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

Actualización de asuntos gubernamentales Otoño 2024

Asuntos Federales:

Goverment Affairs Update - Fall

En mayo, la Cámara participó en el Día de la Pequeña Empresa en Beacon Hill, reuniéndose con varios miembros de la delegación de nuestra región sobre nuestras prioridades legislativas y las preocupaciones de las pequeñas empresas. En la foto, de izquierda a derecha: Representante Estatal Meg Kilcoyne; Representante Estatal Natalie Higgins; Presidente y CEO de la Cámara, Roy Nascimento; miembro de la Cámara y propietario de ECi Stores, Neil Abramson; y Representante Estatal Mike Kushmerek.

A medida que se acerca el otoño, la atención se centra en Washington D.C. ante las elecciones de noviembre. En la Cámara de Representantes de EE. UU., el congresista Jim McGovern y la congresista Lori Trahan se presentan sin oposición. Para el Senado, la senadora titular Elizabeth Warren se enfrentará a un retador republicano, que se determinará en las primarias republicanas a principios de septiembre. Monitorearemos de cerca las políticas de la administración presidencial ganadora para evaluar su posible impacto en la comunidad empresarial cuando asuman el cargo en enero.

Nos complace anunciar nuestro evento anual de Almuerzo del Congreso el jueves 17 de octubre a las 11:30 a.m. en el DoubleTree by Hilton en Leominster. Tanto el Congresista McGovern como la Congresista Trahan estarán presentes. Extendemos nuestra gratitud a nuestro patrocinador principal, Fitchburg State University, y al patrocinador de apoyo, Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc., por su generoso apoyo.

Asuntos de Estado

Presupuesto: Siguiendo la tradición, Beacon Hill acordó un presupuesto de $57.8 mil millones tras el inicio del nuevo año fiscal, y la gobernadora Healey lo firmó a finales de julio. Las anulaciones del veto de la gobernadora, por un monto de $317 millones, se mantuvieron vigentes al concluir las sesiones formales.

Desarrollo Económico Al momento de redactar este artículo, se espera que los legisladores regresen a Beacon Hill para abordar el proyecto de ley sobre bonos para el desarrollo económico que no se aprobó durante la sesión formal. La Cámara de Representantes y el Senado han presentado versiones separadas del proyecto de ley, las cuales, dependiendo de que se llegue a un acuerdo, incluirían autorizaciones de bonos y créditos fiscales por miles de millones de dólares, junto con la renovación de la iniciativa estatal de ciencias de la vida, cientos de millones en subvenciones de infraestructura pública de MassWorks, $99 millones para la manufactura avanzada y una posible reintroducción del programa «Happy Hour».

Educación El presupuesto sigue destinando $6.86 mil millones a la Ley de Oportunidades para los Estudiantes, lo que representa un aumento de 4% con respecto al año fiscal 24. Los fondos de «Fair Share» se utilizarán para que la educación en los colegios comunitarios sea gratuita para todos. Se siguen realizando inversiones en programas que ayudan a los estudiantes de secundaria a obtener credenciales reconocidas por la industria, así como en itinerarios educativos e iniciativas de acceso temprano a la universidad.

Vivienda: Se aprobó un proyecto de ley de bonos para vivienda con el fin de abordar la crisis de vivienda del Estado. El secretario Ed Augustus estima que esta legislación dará lugar a la creación de más de 45 000 nuevas unidades y a la conservación de 27 000 unidades de vivienda. El proyecto de ley de bonos, por un monto de $5.15 mil millones, ofrece nuevos créditos fiscales para las empresas que reconviertan edificios comerciales en desuso, duplica el crédito fiscal para la rehabilitación de edificios históricos y permite las unidades de vivienda accesorias de pleno derecho.

Equidad salarial: Una nueva legislación (H. 4890) exige que los empleadores con 25 o más empleados divulguen los rangos salariales en las ofertas de empleo y proporcionen información sobre los rangos salariales para promociones, transferencias y a solicitud. La Oficina del Fiscal General llevará a cabo una campaña de concienciación pública y tiene autoridad de cumplimiento, incluida la capacidad de imponer multas por violaciones.

