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.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is here to help – with trusted resources, a strong business network, and a support system to keep your business and the region moving forward
The Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $600,000 to 22 school districts to help support Innovation Pathway programs, which provide high school students with opportunities to learn and gain experience in a particular industry through career exploration, technical courses and internships.
Students are also able to enroll in post-secondary courses, at no cost to them, to help them make progress toward industry-recognized credentials. Most Innovation Pathways are in STEM-related fields, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, environmental and life sciences, health care and social assistance, and business and finance.
“These programs provide students with hands-on skills learning and access to opportunities for future success in high-demand fields,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The expansion of Innovation Pathways will allow more students to gain knowledge and work experiences that prepare them for successful careers before they graduate high school.”
“We remain committed to closing opportunity and workforce gaps for students in communities across the Commonwealth, and Innovation Pathways are another tool we can use to do so,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These early career programs and rigorous learning opportunities offer chances for achievement both inside and outside the classroom.”
El Baker-Polito Administration launched these early career programs in 2017 to help students develop knowledge and skills related to a chosen field of study before they graduate high school. To date, 49 high schools across the Commonwealth have designated Innovation Pathways, totaling 121 different programs. Innovation Pathways differ from its sister program – Early College – in that students focus on a specific industry sector, with greater emphasis on career exploration, technical courses, work-based learning experiences and industry-recognized credentials, rather than college credit courses and college planning.
The 22 schools awarded grants today received designation from 2018 through 2020 and will use funding from the state to support work-based learning, industry recognized credential attainment, and dual-enrollment opportunities with partnering colleges and universities.
“When students have a sense of purpose, they become more interested and engaged in their studies, able to easily see how it all fits into their future,” said Secretary of Education James Peyser. “As more students gain skills and knowledge in a particular industry sector, they will have a better sense of what they want to do after they graduate and what additional post-secondary courses and training they will need to ensure their success.”
“Through participation in Innovation Pathways, students are empowered to explore firsthand and take steps toward possible future careers in promising sectors,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.
The following school districts received awards:
Schools that apply for designation for an Innovation Pathways are required to follow five design principles:
When many businesses were forced to cut back or close during the early stages of the COVID Pandemic, Wonder Products, LLC of Sterling was just getting started – opening its doors in 2020.
“The pandemic required you to refocus and reinvent yourself,” notes co-founder Michelle Salas. You either had to jump on the boat or jump off.” Michelle and her partner Nikki Wiita grabbed hold of an idea and built a business around it. Makers of the “Wonder Plunger,” the pair or Moms dove in with a simple mission statement – “Never fear the flush again!”
They introduced a new toilet plunger that, according to their website, is set to revolutionize the look of your bathroom. It’s clean, easy-to-store and colorful options make it a perfect fit in every bathroom. The Wonder Plungers patent pending design includes a one-handed operation. With a single hand, you can easily extend the collapsible pole, making your plunger 16 inches. And when you’re done, with a simple twist, the plunger collapses down to 9.5 inches, making it easy to store anywhere in your bathroom.
“We’re both Moms and we didn’t like the idea of storing the plunger in the bathroom where our kids were walking barefoot,” explained Ms. Salas. “Plungers are gross, dirty and inconvenient to store in the basement – where you have to do the ‘walk of shame downstairs each time you need to use one.”
They primarily promote Wonder Plunger via email and social media advertising including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The business has also grown via word of mouth. In addition to being sold on their own website (wonderplunger.com), their product is also available online via Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart.
When asked what separates their product from standard run-of-the-mill plungers, Salas noted three key points of difference. “Our collapsible concept, our aesthetically pleasing colors and our one-handed operational format,” she explained. As their website adds, “Use the Wonder Plunger to loosen that clog and when you’re done, simply put it away with the confidence you’re living a cleaner lifestyle.”
As for starting a business in North Central Massachusetts, Salas said it was important for them to be part of the community and they want to inspire other female-owned companies. “As a new business, we are looking to get more involved in the community, she added.
