The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Visit North Central Massachusetts, have announced the formation of a special taskforce comprised of a cross section of business and community leaders from throughout the region.This group of prominent leaders is charged with working collaboratively to provide direction, definition and clarity to the development of the Chamber’s new regional economic development and recovery plan.
The taskforce members include:
Trevor Beauregard, Director of the City of Gardner’s Community Development & Planning Office;
Winn Brown, President & CEO of Heywood Hospital
Martin F Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust;
Jeff Crowley, President of Wachusett Mountain Ski Area;
Paul DiGeronimo, President of Geronimo Properties;
John DiNapoli, Municipal & Community Services Manager of Unitil;
Matthew Fournier, President of Elite Construction & Design, Inc.
Sheila Harrity, Superintendent of Montachusett Regional Voc-Tech High School;
Dr. Richard Lapidus, President of Fitchburg State University;
Rachel Lopez, President of Resource Management, Inc.;
Barbara Mahoney, Executive Vice President & COO of Leominster Credit Union;
Donata J Martin, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg & Leominster;
Raymond J Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International;
Christopher W McCarthy, President & COO of Fidelity Bank
Cheryl Molebash, General Manager of Dixie Consumer Products, LLC;
Stephen J Mullaney P.E., President of S. J. Mullaney Engineering, Inc.;
Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber;
Nikki Peters, Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Leominster;
Douglas Petersen, President & CEO of Workers Credit Union;
Bruce Platzman, President & CEO of AIS, Inc.;
Angela Rackley, Director of the Shriver Job Corps Center;
Laura Reynolds, President of FHC Industrial Supply;
Steve Roach, Interim President of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance – Clinton Hospital, Inc.;
Steven Rocheleau, President of Rocheleau Tool & Die Co., Inc.;
Al Rose, Owner of Red Apple Farm;
Eric Shapiro, President of The Lexvest Group;
Thomas Skwierawski, Executive Director of the City of Fitchburg’s Community Development Office;
Henry Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge;
Dr. James Vander Hooven, President of Mount Wachusett Community College
The taskforce will work with consulting firm RKG Associates to develop a multi-faceted and implementable plan to guide the Chamber’s regional economic development and recovery efforts.RKG Associates is a national economic development firm that has been retained by the Chamber to assist with this project.In the 1990s, the Chamber led a similar community and business-based planning effort, following the recession and the downsizing of several large employers in the region, that proved effective in driving economic development efforts over a twenty-year period and led to the creation of many of the region’s assets.
The development of this comprehensive regional plan is part of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s continuing efforts to help promote the region and advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations, please visit NorthCentralMass.com or contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600.
How We Respond to COVID-19 Today Will Define How We Shape Tomorrow by Lauren Howe
Lauren Howe, Principal and Owner of empHowered PR
In February, I left my job in corporate America and executed a business plan years in the making to open my own public relations firm. I launched the business, empHowered PR, LLC, in Fitchburg the week of March 24—the same week we all quickly realized how life was going to change. Schools were shut down, businesses were on the brink of closure, and the safety and health of our community was—and still is—top-of-mind.
The past few months have prompted business owners to re-think about how they will do business in the time of COVID-19. And as we enter into a new phase of the pandemic, businesses are beginning to reopen in line with government guidelines to ensure the safety of employees and those they serve.
Throughout this crisis, I counseled my clients through their most difficult challenges. The truth is that some found ways to endure, others took a pause and, sadly, others chose to close their business for good. As a crisis communications professional, it is my job to find the right words to respond to a question or concern from a client’s employee, customer, or reporter. But, it’s also an opportunity to serve as a confidant and be the person your client can trust and lean on during those challenging times.
Here are some of the takeaways I learned while working through the pandemic, not only as a communications professional, but also as a small business owner:
Be kind. We are all struggling during this time, some of us more than others. We need to understand that each person handles stress differently. Learn how your employees, clients and colleagues manage their mental health and adjust your approach in how you work with and respond to them. Acknowledging and validating your employees’ fears and anxiety will forge a stronger connection to your people. Remember, they may need you more than ever right now.
