E-Newsletter

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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Noticias de la Cámara

Local officials, community leaders celebrate upgrades to the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center

Renovations aimed to modernize the facility and showcase the region to the more than 165,000 visitors annually

Local officials and community leaders joined members of Visit North Central Massachusetts, the official destination marketing organization representing the 27 communities of North Central Massachusetts, yesterday to celebrate recent renovations and upgrades to the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center.

The renovations and upgrades are designed to modernize the facility and showcase the region to the more than 165,000 annual visitors to the center. Exterior upgrades included adding handicapped accessible doors, a dog walking station, a shaded area for picnic tables, new security cameras, new seasonal banners on the lampposts, fresh landscaping and new interpretive displays that help tell the story of North Central Massachusetts. Additionally, the famous “Big Apple of New England” sculpture was repaired. Inside the center, the layout was reconfigured and new floors, rugs, office furniture, signage, a water bottle refilling station, and rustic wall paneling were added. Upgrades to the electronic screens inside the center are currently being completed.

The renovations and upgrades cost $162,455 and were partially funded through a matching Destination Development Grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Matching funds came from a grant from the City of Leominster and from the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association (DBA Visit North Central Massachusetts). Donations of the office furniture were provided by AIS, Inc. in Leominster.

Keiko Orrall, Unveil New and Improved Johnny Appleseed Visitors CenterMore than 100 local dignitaries and community leaders were on hand at yesterday’s event. State Senator John. J. Cronin; State Representative Meghan Kilcoyne; State Representative Natalie Higgins; State Representative Michael P. Kushmerek; Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella, City of Leominster; Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, City of Fitchburg; Mayor Michael Nicholson, City of Gardner; Keiko Orrall, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; Stephen Kerrigan, Chair of the Select Board in the Town of Lancaster; and Henry Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge and Chair of the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association/Visit North Central Massachusetts provided remarks. Also in attendance were Worcester Country Sheriff Lew Evangelidis; Register of Deeds for Northern Worcester County Kathleen Reynolds Daigneault; representatives from Mass Highway; and numerous other municipal, community and business leaders.

“Today is a great day for the region as we recognize the many improvements to the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center,” said Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge and Chair of Visit North Central Massachusetts. “From the ‘Big Apple of New England’ to the many amenities these improvements now provide to visitors, North Central Massachusetts is now on display for all to see!”

New & Improved Johnny Appleseed Visitor CenterThe Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center, considered by many the gateway to North Central Massachusetts, officially opened on June 14, 1997, as a way to welcome people traveling through the region and providing a place to stop, stretch their legs, and learn more about the region’s communities. Named after American pioneer and folk hero, John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) the 2,000 sq.ft. center is operated by the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association which does business under the name Visit North Central Massachusetts. In addition to the popular “Big Apple of New England” sculpture, the center also features a bronze sculpture of the young Johnny Appleseed that greets visitors outside the doors of the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center. There are also 91 apple trees located on the premises, including three Rambo trees that are direct descendants of the last remaining tree known to be planted by Johnny Appleseed. The center also houses a collection of historical and cultural items that showcase the region’s heritage. Unique historical items in the center’s collection include a vintage Iver Johnson bicycle, pieces of equipment from the region’s agricultural past, vintage Wachusett Mountain Ski Area items, and a large collection of Johnny Appleseed memorabilia.

In 2021, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce announced a new regional economic development plan, One North Central, which recommended new ways to expand the existing center, and showcase the history and heritage of the region while adding amenities to modernize the facility.

“Through One North Central, we learned a lot about how to upgrade the center in an effort to provide a unique experience for visitors,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and Visit North Central Massachusetts. “The upgrades and renovations to the visitor center will create an experience to link visitors to destinations in the region while providing a modern facility to rest and recharge before continuing on their journey through North Central and beyond.”

The center is open seven days a week, 361 days a year from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It only closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day and early on Christmas Eve.