Temporada de elecciones: Además de la elección presidencial, los cargos de Representante Estatal y Senador Estatal estarán en la boleta de noviembre, con varios miembros de la delegación regional enfrentando elecciones disputadas.

Te invitamos a nuestra Recepción Legislativa y de Candidatos, uno de nuestros eventos anuales más emocionantes. Brinda a los miembros de la comunidad la oportunidad de interactuar con funcionarios electos actuales y candidatos. El evento, respaldado por el patrocinador principal Mount Wachusett Community College y el patrocinador de apoyo Open Sky Community Services, se llevará a cabo en el Chocksett Inn en Sterling el jueves 26 de septiembre de 5:00 PM a 7:00 PM.

Preguntas de la Boleta: La Cámara está particularmente preocupada por las Preguntas de la Boleta 2 y 5:

  • La Pregunta 2 eliminaría el requisito estatal de graduación de secundaria para aprobar el examen estandarizado MCAS de décimo grado sin ofrecer un estándar alternativo uniforme. Creemos que esto podría rebajar los estándares educativos en un momento crítico.
  • La pregunta 5 propone eliminar el crédito por propinas. Nos preocupa mucho su posible impacto en los empleados que reciben propinas y en los restaurantes, que son motores clave de nuestra economía local. Actualmente, a todos los trabajadores de Massachusetts, incluidos los que reciben propinas, se les garantiza ganar al menos el salario mínimo $15. Una encuesta reciente reveló que el 86% de los empleados que reciben propinas prefiere el sistema actual, y una coalición de estos empleados ha respaldado el voto NO en esta pregunta.

Para preguntas o inquietudes sobre los esfuerzos de políticas públicas de la Cámara, comuníquese con Travis Condon, nuestro gerente de asuntos públicos, al 978.353.7600, ext. 224, o por correo electrónico a .


Massachusetts Central Norte | Cámara de Comercio | Cámara de Comercio cerca de mí | Asuntos Legislativos | Funcionarios Electos | Asuntos Gubernamentales | Apoyo a la Comunidad | Desarrollo Empresarial | Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral | Industria de Massachusetts

Actualización de Turismo – Otoño 2024

Al concluir el año fiscal que finaliza el 30 de junio de 2024, la Cámara se complace en compartir esta actualización de nuestro afiliado de turismo Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM). Este informe destaca nuestros esfuerzos de marketing, logros y planes futuros para promover nuestra región como un destino principal.

Marca y Publicidad

Nuestra estrategia publicitaria combinó medios impresos y digitales en mercados de destino, con mensajes como “Todo lo que amas de Nueva Inglaterra... mucho más cerca de casa” y “Conduce hacia, no a través de, el centro norte de Massachusetts” a través de varios canales, incluyendo:

  • Campañas de redes sociales pagadas a través de MassLive
  • Marketing en motores de búsqueda a través de Local IQ
  • Campañas de impresión y digitales en Boston Magazine
  • Campaña digital y de correo electrónico con AAA
  • Campaña de paquete digital con Yankee Publishing

Estos esfuerzos mostraron las diversas atracciones de nuestra región y aumentaron el tráfico web, con el objetivo de cautivar a posibles visitantes y fomentar la exploración del centro-norte de Massachusetts.

Guía de visitantes

También publicamos la edición Otoño/Invierno de la Guía del Centro-Norte de Massachusetts, una popular revista brillante a todo color, dirigida a informar e inspirar a los lectores. Presenta la región como un destino único para vivir, trabajar y visitar. Impresimos 40,000 copias por edición y las distribuimos en 350 ubicaciones de alto tráfico en toda Nueva Inglaterra a través de AAA y CTM Media Group. Una versión digital también se comparte en nuestro sitio web, redes sociales, por correo electrónico y se distribuye a la Oficina de Viajes y Turismo de Massachusetts (MOTT) para maximizar su alcance y participación.

