful to our faculty and staff for supporting opportunities for NRHS students to explore their career interests and related college programming more deeply,” stated NRHS Principal Colby Young.
The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million for early college funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million.
“Early college is an invaluable tool that supports increased college enrollment among participating students, particularly students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, and helps them succeed once they arrive on campus,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a press release from the Executive Office of Education on March 28. “Today’s announcement will boost participation rates at schools that already have programs, as well as launch new and exciting programs that will create more pathways to college.”
“This new designation is evidence of the success our existing programs have seen to date,” notes MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “Our Early College programs have helped hundreds of students start a college career that they might otherwise not have considered.”
“Early College programs improve outcomes and open doors of opportunity for students, and we are honored to build upon our record of success by adding Narragansett Regional High School to our list of partners,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said.
MWCC Early College programs have grown exponentially in recent years and currently include partnerships with Gardner High School, Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology, Leominster High School, Leominster Center for Excellence and Leominster Center for Technical Education Innovation, Fitchburg High School, the Sizer School, and now Narragansett Regional High School. Recruiting is now on-going for fall 2022.
“Men are a lost tribe,” says architect Joseph Tarella. “That’s why we need maps.”
The artist has had a lifelong fascination with maps of all kinds, but his primary focus has been on the coastline of the continental United States. He has drawn maps of that coastline from Cape Cod down to Corpus Christi, Texas, each one painstakingly researched and exquisitely executed. But while they are accurate renderings of the places they represent, they are essentially artworks, created with pen & ink and watercolors. These unique pieces will be shown starting on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 4 – 7 p.m. at Pop-up Gallery Sitka, 227 Spring St. in Newport, R.I.
Mr. Tarella has created (and sold!) hundreds of maps of many locales along the East and Gulf coasts for more than 20 years, and he’s still going strong. Now Mr. Tarella has tackled one of the most storied locales in the Northeast, the shoreline bordering the city of Newport, Rhode Island.
“I haven’t seen anyone doing what I do,” says the artist. He began by revisiting a time when he made a map for a project he was working on as a young architect. Years later, when he designed his own house on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, he found himself reading about the shoreline of that island and then doing his own rough sketches of the coastline. Sketches followed sketches and the process continued as the rendering of the shoreline was refined again and again. Friends and neighbors would see the drawings and recognize the place being represented. Some would ask, “Hey, when that’s finished, can I have one?” Suddenly, before even thinking about selling the maps he made, Joe had customers.
“People were drawn to the maps because they knew the place I was mapping,” Joe recalls. “They accurately represented a place, not some imaginary scene. These were real things, real sights from their own daily lives.” There seems to be a strong emotional response to that sense of connection Joe’s customers have experienced first seeing the maps. The connection with their own homes at a specific location on a given map is very strong. Prospective customers find other spots that are recognizable and that are near and dear to their hearts. “When they look at the map and come upon an area that looks familiar,” Joe recalls, “then that seals it. They buy the map!”
The artist not only familiarized himself with many details of Long Beach Island and its shoreline at the time he created his 2001 map, but he later made a map of the island as it was in 1900. In both cases he found numerous errors — and corrected them. He is therefore exceptionally knowledgeable about every corner of the Island — certainly a good recommendation regarding the practical side of his art and craftsmanship.
Shorelines change over time. Joe read in The New York Times about a weather research project in New Jersey that referred to a collection of maps now in the Rutgers University Library. They date from the 1890s, and naturally show a different picture than the current maps show. “There were very few towns,” Joe notes, and some surprising differences. He compared those older maps with the current ones and began to note the “contradictions” between those 100-year-old maps and those in use today.
Joe identifies with the early navigators who “got in their little boats and sailed across the ocean and somehow got to the New World.” It was these adventurous people who settled the islands and the coasts of New England and the whole eastern seaboard. Art lovers can catch some of that adventurous spirit in Joseph Tarella’s one-of-a-kind creations.
California native Elizabeth Hughes is a tremendously versatile artist. She began as a dancer, turning later to writing in many styles and genres, most notably in poetry. Now, as a painter, she stays “connected to the rhythm, form, and emotion” that she first experienced in her dancing.
Her dramatic and forceful picture “Surviving Tree” depicts a large, long-lived tree that overlooks the ocean in Rhode Island as it goes about the business of surviving the elements, the endless change of seasons, and the constant vicissitudes of climate. While a pleasant blue sky can be seen behind the tree, still there is a dark, lonely quality about the tree itself. The artist seems to be honoring the tree for managing to live through so many years already, and perhaps many more to come.
Ms. Hughes studied the works of painter Frida Kahlo in Mexico in 1993 on a Kinnicutt Grant from the Worcester Art Museum. She has exhibited at many venues over the last 25 years, primarily in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She currently has work at Roughan McCarthy. Her work can often be found in shows at DeBlois Gallery, The Portsmouth Arts Guild in Portsmouth, R.I., and at The Mandala Way and Spring Bull Gallery in Newport.
New York-based painter Beth Barry shares Joseph Tarella’s affinity for the sea (particularly for the Massachusetts coast, where she grew up). She often recalls her first time in an airplane, when she marveled at “the color, shapes, and shadows created by the light from the sun,” with the rich palette of colors of the landscape striking her as the manifestation of a “supernatural light.” The way she is especially tuned into that light is evident in her painting, “Stormy Sand,” a freely abstract rendering of (perhaps) the sun sweeping over a desert floor to create exuberant flashes of yellow mixing with the blue of the sky.
