During the month of April LCU members and employees collected donations of 1,161 new and used children’s books. The books were distributed to Leominster Community Coalition, MOC (Child Care and Head Start Center), Sunrise Assisted Living, Fitchburg Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is one of 35 state and local chambers chosen to take part in a national program aimed at addressing critical education and workforce issues. Sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips participants with resources, national expertise and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
“Businesses in North Central Massachusetts are struggling with the same challenges their peers are throughout the country.” says Christopher McDermott, Public Affairs Manager of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber, who is participating in the third cohort of the program on behalf of North Central Massachusetts. “Recruiting, training and retaining qualified and skilled workers has grown increasingly difficult in recent years. This is a great opportunity for the Chamber to actively contribute to the national conversation while learning best practices from our counterparts in other states that can help us make an impact locally.”
“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” says Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of the Center for Education and Workforce. “They, better than anyone, see the critical link between education and economic development, and we are glad to be able to support them as they take on this critical leadership role in their community.”
The 35 chamber professionals included in the third cohort of Business Leads Fellowship were chosen through a competitive selection process. The four-month fellowship, which concludes in September, 2019, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education and workforce development.
The objectives of the program align with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s efforts around improving the workforce, which are most recently exemplified by the publication of its recent report Build North Central: Improving the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts.
Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
The 2nd Annual North Central Massachusetts Real Estate Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Way, Fitchburg, MA. The Real Estate Summit is a collaboration between the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors. The program aims to provide a in-depth look at the real estate market in North Central Massachusetts. Principal sponsor for the breakfast is Total Mortgage. Escrow sponsors include the Law Office of David R. Rocheford and Fidelity Bank. Special thanks to The Foster Company for providing a supporting sponsorship.
This year’s program features guest speakers Allan Foster, President of The Foster Company, who will provide an overview and insight into the region’s commercial and industrial market; Gary Bourque, President of Central Mass Appraisals who will provide insight into the residential real estate market; and Kurt Thompson, President-Elect of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, who will review legislative issues that impact the real estate industry.
Allan Foster is President of the The Foster Company, which specializes in real estate appraisal and consulting. He builds on a foundation of being raised as the third generation in a real estate and insurance business. He joined the company full time in 1980 and brings a full perspective of property ownership, permitting, development, finance, appraisal, brokerage, management, insurance, and entrepreneurial skills. Communication skills have been honed through years of marketing, negotiating, management, and public speaking. .
Gary Bourque is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser and President of Central Mass Appraisals, Inc., a real estate appraisal company specializing in residential valuation since 1986. He is also President of Bourque Realty, Inc., a real estate sales firm located in Leominster 30 years and a real estate instructor in multiple states. Gary currently serves as the Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors having served as Treasurer and a member the Finance and Education Committees over the years. Gary has been a certified instructor for over 20 years teaching real estate and real estate appraisal qualifying and continuing education classes throughout New England for multiple State Realtor Associations, Boards and private educational companies.
As president-elect of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Kurt Thompson will participate at all levels of the association’s decision-making process, represent the association at meetings and business functions, and serve as a spokesperson for the association on real estate industry-related matters. Mr. Thompson will continue to serve as a member of the MAR executive committee and board of directors as a result of this election. Prior to his election, Mr. Thompson served as the 2018 MAR treasurer and the 2017 MAR professional development vice president, and other MAR positions over the years. On the local
level, Mr. Thompson was the 2011 President of the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors.
The Second Annual Real Estate Summit is a great opportunity to connect with real estate professionals and gain insight into the current and future real estate market in North Central Massachusetts. This event is of interest to anyone involved in real estate, including developers, residential and commercial realtors, lenders, property owners and professional service providers.
The cost is just $25 for members/$40 non-members and includes breakfast. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, or register here.
Last month, Marketing & Communications Manager, David Ginisi, participated in a Sales Mission representing our tourism affiliate Visit North Central Massachusetts. The Media Mission took place in Toronto and Montreal and was sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and included meetings and presentations to tour operators, travel media and other trade contacts. Visit North Central Massachusetts participated to help generate positive coverage for our region and establish meaningful media relationships. Canada is a strong drive market for the region.
For more information on our tourism affiliate visit www.visitnorthcentral.com
Ginisi pictured with fellow Regional Tourism Councils of Massachusetts
CHANGES TO ROOM OCCUPANCY EXCISE
The new law expands the room occupancy excise to include short-term rentals. Aside from taxing short-term rentals, there are some aspects of the law that impact traditional lodging establishments already charging room occupancy excise, like bed and breakfast establishments, hotels, lodging houses and motels.
The following lists are meant only to highlight a few of the changes for short-term rentals and traditional lodging accommodations. We recommend reviewing the frequently asked questions and the technical information release (TIR), on the Department of Revenue website, for detailed information on the new law.
Impact on short-term rentals
There are other important aspects of the room occupancy excise worth noting as described in the frequently asked questions and TIR.
Impact on traditional lodging accommodations
The effective date for those currently collecting room occupancy excises (and new establishments) to begin collecting the room occupancy excise, based on the new definitions of rent and occupancy, is July 1, 2019. This would include any applicable local excises. Any price quotes, or collection of rents for occupancies after July 1, 2019 should include the excise.