Regional Hiring Event Connects Job Seekers with Employers in North Central Massachusetts

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is partnering with other regional organizations to host the Work North Central Hiring Event scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA. The event is free of charge to attend and open to the public. The regional organizations involved include Fitchburg State University, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Career Center, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and Mount Wachusett Community College.

The event will connect potential applicants with local employers of all sizes and industries to discuss employment and career opportunities available in the region. Employers from diverse industries will be seeking candidates with all levels of skill and backgrounds, including entry level, and professional and technical positions in such industries as construction, distribution, education, financial services, government, healthcare, hospitality, non-profit, manufacturing, restaurants and other industries. Additionally, some employers will be hiring on-site and may provide signing bonuses and other incentives. Job seekers attending the event will also be eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 Gift Local eGift card from the Chamber. The Gift Local eGift Card is redeemable at a variety of local businesses throughout the region, including restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, inns, farms and attractions.

In addition to networking and learning about available positions across the region, attendees can also take advantage of complimentary professional headshots, free career counseling, individual resume review and sessions on how to improve your interview skills. Mount Wachusett Community College will also be offering informational sessions on free training programs available for individuals interested in pursuing careers in health care and manufacturing. Other special sessions planned during the hiring event includes a panel presentation hosted by the Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts. This panel of successful young professionals will discuss topics such as finding the balance of work and family, best ways to search for a job, dressing for the right job, talking about benefits, why networking is important and more.

“As a leader in helping North Central Massachusetts compete for talent and advance the region’s economic prosperity, we realize there is a critical need to help our local businesses find qualified and skilled talent in order to grow and succeed,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This event is aimed to create economic opportunity, and a strong and diversified workforce for our employers, while providing the unemployed and underemployed the opportunity to meet with a number of employers in one location.”

The Work North Central Hiring Event is a complement to the Chamber’s WorkNorthCentral.com Jobs Board, which serves as an online resource to connect job seekers and local employers while also improving the talent pipeline and better connect employers to local schools.

Adult job seekers, high school graduates, college students in the community, retired individuals interested in returning to the workforce or anyone interested in learning about full and part-time employment opportunities in North Central Massachusetts are invited to attend to connect with participating employers. Pre-registration is not required, walk-ins are welcome.

Free parking for job seekers and attendees is available at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. Public transportation is also available via the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) for anyone who may require it. MART will be offering complimentary round-trip shuttle service from the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station, located at 100 Main Street, between 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to the Hiring Event with a stop at the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station. Job seekers should look for the shuttle van labeled with the Hiring Event sign. This special shuttle service can be accessed by job seekers from MART’s fixed bus route or at the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station via MART’s intercity/MWCC bus for those located in Leominster, Gardner, Athol and other communities outside Fitchburg that connect there. Check MART’s website for more information, www.mrta.us.

For more information on the Work North Central Hiring Event, please visit www.northcenralmass.com. Employers interested in participating and reserving a table at the Work North Central Hiring Event should contact Lauren Goulet at 978.353.7600, ext. 222, or Kat Deal at 978.353.7600, ext. 235, to inquire about availability.

Chamber Updates

MASS-TECH PROJECT: The Chamber’s economic development arm – The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has received a small grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to help strengthen the environment for start-ups in the region. This project builds off of the work of the One North Central Regional Economic Development Plan, which prioritizes efforts to grow the region from within through small business support programs and initiatives. The Chamber has formed a small advisory committee of members and hired economic development consulting firm RKG Associates to assist with the project. The project scope will entail reviewing the current entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region including inventorying existing practitioners, policies, programs and resources available to start-up and early stage companies, and looking at what gaps exist in the region.