Brooklyn-based abstract-expressionist Barbara Groh is intensely interested in “provoking thought, emotion, moods, and aesthetic pleasure” through her art. She paints in oil, acrylic, and cold wax. She is also a sculptor who works in earth and clay, quipping that these pieces are “literally grounding for her.” Her painting “Ham Song” shows her dedication to pure color and line for evoking emotion. More or less perfectly vertical and horizontal lines cut into a stunning cobalt blue field, offering the viewer a choice between the near-violence of the copper-colored lines and the almost hypnotic quietude of the blue.
Israeli-American artist Shira Toren, a Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate from Pratt Institute, is eclectically inclined, having developed a method of combining graphite powder, pigments and ink into Venetian plaster substrates. Her painting “Roof Tops” is deceptively uncomplicated, and walks a tight-rope between blunt abstraction and a subtly rendered illustration of the title. Viewed one way, it is an abstract ordering of rectangles in similar colors. The viewer may blink and the picture now appears indeed to be rooftops as seen from a very high balcony, perhaps pushing the buildings depicted a little past what we would automatically agree is natural perspective.
Boston-based printmaker H.M. Sprague is the daughter of a master furniture maker. So she makes it plain that she has always had “an appreciation for natural materials.” Her prints made from woodcuts depict the very gnarled and twisted branches that might have been the original material of her woodcuts.
Susan Lisbin is based in Catskill, N.Y., where she paints decidedly abstract fields of color that may express emotions, moods, perhaps even some of the people in her life. “Related Forms XIV” shows us a large, showy field of red stealing all the attention in a crowded, closed-in room, as if he or she were the guest at the party who has the most to say and the most to show off. The large, grey cylinder across from the red field seems bored by this gathering. Or perhaps she (or he) is simply exhausted and is about to fall over from lack of sleep.
Marston Clough, based in Central Massachusetts, works in many different media, from drawing to etching to monotype, this last proving especially fruitful because it “allows looser, more spontaneous and more immediate results than etchings, woodcuts or linotypes.” He has also produced many oil paintings. Two of his works are in the Permanent Collection of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Paintings such as “The Red Shore” depict impossible sky-scapes that are nevertheless extremely compelling, exuberantly expressing emotion and mood.
Painter Ruth LaGue is a native of Alaska, the “big sky” country where she grew up astounded by the beauty and majesty of the mountains and the immense forests. Later, in her twenties, she travelled extensively in India, where she says she “became consumed by the ‘landscape of the spirit’ — that limitless interior universe that lives in each of us.” There is a minimalist quality in her work that allows the big features of her landscapes — the mountains, the sea, and so on — to quietly dominate the viewer’s attention, not in an overbearing way but gently and peacefully. She also has works such as her “Oceanside,” in which the paint is applied so thickly that the sheer mass of it has a hypnotic effect on the viewer.
Brooklyn native Susan Grucci’s love affair with the natural world goes back to her childhood, growing up near Jamaica Bay, a large wildlife refuge on the far eastern edge of New York City. Painting mostly in oils, she has rendered birds, trees, mountains and such-like lovingly and beautifully for decades. She has served as a consultant at the 92nd Street Y for 25 years, with many exhibitions of her work held at the Y’s Weill Art Gallery. Her sensitivity toward nature is best illustrated (so to say) by such paintings as landscapes (“forest-scapes”?) such as “Paradise Lost,” which displays old, remarkably resilient trees that nevertheless show their age. These are not scenes of neatly trimmed gardens, but rather portraits of very old survivors in a lovely but often harsh environment. These paintings command respect for their subject matter.
This exhibition will open on Friday, April 22, 4 – 7 p.m. at Pop-up Gallery Sitka, 227 Spring St. in Newport, R.I. There will be live music and refreshments. Visit coastalartmaps.com and gallerysitka.com to learn more about the work of these remarkable artists.
Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with branch locations in New England and New York, has announced several actions it will take with its employees and customers in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. As a first step, Berkshire Bank’s Foundation will make a $50,000 contribution to the Ukrainian Federation of America, one of the oldest Ukrainian organizations in the U.S. who are working to deliver humanitarian and medical aid. In addition, Berkshire’s donation will be leveraged in collaboration with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island on 401Gives Day, a statewide day of giving in Rhode Island on April 1. The Bank selected 401Gives Day because it is a time sensitive campaign that provides Berkshire the opportunity to make a greater impact by inviting the public and business community to match Berkshire’s contribution ultimately increasing the amount of funds going to support Ukraine.
“As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, Berkshire Bank felt compelled to stand together and show our support as worldwide events impact all of us. Our Berkshire family has employees and customers with loved ones living in Ukraine. To strengthen our efforts, we are working to assist employees, customers, and the community by leveraging our resources and business operations to thoughtfully and strategically help individuals impacted by the invasion,” said Sean Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer at Berkshire Bank.
“All of us at Dorcas International stand firm with the people of Ukraine,” commented Kathy Cloutier, Dorcas International’s Executive Director. “We have heard from our neighbors and supporters, and we agree that given the state of affairs in Ukraine right now, we can and should serve as a catalyst for help when and where it is needed most which is right now, on the ground in Ukraine and Poland,” she continued. “This 401Gives, we are proud to partner with Berkshire Bank in support of Ukrainians.”
