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
COVID-19 hasn’t stopped Chris Urbine, owner of Mattress by Appointment (MBA) in Fitchburg, MA, in his tracks. In fact, he says there has been an influx of new customers since the Baker-Polito’s reopening plan was released back in May 2020.
“People have been home a lot more, which makes them realize ‘I might need a new mattress,’” Urbine states. “They’ve been banging down our doors [in a good way] to get a new mattress!”
Mattress by Appointment is a parent company based out of Greensville, SC. Urbine’s brother started a MBA in Florida. He saw how successful his brother was, and opened a location in Fitchburg, MA this past year. Urbine’s drive was to have a successful business that provided opportunities for him to support his family and lifestyle.
Urbine also mentioned that there hasn’t been a “new” normal when it comes to “the new normal.”
“The ‘new normal’ is what we’ve been doing anyway pre-pandemic,” Urbine said. As the name implies, MBA Fitchburg is open by appointment only. “Customers always have the whole store to themselves to get that one-on-one experience with us. Mattresses have always been sanitized in between appointments. We always planned ahead to have mattresses in the store for customers to take home. Right now, there’s a 6-8 week manufacturing delay, but we order everything ahead of time for customers to take home the same day, so there’s no delay due to COVID-19 manufacturing shortages. The only thing that’s really different is the social distancing and requiring a face covering in the store.”
Video appointments are also available for customers if they do not feel comfortable going in the store. They are a virtual way to shop for a new mattress, while still obtaining a personalized experience with MBA.
“Every day is a holiday at our store,” Chris Urbine, dealer of MBA Fitchburg, exclaimed. “Being open by appointment only and having no employees, we are able to keep the lowest possible prices year-round, so that our customers get the best price without having to sacrifice quality.”
Urbine looks forward to expanding a relationship with an existing vendor to add brand new contemporary, cost effective bed sets and adjustable bases. He expects these to roll out at MBA within the next 4 to 6 weeks and is very excited to share this with his customers looking to get a better mattress for themselves.
Mattress by Appointment is a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to meeting their customers, either virtually on video, or in-person. They are located at 28 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, MA, and you can schedule your appointment by texting or calling 978-400-0393.

This grant will be used to capitalize and administer a new Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in North Central Massachusetts. This new loan fund will help supplement the NCMDC’s existing efforts to provide support to local businesses and spur investment in the region.
With these funds, the NCMDC will provide fixed rate loans of up to $150,000 to start-up and existing small businesses in the region. The loans will be provided with flexible terms, low fees and interest rates as low as 1% for existing businesses and 5% for start-up businesses. Monthly payments will be deferred for up to one year on the loans, depending on the situation. Each loan offered will be tailored to the needs of the borrower after careful analysis and underwriting. Loan amortization will vary based on use of funds and underwriting with monthly repayment terms up to ten years. At maturity, loans may be extended for up to five years by modifying note terms at market rates and recasting or restructuring payments.
Loans made by the NCMDC can be used for working capital; operating expenses and costs; leasehold improvements; machinery and equipment; furniture and fixtures; start-up costs for a new business; purchasing or expanding real estate related to the business; and the refinancing of existing business debt. To be eligible, a loan applicant must be a for-profit enterprise; be located in one of the NCMDC service communities; create or retain at least one job for each $20,000 of funds provided; and show economic injury or funding needed for re-opening and recovery as a result of COVID-19. In addition, start-up businesses are required to provide a 10% equity injection.
“This infusion of capital will reinforce our lending capacity and allow us to continue to support the economic recovery of North Central Massachusetts with low interest loans.” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “We are appreciative of the Economic Development Administration for their confidence in us. These funds will go a long way in helping many vulnerable small businesses regain their footing from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For more information or to inquire about a loan, please contact Sandie Cataldo, Economic Development Manager at 978.353.7600 or email .

How to Grow When It’s Slow: Remote Hiring
“Hire the best talent for the best compensation plan – the people that work best with your company and your culture – regardless of where they live,” advises business consultant Cameron Herold, co-author of The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Inspired by Cameron Herold’s recent podcast interview on Real Estate Rockstars Radio, we put together a list of hiring suggestions for a remote workplace.
Hire the best talent for the best compensation
Cameron Herold advises businesses to focus on hiring the best talent and offering the best compensation plan. According to the business expert, you should recruit employees who will work best with your company and culture regardless of where they live. They should be able to fit into the business culture and work with minimal help and supervision.
Train employees to do job interviews
One of the mistakes that most businesses make when it comes to hiring is failing to train employees to do job interviews. Today, companies are competing for top talent, making it essential to create a recruitment process that will help you attract the best employees. The interviewers will know how to ask the right questions and understand the importance of job relevance during the interviews.
Work with freelance recruiters
When looking to hire remote talent, you should cast your net wide. Working with freelance recruiters can help you find employees with the capabilities you need during tough times. The recruitment specialist will play a big role in outsourcing talent, effectively making the hiring process fast and easy. You can also make use of social media to reach a wider audience.
Help candidates self-decide if they fit in the setup
Since remote working is not for everyone, you should actively help candidates to determine if they fit in the setup. During the recruitment process, we suggest that you give the candidates an insider look into what working remotely involves. Sharing an insider perspective will not only prepare them for their work environment but also help you make the most of the skills they offer.