Information fatigue is real. Allow yourself to unplug from social media and watching the news while also being aware that your employees and other stakeholders are also being inundated with information. Listen to your stakeholders on when they want to hear from you and what they want to know. Honest, candid, and empathetic messaging will go a long way when sharing information about how your business is responding to the pandemic.
Make the powerless powerful. Many businesses are thinking—and working—outside the box to rethink how to utilize their people, products, and services. Businesses have adjusted their trade and are now making face masks, while others are now learning how to make hand sanitizer. Additionally, others are offering knowledge and expertise in their field to non-profits and small businesses at little or no cost. We may feel powerless against the pandemic, but we can be powerful in how our business responds to it by helping others.
Learn from the process. We all adapted as best as we could with every challenge that has come our way, both at home and at work. As we slowly move toward the “new normal,” it is important to document our experiences and apply the lessons learned to future business continuity plans.
Massachusetts is beginning to re-open under a slow, phased approach, which means we will once again need to be flexible in our business plans and strategy to effectively respond to the regulations. As the pandemic continues to impact our lives and our livelihood, it is by rising above the challenges that we will be a stronger business community now and in the future.
Lauren Howe is Principal and Owner of empHowered PR, a boutique public relations firm located in Fitchburg focusing on brand strategy, crisis management and response, and corporate social responsibility.
What is a Guest Columnist?
Being a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber provides members with many opportunities to gain valuable information and connections. We are always on the lookout for valuable content that would be on interest to our members and communities. In an effort to provide an avenue to more easily access the vast array of the knowledge and expertise that our members possess, we are now offering exclusive Guest Columnist articles for the benefit of our members. As a membership based organization, submissions will only be considered from members at the Business Choice level and above.
This is a great opportunity to position your business as a thought leader and expert. Columns should not be self-promotional or sales oriented ,and should consist of content that would be useful to businesses, including tips, answers to important questions and any insights that would be helpful to fellow members. By participating, members have the chance to better inform, educate and aid in the development of other members and the North Central Massachusetts region.
Please contact David Ginisi, Marketing and Communications Manager, if you are interested in participating: | 978.353.7600 x240
The Resiliency “Test”: Will Your Business Survive the Pandemic?
by Tony Fields
Tony Fields, President & Owner of Cleartech Group
Innovative IT solutions hold the answer to capitalizing on the new virtual business landscape.
Companies that, months ago, had booming brick and mortar locations, serving thousands, if not millions, of customers every week, have now become almost invisible. Fortune 500 companies that once were the staples and backbones of our economy are on the brink of closing forever. To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how we live and work is an understatement. And, as many small, medium, and large businesses alike scramble for online space and for online customers in this new virtual environment, a key factor that will determinewhich businesses thrive during this economic downturn will simply be… technology.
From cloud services, to IT support, to innovative ways of using video conferencing to connect with employees and customers, technology will be essential to growing any (and every) business within this new reality.
That’s why what you do now – investing in technology – will be very important to effectively insulate your business from the extreme uncertainty of the times. Here are three critical ways you should be leveraging technology now to ensure that your business remains resilient and strategically positioned to thrive.
Connect Your Apps to a Team Collaboration Platform. It’s common for companies to be using different types of cloud software in different areas of their operations. The accounting department may use an online accounting program, while the customer support team uses a cloud-based CRM program.When everyone is separated, not only does this slow down your responsiveness internally, but it also can impact your external customer support. A recent survey of companies has shown that now 40% of businesses are struggling to engage what they called “stranded employees.” By using an integrated communication platform such as Microsoft Teams or Slack, you can better support and connect with all of your now virtual employees. In addition, this infrastructure enables you to meet the new level of responsiveness that your customers have now come to expect.
