News & Events
All Latest News
Leominster Credit Union to Sponsor Veterans Traveling Wall Memorial
Leominster Credit Union to Sponsor Veterans Traveling Wall Memorial
John O’Brien, President & CEO and Carol Perron, Senior Vice President of Leominster Credit Union presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to sponsor the Veterans Traveling Wall Memorial “The Wall that Heals” event scheduled for this November at Carter Park.
Leominster is a host city for this event. The Wall that Heals is a 250 foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Since its debut in 1996 it has visited nearly 400 U.S. Cities and viewed by over 2 million people. The memorial will be open to the public starting Nov. 3 with a ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. The memorial will remain until the afternoon of Nov. 6. For more information contact the Leominster Veterans Services at978-534-7538
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $600 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling and North Leominster with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24 hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
Leominster Credit Union to Sponsor Starburst 2016
John O’Brien, President & CEO and Barbara Mahoney, Senior Vice President of Leominster Credit Union presented Bob Healy with a check for $8,000 as the Premier Sponsor of Starburst 2016.
Starburst is the Leominster’s premier event and will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Doyle Field. The gates with open at 4:30 pm and the first event will begin at 5:00 pm. Entertainment, music and a fireworks extravaganza are all scheduled. Donations for Starburst can be mailed to Starburst, P. O. Box 621, Leominster, MA 01453 or by contacting Jack Hathaway at 978-537-4625.
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $600 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling and North Leominster with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24 hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
5/17 – EEOC Overview for Businesses, Part 2
EEOC Overview for Businesses, Part 2
May 17, 2016, 10AM-11:30AM
North Central Career Center
100 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA
EEOC Investigator, Scott Kelley, will again be the speaker at a North Central Career Center workshop for businesses on May 17th at 10AM. This will be a follow up to the first presentation in January.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
EEOC also works to prevent discrimination before it occurs through outreach, education and technical assistance programs. Any employer with questions about the laws enforced by EEOC or about compliance with those laws in specific workplace situations should attend this workshop at the Career Center.
To reserve a seat please RSVP, by May 16th, to
or 978-534-1481 X209 Our last workshop was sold out, so please reserve early.
MWCC Student Rafaela Lopes of Leominster Receives National Newman Civic Fellows Award
For her dedication and commitment to serving others, Mount Wachusett Community College student Rafaela Lopes has been presented with Campus Compact’s national 2016 Newman Civic Fellows Award.
The Leominster resident was inspired to make a difference in the lives of others by creating a youth-run social venture that helps young people experiencing or close to homelessness, as she had experienced as a child in Brazil before moving to Massachusetts seven years ago.
“Rafaela has made such significant contributions to our community both locally and globally, that even at her young age, she truly stands out as an inspirational leader deserving of recognition,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We are very proud of her for her spirit of generosity, and proud that she becomes MWCC’s fourth student to consecutively receive this prestigious award.”
Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. The award honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders and a tireless advocate for the civic engagement of higher education.
A dual enrollment student in MWCC’s Gateway to College program, Lopes will earn her high school diploma this spring and an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences in the fall. After that, she plans to transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree, and then enroll in dental school.
“I believe that helping others is my life’s mission. I try to lead by example, in the hope that one kindness will yield another, in turn generating a chain of kindness,” she said.
For the past three years, Lopes has been actively involved in the United Way Youth Venture program, which is co-sponsored by MWCC, the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and Ashoka’s Youth Venture. She created the social venture Go Make a Difference when she was just 15. Since then, she has led her team in fulfilling its mission to help the community locally by providing regular birthday celebrations for homeless children and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts.
The culmination of her dream – to make the impact of her venture global – was realized in February when she organized a student trip to a rural village in Haiti for a week of service at a nutrition and health center. She was instrumental in raising thousands of dollars and collecting 14 suitcases packed with essential supplies in preparation for the trip. She is in the process of organizing another group trip to Haiti next winter so more young people can experience the joy of giving back.
Lopes is also actively involved with the UWYV team Friends of Rachel’s Challenge at Leominster High School and with the ALANA club at MWCC.
“With both organizations, I’ve been able to serve and support the community while sharing positivity and friendship. I plan to continue to lead service and inspire my fellow students to help me make a difference with volunteering, whether with homeless families or in regions of severe poverty.”
Recipients of the Newman Civic Fellows Award are nominated by their college’s president or chancellor. Honorees are chosen for their leadership and ability to take action in pursuit of long-term, positive social change. This year, 218 students were selected to receive the award.
“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “We are seeing a resurgence in student interest in acting to create lasting social change, and this year’s Newman Civic Fellows exemplify that commitment.”
Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center Unveils New Renovations
The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center, considered by many the gateway to North Central Massachusetts, opened in 1996 as a way to welcome people traveling through the region and give them a place to stop, stretch their legs, and learn more about the twenty-six communities in North Central Massachusetts and what they have to offer for visitors and families. Open 360 days a year from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., the visitors’ center greets people from the local community as well as those traveling down Route 2 to their destination and those who are vacationing locally with us.
“It’s important to us that everyone who walks through the visitors’ center doors feels welcomed” said Diane Burnette, Visitor Center Manager for the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association. “Whether we are a daily stop for you, or you are coming into the area for the first time, you should have a positive experience here at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center.”