In addition to its significant financial contribution, Berkshire Bank has implemented several actions to harness its entire business to support those impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Efforts include:
Matched Contributions: Berkshire will continue to match employee contributions through its Giving Program to non-profits working to aid in relief efforts.
Supply Drive & Employee Volunteering: Berkshire activated a virtual supply drive to harness its employees and networks to provide critical supplies to organizations and people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Its XTEAM® employee volunteer program is also hosting volunteer opportunities in some markets.
Customer Support: Berkshire will refund outgoing wire transfer fees to individuals sending money to family and non-profit organizations in Ukraine.
Berkshire Bank stands together with its colleagues, customers, and communities who have loved ones in Ukraine, and we support those most directly impacted by the conflict.
Masis Staffing Solutions, headquartered in Worcester, MA, is pleased to announce the expansion of its business through the acquisition of two of the light industrial offices of the DAVIS Companies, a staffing firm which specializes in advanced manufacturing, engineering and IT and technology professional staffing.
The offices’ New Jersey and Tennessee locations support a strategic expansion of Masis’s services in these key geographies. The collaboration between Masis and DAVIS Companies positions both businesses for continued growth in their core service offerings.
Matthew Vaccaro, President of Masis Staffing, noted, “The Masis team has enjoyed working with DAVIS Companies on this transaction, and looks forward to building upon DAVIS’s long track record of outstanding service for clients and candidates in Vineland, New Jersey and Memphis, Tennessee.”
Brendon Davis, President of DAVIS Companies, commented, “ DAVIS is pleased to be working with Masis, a company that aligns with our focus on creating and maintaining an employee focused internal culture, that also provides our team members with growth opportunities. This acquisition allows each company to evolve and focus on their core markets. For DAVIS, dedicating resources to continued growth in our Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and IT verticals, as well as our Managed Services and enterprise teams is a key objective for 2022 and beyond. This also supports Masis’s client service goals.”
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Masis Staffing Solutions is a service-driven staffing firm providing custom solutions for clients’ hiring needs. Masis specializes in on-site staffing program management, Master Service Partnerships (MSP), human resources support and placement in a variety of industries. With significant expertise in manufacturing, distribution and professional recruitment and placement, Masis has offices throughout the United States to support clients’ hiring needs.
The DAVIS Companies is a preferred source for Staffing Solutions and Talent Advisory Services, specializing in contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire staffing for Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, IT and Technology personnel. With corporate headquarters in Marlborough, MA and offices in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, we put great people to work in great companies.
For information about Masis Staffing, please visit www.masisstaffing.com. To learn more about The DAVIS Companies, please visit: www.daviscos.com
Aristotle once equated the essence of life to serving others and doing good. While the philosophy seems like a fulfilling endeavor, it’s not quite practical given that we lead super busy lives. With our already jam-packed schedules, it’s impossible to think of giving away your time and energy for free without a financial reward.
However, volunteering is beneficial for several reasons, and the best part about it is that it doesn’t have to take up much of your time and effort. The advantages of volunteering not only benefit the community, or person receiving the assistance, it also benefits the individual or the organization offering the help.
Such benefits can probably explain why there has been a steady rise in popularity in volunteering in the past few years. Research shows that more than 25% of adults in the United States volunteered from 2008 to 2017, with women taking the lead at a staggering 27.8% against 21.8% of men.
So why is there a spike in volunteering? Well, it seems as though more and more people are starting to realize the immense benefits one can derive from volunteering. People are beginning to see how helping each other benefits all parties involved, and more businesses are joining the helping bandwagon.
Benefits Businesses Derive from Volunteering
Connecting With the Community
A huge benefit that volunteering has is its impact on the community. It allows organizations to connect to the community to improve it. Even helping out with small tasks can make a significant difference to the lives of those in need, and it’s a two-way street.
Setting aside time to help others helps employees network and make new contacts and friends by sharing activities. Volunteering allows employees from different companies in the Chamber to meet for a common goal and form connections. These connections made during the volunteering process make for an incredible opportunity to expand business ties outside the organization.
Volunteering Has Immense Health Benefits
Scientists coined a term for the physical effect doing good deeds has on the human body. The term is known as Helper’s High. Volunteering promotes good physical and mental health by counteracting the effects of anger, stress, and anxiety while also combating depression by maintaining a regular contract with others. It also increases self-confidence and provides employees with a sense of purpose, thus increasing employee empowerment.
Team Bonding
Teaming employees up outside of the work environment to participate in a worthwhile activity fosters a sense of teamwork. Pulling together to partake in a common goal, especially a community project or charity, helps employees build bonds that last long, thus making for a renewed sense of commitment to the job and one another.
Business Success
According to research, organizations that integrate social impact into their daily processes can increase sales by about 20% and productivity by 13%. Such organizations also drastically reduce employee turnover while increasing the company’s share price by up to 6%.
Enhanced Skills
Volunteering lets employees use their already learned skills to better the community. They can also use the opportunity to acquire a valuable skill that can come in handy in the work environment. Employers don’t require financial investment to offer opportunities for employees to develop or enhance their skills.
Increased Brand Awareness
Organizations that go out of their way to help the community by working in new environments usually earn a positive reputation for their good deeds. Nowadays, people want to associate themselves with brands that are working to create change in society. Therefore, volunteering in new or familiar environments helps establish relationships with customers and helps build brand awareness and loyalty.