FAM Trips & Travel Shows

We actively participated in Familiarization Trips & Travel Shows. We also continued our “Super Region” collaboration with two other Central Massachusetts Regional Tourism Councils (Discover Central MA and MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau), implementing an off-season marketing campaign. We hosted two regional travel writer press trips in January and March to assist us with generating more interest in the region among the travel media and other travel influencers. We have several advertising campaigns underway and are working with CM Communications, a Boston-based PR Agency that specializes in destination marketing. Our participation in the Dream Destination Travel Show in October also further promoted our region as a desirable travel destination.

Social Media

We maintained a strong presence on social media throughout the year. From January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, our Visit North Central Massachusetts Facebook page had a total reach of 500,291, a 21% decrease over the previous six months, but a 17% increase over the same timeframe the previous year. Our Facebook channel also attracted 4,068 new followers, an 11.66% increase over the previous six months. In addition, the page also had 7,400 content interactions and 12,600 link clicks during the same timeframe. Paid reach was 250,017 and 1,395,876 paid impressions. On Instagram, the page achieved a reach of 43,700, a 33.9% decrease over the previous six months, but a 250% increase over the same timeframe the previous year. We gained 419 new followers, had 2,300 content interactions and 1,200 link clicks during the same timeframe.

Website

Our tourism website, Visitnorthcentral.com, has experienced growth in traffic for FY24. Google Analytics indicates that our website experienced a 44.5% increase in pageviews; a 51.1% increase in sessions; and a 48.1% increase in unique users from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, when compared to the same timeframe in 2023. During the same time period, we also had over 1,587,649 Google impressions. Additionally, we are actively aligning the content of Visit North Central’s seasonal landing pages with our SEO strategy to maintain consistency with our SEM campaign efforts.

Lodging & Other Data

STR data through June indicates that YTD hotel occupancy was 73.6%, a 2.6% increase over the previous year; ADR was $187.81, which is a 1.8% decrease; RevPar was $138.21, a 0.8% increase over the previous year; total room revenue was down 3.8%; and rooms sold was down 2.1%. AirDNA data indicates that short-term rentals in the region have continued to trend upwards, growing from 4.4% of total lodging revenue in the region in FY23 to 5.7% in FY24. Research from Datafy indicates that the region had 4,428,731 trips in FY24 and 8,346,506 visitor days. Average length of stay in the region was 1.9 days and our top four origin markets were Boston; Hartford/New Haven; New York; and Providence-New Bedford.

Boletín por correo electrónico

We launched a quarterly Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM) subscription-based email newsletter to help promote the region to visitors. Our VNCM email list already has 3,117 subscribers and has an average open rate of 46% and click-through rate of 9%.

Mirando hacia adelante

As we enter the Fall season, our focus remains on showcasing North Central Massachusetts as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking authentic New England experiences. Our strategic approach includes:

  • Enhancing our digital marketing presence
  • Developing exciting seasonal itineraries
  • Targeting the Route 2 corridor with geofenced ads
  • Refreshing our website homepage for improved user experience
  • Continuing to highlight outdoor attractions and traditional New England experiences

We’re implementing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, including paid search, social media advertising, targeted YouTube ads, and organic engagement. By combining these strategies, we aim to engage a broader audience and demonstrate the unique benefits of visiting North Central Massachusetts.

Te invitamos a unirte a nosotros en la promoción de las atracciones y experiencias únicas de nuestra región. ¡Mantente atento para más actualizaciones y oportunidades de participar!


North Central Massachusetts | Chamber of Commerce | Massachusetts | Chamber of Commerce near me | Travel | Tourism | Community Development | Historic New England | Quality of Life | Historic New England | Marketing

Massachusetts 250 Commemoration: Inventory of Revolutionary Artifacts and Exhibits

El Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism is currently compiling a comprehensive inventory of museums and historical sites across the state as part of the Massachusetts 250 commemoration of the American Revolution.