As a women-owned business, Salas notes Wonder Products is also very family-oriented. “Both our husbands are involved in supporting the company. We are both very driven and motivated. As Moms it was important to create a work/life balance and we wanted to create our own.”
Servicio de Noticias de la Cámara de Representantes
Colin A. Young
The House Ways and Means Committee’s budget recommendation, which totals $49.629 billion and is expected to be debated the week of April 25, would increase spending by $2.015 billion, or 4.23 percent over the current year’s budget, and proposes to spend $1.398 billion, or 2.9 percent, more than Gov. Charlie Baker recommended in his January budget filing.
In addition to the early education and workforce development initiatives that Mariano and Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz rolled out Monday, the House budget also boosts local aid, fully funds the next year of the 2019 school finance reform law known as the Student Opportunity Act, eliminates communication costs for incarcerated people and their families, provides free school lunches for another year, and pushes the state’s stabilization fund to an estimated balance of $6.55 billion by the end of next June.
“We are on our way towards filling some of the holes that were created during the pandemic with a $49.6 billion spending package that we think addresses a lot of the needs and it’s based on state tax collections that have been very strong [and] a lot of help from the federal government,” Mariano said Wednesday.
The budget includes $6 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increases the minimum per-student aid amount from $30 to $60, accelerates by one year the charter school reimbursement process, and increases higher education scholarship funding by more than $25 million. There is also $912 million for early education and child care, $853 million for housing initiatives and $638.4 million for workforce development.
Michlewitz said the budget his committee released “presents the commonwealth with a unique opportunity to invest in the middle class and start to tackle some of the challenges that a post-COVID economy has created.”
The state generated a surplus of more than $5 billion last fiscal year and is already more than $2 billion ahead of expectations this fiscal year. On top of tax revenue, the state still has more than $2 billion of American Rescue Plan Act money to put to use in the coming years and a record amount of money socked away in the stabilization fund.
The state’s strong revenue performance has led to a chorus calling for tax relief for residents who are also dealing with higher prices across the board, but Mariano and Michlewitz made clear Wednesday that they think the money will do more good if the Legislature spends it in a targeted way rather than putting it back into taxpayers’ pockets.
“With growing revenue returns from the state, a record $5.76 billion expected dollars in our rainy day fund by the end of this fiscal year, this once-in-a-generation opportunity allows us to build for a better future, one that is more resilient, more equitable, and more rewarding for all of us in the commonwealth,” Michlewitz said.
Mariano pointed to the House’s funding for early education and child care as the kind of investment that will have an outsized impact on the state’s workforce and economy.
“There are many things that we can spend our money on and we chose to do that because I think these programs in the early childhood and day care support systems are the underpinning of our middle and lower class workforce,” Mariano said. He added, “And I really feel, and thank goodness the chairman agrees, that strengthening these underpinnings is the most important thing we can do right now.”
Mariano had announced Monday that the House budget would not include any of Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed $700 million worth of tax breaks. Asked Wednesday why the House decided to leave those out, the speaker said, “Well, we felt they weren’t necessary at the time.”
The House budget also looks to bolster the state’s stabilization fund, the savings account that serves as a reserve in case of an economic downturn, with a deposit of at least $785.7 million in fiscal year 2023. Asked why the House is continuing to boost the rainy day fund rather than deploying that money in the annual budget, Mariano suggested darker economic days could be ahead for the Bay State.
“These good times may not roll forever. We want to make sure that we have money in case there is a sudden downturn. You know, we’re on the brink of major confrontations in Europe, the oil production is being cut way down; if I was a economic prognosticator, I would think we were in for some tough times,” the speaker said. “So obviously we wanted to strengthen our ability to pivot if revenues do take a downward plunge.”
Key new hires bring experience in life science, academic and residential sectors which will help drive continued growth and support achievement of overall business goals
Springfield, Mass & Worcester, Mass.—Fontaine Bros. Inc., a construction management and general contracting firm serving the public and private sectors since 1933, is pleased to announce three recent new hires to the organization: Michael Tiberii as Sr. Project Supervisor; Tom Ingle as Project Supervisor/Manager and Nicole LaCroix as Project Manager.