Gift LocalGIFT CARD PROGRAM: The Chamber has revamped the Gift Local Gift Card program to make it easier for members to process the gift cards, and for the public to redeem them. We transitioned over the Summer to a new technology platform called Yiftee that is very user friendly and allows the new gift cards to be issued electronically and processed as a Mastercard. To accept the new e-Gift Cards a participating merchant just needs to accept Mastercard and process it via a key-entry. There will no longer be any need for a separate web terminal for processing, dual entries into the terminal and POS system, or any costly POS integration. Most importantly when consumers use the gift card, dollars stay local and benefit our shops and restaurants and our communities. We are planning an advertising campaign starting in the Fall running through the holidays to promote the new e-Gift Local Gift Cards. Because it is an opt-in program, members interested in being able to accept the gift cards need to contact the Chamber to receive an activation card to participate. Visit Giftlocal.net for more information or contact the Chamber.

CHAMBER FOUNDATION: The Chamber Board approved a contribution of $9,600 to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation. The contribution represents the proceeds from the Chamber’s Scholars Breakfast in the Spring and will help to strengthen the foundation’s scholarship and education efforts. The Foundation is the Chamber’s charitable affiliate. Thank you to all the members that supported the foundation!

NEW LOANS: The Chamber’s economic development arm – the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has closed 25 micro-loans for a total of $1,277,500 since October 1, 2021. The loans were made to a mix of existing and start-up businesses and ranged from $7,500 to $206,000. There are another three loans totaling $300,500 that have been approved but have not yet closed.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: During the last quarter, our team provided over 310 hours of direct technical assistance to small businesses. Our 2-day in-person Quickbooks seminar was a big success, with sold-out attendance. We also connected several of our borrowers and small business clients to professionals for technical assistance, such as bookkeeping, marketing, website design and legal services.

JOBS BOARD: The Chamber continues to offer the WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board as a resource to connect employers and job seekers in North Central Massachusetts. The jobs board has had over 8,600 jobs posted and more than 80,000 views by job seekers since being launched. As a reminder, the jobs board is free for members to utilize. We encourage members to post any employment opportunities they offer or send them to us and we will post them for you.

Equitable Credentialing IniatiativeEQUITABLE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT PROJECT: A North Central Massachusetts team comprised of the Chamber, Mount Wachusett Community College and the Spanish American Center have been meeting monthly as part of the Equitable Credential Attainment initiative offered through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). North Central Massachusetts was one of seven regions selected in the Spring from throughout the country to participate in this 18-month competitive program. This initiative is focused on growing credential and degree program participation among minority workers with the goal of helping to place these workers in well-paying jobs with career advancement. Our team has already seen some early successes in building partnerships and engaging the Latinx community around micro-credentialing in the health care and manufacturing industries.

WORKFORCE STUDY: In related news, the UMass Donahue has completed the workforce study commissioned by the Chamber to assess and recommend ways to enhance the labor pool in the region. The results will be unveiled at the September edition of the Chamber’s Good Morning North Central Massachusetts breakfast program and shared online. We hope the study will be a useful resource to help develop new strategies and advocate for solutions to the workforce challenges faced by employers.

ENERGY PROGRAM: From its inception in August 2014 through July 2022 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 11,473,106 KwH of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program. Total value of these credits is $2,551,981.14 and the collective savings to participants totals $2,169,184.

DIGITAL MARKETING: Traffic to our websites averaged approximately 12,122 unique page views each month in FY2022 which ended in June. In FY22 we also garnered over 2.3 million google impressions. We continue to be very active on social media, populating our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter platforms with our content. Our social media platforms have a combined 23,139 total followers. In CY2021, our social media platforms garnered an average of 217,000 impressions monthly and a total of nearly 2.4 million impressions for the year.

Eventos próximos

Noticias para miembros

Main Street Bank Announces Technology Upgrade and Continued Commitment to Community Banking

Left to Right: Suzanne Dupre, EVP Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer; Jeff Tucker, EVP Strategy and Risk; Ellen Dorian, President and Chief Operating Officer; Walter Dwyer, Chief Executive Officer; Christopher Seidlich, EVP Chief Financial Officer

MARLBOROUGH, MA – Main Street Bank has announced that they will be upgrading their banking technology, performing branch renovations at select locations, and moving their back-office Operations center from downtown Marlborough to 26 Forest Street, Marlborough. These updates are in the interest of providing a better customer experience. Alongside these updates, Main Street Bank will be keeping all branch staff, including tellers, to provide exceptional in-person service combined with enhanced technology and updated buildings. All Main Street Bank locations will continue to offer personalized service, assistance from live bankers, and access to cash at the teller lines and ATMs.