In Conclusion
With the benefits of volunteering being evident, we hope that more enterprises become more involved in helping. The more value we add to others, the better our world becomes. So why not start today?
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, Micron Solutions in Fitchburg is a world class contract manufacturer for the Medical Device, Defense and Life Sciences markets.
It strives to be a true manufacturing “one stop shop.” According to the website, where others are forced to outsource numerous core components increasing cost and lead times, Micron has expanded its capabilities to offer an integrated set of services to handle jobs completely in-house.
“Our mission,” explains President & CEO Bill Laursen, “is to be the go-to partner for our clients. We develop elegant, yet robust automated manufacturing solutions. We function like other larger contractors yet offer a hand-crafted, personalize business experience.” Micron works with clients of all sizes to provide manufacturing solutions and assembly services to expeditiously help its customers meet their goals.
As Micron’s website explains, “our specialties include Precision Machining, Thermoplastic Injection Molding, Mold Making, Assembly Services and Sensors. Whether it is partnering with clients to help with design for manufacturing on new programs or to support existing applications, Micron Solutions, Inc. is prepared to commit all resources necessary to find a solution. As a Full-Service Supplier, each member of our manufacturing, engineering, research and quality teams stand ready to work in collaboration with clients to meet any challenge.”
Founded in 1972, Micron now employs 120 people in its 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. As the website states, Micron “is capable of serving customers’ projects from start to finish.” Laursen explains the company’s core values are to “do it right the first time!” He strives to build a “customer-focused, collaborative” work culture. Even during the past two years amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, he noted how proud he was of his loyal team. During the business slowdown, Laursen noted “Our folks wanted to come to work. We were proud to maintain our team.”
Evidence of the company’s commitment to its employees and its clients shows with its regular “Micron Matters” town-hall style meetings with employees and management. In those meetings, Laursen notes they are always focusing on celebrating the company’s collaborative work culture, accountability and continuous improvement.
As a local business, Laursen said Micron supports the local community by providing employment opportunities through internships and co-ops to local high school and college students. Many returned to work for the company during and after completing school. He also highlighted the strong legacy of manufacturing in North Central Massachusetts. While the business has clients world-wide, he said the region’s close proximity to the healthcare and bioscience industries provides tremendous opportunity. They primarily rely on their sales force, social media and their website for promotion but, Laursen added, Micron’s customers are the businesses strongest source.
Laursen credits a company advisor by the name of Mike Kelly as one of Micron’s biggest influencers in its ability to grow the business. Retired after a successful career at several large Medical Device companies, he said Kelly has been instrumental in the company’s success in creating an “honest, helpful work environment.”
As the website concludes, “we strive to provide results that exceed your quality requirements, meeting your financial needs and help grow your business.” Yet, even with its customer and client focus, Laursen notes the company’s highest priority is safety – it has all culminated in 50 years of success for Micron.
The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts, focused its marketing efforts last quarter on promoting the region as a Winter destination, with a heavy emphasis on utilizing digital strategies. We invested in an assorted mix of strong content on VisitNorthCentral.com highlighting winter activities and businesses. This included developing a new Winter landing page and blog articles such as “A Winter Getaway Might be Closer than you Think” and “Snow on the Mountain”. We also conducted several sponsored content campaigns targeted to the drive market. During the Winter season we also invested in some paid social media; targeted and geofenced digital advertising; YouTube advertising; and some limited print advertising. Our Facebook page garnered 221,443 impressions, reach of 78,845 and 8,004 engagements since the start of the Winter season. “Find Your…” was utilized as the overarching theme for our advertising campaigns during the season. The campaigns centered around the wide range of activities, lodging, restaurants, breweries and cultural attractions in North Central Massachusetts. Our winter activities were promoted as “Find Your Thrill” through geofenced digital ads on MassLive and LocalIQ affiliate websites and targeted YouTube advertising. The MassLive display ads garnered 251,401 impressions and 216 clicks thus far. The LocalIQ digital ads garnered 57,235 impressions and 72 clicks thus far. The targeted YouTube advertising campaign resulted in 98 clicks, 40,872 interactions and a 47.28% view rate. We also worked with MassLive and Telegram & Gazette to promote the region as a winter getaway destination through “Find Your Slice of Simplicity” branded content. The content focused on the unique lodging options, restaurants, museums and relaxing winter activities in the region. The MassLive content resulted in 39,701 impressions, click through rate of 0.61% and 244 clicks. The Telegram & Gazette content garnered 9,894 reads, a 20.06% click through rate, and 1,985 clicks. The sponsored social media post resulted in 6,247 link clicks, over 400 reactions, and nearly 150 shares. For print media, we advertised in AAA magazine in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York as well as Baystate Parent monthly issues through “Find Your Winter Wonderland”. These advertisements were targeted towards families with young kids centered around the family-friendly experience our region provides. We also partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, the Massachusetts Ski Association and five other regional tourism councils on a collective winter campaign with Hearst media highlighting the state as a ski and winter destination. And, during the season we implemented some shop local marketing to promote supporting local businesses. Preliminary data from Arrivalist indicates a 14% increase in visitors traveling to the region over the same period the prior year, but down 27% over pre-pandemic 2019. Top four origin markets were Boston; Rhode Island; Connecticut; and New York.
