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
Fuente del artículo: State House News Service
Artículo por: Michael P. Norton
OCT. 28, 2020…..Home and condo sales and prices skyrocketed across Massachusetts in September, with the median single-family home price surging to $472,000.
The Warren Group on Wednesday reported that nearly 6,400 single-family homes were sold last month, up from just over 5,000 during September 2019. The 27 percent increase in home sales was coupled with an 18 percent increase in the median sale price.
The strong demand for new homes comes as pandemic era unemployment remains high and the state tries to guard against tens of thousands of evictions now that Gov. Charlie Baker and the Legislature have let an eviction moratorium expire. Bills to boost the supply of housing also remain bogged down on Beacon Hill.
The third straight month of large housing market gains followed a sales slump in the earlist months of the pandemic.
Year-to-date, there have been 42,566 single-family home sales, a 4 percent decrease from the first nine months of 2019. The median year-to-date sale price of $440,000 is up 10 percent.
Condo sales are also down year to date, by 7.5 percent. However, nearly 2,500 condos sold last month in Massachusetts, a 26 percent increase over September 2019, and the median condo sale price increased 11.5 percent on a year-over-year basis to $418,000.
Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group, said a work-from-home lifestyle for some workers and “rock-bottom mortgage rates” could prolong the sales boom.
“Historically in September we start to see a significant slowdown in single-family home sales, but this proved not to be the case in 2020,” Warren said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Join the discussion on the effects to our mental health and the stress in the workplace related to COVID-19. We will discuss managing the anxiety around reintegration back to the office and the anxiety of uncertainty of how to best proceed.
Kyrah Altman, President and Co-Founder of Let’s Empower, Advocate and Do, Inc. (LEAD) is our presenter for the November edition of the Human Resources Council.
Since its founding, LEAD has transformed into the industry leader in mental health education in the United States. Altman travels the world, speaking about the impact of social entrepreneurship on trauma survivors, the importance of proactive mental health education in schools, and the idea that “while not everyone has a mental illness, everyone can improve their mental health.” Since 2012, Kyrah has been featured in the New York Times, on three national television stations, and was named the nation’s 3rd best student entrepreneur by the EO Global Student Entrepreneurs Award.
Participation in HRC programs is open to all members, but pre-registration is required. The cost is just $10 for members. For more information or to register, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com.
(Regional) – The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) – the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce – recently approved a $10,000 loan to Brendan Loughman, owner of Valley Florist and Green House at 1 Valley Drive, East Templeton MA.
Brendan recently purchased Valley Florist & Green House, a flower shop in operation for over 60 years. Brendan has an advanced certification in floral design with many years of experience as a floral designer. Valley Florist & Green House offers custom floral designs and delivery using flowers grown on site. In addition to floral arrangements, Valley Florist’s gift shop offers a wide selection of gift items for every occasion. This loan for $10,000 was used for startup costs and inventory, and was a referral from Small Business Development Center where Brendan also worked on the financial plan. For more information on Valley Florist and Green House visit them online at www.thevalleyflorist.com
As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for working capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.
Gardner’s own Moon Hill Brewing Co. at the Gardner Ale House, along with the City of Gardner, present their 14th Annual Oktoberfest “Party in the Street”. Admission for this event is free and open to all ages. Parker Street will be closed to traffic.

According to Gardner Ale House and Moon Hill Brewing Co. owner Rick Walton, “Each year we keep shooting for the stars, which means we aim to make it twice as big as the previous year. Last year we accomplished just that and had our biggest party ever. The weather helps! This years major attraction, in addition to the luge is our Totally Local line up of musical acts.
This year’s musical lineup begins at 3:30 PM, just after the Chair Luge with:
3:30 PM Safehill Taking it back to the decade they were born in, these guys are solid 90s Rock.
5:15 PM The Green Sisters A Bluegrass/Newgrass quartet from Worcester County. The four local sisters sing tight harmonies while switching instruments from upright bass to fiddle to acoustic guitar to banjo. They deliver authentic Kentucky Soul while being totally original.
7:00 PM Electric Green Co. A local groove based Blues, Rock, Jazz fusion Funk band.
8:45 PM The Sufferin’ Bastards Local classic Rock band playing all your classics and favorites.
Oktoberfest “Party in the Street” is located at the Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Downtown Gardner, MA. Admission: Free, Open to All Ages
Event: Saturday, September 28, starts at 11:00 AM. Live Music is 3:30 – 10:00 PM.
For more information visit gardnerale.com or call (978) 669-0122.
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