The technology upgrade will give bank customers and employees access to an improved banking system, including updated online and mobile banking interfaces with enhanced services. Enhancements for customers will include: a simple and clean mobile and online banking look; a Personal Financial Management tool for budgeting; and a new rewards-based consumer checking account. Additionally, this upgrade will allow Main Street Bank the flexibility to build on new features and technology. Find more details about this technology upgrade by visiting www.BankMainStreet.com/technology-upgrade.

While unrelated to the technology updates, the changes in branch and office locations will allow Main Street Bank to better serve their customers and employees. The branch renovations in Pepperell, MA and Ayer, MA, will maximize the existing space while keeping all branch staff available to assist customers in person. Renovations are expected to be complete by early 2024. The move of the back-office Operations center in Marlborough is in response to the bank’s growth and expanding career opportunities for both current employees and new hires. As a result, additional space and flexibility is needed to accommodate our teams. This move will also allow the bank to keep certain departments working together in the same space to ensure a better overall customer experience.

The bank is committed to supporting downtown Marlborough through contributions to the Marlborough Public Library renovation project, the local food pantry, and the Mayor’s Charity Relief Fund. Additionally, Main Street Bank’s headquarters on 81 Granger Boulevard in Marlborough will continue to serve downtown Marlborough with the same access and hours, including Video Connect video banking that can be used from anywhere.

COCC-Data-Validation-Team

Main Street Bank employees come together to test and train on the newest banking technology to better serve our customers.

Main Street Bank continues to put the needs of their communities first: “By investing in the infrastructure of both our technology and our buildings, we are committing to being accessible to our customers and communities,” comments Walter Dwyer, CEO of Main Street Bank. “We are also keeping our most important resource – our people. You will continue to have direct access to our employees when you need them.”

For community banks, investing in technology and buildings is critical to continue meeting the evolving needs of consumers. In addition, improvements to infrastructure will benefit the surrounding communities, and provide a more efficient work environment for bank employees that will allow them to better serve their customers. Ellen Dorian, President and COO of Main Street Bank, elaborates on some of the reasons for the upgrade.

“Upgrading our technology allows for more efficiency for both our customers and employees. With gained efficiency, we can pass cost savings onto you and all our customers in the forms of faster service, improved products, and competitive interest rates. We pride ourselves on making every customer feel like our only customer, and we are committed to delivering that experience.”

Main Street Bank’s technology upgrade is scheduled for live release on May 8th, 2023. The back-office Operations center move is scheduled to occur between June and August 2023.

About Main Street Bank

Main Street Bank is a locally run, independent mutual savings institution serving the MetroWest and northern Middlesex communities of Massachusetts. They are united under a culture that strives every day to contribute to our communities by providing customer-focused, innovative products and services for individuals, families, local businesses, and community organizations since 1860, with particular attention to education and financial wellbeing. With branch offices in the MetroWest and North Middlesex region, Main Street Bank provides an extensive array of financial services and products for all personal and business life stages. To learn more, visit www.BankMainStreet.com

Berkshire Bank Announces Nearly $600k in Community Investments in Q1 2023

Berkshire-XTEAM-Volunteers-assist-with-Habitat-for-Humanity-build-in-Rhode-Island

Caption: Berkshire XTEAM volunteers assist with Habitat for Humanity build in Eastern CT

Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced its foundation provided $584,361 in philanthropic investments during the first quarter of 2023 (January 1- March 31) to foster upward economic mobility, racial equity, and enhance opportunities for success in the regions Berkshire Bank serves. The investments also support the company’s BEST Community Comeback which includes a planned $15 million in community contributions by the end of 2024.