As we move in to the Spring, we will continue our past strategies of promoting the outdoor assets of our region as well highlighting local attractions and businesses. We will do so through pivoting to a more digital focused marketing mix with geofenced and targeted digital ads, connected-app streaming ads, targeted YouTube advertising, paid Pinterest ads, branded content, social media and print media. We are also planning to resume some sale development activities, including participating in some travel industry trade shows in the Spring to promote the region.
After being closed to the public for more than 700 days, the Massachusetts State House reopened to the public in February. As local communities also rescind or revise their mask ordinances, the reopening of the State House certainly represents a major shift in the pandemic. While COVID-19 continues to remain present, communities across the Commonwealth are adapting and learning to conduct business in this new environment. As the Chamber continues our advocacy efforts, we look forward to the opportunity for staff and Chamber members to interact with legislators on important issues in the people’s house.
Election season is also heating up, with contested races for all of the major constitutional offices, some of which will be decided in the state primary on September 6ta. The Chamber once again looks forward to playing an informative role throughout the process, and we have launched a new election series as part of our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast focusing on candidates for these statewide seats. Episodes will continue to be posted in the coming weeks and will remain up through the election. The Chamber is also monitoring races in the House and Senate. 1para Middlesex District Representative Sheila Harrington was recently appointed to be clerk-magistrate of Gardner District Court while 1para Worcester District Senator and former senate president, Harriette Chandler, announced she would not seek reelection leaving at least two open seats in North Central Massachusetts. We are working to engage candidates in regards to our members’ priorities and our initiatives.
We are continuing to monitor the State’s COVID-19 response. In February, Governor Baker signed a $101 million COVID-19 spending bill that included $76 million in direct state spending aimed at boosting access to masks, vaccines and rapid tests, particularly for schools, congregate care facilities and homeless shelters, along with another $25 million in available federal funds to be directed to the state’s COVID emergency paid sick leave program. At the end of February, the Baker Administration also announced a new $75 million dollar grant program to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program comes as part of the $4 billion ARPA spending plan signed into law in December. These funds will be administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation through two different grant programs, the New Applicant Grant Program and the Inclusive Grant Program. Applications for the programs are open until April 4, 2022.
Following the announcement of Governor Baker’s final proposed budget of $45 billion, the Chamber met with the region’s delegation virtually for our annual Legislative Briefing. The briefing provided an important opportunity to thank the delegation for their ongoing support of Chamber priorities, while advocating for a number of items in the upcoming budget and legislative session. The Chamber is focused on securing support for a number of crucial areas that will help advance North Central Massachusetts including economic development, workforce development, education and tourism.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at 978.353.7600, ext. 224; or via email at .
Imagine a modern renaissance, built on our past with the vision of a sustainable, modern future. Guess what? It’s happening right now in North Central Massachusetts. With more than 7,500 businesses based in the 27 communities that encompass North Central, we are building on the strong bones of our industrial past to redevelop buildings and create green living spaces, all while staying true to our traditional New England roots.
In 2020, a group of local business and community leaders, dignitaries and other key regional stakeholders got together to really understand what makes our region tick. The result is One North Central, a regional economic development plan to set a path forward for growth and opportunities.
One critical factor that bubbled to the surface early on was the North Central Massachusetts real estate market’s affordability compared to Greater Boston. Our region is home to more than 52 million square feet of industrial, retail and flex space, which is an increase of 375,000 square feet since 2006. And, with industrial and office lease rates approximately $15 per square foot, the region offers a relatively large share of competitively priced warehouse and distribution space. In fact, North Central Massachusetts offers the highest potential for industrial space demand, more than double when compared to the other four Massachusetts regions identified in One North Central. In fact, we have a unique competitive edge over many other regions closer to Boston—the lower cost of both owner and renter housing. It’s an advantage which could attract new talent to live in the region who could purchase homes typically out of reach in many other parts of the state.
The region’s plethora of unique historic downtowns and town centers with a variety of community types offer a wide spectrum of opportunities for businesses and families alike. Want to take a commuter rail to a walkable downtown or open a small business in an old mill? You can. Interested in building furniture in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, learning to design a video game in a tech lab or visit a farm or orchard for fresh produce? You can do that, too. For our region’s largest communities, downtown areas are fast becoming destinations for arts and culture, restaurants and green space that attracts residents, employees, and visitors to live, work, learn and enjoy.
“A major focus of our economic development is our Urban Renewal Plan focusing on the Mill Street and Downtown areas which are designed to create opportunity for private investment, stimulate economic growth, and improve and expand housing opportunities,” said Trevor Beauregard, Director, Community Development and Planning, City of Gardner, and Executive Director, Gardner Redevelopment Authority. “In concert with state funding and grants, the availability of lending for private development in Gardner is also stimulating the city’s targeted areas for development and growth.”
Beauregard highlighted the Timpany Crossroads Project as a well-sighted, successful private investment located along the commercial corridor at the corner of Route 2A and Route 68, which offers businesses convenient access to major roadways and provides maximum high visibility. And in March 2021, Community HealthLink announced it purchased 13 acres of land next to Walmart on Timpany Boulevard to build a new 20,000-square-foot facility. The new building will be fully ADA-compliant and LEED certified, and offer primary and family medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as urgent care.