Offer a paid work trial
Once you have identified the best candidate for the job, you can offer a paid work trial before making an offer. This period will give you a chance to see how skilled they are, whether they fit into your business, and how well they can learn. We recommend that you give candidates actual work during the trial process and provide flexible work schedules.
Running a business and guiding your team through uncertain times is a huge challenge. Growing your business when it is slow, will be even more challenging. You will need to boost revenue and ensure that all your employees are protected from tough times. As a chamber of commerce, we believe that only true leadership can help navigate a crisis. Business leaders can use these tips to help their companies survive and thrive.
This has been Part 6 of 6 in the series How to Grow When It’s Slow, inspired by author and speaker Cameron Herold. For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And that’s the download!
Fitchburg, MA 5 de febrero de 2019 — ISSA, la asociación mundial de la industria de la limpieza, anunció hoy que Moura’s Cleaning Service, Inc. logró Estándar de Gestión de la Industria de Limpieza (CIMS) y CIMS-Edificio Verde (GB) de ISSAcertificación.
El cumplimiento de la norma demuestra que una organización de limpieza cuenta con los sistemas necesarios para ofrecer servicios consistentes y profesionales diseñados para satisfacer las necesidades y expectativas del cliente, y está preparada para ofrecer un programa integral de limpieza ecológica basado en los criterios de limpieza ecológica de LEED EB: O&M. La certificación CIMS y CIMS-GB se exige en muchas especificaciones de licitación de servicios de limpieza, ya que los clientes buscan una forma eficaz de identificar a proveedores de alta calidad comprometidos con la satisfacción del cliente.
“Estamos orgullosos de atender a nuestros clientes y todo el arduo trabajo que realizan nuestros empleados”, dice David M. Moura, presidente de Moura’s Cleaning Service, Inc. “Todos nuestros empleados trabajan duro todos los días para asegurarse de que nuestros clientes sean atendidos”.”
Evaluadores independientes y acreditados verifican que las empresas certificadas CIMS y CIMS-GB cumplen con el estándar de la industria para:
FITCHBURG, Ma., Feb. 5, 2018 – Workers Credit Union has presented $29,150 to the Worcester County Food Bank raised in its fall and holiday fundraising campaign held from November through Dec. 31, 2018. The credit union pledged the Worcester County Food Bank $5 for every new member or account and for every download of its mobile app. Workers Credit Union leaders and staff toured the Worcester County Food Bank and surprised the nonprofit with the donation on Wednesday.
“The response to this new fundraising campaign was tremendous and nearly tripled our original goal,” said Doug Petersen, president and CEO of Workers Credit Union. “The ease of the automatic giving just for joining or downloading the app helped us far exceed our original fundraising goal.”
The donation represents more than 4,100 new members and accounts and almost 1,700 downloads of the credit union’s app. The campaign was simple – new members joined the credit union for the standard $5 membership fee and the credit union earmarked the donation to the Food Bank. The donation was automatic and applied to any member, new or existing, and all those who downloaded the credit union’s mobile app during the campaign period. Workers had originally hoped to raise $10,000 for the food bank.
Workers Credit Union’s donation will help the Worcester Food Bank distribute more than $115,000 of donated food to our community.
“This campaign has raised money and awareness,” said Worcester County Food Bank Executive Director Jean G. McMurray. “The generosity is a beautiful show of support for neighbors struggling with hunger and throughout Worcester County. These funds are used to help us achieve a hunger-free community.”
Workers Credit Union has been a long-time supporter local food banks and hunger-fighting programs. In addition to this campaign, Workers and its members donated $11,299 to the Worcester County Food Bank in September 2018 as part of its annual GiveBack program. In October 2018 Workers Credit Union donated $3,000 to the Gardner Community Action Committee (CAC) to help fight hunger in the greater Gardner area.
Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB)) is the region’s leading anti-hunger organization, distributing enough food annually for 5.4 million meals in collaboration with food donors, financial supporters, and volunteers. WCFB provides donated food to a network of 118 Partner Agencies that have food assistance programs, including food pantries, community meal sites, and shelters. This past year, WCFB and its Partner Agencies served 81,000 people in the community. WCFB also advocates within the community and at the state and federal levels for systemic and sustainable solutions to the problem of hunger. WCFB’s mission is to engage, educate, and lead Worcester County in creating a hunger-free community. 94 percent of all donated resources go directly towards creating a hunger-free community. See: www.foodbank.org.
Workers Credit Union, home of the $3.3 million GiveBack program, is headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. With assets of $1.7 billion, the credit union serves over 102,000 members from 16 offices in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, Westford and Workers Online at www.workerscu.com.
ATTENTION INTERNSHIP SEEKERS: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital is looking for college students who are interested in paid internship opportunities for the summer season! Please see the form below for details and then send to Christopher Hendry, Sr. Dir. of External Affairs, at .
Other Details:
The program is 10-weeks long (June through August), 20-hours/week and pays $12/hour totaling $2,400. We currently have as many as 27 vacancies available. Students must be enrolled in college.
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