The center features a gift shop that carries many local products including jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, fudge, chocolates, sparkling cider and that local icon of American kitsch – the plastic flamingo! Visitors to the center can also find a wide selection of books highlighting the history of the 
Over 165,000 people walk through the visitor center doors every year. Some come in for a pit stop on their route, some for directions to a local destination or information on local attractions, and some for the local products from across the region that are sold in the gift shop. One thing that every single visitor receives is a welcoming feeling and a nice “hello” and “have a great day’ as they enter and leave again.
The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center is open daily. Normal business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center is located at 1000 Rte. 2 Westbound, between exit 34 & 35, in Lancaster, MA. For more information, please call 978-534-2829 or visit www.visitnorthcentral.com.
Chamber Hosts Regional Bus Tour to Promote Manufacturing
Attendees on the tour, which also included legislators, economic development officials and members of the media, visited several manufacturing companies where they were able to get an insider’s look at how select manufacturers operate as well as learn about the growing employment opportunities in manufacturing and the necessary skill-sets needed.
The manufacturing bus tour, part of the Chamber’s “Amp It Up!” initiative, included stops at Rocheleau Tool & Die, a family owned and operated business established in 1938 in Fitchburg that specializes in the manufacture of extrusion blow molding machinery, blow molds and related automation equipment; Burkhart-Phelan, Inc., a company founded in 1982 that specializes in the precision manufacturing of high quality flutes and piccolos; Nypro, a world-class leader in manufacturing precision plastic products for customers in the healthcare, packaging and consumer electronics industries; and Mount Wachusett Community College’s Devens Manufacturing Center which offers technical training in a number of different areas including advanced manufacturing with an emphasis on automation and robotics and quality. The tour also included a lunch presentation and discussion by Shailah Stewart of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on ways that schools and communities can collaborate with employers.
North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state. Fully one-third of all private wages paid in the region are from manufacturing jobs. Companies range from the world class plastics industry cluster of more than 140 companies to pharmaceuticals to photonics and paper, as well as biomedical devices.
Manufacturers today are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, working on advanced equipment and technology. However, many manufacturers have been challenged recruiting 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.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation remain com
mitted to supporting and growing this critical sector of the region’s economy. 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.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank and acknowledge the support and assistance of the following partners who
The purpose of the “AMP it up!” initiative is to leverage new and existing resources to continue ongoing efforts to reach career counselors, community organizations, youth-serving organizations, educators, and most importantly students throughout North Central Massachusetts. The Chamber’s “Amp It Up!” initiative is funded in part through a matching grant from MassDevelopment. Other partners include Fitchburg State University, Mt. Wachusett Community College and school systems throughout the region. Ongoing efforts to promote manufacturing careers have also included engaging the schools and offering career exploration activities to students, hosting student tours, participating in career day activities and promoting manufacturing via a targeted social media campaign.
For more information on the manufacturing bus tour or the “Amp It Up!” Initiative, please contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at (978) 353-7600.
5/12 – Sips, Snacks & Sale at Cutie Patuties
It’s Party time at Cutie Patuties!!!
***Entire Store on Sale***
***Delicious Refreshments***
***Beverage Samples from Wyman’s Liquors***
***Mini-Makeovers by Jafra & Mary Kay***
***Tons of Raffle Prizes***
***Music, Fun, and More!***
Cutie Patuties recently underwent a facelift and we’re inviting you to come see our new look!
Join us Thursday, May 12 from 6-8PM for this exciting event featuring a storewide sale, delightful food and beverage samples, raffles, and so much more!
And since we got a new look, we think you should too! We’ll have representatives from Jafra and Mary Kay offering mini-makeovers! After all, we got a new look, why shouldn’t you?!
Office of Safety’s Workplace Safety Training & Education Grant Program
The Department of Industrial Accident’s Office of Safety has released the FY17 Workplace Safety Training & Education Grant Program Application for submission by July 1, 2016.
The objective of this program is to promote safe and healthy conditions in the workplace by awarding state funds to eligible applicants who submit responses designed to provide and improve safety education and training in Occupational Safety and Health to employers/employees within the Commonwealth covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law (M.G.L. Chapter 152). Complete instructions, will be detailed in the FY17 Safety Training Grant Application.
Prepare and submit your grant application as outlined in the instructions. Incomplete applications cannot be processed unless all requested documents are included.
For your convenience, we have created the grant application and contractual documents as writable PDF files. The grant application and supporting documents as outlined in the check off summary must be submitted electronically as one document. Multiple attachments and zip files cannot be accepted.
JOHN DOE CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS
JOHN DOE SAFETY GRANT APPLICATION_CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS
Please remember to apply for and submit a copy of your Department of Revenue (DOR) Certificate of Good Standing with your application and contractual documents. A Certificate of Good Standing less than 6 months old must be provided at the time of submission. The fastest and easiest way to obtain a Certificate is online through MassTaxConnect https://mtc.dor.state.ma.us/mtc
Applicants must be in full compliance with all obligations to the Department of Unemployment Assistance, Department of Industrial Accidents, and any other obligations to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Applicants found to be non-compliant will be removed from consideration until all compliance issues have been resolved.
Prepare and submit original contractual documents as outlined in the instructions. ALL signatures and dates must be original and in ink. Stamps will not be accepted.
If you have questions or need assistance with grant application only, please contact Deven Awalt 617-727-4900 ext. 7404 or Maria Pesantes at 617-727-4900 ext. 7376. You may also refer all questions to
If you have questions or need assistant with the contractual documents only, please contact Diane Lentini at 617-626-5913 or by emailing