“We have a two-pronged approach to economic development in Fitchburg,” said Tom Skwierawski, Executive Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Fitchburg. “We are
looking at the west and east sections of the city in very different ways. On the east, we have agricultural, greenfield development sites with the potential for tremendous commercial development. On the west side, we have a commercial recreation hub that started with Great Wolf Lodge and is now home to Game On, both of which provide family experiences for recreation.”
A big challenge for Skwierawski is the current real estate market’s low inventory which is making it difficult to welcome new residents to the city. “While we want to create continuous activities for the weekend traveler, we also want to attract people who’ve been priced out of the greater Boston area. We want them to purchase a home and raise a family here, but that’s hard to accomplish when there is little to no real estate inventory available.”
The City of Fitchburg is also turning to its downtown area, which the city refers to as “InTown,” into a destination arts and culture hub surrounded by residential units for those priced out of Boston, Worcester and the Merrimack Valley. “We have the Moran Square project which includes 44 residential units and commercial development opportunities, and several projects along Main Street designed to increase traffic to the downtown area,” he said. “We’re currently working on the redevelopment of 655 Main Street which will create four rental units and become the future home of the Dario’s on Main restaurant; 805 Main Street which will provide eight units; and the former Harper Furniture building renovation which will connect with the former Summer Street Firehouse providing 44 units and commercial space.”
In addition to the city’s InTown redevelopment, Fitchburg State University was awarded a $475,000 grant from MassDevelopment in December 2021 for the Main Street Theater Block rehabilitation project, which will provide 500 to 2,200 square feet of additional space to accommodate restaurants, retail space, art galleries and studios. And, in keeping with the city’s mission of creating an arts and culture hub, the Fitchburg Art Museum and NewVue Communities are working together to create the Fitchburg Arts Community, which will bring approximately 60 units of affordable rental artist residences and workspaces to three historical buildings adjacent to the Fitchburg Art Museum.
While downtown is a key area for growth, Skwierawski said industrial development like the Amazon warehouse on Intervale Road is equally important. The 97,000 square foot warehouse, slated to open in August 2022, will provide up to 300 jobs in the region. “We are really excited about this development and are looking to expand an industrial park at the sand pit adjacent to the warehouse.”
Just as Gardner and Fitchburg are looking to enhance their downtown areas, the City of Leominster is busting at the seams with business growth in its downtown area, said Amanda Curtis, Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster. “We are making significant investments in the downtown area, from our Monoosnock Brook Gateway Project to our upcoming Façade Program for downtown buildings. We want to make our downtown accessible for walking and outdoor dining,” she said.
Planning for the Monoosnock Brook Stabilization Project began 2019 and is funded by two Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grants totaling over $367,000. It’s an important project that will replace the current stone walls along the brook and the large culvert below the municipal parking lot off Mechanic Street. “The brook is a centerpiece of our downtown and provides a quiet respite for our residents and businesspeople during their lunch hour and lets families experience nature just a few steps from a bustling downtown area,” added Curtis. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.
Part of Gardner’s Urban Renewal Plan includes a pedestrian corridor with street markings and signage to make the public walkways more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. “We are working to expand the bike path from the [Mount Wachusett Community] college to downtown through a bicycle and walking network using shared streets and multiuse paths,” said Beauregard.
Speaking of bicycle friendly paths, the Twin Cities Rail Trail, which follows an abandoned rail corridor from downtown Fitchburg to Mechanic Street in downtown Leominster, is scheduled to be open to the public in 2023. The trail runs parallel to Route 12 and will be open for all non-motorized use. “By bringing the rail trail directly to Mechanic Street, cyclists and walkers will be able to access all of what downtown Leominster has to offer while being active outdoors,” added Curtis.
Just a few miles away is Devens, home to more than 100 businesses and organizations providing more than 4,000 jobs all bolstered by approximately 2,100 acres of open space and recreation land. Formerly known as Fort Devens, the former U.S. Army base is now home to bustling businesses in technology and innovation, as well as New England Studios, producer of such television shows and movies as Dexter, Defending Jacob y Castle Rock. Growth and development abound in this community, with King Street Properties developing a 45-acre biomanufacturing campus consisting of five buildings with 700,000 total square footage. And last summer, SMC Ltd., a medical device contract manufacturer, announced plans to double its footprint with the addition of a 207,000 square foot manufacturing and warehouse facility, resulting in approximately 400 new jobs.
For all its successes, sometimes growth can present challenges, as Leominster’s downtown growing pains can attest to. With just about every square foot of downtown commercial space filled, the Economic Development Office is working in collaboration with Mayor Dean Mazzarella and downtown business owners to both find additional space while maintaining that uniquely positive small town, customer experience. Curtis noted, “We have monthly downtown business group meetings with our business owners so we are made aware of their challenges and how we can work together to create solutions.”
Curtis was quick to point out the Mall at Whitney Field is a hot topic of conversation in Leominster, with many rumors swirling about the future of the mall and surrounding area. “The mall is a work in progress and while there are many rumors about the future of the mall, including tearing it down, this is simply not the case,” said Curtis. “The investors who own the mall want to see this succeed so in this case patience is asked by all in the community while we work to figure out the best path forward.”
Collaboration is certainly key, not only with business owners, but also between other cities and towns in the region. “What we’ve realized over the years is that we cannot achieve our goals as a city without partnering with other cities in the region,” said Curtis. “We want our businesses to thrive and if Leominster cannot accommodate the needs of a new business or a business that needs to grow its footprint, we will work with other communities to collaborate and help our business owners find the most appropriate location to achieve their goals.”
