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

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.1 Million in Awards through the Regional Economic Development Organization Grant Program

Awards support 38 projects focused on regional business growth, small businesses, and economic recovery in downtowns and main streets

Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of approximately $2.1 million in awards to nine eligible entities across the Commonwealth to fund 38 projects that seek to strengthen the state’s economy on a regional basis through support for existing small businesses, business growth, and efforts to increase economic activity in local downtowns and main streets. The Regional Economic Development Organization grant program was established in partnership with the Legislature and is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.  The program provides competitive grants that are awarded to applicants based on the ability to successfully support businesses through proposals that account for the varying regional needs of the Commonwealth’s economy.  This round builds on a prior round of REDO awards which resulted in an additional $3 million to 11 regional economic development organizations to sustain ongoing efforts to foster economic activity at regional levels, and to support 29 additional projects in support of economic development priorities. “With the REDO program, our Administration can continue supporting efforts that help drive economic growth based on the needs of each, individual region of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “By strengthening the businesses we have now, and by working to attract new businesses to our downtowns and main streets, we can ensure that each region benefits from the increase in economic activity created through the support of this program.”  “By helping regional economic organizations execute on solutions that best address the individual needs and challenges of each of the state’s regions, we can accelerate our progress toward economic recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “I want to congratulate the recipients in this round of REDO awards and I look forward to their efforts to help leverage the unique assets that exist in all corners of Massachusetts to help our business community continue to grow and thrive.” REDO grant recipients’ efforts will focus on a range of initiatives including: an assessment of competitive strengths, weaknesses and opportunities; representing the regional business community in long-range workforce planning efforts to ensure robust skills and talent pipelines that meet regional needs; representing the regional business community in collaborative, long-range workforce skills, transportation and land use planning; promoting regionally significant industry clusters; promoting connections across sectors of the regional economy; maintaining an inventory of key development parcels; marketing their respective regions; and providing assistance to businesses and industrial prospects which may locate in the region. “The REDO program has been critical to our recovery by providing necessary resources to allow economic development entities to create regionally-tailored economic development initiatives that meet their respective needs,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “In addition, REDO’s flexibility allows us to take a targeted approach to supporting our small businesses, which helps ensure our economic recovery is evenly distributed and statewide.” Examples of eligible grants include non-construction façade improvement and investments in signage and aesthetic improvements, continuation of pop-up businesses, projects similar to the Shared Street and Spaces Program that support enhanced foot traffic and local commerce, and main street recovery projects with high local impact for small businesses.The full list of grant recipients can be found here.

Mass. Home Prices Set More Records In April

Servicio de Noticias de la Cámara de Representantes

Colin A. Young

Warren: Rising Rates May Send Buyers To Rural Markets

So many people are fighting for the precious few homes for sale in Massachusetts that the intense competition in April propelled the median sale prices of both single-family houses and condos to new record heights, real estate market watchers at The Warren Group said Tuesday.

“The median single-family home price of $560,000 marked a new all-time high for Massachusetts,” Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group, said. “Under normal conditions, this would be a reason to celebrate, but only if you currently own a home and you’re looking to sell and don’t need to buy a new home. With such limited inventory — not only across Massachusetts, but also across the country — finding that next place to live will prove to be challenging.”

There were 3,862 single-family home sales in Massachusetts last month, a 14.8 percent drop from April 2021. The median sale price increased 9.8 percent from the $510,000 mark established in April 2021 to its new all-time high, the Warren Group said.

April sales were about equal to sales in April 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic, but the median price since then has soared 30 percent from $430,000 to $560,000, The Warren Group said.

The 13,580 single-family home sales in Massachusetts so far this year represent an 11.1 percent decline compared to the first four months of 2021 and the year-to-date median sale price of $510,000 is up 9.7 percent from the same period in 2021 and up 26.9 percent from the same period in 2020.

Potential buyers in search of a condo did not fare much better last month. The 2,149 condo sales in April 2022 marked a 15.2 percent decrease from April 2021. Meanwhile, the median sale price “took off like a rocket in April,” Warren said, shooting up 11.6 percent on a year-over-year basis to $530,000.