In total, the Berkshire Bank Foundation assisted 120 nonprofit organizations during the quarter with grants to support a wide range of critical projects including small business entrepreneurship, housing, food insecurity, homelessness, educational advancement, youth, arts, culture, diversity, and inclusion. Ultimately, funding helped support the overall health and well-being of communities across New England and New York, particularly for underrepresented populations.

“We are proud to continue our strong support of the communities that Berkshire Bank serves. Beyond our financial contributions, we continue to amplify our impact though our XTEAM employee volunteer program, regularly assisting with projects to help those in need in our communities,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Managing Director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. She continued, “We are pleased to make these contributions to support individuals, families, and small businesses within our markets.”

The grant recipients listed below are just a sample of the projects Berkshire Bank supported to strengthen organizations throughout Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. They include:
Angel of Edgewood, Inc. (CT)
Berkshire Immigrant Center Inc (MA)
Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups and Education, Inc. (MA)
Berkshire Pride (MA)
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (MA)
Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation (MA)
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (MA)
Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center, Inc. (known as WERC) (NY)
Community Access to the Arts (MA)
Community Catalyst, Inc. (MA)
Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Inc (NY)
CNY Jazz Central (NY)
Economic Mobility Pathways (MA)
Enfield Pride (CT)
Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires & Southern Vermont, Inc (VT)
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut (CT)
Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.
Homeless and Travelers Aid Society (NY)
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (CT)
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MA & RI)
Make-It Springfield (MA)
Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MA)
Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition Inc (MA)
Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) (MA)
Rhode Island Community Food Bank (RI)
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation (CT)
Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs Inc (NY)
Seven Hills Foundation (MA)
Soldier On, Inc. f/k/a United Veterans of America, Inc. (MA)
State University Of New York Polytechnic Institute Foundation (NY)
ToLife! Inc (NY)
The Arc Eastern Connecticut (CT)
The Stratton Mountain & Valley Community Benefit Foundation (VT)
UMass Medical School Foundation (MA)
Vermont Green-up Inc (VT)
Vermont Works for Women (VT)
Wildwood Foundation (NY)
Why Me, Inc (MA)

Joeci Gilchrest, You Name It Creatives LLC, Lunenburg, MA: 2023 Rising Star Winner

“CWE has given me an opportunity to be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are all pulling in the same direction as me and to also finally find the answers to questions I have been asking for a long time.” – Joeci Gilchrest

What inspired Joeci’s Business?
Joeci started her business, You Name It Creatives, the day after Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to spend more time with family. She believes all families, no matter their socioeconomic situation, deserve to live in a home that makes them proud. She offers quality craftsmanship and education to families that need help keeping their homes safe and beautiful. Joeci feels that no matter the socioeconomic situation, all families deserve to live in a home that makes them proud.

Business Highlight
Joeci has gained an applicable understanding of what it takes to operate and scale a small business. By discovering her true value is family and community, she was able to transition from scaling her business toward major projects to focusing on lower-income households that other companies won’t consider. She offers home and office improvement through maintaining, repairing, or even replacing your home or office. Her services include carpentry, painting, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing. She specializes in basement finishing, deck building, and interior/exterior painting and also maintains relationships with her clients through her ongoing handyman services!

How Has CWE Helped Her in Her Journey?
Joeci’s connection with CWE helped her finally find the answers to questions she had been looking for and was not able to find anywhere else. Her coursework, student interaction and experiences with CWE have provided her with a better understanding of what it takes to operate a small-scale business and have also enabled her to discover a community of supportive and like-minded individuals who are pulling in the same direction as her. With CWE, Joeci has discovered that her true value is family and community and this knowledge has helped her transition from scaling her business towards major profits to focusing on lower-income households that other companies do not consider.

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.”

Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast

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.

Out & About

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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Job Board Postings

Looking for your next opportunity? Explore current job openings from employers across North Central Massachusetts on our Jobs Board. Whether you’re starting a new career or making a change, you’ll find a variety of local positions available to help you take the next step.

Got a job you want featured? Click here to submit a job posting to our job board or email . This is a member benefit. Post jobs at no extra cost. No algorithms or budgets to manage!

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