Get Dedicated IT Maintenance in Place. With every business rushing to implement virtual options for both employees and customers, expect there to be a dramatic rise in security breaches and network failures. That’s why having a dedicated and reputable IT support team or vendor is critical to how well you can safely expand your business’ technological capabilities. Studies have shown that each unmanaged computer costs businesses, on average, approximately $5,000 a year. And, security breaches become more common when devices aren’t being kept up to date with security patches and continuous threat monitoring.When employees are no longer working in a single office, they may be lacking some of the IT support you had in place. That lack of help when they need it can be a drain on productivity. If your team of 30 employees struggles with IT issues for just 25 minutes a day each while working from home and your average salary is $20 per hour, that would be a productivity loss of $1,250 every week.
Integrate New Technology to Lower Costs. As working capital becomes strained for most companies, switching to more efficient technologies that enable remote employees to get more done for less is highly recommended. Take VoIP for example. By transitioning to a cloud phone system, companies can lower their phone costs alone by 50-75%. Other exciting new technologies to consider implementing include the Windows Virtual Desktop which gives employees complete remote access to the same systems and databases they would normally use in the office. This can assist in decreasing operating costs by not having to buy additional software licenses for your new virtual workforce.
If your company would benefit from having a complimentary consultation to make the virtual transition as seamless as possible, feel free to contact Cleartech Group’s award-winning IT infrastructure experts at 978-466-1938 or reach out online.
What is a Guest Columnist?
Being a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber provides members with many opportunities to gain valuable information and connections. We are always on the lookout for valuable content that would be on interest to our members and communities. In an effort to provide an avenue to more easily access the vast array of the knowledge and expertise that our members possess, we are now offering exclusive Guest Columnist articles for the benefit of our members. As a membership based organization, submissions will only be considered from members at the Business Choice level and above.
This is a great opportunity to position your business as a thought leader and expert. Columns should not be self-promotional or sales oriented ,and should consist of content that would be useful to businesses, including tips, answers to important questions and any insights that would be helpful to fellow members. By participating, members have the chance to better inform, educate and aid in the development of other members and the North Central Massachusetts region.
Please contact David Ginisi, Marketing and Communications Manager, if you are interested in participating: | 978.353.7600 x240
After being closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center officially reopened to the public on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
New health and sanitization protocols have been implemented to assure the safety of all guests, volunteers and staff. Highlights of the new protocols include:
Masks will be required at all times for everyone entering the facility – including staff and the public;
One Way Entry/Exit – guests will enter only through the front doors facing Route 2, and exit through the back entrance;
Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the building;
New touchless paper towels dispensers, faucets and soap dispensers have been installed;
Restrooms will be professionally cleaned to sanitation protocols twice daily;
Countertop shield guards have been installed;
The front counter and the “touchless” credit card machine will be wiped after each customer service interaction;
All “touch” surfaces will be cleaned frequently throughout the day by staff;
Signs and floor markers have been added throughout the building to mark social distancing of at least six feet.
Visit North Central Massachusetts hopes the increased safety measures will inspire confidence in visitors, speeding the recovery process for the local travel and hospitality industry.
“Reopening the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center is an important step forward for our region,” said Diane Burnette, manager of the center. “We are being very careful and taking the necessary precautions to protect the traveling public, so they feel more comfortable in getting out to support our local restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions.
Since 1997, the Johnny Appleseed Center has showcased the twenty-seven communities of North Central Massachusetts and is home to the Big Apple of New England (which is nearing it’s one-year anniversary of its unveiling). The visitors’ center also proudly displays historical artifacts including a bronze sculpture of the young Johnny Appleseed that greets visitors outside the doors of the Visitors Center and 91 apple trees located on the premises, including three Rambo trees that are direct descendants of the last remaining tree known to be planted by Johnny Appleseed. Each year the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center sees upwards of 165,000 visitors from all over and plays a significant role in the tourism efforts of North Central Massachusetts.
You can visit the Johnny Appleseed Center Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. It is located 1000 RT. 2 W, Lancaster, MA 01523.
