(North Central, MA) – The North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for its 2019 Scholarship program are now being accepted.Each year, the Chamber Foundation distributes approximately 25 scholarships to local high-achieving high school students in North Central Massachusetts.Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation has awarded over a million dollars in scholarships.
Students interested in applying for a 2019 scholarship through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation should contact their high school guidance department to submit an application.Deadline for applications is Friday, March 1, 2019.A limited number of scholarship applicants are submitted by each school in the Chamber’s service area each year and then reviewed by a committee of Chamber members.
Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and proceeds from the Chamber’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament.Scholarships endowed through the Chamber Foundation are often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community whose philanthropy and commitment to the community have helped shape North Central Massachusetts.
The Chamber’s Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities.Funds raised by the Foundation are utilized primarily for education/workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts, including scholarships to eligible applicants pursuing education and grants to support economic and community development projects.
For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation’s scholarship program or a list of the named scholarships, please visit northcentralmass.com or call 978.353.7600 ext. 222.
Harry Potter Book Night! February 6, 2019, 6-7:30 pm – Garden Room, Fitchburg Youth Library
Join us on February 6, 2019, from 6-7:30 pm for our 3rd Annual Harry Potter Book Night! This year’s theme is “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”! There will opportunities to make magical crafts like origami sorting hats, personalized bookmarks, and glitter wands to help you in “school”. There will be tests of your knowledge – from a Table Top Quidditch Tournament to Harry Potter trivia, and even special classes you can take in slime potion creation! Make sure to take a picture at our photo booth of all of your enchantments and stop by our refreshment table to keep you alert!
Our new Teen Librarian, Colin Welch, will also be sharing the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s unforgettable stories and, most excitingly, introducing the next generation of readers to the unparalleled magic of Harry Potter.
Please check our calendar listing for more information. All are free programs. Free parking is available in the lot at the corner of Boulder Drive and Newton Place. For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.
(North Central, MA) – This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.It was in January of 1984 that the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was formed as a result of a merger of several local chambers of commerce in the region.Since then, the Chamber has evolved into the region’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization.Since its founding, the organization has been defined by its strong leadership, dynamic program of work and its positive impact in advancing the economy and quality of life in North Central Massachusetts.The Chamber has been recognized among the top chambers of commerce in the country for its impact and operations.Among its many honors, the Chamber was a 2017 runner up for the prestigious National Chamber of the Year award, the first chamber in Massachusetts to have ever been recognized as a finalist.The Chamber also achieved 4-star accreditation in 2018, an honor achieved by only 204 of the 7,022 chambers in the country.
“This major milestone is a great time for us to reflect on our history, but more importantly to look forward to the future of our dynamic organization and region,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Over the next year we plan to celebrate this milestone with our members and partners who have been an important part of our past success and who will lead us into the future, working collectively to advance North Central Massachusetts.”
Throughout 2019, the Chamber will be commemorating 35 years of building businesses and building communities, which will include a very special anniversary celebration planned for the spring. All businesses and community leaders are encouraged to contact the Chamber to find out how to get involved in the spirit of the Chamber’s 35th Anniversary Year.For more information or to stay up to date on the Chamber’s plans, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com.
Six months ago, the State House passed a raft of legislation that had been negotiated between business advocates and labor groups. The compromise eliminated numerous ballot questions in return for concessions on the minimum wage, paid leave, and mandatory premium pay on Sundays. On the 1st of this year, the initial phase of the Grand Bargain’s implementation took effect. As employers, you have a right and a need to know how these changes impact your business. see chart for a brief overview of the rules which just took effect.
*Due to an error in the Grand Bargain Legislation’s language, mandatory premium pay of time and a half (1.5 multiplier) will remain in effect for New Year’s Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans’ Day until further notice.
As was alluded to above, this is only the first phase of the Grand Bargain’s multi-year rollout. Further changes are approaching, and we encourage you to speak with your payroll company or human resource department about how these and future adjustments will impact you. If you would like to learn more about the Grand Bargain and its schedule of implementation, you can do so here.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Grand Bargain, the Chamber’s policy on it, or our stance on other matters before the State House, please contact Christopher McDermott at (978) 353-7600 ext. 224, or email him at .
(North Central, MA)–The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliate the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) today released a report entitled “Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts.” The recommendations developed by a taskforce of the region’s premier manufacturers focuses on steps the region and state can take to address their workforce challenges and fuel economic advancement throughout the region.
The report highlights a mix of both programmatic and policy related recommendations and strategies focused around workforce and education, regional cooperation and regional promotion. In addition to manufacturers, the Chamber and NCMDC also sought input from education and workforce leaders to produce this report.
“Aligning and integrating our educational system with the needs of employers must be a priority if North Central Massachusetts is to compete and prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” said Ray Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International and Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “Too many manufacturers today are having difficulty finding the qualified and skilled workers that they need, and the problem will only get worse if we are not ready with new solutions for the coming years.”