Mike Tiberii joins Fontaine from AECOM TISHMAN where he was Vice President of MEP Services. With over 35 years of experience, Mike has worked on projects in many sectors including life science, hospitality and residential. He completed the Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Architectural Design and Drafting Program and earned a Certificate from the University of Texas’ Project Management Program.
Before joining Fontaine, Tom Ingle was a General Contractor who managed his own construction and remodeling company. Tom is a licensed Construction Supervisor and earned a degree in Business Management from Providence College.
Nicole Lacroix comes to Fontaine from Bowdoin Construction. She earned a Masters of Construction Management degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Interior Design. Nicole’s diverse experience includes a wide range of projects in the academic and life science sectors.
About Fontaine Bros.
As a fourth-generation family owned and operated construction management and general contracting firm, Fontaine Bros. takes great pride in our ability to innovate, adapt and persevere in an industry that is always evolving. With offices in Springfield and Worcester, Fontaine Bros. has completed more than $1 billion in construction projects across the Commonwealth. Maintaining our commitment to intentional growth by pursuing only projects that align with the Fontaine Bros. mission of quality, teamwork and client satisfaction has made the company successful since 1933. To learn more, visit www.fontainebros.com.
North Star Seeking Community Support for “Journey Home Project” with Capital 2.5 million-dollar Campaign
A new project from North Star Family Services, Inc., will bring the first of its kind supportive housing community to North Central Massachusetts in the Spring 2023. North Star is seeking support for the project, which aims to help local homeless families stay permanently housed, through an ongoing $2.5 million capital campaign.
Known as “Journey Home,” the project will include the construction of a 15-unit apartment building in Leominster that will house homeless families with children. The building will also feature offices with onsite staff who will provide services to help families overcome challenges so they can transition to long-term stable housing, including skills building and mentoring.
On March 30, the City of Leominster, Zoning Board of Appeals, unanimously approved a zoning permit for Journey Home, positioning the project to be shovel ready in the Spring of 2023.
The building will be located down the street from North Star’s family shelter, which has served families in North Central Massachusetts for over 20 years. North Star President and CEO Dr. Jon Hogue notes that Journey Home will extend the shelter’s work in an innovative way.
“This project is unique in North Central Massachusetts and will bring the first-ever housing continuum,” says Hogue. “Our emergency shelter takes families who have been living in areas not meant for human habitation, and now we are creating an outlet that is supportive, affordable, and permanent. The project’s number one goal is to keep people housed long-term so they can build better lives.”
Journey Home is being funded in part by local City, State, ARPA and private donations. Additionally, an endowment fund has been created at the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts that will support annual program operations for North Star, including Journey Home.
The capital campaign, led by volunteers Martin F. Connors, President & CEO of Rollstone Bank and Trust, and his wife Kathleen, is essential for funding the initial construction of the building.
“We decided to lead the Journey Home capital campaign because this ambitious project will make it possible for previously homeless/low-income, working families to move out of the North Star shelter,” says Connors. “This new housing program will be one of a kind and serve North Central Massachusetts families in need of support for generations to come.”
Robert Antonucci, President Emeritus of Fitchburg State University and Honorary Champion of the Journey Home capital campaign, adds, “North Star Family Services is an organization whose primary focus is to assist homeless families with the most critical basic needs, housing and support services. I am more than pleased to support the capital campaign and hope that others will join us in doing all we can to ensure that families in need will continue to be served. By joining together we can make a difference and contribute to the quality of life in our communities. “
Donations to the Journey Home capital campaign can be made at northstarfs.org, or by mailing or dropping off a check to the following address: North Star Family Services, Inc., 758 Main Street, Leominster, MA 01453.