We are reaching out to gather information about any artifacts, paintings, murals, or upcoming exhibits your museum possesses that highlight the Revolutionary War period. This information will be used to create a comprehensive list of historical assets, including your museum, which may potentially be incorporated into a digital map to enhance visitor experiences throughout the Massachusetts 250th anniversary celebration in 2025 and 2026.

By showcasing the breadth and depth of Massachusetts’ historical treasures, we aim to inspire visitors to explore the state’s rich revolutionary heritage. Your participation in this initiative is crucial to the success of the Massachusetts 250 commemoration.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could respond with a list of relevant artifacts, exhibits, or programs. To ensure maximum visibility during this anniversary, please consider uploading information about any Massachusetts 250-related events directly to their website.

Please feel free to contact Sheila Green at with any questions or to provide additional information.


Chamber of Commerce | Massachusetts 250 | American Revolution | Massachusetts | Massachusetts Business | New England Town | Historic New England, | Worcester County | Rural Economy | Chamber of Commerce near me | Historic Artifacts | Historical Treasures | Massachusetts History | Massachusetts 250 Anniversary

Eventos próximos

Noticias para miembros

12th Annual Kids at Heart Mentoring Gala

LUK, Inc. Invites You to the 12th Annual Kids at Heart Mentoring Gala! Join us at Devens Common Center to enjoy dinner, live and silent auctions, balloon pops, entertainment, and dancing in support of LUK’s Mentoring program! Learn more at LUK Mentoring’s 12th Annual “Kids at Heart” Gala.

Bidding on auction items will be available both at the event and virtually. If you cannot attend but are interested in supporting and bidding on auction items, you may sign up to create an account and bid on items through the Gala website as well.

LUK Mentoring pairs caring, concerned role models with youth who will benefit from additional support. The mission serves the cities and towns in Worcester County to strengthen our community through high quality, life-enriching, professionally supported one-to-one relationships between volunteer mentors and children in need. Learn more and become a mentor at Mentoring.LUK.org

Date: Thursday, February 13th, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Devens Common Center

Mayor Michael Nicholson elected president of Massachusetts Mayors Association

Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson

Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson has been unanimously elected as the President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association.

Mayor Nicholson, who has served as the Mayor of Gardner since 2020, and had served as the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association District 2 Representative, brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of leadership to his new role.

Mayor Nicholson has been instrumental in bringing significant developments to Gardner, including the Gardner Elementary School project that came in $8 million under budget, the creation of two vacant storefront revitalization districts, an increase of double the amount of grant awards over the last two years, and increased private investment across the city.  Mayor Nicholson’s dedication to improving the City of Gardner and creating lasting partnerships that will lead to increased investments in the future have earned him respect among his peers and widespread recognition across
the state.

As President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, Mayor Nicholson will lead advocacy efforts around housing, economic development and other issues facing municipalities across the Commonwealth.  In this role, Mayor Nicholson will work with state leaders, industry experts and his colleagues to advocate for the needs of municipalities and to promote efficient, effective and thriving
local government.

“I am honored to have been elected by my peers as the President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association,” said Nicholson. “I look forward to continuing a collaboration with my fellow mayors and state leaders as we continue to advocate for the many pressing issues facing municipal government.  Local government plays a significant role in increasing the quality of life for residents throughout the Commonwealth and I look forward to working together to ensure our cities thrive.”

The Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, established in 1945, provides opportunities for mayors to network and share ideas, pursue educational opportunities, meet with state leaders and subject-matter experts, and participate in the advocacy work of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Its membership is made up of the 48 mayors of the cities of Massachusetts.

Mayor Nicholson was nominated by Mayor Dean Mazarella of Leominster and Mayor Nicole LaChapelle of Easthampton at the association’s annual business meeting held in Boston on January 25, 2025.

