An Electronic Publication of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Inside this edition, you’ll discover the latest Chamber initiatives and success stories from across our region. From economic development projects and upcoming networking events to policy updates and workforce training opportunities, we’re keeping you connected to what matters most for your business and North Central Massachusetts.
June 2026
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Funding to support start-up costs for new Fitchburg business
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, recently approved a $30,000 loan to Delicious Dips to provide funding toward start-up costs with establishing the business in Fitchburg. Funding created one full-time job in the community.
Delicious Dips, located in Parkhill Plaza on Franklin Road, is a bakery with walk-in retail service featuring smoothies with offers of custom orders of cakes and dipped fruits, among other items.
Owner Paige McNamara worked with the City of Fitchburg and the NCMDC to secure the loan funding and was also provided technical assistance from NewVue Communities Small Business Assistance Program to establish the business.
“The opening of my business is a testament to our community coming together to help someone achieve their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur,” said McNamara. “With this funding from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, I was able to build out the business of my dreams, and order supplies and inventory as I opened the business this past summer.”
The business held a grand opening ceremony in July with local dignitaries, community, civic and business leaders in attendance. For more info, visit https://deliciousdipsbypaige.com.
Como entidad de microcréditos, NCMDC puede otorgar préstamos a pequeñas empresas de hasta $250,000 para capital de trabajo, bienes inmuebles, equipo, inventario y expansión, además de colaborar con nuestros socios bancarios para proporcionar financiamiento puente para la etapa final de un proyecto.
Para más información sobre los programas de préstamos de NCMDC, llame al 978.353.7607 o visite NorthCentralMass.com o ChooseNorthCentral.com.
Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | Worcester County | Local Business | Visit North Central Massachusetts | Delicious Dips
Servicio de Noticias de la Casa del Estado Autor: Chris Lisinski
Massachusetts employers added 13,800 jobs in September, a significant increase after a revision cut down previously reported August gains, while the statewide unemployment rate ticked downward to 3.4 percent, labor officials announced Friday.
The job growth in September was driven by major gains in leisure and hospitality, which added 7,500 positions month-over-month, and education and health services, which added 5,100 positions.
The statewide unemployment rate also shed two-tenths of a percentage point as it fell from 3.6 percent in August to 3.4 percent in September, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. That’s slightly lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent for September.
Labor officials last month announced that the Bay State added 6,400 new jobs in August, but on Friday they said they had revised that figure down to an increase of just 800 jobs.
Job growth has been steady during the recovery from the early upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, but total Massachusetts employment in September 2022 still lagged February 2020 — the final full month before the pandemic hit — by about 48,400 jobs.
Legislation to supercharge the state’s economy with billions of dollars in spending remains in limbo on Beacon Hill after Democrats, flummoxed by the emergence of nearly $3 billion in mandatory tax refunds, hit pause at the end of July.
In recognition of National Manufacturing Month, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, recently partnered with regional organizations to host a unique manufacturing bus tour as part of the Chamber’s Education Compact Initiative. The initiative is aimed to further partnerships between the region’s K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and the region’s employers to collectively work to advance the region’s workforce.
The tour, which was held on Wednesday, October 19, provided education, civic and community leaders, economic development officials and the media, an opportunity to learn more about—and the importance of—manufacturing in the region as a way to promote careers in the industry. The regional organizations involved included the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board and Mount Wachusett Community College.
Participants visited several manufacturing companies where they obtained an insider’s look at how select manufacturers operate, and also learned about the growing job opportunities in manufacturing and the necessary skill-sets for employment.
Tour stops included Solvus Global, an advanced manufacturer located in Leominster that specializes in the areas of additive manufacturing, machine learning, and sustainable materials processing; Burkart Flutes and Piccolos, a company founded in 1982 that specializes in the precision manufacturing of high quality flutes and piccolos; Jabil, a worldwide contract manufacturer of various medical devices and medical equipment; and Mount Wachusett Community College’s Devens Manufacturing Center, which offers technical training in a number of different areas, including advanced manufacturing. The tour also included a lunch presentation and discussion with Branner Stewart, Project Manager for the UMass Donahue Institute. Mr. Stewart highlighted the findings of a recent workforce study commissioned by the Chamber.
North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state, with one-third of all private wages in the region paid from manufacturing jobs. Companies range from the world-class plastics industry cluster of more than 140 companies to pharmaceuticals, photonics and paper as well as biomedical devices
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“The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation remain committed to supporting and growing this critical sector of the region’s economy while also building successful partnerships between businesses and the region’s schools which are critical to the collective, ongoing efforts of keeping manufacturing alive and well in the region,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Manufacturers are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, yet despite competitive wages and training, they are still challenged with recruiting the workers they need. We hope this tour provided our local educators, civic and community leaders, and the media, an opportunity to learn more about the jobs available in the region as the need for more young workers and a skills gap exists among the existing and transitioning workforce.”
“Manufacturing continues to be a priority industry in North Central Massachusetts,” said Jeffrey Roberge, Executive Director, MassHire North Central Workforce Board. “Many thanks to the North Central Chamber for hosting this important event as it brings together our legislators, educators and employers to learn more about this vital sector.”
“This tour proves how the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce commits itself to advanced manufacturing in the region,” said James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D., President, Mount Wachusett Community College. “Mount Wachusett Community College remains dedicated to providing educational training opportunities to meet the growing needs of local business and industry.”
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank and acknowledge the support and assistance of the following partners who helped make the event possible: MassHire North Central Workforce Board; Solvus Global; Burkart Flutes and Piccolos; Jabil; and Mount Wachusett Community College.