Worcester, MA – The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts recently awarded 11 grants totaling $900,000 through its Activation Fund program, which aims to fund discrete one-year projects addressing community-identified health issues. As announced previously, a generous $500,000 distribution was received from the Central Massachusetts Independent Physicians Association (CMIPA) Foundation in early 2022 as part of its Commonwealth approved wind-down, and that distribution has been applied towards this round of Activation Fund grants, helping the Foundation respond to urgent health needs.
Among the recipients were three organizations serving North Central Massachusetts – GAAMHA, Making Opportunity Count (MOC), and Restoration Recovery Center—with grants totaling more than $200,000.
GAAMHA – $61,000 for installation of a new roof and windows at Pathway House, a 27-bed residential program for adult men with substance use disorders, which serves an average of 70 individuals annually.
Making Opportunity Count – $120,000 to build out space for a new Family Health clinic in Fitchburg offering no-cost/low-cost sexual and reproductive health care for people in the North Central region.
Restoration Recovery Center – $33,562 to build capacity of its Recovery Coaching program by formalizing a partnership with a local behavioral health center for referrals and third-party billing, and for purchase of related software to enhance data collection and reporting capabilities.
“The Foundation’s unique grantmaking approach involves learning about pressing and emerging health issues from the community through an extensive outreach process,” said Judge Timothy M. Bibaud, Chairman of the Board. He continued, “Thanks to the CMIPA’s selection of The Health Foundation to receive its remaining assets, we are pleased to be able to support many organizations of varying sizes and capabilities working to address health and equity-related challenges through the Activation Fund this year.”
Dr. Amie Shei, President and CEO of the Foundation, added, “The goal of the Activation Fund is to enable an organization to increase its capacity in a way that can be sustained after the grant ends. We are pleased to be able to honor the legacy of the CMIPA through these 2022 Activation Fund grants, which will improve health in the region for years to come.”
Other grants awarded include:
Community Health Center of Franklin County – $88,340 for buildout of office space to maximize patient care and outcomes at its North Quabbin facility, which serves more than 3,500 patients per year.
Guild of St Agnes – $118,000 to construct a 3,000 S.F. outdoor playground at its new state-of-the-art childcare facility and higher education learning lab on Mill Street in Worcester.
Milford Youth Center – $115,250 for replacement of the HVAC and steam unit heating systems for the gym and basement areas of its facility to address air quality issues and increase operating efficiency.
Thrive Support & Advocacy – $50,998 for furnishings and equipment to enable expansion of its Family Support Center in Worcester to include a new allergen-sensitive food pantry and additional space for after-school, recreational and vocational programming.
Western Mass Training Consortium – $67,627 for furnishings and technology to equip a new facility housing its Recovery Center of HOPE, a peer-led recovery program in the Quaboag region.
World Farmers – $120,000 for buildout of a new food aggregation and distribution hub adjacent to its main office in Lancaster to meet growing demand for its Community Supported Agriculture program and general wholesale operations selling cultural crops throughout the region.
YOU, Inc. – $56,795 for translation services and culturally aligned tools to equip a Bi-Lingual Welcome Center at the co-located Behavioral Health Center and Family Resource Center in Southbridge aimed to increase accessibility of services for people with limited English proficiency.
Youth Villages – $67,573 for upfront costs associated with scaling its Intercept for Emergency Diversion program in Central Massachusetts, addressing the issue of youth boarding in hospitals as they wait for inpatient psychiatric beds.
The Health Foundation was established in 1999 with the proceeds from the sale of Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc., a physician-initiated, not-for-profit HMO. The Foundation has assets of approximately $90 million, as of this spring, and has awarded grants totaling over $50 million since it began its grantmaking in 2000. For further information about these grants or about the Foundation’s grantmaking programs and application process, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.hfcm.org or call (508) 438-0009.
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.
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.
CapEx Facility Services & Construction · Leominster, MA
TaraVista Behavioral Health Center · Harvard, MA
DRS Power Technology, Inc. · Fitchburg, MA
AIS · Leominster, MA