Massachusetts Mayors Association Meeting

Left to right Front row: Jeannette McCarthy of Waltham, Ruthanne Fuller of Newton, Outgoing MMaA President Nicole LaChapelle of Easthampton, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, MMaA President Michael Nicholson of Gardner, Breanna Lungo-Koehn of Medford, Katjana Ballentine of Somerville Middle Row: Kassandra Gove of Amesburty, Gine-Louise Sciarra of Northampton, Virginia Desorgher of Greenfield, J. Christian Dumais of Marlborough, Dominick Pangallo of Salem, Patrick Keefe of Revere, Melinda Barrett of Haverhill, Michael McCabe of Westfield, Jared Nicholson of Lynn, Dean Mazarella of Leominster Back Row: Paul Coogan of Fall River, Robert Sullivan of Brockton, John Vieau of Chicopee, Carlo De Maria of Everett, Gary Christiansen of Malden, Joshua Garcia of Holyoke, Charles Sisitsky of Framingham, Samantha Squalia of Fitchbug, Greg Verga of Gloucester, Peter Marchetti of Pittsfield, Michael Concannon of Woburn *Note other mayors attended the association’s annual meeting but were unable to attend when the picture was being taken.

Rep. Scarsdale Announces UMass Memorial’s Commitment to Operate a Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) in the Nashoba Valley Region

Agreement is the product of months of advocacy and partnership between stakeholders and state leaders, will provide a sustainable solution to lack of Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) services in the region

State Representative Margaret Scarsdale (D – Pepperell) is pleased to announce that the search for a healthcare provider to operate a Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) in the Nashoba Valley Region has come to a successful conclusion.

“Today’s announcement that UMass Memorial will be the new operator of a Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) in our region is welcome and critical news for our region,” said Scarsdale. “I made a promise to my constituents when Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed that I would not stop fighting until access to this essential care was restored. Our region has struggled mightily to access emergency medical services and access to routine healthcare since the collapse of Nashoba Valley Medical Center at the end of August and today, our advocacy, and the stakeholders we helped bring to the table, has opened a new path forward for restored healthcare access in our region. I am grateful to UMass Memorial for their commitment and partnership and eager to work with them to achieve that shared goal.”

From the onset of this crisis, caused by Steward Healthcare’s summer 2024 collapse, Representative Scarsdale served as the primary liaison between state leaders, local first responders and healthcare providers, and constituents throughout the region. She was instrumental in the formation of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center Working Group and co-chairs the Emergency, Outpatient, and Healthcare Services (EOHS) Sub-Committee with Ayer Town Manager Robert Pontbriand.

“Since the closure of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, we have been diligently focused on rebuilding access to healthcare in the Nashoba Valley Region”, said Robert Pontbriand, Town Manager of Ayer and co-Chair of the Governor’s Nashoba Valley Working Group. “The announcement that UMass Memorial Health will establish a freestanding emergency department is a significant step toward stabilizing our local health care landscape and a critical step in our ongoing commitment to strengthening health care in the Nashoba Valley.”

EOHS was tasked with investigating, analyzing, and proposing viable options which will: a) sustainably address the lack of critical services in the Nashoba Valley region, including emergency, outpatient, and related healthcare services; and b) explore and report on potential funding sources to responsibly and equitably establish those needed services for the communities in North Central Massachusetts, which were left in a healthcare desert after Steward disastrous management and disruptive closure. Representative Scarsdale and EOHS will continue to work with UMass Memorial directly to address these concerns.

“Today’s news does not mean our work is over,” said Scarsdale. “The members of EOHS – which include area Fire Chiefs, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, physicians affected by the closure, Congresswoman Trahan’s office, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services – remain committed to supporting this transition, including continued investigation of, and recommendations for, services and infrastructure. We look forward to partnering with UMass Memorial on their next steps.”

“I have never doubted the restoration of critical services for this region,” said Scarsdale. “There has been a steadfast commitment to restoring care in this region from Governor Healey and members of her team, who understood the dangers of the healthcare desert that Steward created, and have been attentive, supportive, and responsive to this region’s crisis, and from members of EOHS, who have been in daily communication throughout the past six months. Today marks the beginning of a new path forward for healthcare access in the Nashoba Valley and for our communities to have access to the care they deserve.”

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.

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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