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Leominster Credit Union Holding Free Mortgage Info Sessions
Leominster, MA – Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is holding free Mortgage Info Sessions at each branch location beginning Wednesday, March 4, – April 1, 2020. Sessions will be held from 6:00pm – 7:00pm. Visit www.leominstercu.com/homes for branch locations and dates.
These LCU Mortgage Info Sessions will address the specific needs of most homebuyers including first-time buyers, buyers moving after owning for several years, or buyers entering the market after having credit issues in the past. Attend the session and meet LCU Loan Officers, local realtors, attorneys, home inspectors and LCU Financing Specialists who will answer questions regarding the home buying process and what to expect. Topics will include: buying, refinancing, downsizing, second homes, investments, the application process, purchase and sales, inspections, and benefits of borrowing locally.
Matt Dufault, AVP Residential Lending commented, “These seminars provide the basics of buying a home, but also the opportunity to establish a plan for home ownership based on your personal situation.”
LCU has programs available for not only for first-time homebuyers, but for any buyer who needs help getting mortgage-ready. Borrowers may be able to qualify for a mortgage much sooner than they expect.
Seating is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register online, please visit leominstercu.com/homes.
Fidelity Bank Graduates Second Group of LifeDesign University Students
(LEOMINSTER, Mass) The second graduating class of Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign University had reason to celebrate at their graduation January 30 at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, MA. The class of 13 Fidelity Bank employees met every three weeks for two hours over a year long period to complete the professional development program.
Fidelity Bank teamed up with Nichols College to create LifeDesign University to bring a selected group of employees from a variety of departments out of the bank and into the classroom to develop the essential tools to increase productivity, promote teamwork amongst departments and garner skills for the next steps of their careers with Fidelity Bank. The curriculum included coursework and required hands-on skill practice and implementation in areas such as effective communication, supervisory skills, situational leadership, change management, project management, and negotiation.
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 12 full-service offices in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Gardner, 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 December 31, 2019, the bank had total assets of approximately $1 billion. For more information, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com or www.facebook.com/fidelitybankma
Chamber Releases Transportation Platform Ahead of State House Debate
With debate over transportation improvements and funding taking shape in the State House, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has released a platform outlining its position on this important matter. “North Central Massachusetts is poised to be the next area of growth in Massachusetts,” stated Roy Nascimento, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “However, without a strong and reliable transportation system, we will be unable to expand our residential, commercial, and industrial tax bases.”
The platform itself is divided into three sections, covering the Chamber’s position on individual reforms, funding proposals, and priority regional infrastructure projects. “The platform’s goal is to ensure accountability and regional equity as the state explores prioritizing transportation infrastructure and ways to finance these projects” explained Christopher McDermott, the Chamber’s public affairs manager. Key highlights of the Chamber platform include:
· First and foremost, the Chamber believes that any new transportation funding initiatives should be accompanied by meaningful reforms, with increased focus on fiscal management, long-term planning, and sustainability. Moreover, any new funding measures passed for transportation infrastructure should be directly tied to those purposes;
· In regards to funding, the Chamber supports congestion pricing as a targeted method of addressing bottlenecks during peak periods along routes where public transit is readily available. It is also in favor of increasing ride sharing fees for transportation network companies;
· The Chamber is open to the Governor’s Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), provided that New Hampshire and other states in the Northeast participate so as not to place Massachusetts at a competitive disadvantage. While we have some concerns with this proposal, we appreciate the regional focus and the underlying goals of improving transportation infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions, and creating economic development opportunities;
· At the same time, the Chamber opposes expanding tolling along open access state highways. The Chamber will also resist efforts to increase the gas tax or implement mileage fees, as these are regionally inequitable options which penalize drivers in rural areas that lack access to public transit;
· Lastly, once funds have been raised, the Chamber will advocate for the modernization of Route 2 and Interstate 190; expansion of alternative transit options; and improved Commuter Rail service, to include increased frequency of trips, subsidies to address unreasonably priced fares, and express trains from Fitchburg to Boston.
The Chamber’s position was developed after research and polling members. The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, comprised of members from diverse industries, also helped review and draft the position. A final draft was reviewed and approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors at their meeting on January 16, 2020. It can be found on the Government Affairs Page under “Chamber Positions” by clicking here. Thank you to all the members who provided input on this issue.
State Council formed to Investigate Merged Market & Small Business Premiums
The creation of this market can be traced to the Commonwealth’s enactment of RomneyCare in 2006. The reforms included merging the “non-group” risk pool, comprised of individuals, with the “small group” risk pool, comprised of small business with 50 or less employees (including the self-employed). This was intended to reduce premiums for those in the non-group market- which faced elevated costs due to a higher utilization on services – by spreading the risk over a larger population. The Chamber and many business groups were opposed at the time, fearing that rates would increase for small businesses. Vermont is the only other state where the individual and small group risk pools were merged into a single merged market.