“We are excited to put forward these bold recommendations to strengthen our education and workforce systems for the benefit of both our students and employers,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We hope that this will be a useful resource for discussions around education reform in Massachusetts.”
Some of recommendations highlighted in the report include creating career pathways; a greater emphasis on both college and career readiness; expansion of career exploration programs into the middle schools; introduction of high school credentialing courses; increasing the labor pool by attracting more workers to the region; and expanding technical education in both vocational and conventional high schools.To view the full report, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com
With over 440 firms, North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state. One in every four private jobs in the region are manufacturing jobs, with one third of all private wages in the region directly related to the sector.Manufacturing firms in North Central Massachusetts range from the world class plastics industry cluster, to pharmaceuticals, photonics, paper, and biomedical devices to name a few.
Manufacturers today are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, operating advanced equipment and technology.However, many manufacturers have been unable to recruit the workers they need. Despite the high wage potential and increasing employer demand, there is both a need for more young workers and a skills gap among an existing and a transitioning workforce. Nationwide, 75% of employers report difficulty filling positions, with the problem being particularly acute in manufacturing. The challenge is expected to grow, since the average age of a manufacturing employee in North Central Massachusetts is 55 and young people typically rank manufacturing careers dead last due to false perceptions of the industry. If these individuals are unable to train replacements prior to retirement, the skills and experience they take with them will be lost permanently.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation remain committed to supporting and growing this critical sector of the region’s economy.The organizations convened the taskforce to address workforce issues and provide a unified vision for improving the workforce pipeline.The organizations are working with partners to address this skills gap, retain the region’s young talent, and introduce them to the high-tech, high-skilled, and high-paying careers of the modern manufacturing industry.The Chamber believes that building successful education partnerships between businesses and the region’s schools is critical to collective, on-going efforts.
Celebrating 35 Years of Building Businesses, Building Communities!
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. It was back in January of 1984 that this organization was formed as a result of the merger of several local chambers of commerce in the region. This major milestone is a great time for us to reflect on our history, but more importantly to look forward to the future of our dynamic organization and region.
Much has changed since our founding, but the Chamber has remained true to our mission of supporting our members and advancing North Central Massachusetts.It is inspiring that so many of the Chamber’s decisions made over the last 35 years are still making a difference today in supporting local businesses and growing our economy. I would like to thank our entire Board of Directors for their leadership and role in guiding this organization and serving the interests of our members and communities.I would also like to thank and acknowledge the 159 board members that came before them who helped drive our organization to what we are today.
More importantly, I would like to thank you, the business community, for your years of dedication and support in shaping our Chamber. The business community is, at its core, the backbone of our organization and the driving force in making our region a thriving one. We are extremely grateful for your continued support and always value your voice.
Over the next year, we will celebrate this milestone with you, our members and partners. It is you who have led this community for the past 35 years and it is you who will lead us into the future, remaining focused on the pressing needs of the day and committed to working collectively to advance our region.
While we have much to be proud of, the history of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will continue to unfold. Standing still and resting on our laurels is simply not possible. We have bold plans for the future and look forward to working with you to continue to drive North Central Massachusetts forward.
OXFORD, Massachusetts: Matthew S. Sosik, President and CEO of bankHometown, announced that its 2018 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Campaign has resulted in total donations of $25,000. This is the 15th year that bankHometown has invited local residents and businesses to help support local food pantries as a way for the bank and its customers to reduce food insecurity in their communities.
Customers of the bank and community members were invited to be a “Hometown Hero” for a $1 donation or a “Hometown Superhero” for a $5 donation. In addition to the in-branch fund drive, bankHometown also invited business customers to support the campaign. bankHometown matched all of the donations dollar for dollar and split the funds among food pantries that serve the areas surrounding each of its thirteen offices in central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut.
“Over the past 15 years, this campaign has evolved into a successful and collaborative effort from customers, community members and our employees, to support local food pantries that need help with inventory during the holidays. We are proud to be an example of Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” said Sosik.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors donations benefit (in MA) the Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry (Auburn), CARE Food Pantry (Clinton), Food Share (Southbridge, Charlton & Sturbridge), Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc. (Leominster), Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf (Oxford), Salvation Army (Athol), St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (Webster); (in CT) Daily Bread(Putnam), Friends of Assisi (Killingly), and Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) (Thompson).
To date, more than $167,500 has been distributed through this program.
bankHometown is a member of the Hometown Financial Group. Founded in 1889 as Hometown Bank, bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts, bankHometown has 13 branches located throughout central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.hometowncoop.com.
Hometown Financial Group, a $2.1 billion mutual holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts, is the parent company of bankESB and bankHometown. Both banking franchises offer a complete line of commercial, business, and consumer banking and lending products and services to customers through its 24 branches located throughout western and central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For more information on Hometown Financial Group please visit www.bankhfg.com.