When volatility strikes, do you take your money and run? Unfortunately, this might do more harm than good. Join me for a workshop that explores time tested ways to tackle volatility.
Hosted by: Paul Chlebecek, Edward Jones
Presenter: James Ignazio, MFS Investment Management
Important Zoom Details:
Date and time: Tuesday June 9th at 5:00 PM ET
To join by one-tap mobile or phone if you have no computer, call +19292056099,,723083. You will need the following meeting ID and password: Meeting ID: 723 083 4201 Password: 299836
When you join the conference, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address. To protect your privacy, we recommend entering only your initials, as this information (but not your email address) will display during the conference.
I hope you can join us for this virtual event. You are welcome to share the registration link with others.
ECi Stores Joins Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, a Partnership with the NRF Foundation to Help Small Businesses Weather COVID-19
Leominster, MA- ECi Stores, including Cutie Patuties and Cutiques, has been selected for Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, a partnership with the NRF Foundation to help 20 small businesses navigate the unprecedented turmoil created by the pandemic.
Qurate Retail Group, a multiplatform retailer that includes QVC, HSN, Zulily, and several other brands, is using its production resources, television broadcasts, and digital platforms to help ECi Stores share its story with millions of consumers nationwide. ECi Stores’ story began appearing on QVC’s and HSN’s websites and social pages on May 11 and the company will be highlighted on air on QVC and HSN on June 4, 2020.
Zulily is promoting the campaign on its website, email, and social, and ECi Stores can also tap Qurate Retail Group team members for advice on solving a business issue related to COVID-19 through a virtual mentoring initiative.
“ECi Stores is excited for this opportunity to learn from Qurate Retail Group in how to reach customers in their homes, and provide services and products they can benefit from” said Neil Abramson, Owner of ECi Stores.
ECi Stores, including Cutie Patuties Consignment, and Cutiques, have been strong community leaders since 1998. ECi Stores is North Central Massachusetts’ favorite stores for gently worn clothing, shoes, accessories, home décor and furniture. ECi Stores has grown with their customers, from a small storefront with only the Abramsons as staff, to now employing a team of over 20. Many customers have become friends, consistently shopping while their families have grown up, and now have second generation shoppers.
Qurate Retail Group has a long tradition of helping small business owners and entrepreneurs launch and grow their brands through the incredible power of storytelling and shopping discovery. QVC, HSN, and Zulily provide compelling platforms, with unmatched reach, that enable small businesses to speak directly to millions of consumers in their homes.
“We have a special relationship with the small business community, which generates so much of the innovation that drives our economy and has played a special role in the growth of our business,” said Mike George, President and CEO, Qurate Retail, Inc. “Ordinarily, the companies in our Small Business Spotlight would not be on QVC, HSN, or Zulily, because they are not part of our vendor family. Our aim with this initiative is to help rally the public around these vital businesses, so they can come through this crisis and continue to anchor their local communities for many years to come.”
The Small Business Spotlight runs from May 11 through June 6 and is part of Qurate Retail Group’s $29 million COVID-19 global relief efforts.
“From national relief efforts to local giving, the retail industry has stepped up in extraordinary ways to serve communities large and small throughout the health crisis,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “The Small Business Spotlight lends support to local, small businesses that are the lifeblood of our national economy. We’re honored to work with Qurate Retail Group to share their world-class expertise and multiple platforms with these small business owners during such a critical time.”
For additional information on ECi Stores, Neil Abramson, or visit ECistores.com. To learn more about Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, visit QVC.com and HSN.com.
ABOUT ECI STORES
ECI Stores have four unique consignments stores known for offering the largest selection of high quality gently-used products. Cutie Patuties specializes in children’s clothing; Q specializes in teen and young adult styles; CP & Company specializes in misses, petites and plus sizes for ladies clothing and accessories and Cutiques ETC offers home decor and furniture to make your house a home.