Skwierawski and Beauregard also praised their respective city officials for collaborating with them on several of the economic development projects, both past and current.
“We are all rowing in the same direction and by having our Mayor, City Council, NewVue Communities, ReImagine North of Main, the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber in our corner, it makes our work a lot easier. But more importantly, a collaborative environment provides business owners with the confidence that we will work as a team to help them achieve their goals.” Beauregard also said the Gardner City Council and its Mayor Mike Nicholson are all very supportive of all the city’s initiatives, which makes it much easier to move projects forward seamlessly and as quickly as possible.
It’s truly an exciting time to see how our cities and towns are redeveloping areas by modernizing buildings from our past, creating sustainable housing and establishing recreation areas connecting cities together as we work toward building North Central Massachusetts for the next generation.
Eight high schools received official designation to launch new programs and fourteen school districts awarded grants to boost student enrollment
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced eight new early college programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding early college programs as part of a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school.
Through these newly awarded designations and grants, the Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in early college programs by the 2024-2025 school year. Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a college or university. Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in early college courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth.
“Early college is an invaluable tool that supports increased college enrollment among participating students, particularly students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, and helps them succeed once they arrive on campus,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s announcement will boost participation rates at schools that already have programs, as well as launch new and exciting programs that will create more pathways to college.”
Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to early college programs. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million for early college funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million.
“The more communities that launch early college programs, particularly in our Gateway Cities, the more we can provide opportunities to students that help close achievement and workforce gaps,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “By creating and supplementing designated early college programs with our municipal partners, our administration aims to break down barriers that persist between high school and higher education.”
Eight high schools and their higher education partners were awarded official designation status this month by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education to launch new early college programs.
“Successful early college programs create a coherent course of study that can change the trajectory of a student’s life,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “By designating these early college programs, we are creating a shift in the educational experience for thousands of students.”
The majority of students who participate in early college programs meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses. Early college has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. Early college students enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of early college students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in early college.
“As part of the intra-agency early college collaboration, the Board and Department of Higher Education has approached this effort, as with all our work, from an empirically-based policy analysis frame,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago. “We are therefore pleased with early data showing that designated Massachusetts early college programs have prioritized and demonstrated progress in raising college-going rates and matriculation for students of color and low-income students, who continue to confront the highest barriers to higher education.”
“It’s wonderful to see additional and expanded designated early college programs everywhere from the Berkshires to the coast,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “These programs are a great opportunity for students to see that they’re capable of college-level work and take their first steps on that path.”
The newly designated programs are:
Fenway High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
Mt. Everett Regional High School in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Narragansett Regional High School in partnership with Mt. Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University
New Mission High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge in partnership with Lesley University
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in partnership with North Shore Community College
New Bedford High School in partnership with Bristol Community College
In addition, five high schools and their college partners were awarded a total of $750,000 to create early college programs that are large-scale, with at least 400 students or the whole school participating. This new “immersive early college” model will provide students with an opportunity to earn a minimum of 30 college credits prior to graduating high school.
Each of the following schools received $150,000 in grant funding:
Drury High School in North Adams in partnership with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Saugus High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College
Mt. Everett High School in Sheffield in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Veritas Prep Springfield in partnership with Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield State University
Claremont Academy in Worcester in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University
Additionally, nine schools were awarded expansion grants, totaling more than $650,000, to support their existing early college programs and boost the number of students enrolled, particularly those underrepresented in higher education.
The grantees include:
Durfee High School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College – $75,000
Framingham High School in partnership with Framingham State and Mass Bay Community College – $75,000
Marlborough High School in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College – $59,000
Lawrence Public Schools in partnership with Northern Essex Community College – $75,000
Lowell High School in partnership with Middlesex Community College – $75,000
Salem High School in partnership with Salem State University – $75,000
Worcester Public Schools in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University – $75,000
Haverhill High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College – $75,000
Holyoke High School in partnership with Holyoke Community College – $75,000
Fitchburg Housing Authority Director of Customer and Application Services Yajaira Aldrich was presented with a certificate of appreciation at the FHA board meeting on last Wednesday morning at Daniel Heights, a thank you for her continued efforts in helping to provide housing for city residents.
“She has helped people in their worst conditions … and during pandemic she was always at her desk and available to help,” FHA Executive Director Doug Bushman said.
Aldrich was promoted to her position in August 2020 after being at the FHA since 2014 as a general clerk. She oversees staff responsible for all initial customer and application processing, including her hardworking assistant Sol Toro, and recently received her Massachusetts Public Housing Administrator certificate and completed a host of other courses in public housing and customer service.
“Thank you for the opportunity,” Aldrich said. “I love what I do.”
She said that when she was first approached by Bushman about taking over as director of customer and application services, she was hesitant to take the position.
“It caught me off guard, I slept on it for two days,” Aldrich recalled.
Once she decided to accept the offer, she hit the ground running. Bushman and the board members praised Aldrich for her tireless work ethic, noting her recent efforts with helping the survivors of the two city fires earlier this month and the resources event that took place for them at the Fitchburg Senior Center that the FHA was invited to.
“Your work with the victims of the Fitchburg fires was fantastic,” Bushman said. “You worked and stayed late.”
Bushman noted that besides him and FHA Deputy Director Andrew Skoog, the organization is “women-led and organized.” Aldrich said she is happy to help the people that the FHA assists.