“As the spring and summer housing markets continue to heat up, it will be interesting to see where prices go from here,” he said.

Among Massachusetts’ 14 counties, Nantucket leads the way with an April median sale price of $1.627 million and was the only county to post a drop in median price from last April (down about 20 percent from last year’s mark of $2.025 million). There have only been 40 homes sold on Nantucket so far this year (with a median price of $2.223 million) compared to the 70 sold at this point last year.

Martha’s Vineyard is close behind as Dukes County last month reported a median sale price of $1.325 million, up almost 33 percent from $1 million last April. Like Nantucket, year-to-date sales on the Vineyard are down markedly — there have been 61 homes sold in Dukes County this year ($1.1 million median price) compared to 109 at this point last year.

Plymouth County most closely mirrors the statewide picture. April sales there dropped more sharply from April 2021 than the average (down 21 percent versus the statewide average of down 15 percent) but the median price in Plymouth County ($530,000) was closest to the statewide number of $560,000 and Plymouth’s 12.5 percent growth was similar to the statewide 9.8 percent figure.

Only two counties — Hampshire and Franklin — saw sales increase from April 2021 to April 2022 and only Hampshire County is ahead of its 2021 pace four months into 2022 (though Franklin County is within a handful of sales of its 2021 mark).

“Meanwhile, as interest rates continue to increase, buyers will continue to expand their searches to more rural communities — adding even more competition in markets that have historically been more affordable,” Warren said.

Celebrating a Centennial of Tradition with Oak Hill Country Club

Oak Hill Country Club just recently celebrated their 100ta anniversary. Back in 1921, the country club’s initial 9-hole golf course, designed by Wayne Stiles. Oak Hill expanded to an 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross in 1925, with additions such a pool area, dining facility, tennis court, and clubhouse shortly after.

According to their website, Oak Hill has been a prominent site for local and regional championships. Beginning with the 1935 Massachusetts Open – won by Gene Sarazen – Oak Hill has hosted 15 Massachusetts Golf championships, three New England Amateurs, three New England PGA championships, the 1966 Tri-State matches, and countless Mass Golf and USGA qualifying events. Local golf officials consider Oak Hill to be one of the state’s best competitive venues, a recognition that has resulted in the club being awarded a 7th Massachusetts Open Championship in its Centennial Year of 2021.

Nature, over time, has since then taken its toll on the original course design, and Audra Kirtland, Marketing Communication and Membership Director, and Jeremy Jarvis, General Manager, look to bright horizons with strategic planning to bring the course back to its original design and history.

“What sets us apart is the history of the Country Club in North Central Massachusetts,” said Kirtland. “We are just east of route 495, and we are very proud of the legacy and conditions that we have posted, including seven pro-amateurs and our exclusive Oak Hill memberships.”

Jarvis chimed in, including various plans to go back to the original Ross design. “We plan on upgrading and revisiting the original designs, as they changed over the years, including the topography of the course,” he said. “A lot of thought and strategic planning goes into the design to make up the 18 holes. The landscape itself changes over the century; bunkers need to be redone every ten or so years. There are a lot of different elements that go into it.”

In addition to updating and revamping the original course design, Oak Hill looks to expand on memberships, providing new opportunities for everyone that discovers this hidden gem.

Their website states that Oak Hill members come from a wide variety of business backgrounds and professions that coalesce into a diverse group that all have one thing in common – they love this club. “We truly believe that there is no other membership like that of Oak Hill.”

Oak Hill Country Club provides Family Golf membership, House membership, and Individual Golf packages for anyone interested in joining the private country club. All memberships include exclusive access to the clubhouse, practice facilities, tennis courts, and swimming pool area.

“Being in the location that we are [in Fitchburg, MA], we see all walks of life come through our doors: from blue collar to white collar, the small business owner, a roofing company… you name it!” Kirtland said.

Currently, Oak Hill Country Club has just under 400 memberships, and over 1,000 members.