More Information
Stay tuned, whether you are in the short-term rental or traditional lodging accommodations industries, for more information about tax reporting under the new law. Registration for short-term rental operators or intermediaries will be available through MassTaxConnect as of July 1, 2019. We will also continue to update the guidance on our website with any changes that take place.
After reviewing the frequently asked questions and technical information release, please contact the Trustee Tax Contact Center at 617-887-6367 (choose #4 for both prompts) with any additional questions.
Here are updates to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act:
Private Plan Exemption Process Now Available at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/exemptions-from-paid-family-and-medical-leave-for-private-plans
The Department of Family and Medical Leave’s private plan exemption process is now available for businesses in the Commonwealth with Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) plans offering benefits that meet or exceed those provided by the Commonwealth’s PFML law.
The updated exemption web page includes:
Applications for exemptions for private plans must be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s web-based application MassTaxConnect by June 30, 2019. Contributions to the program for those not receiving an exemption will begin on July 1, 2019.
Workforce Notifications, all languages now posted at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/informing-your-workforce-about-paid-family-and-medical-leave
The Department of Family and Medical Leave has posted an additional six language options to the notice required to be provided by employers and covered business entities to their current workforce of PFML benefits, contribution rates, and other provisions as outlined in M.G.L. c. 175M sec. 4 on or before May 31, 2019.
The notice, which may be provided electronically, must include the opportunity for an employee or self-employed individual to acknowledge receipt or decline to acknowledge receipt of the information.
Please note! Federal Employer Identification Number
The identification number assigned by the Department of Family and Medical Leave will be the employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (“FEIN”). Please use your FEIN as your Employer ID Number on the “Employer Notice to Employee” and the “Employer Notice to Self-Employed Individual” Forms.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) and over 100 business and community leaders from across the Commonwealth, signed a letter to Governor Baker, Senate President Spilka and House Speaker DeLeo earlier this month. Seeking a legislative solution to the state’s longstanding achievement, opportunity, and skills gaps; the letter calls for any new funding to be used effectively and efficiently and for steps to be taken to establish career pathways within our schools.
To address this, the Chamber established a taskforce consisting of regional employers and worked to identify solutions. The result, which also drew input from area educators, was a report published this year entitled “Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts”. This report contains both programmatic and policy recommendations and is intended to serve as a toolkit which policy makers and educators can both draw from, shaping the discourse in the process. These recommendations align closely with MBAE’s mission to ensure that “EVERY student graduates high school prepared for success in college and career” and led to the Chamber’s involvement in their advocacy efforts.
“We hope to see reforms which better align curriculums with workforce needs and expose students to diverse career opportunities,” explained Roy Nascimento, the Chamber’s President and CEO “Integrating meaningful reforms will help to strengthen our education systems for the benefit of both our students and employers.”
“Simply putting more money into a system that is failing far too many young people would be reckless,” said Edward Lambert, Jr., Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, one of the lead organizations behind the letter and a partner of The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Crossing our fingers and hoping to get better results is not a strategy. We’re hearing from folks all across the state who want to ensure that new funding closes achievement and skills gaps and who agree money alone won’t accomplish those goals.”
Shortly after the letter was published, the Chamber testified alongside MBAE before the Joint Committee for Education at the State House. This testimony drew from Build North Central and placed a strong emphasis on aligning the state’s school systems with workforce needs. “We strongly believe all students should have access to work-based learning which, provided alongside rigorous college-level coursework, has proven to be effective in preparing students for success academically and in the workforce” stated Christopher McDermott, the Chamber’s public affairs manager. “Programs such as internships, co-ops, apprenticeships strengthen the educational experience, help our schools engage local employers, and provide meaningful introductions to career opportunities.”
Click here to read the Chamber’s testimony before the Legislative Committee on Education
Click here to read the letter the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House
For more information, Please contact Christopher McDermott, Public Affairs Manager at 978.353.7600 ext. 224 or via email at .
Expansive guide highlights the region’s vast manufacturing firms and industrial space
Working with multiple sources, the NCMDC confirmed the operating status and primary product line of each company listed in the directory. In addition to the listing of local manufacturers, the publication also includes a section on life science companies, a listing of suppliers and a guide to business and industrial parks in North Central Massachusetts.
“We published this directory to help support our local manufacturers who are so critical to the long term vitality of the North Central economy”, said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “We hope that this publication will be a resource in connecting manufacturers with their peers and helping them find local suppliers.”
This publication is part of the Chamber and Development Corporation’s continuing efforts to help promote the region and advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. In addition to this manufacturing directory, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation has expanded its efforts to raise awareness of career paths in the advanced manufacturing field and recently published a report entitled “Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts” which highlights recommendations to support the region’s manufacturing industry. It has also expanded its micro-loan programs, grown its technical assistance offerings for new and established small businesses in the region and expanded its reach to small and growing businesses in neighboring communities through partnerships with local chambers.
The 2019 edition of the publication was supported by advertising and is being circulated to manufacturers throughout the region. For more information, please contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 978.353.7600.
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is a non-profit corporation with the mission of creating jobs and improving the economy of North Central Massachusetts. The NCMDC acts as a connector, facilitator and partner and works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects with loans and business assistance. The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $6 million in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy.
For more information about the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation please call 978.353.7607.