“When people walk through that door they are not always at their best,” she said. “I’ve been there.”
Mayor Stephen DiNatale attended the meeting and gave props to Aldrich and the entire FHA team including the board for their dedication to city residents.
“This is a great organization,” he said. “You are providing such a wonderful service. I want to thank the board members who put their time into this.” Aldrich recently bought a house in the city.
“I’ve left the city, I’ve left the state, I’ve left the country, but I always come back,” she said. “This is home.”
Bushman said they “have not received one complaint concerning Yajaira’s interaction with the public or residents.”
“In fact, she is constantly praised for assisting people during their time of most need,” he said. “All of us want to thank Mrs. Aldrich for all that she has done for the FHA and the people we serve. She has set the example of what it means to be a great public servant.”
$4,000/Employee Program Aims to Boost Hiring with Labor Force Participation Rates Still Lower than Pre-Pandemic
The Baker-Polito Administration launched a new hiring and training employer grant program, “HireNow,” which will help employers quickly hire and train new workers and get more people back to work. The new program provides eligible employers with a $4,000 per employee grant, which can be used to cover training costs or as a signing bonus for new employees. By providing employers with these flexible funds to facilitate quick hiring, the Administration is focusing on addressing continued hiring challenges faced by employers and increasing labor force participation. Employers can learn more about the program and apply at mass.gov/HireNow.
The program is open to all Massachusetts employers, including both for-profit and non-profit entities (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta announced the launch of the program today at LabCentral, a Cambridge non-profit that provides support and working space for start-ups in the biotech and life sciences sectors. LabCentral plans to hire lab operations and other technical and administrative staff this year and will use funds from HireNow to support training costs.
“Our Administration is focused on supporting Massachusetts’ economic growth and getting more people back to work, and the HireNow program is one more tool at our disposal to meet employers’ workforce needs and grow our labor force,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The flexible funds from this program will be distributed to employers quickly to help them with training costs, tuition support and other needs. We are grateful to our partners in the Legislature for allocating the ARPA funds necessary to make this program happen.”
“We know employers are ready to grow and expand by hiring new workers, and we’re excited to deploy flexible dollars as part of the HireNow program to jump-start those efforts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Massachusetts’s economic recovery from the pandemic is off and running, but we know there are still persistent workforce challenges that we must address. To boost our local economies, it is critical that we help both for-profit and non-profit employers meet their workforce needs and get more people back to work. We appreciate the partnership of the employer community as we developed this program and look forward to putting these funds to work alongside our existing, proven job-training programs.”
HireNow aims to address hiring challenges faced by employers that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are over 85,000 workers not participating in the labor market compared to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, employers’ need for workers has continued to increase, with unfilled job postings up 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels and approximately 200,000 open jobs available across the Commonwealth.
The Administration is focused on addressing these challenges through a variety of efforts, including by expanding access and awareness to its existing, apprenticeships, incumbent worker training programs, the Career Technical Initiative and more. Local MassHire Workforce Boards are also expanding resources to match employers and workers with training programs, and regions are hiring new staff members to serve as regional “Market Makers” to connect companies to graduates of new education and training programs starting up in their areas funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. These staff members will be regional points of contact to help match employers’ needs with both job-seekers and the skill-building programs needed to successfully fill open jobs. In addition, MassHire Centers are adding staff to work directly with job seekers who want to enroll in new training programs to gain more skills.
The HireNow program will build on these efforts by providing resources directly to employers that make it possible to immediately hire new employees and provide them with necessary training to fill open roles. The program will be supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“We are excited to add HireNow to our growing number of grant programs that aim to close job and equity gaps across the Commonwealth,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “We hope these funds will encourage employers to expand their hiring strategy to include those with potential for learning and growing on the job, over a direct-skills match, as this will widen the candidate pool and help both jobseekers and businesses.”
“Getting people back to work is a key element of our strategy for economic recovery and the ‘HireNow’ program allows us double down on these efforts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “I look forward to this program’s success not just in enhancing access to employment opportunities, but accelerating it.”
“HireNow will be an excellent complement to the Career Technical Initiative we launched two years ago which expands access to high-quality vocational programs for high school students and adults by creating three shifts, one during the regular school day for vocational students, one in the afternoons for students enrolled in their local high school, and one in the evening for adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “Employers will be able to recruit students from CTI programs, and use the HireNow grants to offer deeper training for their employees.”
Program Details:
Employer Eligibility: Any Massachusetts employer who is in good standing with Department of Unemployment Assistance and Department of Revenue obligations and is not de-barred by the state is eligible (excluding federal, state, and municipal governments). Applications must be submitted by the employer, not an education or training partner.
Application Process: Employers must pre-register online at Mass.Gov/HireNow by providing employer information. Following the employee’s hire and 60-day retention period, employers will submit a final application for funding. The Commonwealth will also approve the planned use of the funds (training costs, signing bonus, etc.) when approving the application.
Eligible Hires: Hires must be made after March 23, 2022, be retained for a minimum of 60 days, and be placed in jobs that are at least 30 hours per week. New hires need to be Massachusetts residents employed in Massachusetts. There are also limits on compensation:
Maximum eligible compensation: $42.50 / hr (~$85K annualized)
Funding: up to $4,000 for each eligible employee hired, with a limit of $400,000 per employer. Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