To learn more visit, http://www.ecistores.com
Contact: Neil Abramson
About Qurate Retail Group
Qurate Retail GroupSM comprises eight leading retail brands – QVC®, HSN®, Zulily®, Ballard Designs®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill®, Grandin Road®, and RyllaceTM – all dedicated to providing a Third Way to Shop®, beyond transactional ecommerce or traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Globally, Qurate Retail Group is #1 in video commerce, reaching approximately 380 million homes worldwide via 15 television networks and multiple ecommerce sites, social pages, mobile apps, print catalogs, and in-store destinations. Qurate Retail Group is among the top 10 ecommerce retailers in North America (according to Internet Retailer) and is a leader in mobile commerce and social commerce. Qurate Retail Group combines the best of retail, media, and social to curate products, experiences, conversations, and communities for millions of highly discerning shoppers – bringing joy, inspiration, and humanity to shopping. Qurate Retail Group also curates large audiences, across multiple platforms, for thousands of brand vendors. Headquartered in West Chester, PA, Qurate Retail Group has 25,000 team members in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan, Italy, Poland, and China. For more information, visit www.qurateretailgroup.com, follow @QurateRetailGrp on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or follow Qurate Retail Group on YouTube or LinkedIn.
Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB) includes the Qurate Retail Group portfolio of brands as well as other minority interests and green energy investments.
About NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation builds the bridge between a growing industry with hundreds of thousands of open positions and job seekers around the country. Through education, training, scholarships and experiences for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds, we help more people take their first steps toward promising careers. The NRF Foundation is the educational arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. www.NRFFoundation.org
From Label Manufacturer to Unique Disposable Mask Creator
Leominster, MASSACHUSETTS, (May 28, 2020) – As a distributor of all things print related, we have the opportunity of working with many manufacturers around the country. One of our main label manufacturers had an epiphany in the early stages of the 2020 Pandemic – as his business, like many others came to a lull.
The result of research, development, and ingenuity during a time of need has brought forth a unique, skin friendly, adhesive mask solution for the general consumer – comparable to overseas competitor masks. The price point, availability, and convenience are the major factors separating this unique patent-pending product.
The mask is 3 thin, light, protective layers compressed together in a water-repellant, non-woven synthetic, breathable material dispensed on a roll. Skin-friendly, water-based gel adhesive strips strategically placed allow the mask to stay in place without the need for ear loops or strings. A small die cut out for alignment on the nose allows for easy placement.
Creative Print Products has been a distributor since 2001. Located in Leominster, MA – CPP strives to provide the best service, products, and value to the local community and beyond. Please visit www.creativeprintproducts.com for more information about our company.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Dave Aronson at 508.367.5477 or email .
FITCHBURG, Ma., May 20, 2020 – Workers Credit Union is pleased to announce long time employee, Eric Hague, has been named one of Central Massachusetts’ top loan originators employed by a credit union.
According to a recent listing in Banker & Tradesman, Eric was named #3 loan originator in Central Massachusetts for number of loans closed and #2 for volume of loans closed.
“Eric is an important part of the Workers team and this designation is well deserved. We’re proud to help recognize Eric as an industry leader” said Tom Gray, Senior Vice President of Lending at Workers Credit Union.
“My goal is always to ensure my clients are getting exactly the product they need with superb service. But truly, a huge part of my success lies with our mortgage team and the processors who move quickly and efficiently. We’re all dedicated to improving the lives of our members and doing the right thing for them“ said Eric.
Eric is continuing to accept new loan clients for mortgages, home equities, and refinancing, as are Workers’ other attentive and dedicated loan professionals. Learn more about each of Workers loan originators at www.wcu.com/mortgage/representatives.
Workers Credit Union, headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, is a member-owned financial institution with full banking services to meet a lifetime of financial needs including the $3 million GiveBack program. With 16 branches in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, Westford and Worcester, Workers is proud to offer traditional banking channels as well as the latest technologies to more than 104,000 members.
Fidelity Bank hasn’t let the COVID-19 pandemic stop them from serving customers with care and safety.