“A unique aspect of the country club is that we are very family-oriented. We have a lot of generational families, which you don’t really see any more at country clubs,” Kirtland said.

In addition to the avid golfers and non-competitive folks, Oak Hill sets the scene for weddings and functions that are member-sponsored. The newly renovated Garden Room and customized wedding packages offer a unique compliment to your special day. The Garden Room is the perfect location and venue for large functions including birthdays, holiday parties, and other events. While the 1921 Room “offers a quaint and intimate space” for smaller gatherings or corporate functions.

“Here at Oak Hill, we strive to ensure competitiveness, fun, or a successful themed event. We do a lot to make sure that the reason they come is to have a good time at Oak Hill,” Jarvis stated.

“The relationships that we form with the different local businesses through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce are incredibly beneficial; you get to know people and we love to share our facility with these different groups, knowing who we are and taking their business here for small events or dinner parties as well,” Kirtland said.

A naturally social distant activity, the championship golf course and memberships at Oak Hill Country Club are unlike any other. Rich with Massachusetts history, Oak Hill looks to set forth their strategic plan while revisiting and honoring their roots.

Oak Hill Country Club is located at 840 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420 and the Clubhouse can be contacted via their website or by calling 978-342-2717. You can learn more about them on their website www.oakhillcc.org, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Eventos próximos

Noticias para miembros

Berkshire Bank Named to 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with financial centers throughout New England and New York, today announced that it joins 483 other companies across the globe as a member of the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), a modified market capitalization-weighted index developed to gauge the performance of public companies dedicated to reporting gender-related data. This reference index measures gender equality across five pillars: leadership & talent pipeline, equal pay & gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies, and external brand.

The 2023 GEI reaches globally to represent 45 countries and regions, including firms headquartered in Luxembourg, Ecuador, and Kuwait for the first time. Member companies represent a variety of sectors, including financials, technology, and utilities, which continue to have the highest company representation in the index from 2022.

2023 GEI Logo – 2021 Gender-Equality Index – GEI 2021 Members (bloomberg.com)

“Berkshire is honored to be included again as a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index,” said Jacqueline Courtwright, EVP Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer of Berkshire Bank. “This recognition illustrates our continued strong commitment to transparency and creating an equitable workplace for all our employees as we strive to be the leading socially responsible community bank in New England and beyond. I want to give a special thanks to our Power of Women Employee Resource Group and all our Berkshire bankers for their efforts to build a culture where everyone can reach their full potential.”

“Congratulations to the companies that are included in the 2023 GEI,” said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg and Founding Chairman of the U.S. 30% Club. “We continue to see an increase in both interest and membership globally, reflecting a shared goal of transparency in gender-related metrics.”

Those included on this year’s index scored at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect disclosure and the achievement or adoption of best-in-class statistics and policies. Bloomberg collected this data for reference purposes only. The index is not ranked. While all public companies are encouraged to disclose supplemental gender data for their company’s investment profile on the Bloomberg Terminal, those that have a market capitalization of USD1 billion are eligible for inclusion in the Index. For more information on the GEI visit:  https://www.bloomberg.com/gei.

Grow Your Net Worth Through Business Ownership Live Webinar

Join a live webinar with business broker Joshua Meltzer & franchise specialist Elaine Vakalopoulos on February 16, 2023 at 12:00pm to learn how investing in a business can diversify your holdings, accelerate your earnings and build wealth. Among other things learn about:

  • Buying Smart: tips on evaluating a business resale
  • Maximizing your business’ value upon Exit
  • Just how successful can a franchise be?

Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc. celebrates welcoming forty five new team members to it’s organization in 2022

Recruitment Accomplishment!

Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc. celebrates welcoming forty five new team members to it’s organization in 2022. The non-profit agency continues to be a growing employer of choice and strong performer in North Central Ma. and throughout it’s coverage area with additional employment opportunities available for 2023.

Please visit the Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc. website for latest and greatest news and opportunities!

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.

Discover Your Leadership Potential with CLI

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Cinco de Mayo Business After Hours Recap

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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.

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