For more information on the manufacturing bus tour or the North Central Massachusetts Education Compact Initiative, please contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 978.353.7600.
¡Gracias a todos nuestros patrocinadores que ayudaron a patrocinar este pasado año del programa 2025-2026! ¡Nos sentimos verdaderamente honrados por su continuo apoyo y sus esfuerzos para que nuestra comunidad siga prosperando! View
Event
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, November 20, 2026
8am-9am View
Event
Joint Mayor's Meeting
December 4, 2026
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Future Leaders of North Central: Annual Holiday Party & Ugly Sweater Competition
December 8, 2026
Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Rd. Shirly, MA View
Event
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
ColBro First Aid & Safety Training, LLC proporciona soluciones integrales de capacitación en RCP, primeros auxilios y prevención de atragantamientos, adaptadas a las necesidades de su personal. Sus instructores altamente calificados están disponibles para impartir sesiones de capacitación en sus instalaciones y en el horario que le resulte más conveniente.
¡Música en vivo, comida, bebidas y más llegarán a Gardner el 29 de junio!
La Ciudad de Gardner se complace en anunciar su primer concierto anual de bienvenida al verano. El evento de entrada gratuita se llevará a cabo el jueves 29 de junio. Habrá música en vivo de 6 a 9 p. m. en el césped frontal del Ayuntamiento de Gardner, ubicado en 95 Pleasant St., con varias camionetas de comida que comenzarán su servicio a las 5:30 p. m.
El concierto contará con la actuación en vivo de la banda 7 Day Weekend, quienes se han dado a conocer en toda Nueva Inglaterra por su enérgica presencia en el escenario y sus versiones de éxitos populares que complacen a la multitud, desde los 80 hasta la actualidad. La banda dice que tiene la intención de crear una atmósfera animada que hará que los asistentes bailen y canten. Actuarán en las escalinatas frontales del Ayuntamiento de Gardner de 7 p. m. a 9 p. m.
Antes de que 7 Day Weekend suba al escenario, Brandon Furtado, un músico nuevo y prometedor, lucirá su talento de 6 p. m. a 7 p. m.
Se ofrecerán alimentos y bebidas para comprar en el concierto con la participación de varios *food trucks* locales, Tavern 13, que tendrá un bar completo, y Moon Hill Brewing, que ofrecerá cerveza y vino. Funcionarios de la ciudad dijeron que su intención es que el evento sea una forma divertida de dar la bienvenida al verano en la ciudad.
“Estoy muy emocionado de que la comunidad se reúna para dar inicio al verano de esta nueva y divertida manera”, dijo el alcalde Mike Nicholson. “Esto seguramente será un momento divertido para todos los que puedan unirse”.”
Los organizadores del evento aconsejan a las personas que lleven sillas de jardín, mantas de picnic o cualquier cosa que deseen para disfrutar de un rato divertido en el césped frente al Ayuntamiento.
Para más información sobre este evento o futuros eventos en Gardner, visita www.gardner-ma.gov o síguenos en Instagram @ciudaddegardner y Facebook, Ayuntamiento de Gardner.
A través de una subvención de la Iniciativa de Centros Urbanos de Massachusetts (MDI) otorgada por la Mancomunidad de Massachusetts, que se obtuvo mediante un proceso de selección competitivo, la ciudad de Fitchburg está colaborando con un consultor económico para comprender mejor los hábitos, preferencias y patrones de compra de los residentes locales de toda la ciudad.
El proyecto tiene como objetivo generar datos actuales que reflejen las actividades de compras y cenas pospandemia en Fitchburg, con un enfoque particular en el centro. Una vez completada una serie de encuestas, la consultora Peg Barringer de Fine Point Associates generará un informe resumen que analizará los datos y presentará los hallazgos. Esta información será útil para las empresas existentes de Fitchburg que buscan capitalizar mejor a los consumidores locales como clientes. También será beneficiosa para las nuevas empresas entrantes o las prospectivas futuras.
En 2017, Fitchburg se dio cuenta por primera vez de la fuga de gastos de los consumidores locales hacia áreas circundantes, particularmente en compras de restaurantes fuera del hogar, durante un proceso de un año que condujo al Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Económico de la ciudad. Abordar esa fuga cultivando un sector de restaurantes más fuerte se ha convertido en un objetivo continuo. Durante los casi cinco años transcurridos desde la aprobación de ese plan, el período de tiempo de la pandemia [2020-2022] demostró representar un cambio sin precedentes en los comportamientos de los consumidores. A medida que las empresas de Fitchburg comienzan a navegar por un panorama post-pandemia, una comprensión profunda de las preferencias y necesidades locales será muy valiosa.
Si usted es residente de Fitchburg, su opinión sobre el centro de la ciudad es un aspecto importante de este proyecto. Al dedicar solo 5 minutos para completar una Encuesta para Residentes de Fitchburg, tus comentarios guiarán los esfuerzos de desarrollo económico en el futuro. La encuesta se puede acceder aquí – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/downtownfitch.
La ciudad fomenta encarecidamente a todos los residentes locales a participar en esta encuesta confidencial en línea.
Miembro Destacado
Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody
When the workday ends and the lights go down, Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody, Inc. gets to work. “We operate as our clients’ silent partner after business hours,” says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the company’s expansion into North Central MA. “We are not often seen, but we ensure facilities are clean, secure, and ready for business each day while serving as the eyes and ears for our clients when they are not on site.”
Discover local business stories through our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast series. Listen as Chamber members share their journeys, insights, and contributions to our thriving regional business community.
From Chamber events and ribbon cuttings to community celebrations and regional highlights, stay connected with what’s happening across North Central Massachusetts. Follow us on social media for the latest photos, updates, and stories.
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