Sheila King-Goodwin
While operations may look and feel different now and for the foreseeable future, Sheila King-Goodwin, Senior Vice President and Chief Retail Banking Officer with Fidelity, said the financial institution has learned to adapt quickly.
And she said many of those changes will likely continue as the Massachusetts economy starts to reopen.
“We’re finding new ways to be flexible and innovative so clients can receive a caring service that provides clarity and confidence regarding their banking,’’ she said. “We’re taking a thoughtful but forward-thinking approach to the short term and long term.’’
She said that this may mean continuing to offer drive-up services for client needs like obtaining a new debit card or closing quickly on a loan. It also may mean scheduling more appointments as opposed to walk-ins to enable clients to have a designated time to meet with a Life Design Banker. We’re also finding that many of our clients are using our convenient digital banking services such as mobile and online banking which provides bank access at any time or anywhere.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced a four-phase reopening plan on May 18 that outlined how and when Massachusetts businesses can reopen.
While there is still much uncertainty about the future, local leaders are hopeful.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,’’ said Roy Nascimento, president and chief executive officer of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “I think the region is well positioned because it has a very diverse regional economy.’’
Nascimento said the chamber has been working to help businesses manage the crisis with guidance, loans, and resources. He said the chamber had already hired a consultant to develop an economic development plan for the region, which will now serve as a blueprint for recovery.
“We’re being proactive and working tirelessly to support our businesses,’’ he said. “Recovery will be front and center to help those hit the hardest.’’
The chamber has formed a committee of 30 business and municipal leaders to help guide the development of the recovery plan.
Nascimento said he’s hopeful the region’s manufacturing and health care base will survive and even thrive as there becomes a greater need for some of the products and services they provide.
The sectors he’s most concerned about are those that have been most devastated by the pandemic – retail, hospitality and tourism.
“Those are the ones I worry about,’’ he said. “Those are the hardest hit and will be the last to recover.’’
The chamber hired RKG Associates, Inc. earlier this year to complete an economic development plan for North Central Massachusetts. And while it will still look at areas of growth for the region, a large component will now focus on recovery.
Eric Halvorsen
RKG had already started work and spent the last few months documenting the existing conditions in the region. This included identifying trends in the different industry sectors, such as which were growing, shrinking and had the potential for expansion; surveying commercial space and lease prices; and analyzing housing stock and prices, said RKG’s Eric Halvorsen.
Upcoming phases of the plan will compare North Central Massachusetts to other regions in the state in areas like housing, schools, safety, transportation, development potential and existing jobs.
The report will also identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and try to identify what sectors the region should be trying to attract.
“They want to spend their time and money in a strategic way,’’ Halvorsen said. “We want the rifle shot, not the buck shot.’’
Other aspects of the plan will look at the workforce and determine what skills it must have to meet future job demand.
The plan will also look at some key sites in the region, such parcels of land or areas that could support future development and potential obstacles like zoning or infrastructure. And then outline specific strategies and recommendations.
“The overall goal is to provide the chamber with a roadmap for the next five to 10 years for what they should focus on from an economic development standpoint and how to best use the resources they have to advance economic development goals in the region,’’ Halvorsen said. “To some degree, some of this will pivot more to recovery – how do you ensure you don’t take five steps backwards?’’
The plan is expected to be done this fall.
Halvorsen is hopeful that a good portion of the jobs in North Central Massachusetts may be insulated from the pandemic to some degree. These include manufacturing, health care, social services, and possibly local and state government and education.
One other potential benefit for North Central Massachusetts is its location outside of Boston.
“If more people switch to working from home and don’t need to live so close to Boston, places like Fitchburg that have lower housing costs but access to commuter rail may start to see some activity,’’ he said.
On the flip side, there are also many jobs in restaurants, retail and hospitality, which may be the hardest to get back. Outdoor seating, for example, is a great option but the New England weather makes that challenging in the long term. Those employees also tend to make less, he said.