While it is true that the merged market has led to premium reductions for individuals, it has also resulted in dramatic increases for small businesses and their employees. According to the Center for Insurance Information and Analysis, Massachusetts has amongst the highest small business health care premiums in the country. Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise to the Chamber or our members who have struggled with increasing premiums for years.
The Governor’s Merged Market Advisory Council is expected to make recommendations to the Baker Administration, which may include separating the merged groups as a way to reduce costs for small businesses. Some have argued that since passage of the national Affordable Care Act, the merged market is no longer necessary due to the incentives and subsidies provided to individuals.
The Advisory Council has scheduled a series of sessions where the public may share their input and concerns. The closest session to North Central Massachusetts is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room S-1-123 at UMass Medical Center, 55 Lake Avenue North in Worcester. The Chamber will be in attendance and encourages its members to participate and share any concerns they have as well. If you are unable to attend, please consider submitting written comments to the Merged Market Advisory Council via email at .
For more information, please feel free to contact Christopher McDermott, Public Affairs Manager at 978.353.7600 ext. 224 or via email at
Rollstone Bank & Trust Gifts Chamber Membership to St. Bernard’s
“The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce continues its mission of building businesses and building communities. It was without hesitation that when Rollstone Bank & Trust was presented the opportunity to gift a membership to a local non-profit organization, we gifted to my alma mater, St. Bernard’s. This is a remarkable opportunity that we, as a Regional Leader member, can give to such a beloved private institution.”
Regional Leaders within the Chamber have the opportunity to identify a local non-profit, charity or start-up business within North Central Massachusetts and provide them a gifted membership on their behalf.
March Edition of Good Morning North Central features Executive Director of MassTech and New Owner of the Mall at Whitney Field
The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational breakfast program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners. Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.
The featured speakers for the month of March are Carolyn Kirk, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and Jim Hull, Owner and Managing Principal of the Hull Property Group.
Carolyn A. Kirk was selected by the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative as the agency’s new executive director in February, 2019.
From January 2015 to early February 2019, she served as the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED), a role she held since the beginning of the Baker-Polito Administration. As Deputy Secretary, Kirk supported the management of HED’s $1.4 billion dollar budget and approximately 1,000 employees. In addition, Kirk’s portfolio includes serving alongside Lt. Governor Karyn Polito on the Seaport Economic Council. She is extremely familiar with MassTech’s work, having chaired the agency’s Board on behalf of EOHED, and has been a leader on the effort to bring broadband to 44 unserved towns, working closely with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech.
Prior to her appointment to the Administration, Kirk as the first woman popularly elected as Mayor of the City of Gloucester. Her professional career spans more than 25 years and includes time as a management consultant, working with clients that included many of the Top 20 banks in the U.S. along with Fortune 500 companies.
Jim Hull is the founder and managing principal of Hull Property Group- who recently acquired the Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster. He has led the acquisition, development and redevelopment in excess of 70 big-box retail, neighborhood and regional shopping centers, including the acquisition of 32 enclosed regional malls, many of which comprise the Company’s approximate 15 million plus square feet of owned retail portfolio located in 13 states.
Jim is a lifelong resident of Augusta, Georgia and is an active communicant of the Church of the Good Shepherd. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. He is also on the boards of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, Board of Visitors of Augusta University, AU Health System, State of Georgia’s REACH Scholarship Program, the Georgia Research Alliance, the Community Foundation of the CSRA, America’s Warrior Partnership and is the past Chair of the University System of Georgia Foundation.
He is a long-standing member of the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society and has been honored with the United Way’s Founders Award. Jim received the President’s Award from Augusta University, the Liberty Bell Award from the Augusta Bar Association and the Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Society of Fundraising Professionals. He is a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow, past president of the Augusta Assembly, and has been inducted in Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame and Beta Gamma Sigma’s Honor Society. Jim is a recipient of an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Augusta University.
The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet. Pre-registration is required. To register please click here.
Calling All Central Mass Community Cyclists!
Learn Bike Maintenance at High-Performance Leominster Bike Shop
Leominster’s newest shop serving cyclists in central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire is now bringing the community together with classes in bicycle maintenance.
Tomten boasts a knowledgeable staff, all of them with many years of experience riding, racing and maintaining bikes. They know the makes of bike that riders are looking for, and they know how to keep them rolling at peak performance.
The shop supports area charity rides with mechanic expertise for Bravehearts and the Tully Lake Triathalon. Tomten annually supports PanMass Challenge riders with donations.
The name of the shop has an intriguing origin. Tomtens are part of Swedish folklore…small mythical creatures with long white beards and funny hats and shoes. They are industrious helpers taking care of chores and keeping everything neat and tidy.
Tomten Biketown opens its doors at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Group rides are posted on the Facebook page, as are other events and promotions. A short cyber-hop to Instagram will reward cyclists with stories and feature articles on the subject of their favorite pastime.
Riders anxious to join in with the maintenance classes can contact Tomten Biketown at 978.840.3221 and at .