“The impact is compounded for those employees,’’ he said.
Henry Tessman
The Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg is a business that falls into several categories of hard hit industries – entertainment, lodging, retail and food service – making it a challenge to plan for reopening.
The Fitchburg-Boston lodge, one of 18 nationwide, features water parks, an arcade, rock wall, bowling, miniature golf, shops and restaurants, all sectors that have specific reopening guidelines.
But reopening plans are now in full swing, said Henry Tessman, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge New England.
Tessman said lodges throughout the country are working together to develop a reopening playbook. The company has also hired an industrial engineering firm that is assisting to develop policies for physical separation, personal protective equipment and flow patterns.
“We’re working with all directors at all properties and building best practices,’’ he said. “We have multiple states opening so we can see the good, bad and ugly of what states are doing and pull the best practices where we can.’’
Tessman said the Fitchburg location will be among the last in the country to reopen with a tentative target date of late June. Tessman said the lodge falls under Phase 3 of Baker’s reopening plan, similar to that of a casino.
“With the amount of time, money and work everyone’s put into these plans, I feel comfortable we will be in a good spot when we reopen,’’ Tessman said.
Among the changes –all employees will have temperatures checked each day and they will wear masks and gloves. The company is developing training videos for employees that will explain all new protocols.
“When we do open up, we will be very prepared to run what the new normal will be,’’ Tessman said.
Initially, Great Wolf will operate at 25 percent capacity, Tessman said, later ramping up to 50 percent and hopefully 100 percent by the end of September.
He said new technology is being installed in the Waterparks to track the number of people so he will know at all times how many people are in each park.
What the experience will be guests is still under consideration and will be dictated by state and company guidelines, Tessman said. However, the number of people allowed on towers and in pools will be limited. Some areas may be off limits, such as the hot tub.
“The biggest thing we have to focus on is social distancing in the pools, seating areas and towers,’’ he said.
Tessman said they won’t be issuing day passes this summer and the buffet will not be open. New policies will also be in place for payment in the restaurants.
So far, Tessman said bookings show customers are eager to get back.
“We’re seeing very good demand up front,’’ he said. “I think local travel will be quicker to return that cruises or airline travel so we may see better demand than other traditional vacation spots.’’
One area of uncertainty is education. North Central Massachusetts is home to both Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College.
Dr. Jim Vander Hooven
MWCC President James Vander Hooven said there is no way to predict if colleges will allow students back on campus and how students will respond to those decisions.
But he said MWCC has and will continue to do everything it can to provide a safe environment for students and staff.
He said the Mount quickly moved all its classes online for the spring semester and continues to hold remote classes for the summer. Plans for summer camps and the fall are still uncertain.
Vander Hooven said many of the Mount’s students have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Many of their students have children at home and work in places like the restaurant industry but were laid off.
“Our students are already challenged in many ways and everywhere we turned, it was another hit for them,’’ he said.
Even in the best case scenario, he said the Mount is not rolling back into normal operation.
“It’s going to be a while before we’re back to our typical normal and we’ll have to redefine our normal,’’ he said.
One of the biggest difficulties facing the school is trying to plan for uncertainty. He said many colleges won’t know for a while whether classes will be held in person.
“We could find out as late as Aug. 1 whether we end up with a bunch of students who decided to come to the Mount or we could be down 15 percent,’’ he said. “I’m not even looking at current enrollment projections because it’s not worth the stress. It’s a great unknown.’’
But he too is confident.
“We’ll get through this,’’ Vander Hooven said. “The community here really has a strong backbone. I’m seeing interconnected communities supporting one another. When you can approach a crisis of this magnitude from that perspective, you have a good shot of getting through it together.’’
Dr. Mark Melnik
In the past, Massachusetts has been able to weather downturns because the state was insulated by some anchor institutions – hospitals and universities, said Mark Melnik, director of economic and public policy research at the UMass Donahue Institute.
But this time, those sectors may be hit, making the state more vulnerable this time around.
In the short term, Melnik said his biggest concerns are retail, tourism, entertainment and restaurants. Those sectors have a high percentage of small businesses that aren’t able to easily weather a downturn.
Unemployment numbers for North Central Massachusetts showed the largest spike in claims from those in the construction, food services and administrative support sectors.
But the manufacturing base in North Central Massachusetts may give the region an advantage, Melnik said.
“They have a really strong manufacturing sector,’’ Melnik said. “It’s one of the most significant manufacturing industries in the state.’’
Melnik said communities can’t sit back but need to be proactive in planning, seeking out state and federal planning dollars and working together.
That’s where the chamber can play a role, Nascimento said.
“We have several advantages that will help us weather this better than other regions,’’ Roy said. “We have a diverse economy, strong partnerships in the business community and with our municipal leaders, and the development of a recovery plan already in the works.’’
Nascimento also said he has confident in the region’s businesses.
“There will be some negative consequences for a while but our business community is resilient and will continue to be creative and adapt,’’ Nascimento said. “We’ve been through recessions before and this will pass over time.’’
In her role at the bank, King-Goodwin deals with many sectors of the economy. And while she acknowledges that there will be significant hardships in the short term, she is hopeful about the future.
“Businesses are redefining their operating model in new and creative ways she said, “It’s certainly causing angst and concern but I do have confidence that looking back, we will find there were innovative ideas that came out of this crisis that makes our businesses and communities better.’’ We were fortunate to support over 400 businesses most recently with needed Paycheck Protection Program funds and this has helped businesses bring employees back to work and provide them the confidence and capital needed to run their businesses.
LEOMINSTER, Mass – Fidelity Bank is doing its part to help protect local front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank has donated a total of 6,000 KN95 face masks worth nearly $14,000 to and UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital with locations in Leominster, Fitchburg, and Clinton; UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Heywood Hospital in Gardner, and Central Care Nurses Association. On May 8, Fidelity Bank provided free lunches to 400 employees at six of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance’s facilities as well.
“Our community has continued to show immense support for the hospital in myriad ways,” commented Steve Roach, interim President of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital. “This commitment raises the spirit of our caregivers and has immediate impact in our community. We can’t thank Fidelity Bank enough for this generosity.”
The money comes from Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign Community Dividend, which donated more than $330,000 to more than 250 worthy organizations in Central Massachusetts last year. “Healthcare workers are heroes who are putting their lives at risk daily to get us through this crisis,” says Fidelity Bank Chairman and CEO Edward F. Manzi, Jr. “Donating masks to keep them safe and providing free lunches are just two ways we can live up to our Caring LifeDesign promise to provide support to our community, clients, and colleagues.” Fidelity Bank has given out more than $2 million since the dividend program was formally named in 2013.
About Fidelity Bank:
Founded in 1888, Fidelity Bank is one of the oldest independent community banks in Central Massachusetts. Fidelity Bank’s exclusive LifeDesign approach offers a range of banking, investment, and insurance solutions to clients in 14 full-service offices in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Stow, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton and Winchendon. The Bank has consistently earned a “5 Star” rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm. In 2018, Fidelity Bank was voted Worcester Telegram & Gazette Best Bank in Central Massachusetts and Best Financial Services. It was also named Best Bank by both Leominster Champion and Baystate Parent for 2018. It has been recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as a Top Workplace and in 2019 named to the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list for the fifth time. As of March 31, 2020, the bank had total assets of approximately $1.2 billion. For more information, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com or www.facebook.com/fidelitybankma
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse of Leominster is on a mission to feed families in need throughout the community. That is why they are putting on a Facebook Live Event this Saturday, May 16th starting at 8:00 PM.
Their goal is to raise funds to feed at least 30 families in our community.
Help them by sharing this message. Comeketo will donate .50¢ for every share they get + 10% of sales on Saturday.
Comeketo has also released a new delivery menu for some of their famous drinks to coincide with the livestream event.
