Calling all Worcester Railers fans! The Worcester Railers Military Appreciation game is on Saturday, March 30th and we are looking for partners to help us honor our veterans and their families. Sponsor a ticket for a deserving military member with our three tiers of sponsorship available. Let’s show our support together!
The City of Fitchburg and the Airport Commission are seeking responses to this Request for Expressions of Interest (“RFEI”) from parties interested in long-term leasing with commercial development.
The City is inviting participation from potential non-aviation businesses and enterprises that could be developed at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport. The purpose of this process is to determine the level of private interest and potential opportunities to benefit the city, the airport community and/or the business community.
Responses to this invitation will be reviewed and evaluated using the process described in this packet. By participating in this initial step of the process, developers will be able to participate in subsequent steps with the ultimate goal being the negotiation of associated leases and development.
Join us for a full day of industry networking and learning, featuring remarks from Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) presents the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism, an all-day gathering to bring together industry experts, government officials, and hospitality professionals. Join us in person on April 2, 2024, at 9:00 AM for dynamic and relevant panels, networking opportunities, and a chance to dive into the latest topics impacting travel and tourism in Massachusetts.
Highlights will include remarks from Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll, the presentation of the Massachusetts Tourism Awards, and announcements regarding Massachusetts 250th and the upcoming Massachusetts domestic marketing campaign. Continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided. Join Team Massachusetts for the first Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism in nearly a decade. If you’re in the industry, you won’t want to miss this event!
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend MOTT events. If you require an accommodation(s) to fully participate in this event, please share your requirements in the registration form. For additional support, please contact Elisabeth@discoverasg.com. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
Parking
There is covered parking on-site for $55 (daily rate). Valet parking costs $61.
Public Transit
A covered walkway directly connects the hotel to Boston Logan Airport terminals A and E, and the free 24-hour shuttle covers all terminals, the Silver Line, water taxi, and car rentals.
Room Block
We have a room block reserved at Hilton Boston Logan Airport for April 1, 2024 through April 2, 2024. Click this link to book your room.
The Williams-Rockwell Educational Gift Fund Committee met on February 13, 2024 and March 7, 2024, to distribute this year’s round of grants to applicants from the Gardner Public School System. The committee was able to distribute $82,831.60 for 14 different projects which will take place over the remainder of the academic year and beyond.
Gardner’s Superintendent of Public Schools, Dr. Mark Pellegrino remarked, “The Williams-Rockwell grants continue to generously give to Gardner Public Schools. These funds allow us to offer very creative programs that enhance the experience of our students beyond the core and essential expectations of our community. From service dogs to laser cutters, this program supports our students social emotional needs and academic growth. Thank you to everyone on the committee for supporting our students!”
The Williams-Rockwell Education Gift Fund was established in 2014 following the auction of Norman Rockwell’s “Willie Gillis in the Convoy” painting. The fund was set up to provide financial assistance to projects and programs requested by the faculty and administration of Gardner Public Schools to enrich the experiences of Gardner’s students. The grants are funded by the interest and capital gains earned from investments of the sale price of the painting.
From the auction to the disbursement of the grants, the Williams-Rockwell Educational Gift Fund has been a collective effort in bringing about a way to give back to the city and its students for years to come. To date, the Committee has awarded $610,064.00.
“I am very happy to hear that we are able to continue to give back to our students through this program,” said Mayor Michael Nicholson who serves as the Chair of the fund’s Trustees. “The projects submitted for this year’s round of funding were certainly unique and help provide valuable resources to help enrich our students’ academic careers. This fund truly makes a big difference in helping Gardner Public Schools provide our students with a modern academic experience that stands out from other districts. I’m looking forward to seeing our students take advantage of these programs in the future.”
Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas added, “The Williams-Rockwell resource enriches the quality of our education in Gardner, and we are incredibly lucky to have it. These grants continue to serve their purpose providing valuable opportunities for our students each year. Such options would likely not be possible otherwise, or their funding would draw from the city’s budget.”
As required by the fund’s governing statute, awards were given out to both arts related applications as well as applications that promote athletics and academics in our schools.
“The funds received by GMS from the Rockwell Grant will be used to help subsidize our 6th grade trip to Nature’s Classroom,” explained Annette Lussier, Gardner Middle School Science Teacher. “Students look forward to this trip every year! This amazing educational experience provides our students with an opportunity to think and learn about the natural world around us and more importantly our place in nature and how we, humans, are uniquely responsible for the stewardship of our planet. GMS would like to thank the Rockwell Grant committee for this award and their continued support for this unique and powerful educational experience.”
“20 years ago when I started teaching at the middle school, I used the spotlights that were shared with the high school to light a lot of each production due to a lack of an auditorium at GMS,” said Joanne Landry, Gardner High School Music and Drama teacher. “It was clear to me even then that the spotlights were not very effective and had two very different illumination capacities. One is very dim with fuzzy edges while the other is brighter but with no filter capabilities any more. They are also very bulky and heavy and difficult to transport from one school to the other. I am thrilled that after 20 years, we will finally be able to acquire new spotlights for the theater program. All the drama students from both the high school and middle school will be able to benefit from better lighting. The units are portable, quieter when in use, and use LED lighting so they will be less expensive to maintain. These should be easier to operate as well and we can have students on stage crew run the spots for the shows. I am excited to have the new spotlights shine brightly on our hard working performers.”
“We are so excited to receive this grant for the Great East Festival for the 4th Grade Band,” said Michelle Heffner, Gardner Elementary School Band Director. “Great East provides a competitive opportunity for our young musicians in a supportive environment. Students will perform in front of a panel of judges and then receive a clinic where the judges will work with our 4th Grade band students to help them improve their playing, listening and ensemble skills. It is exciting to provide our youngest band students with this opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a real-life competitive setting and provide them with their first experience with adjudication! The students are eager to begin learning their music and are excited to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in front of a panel of well-respected music educators. Thank you to the committee for providing our 4th Grade Band with this opportunity!”
“We ordered these boards a few years ago and they were so successful in their ease of setting up artworks that we wanted to obtain more,” said Frances LeMieux, Gardner High School Art Teacher. “This has allowed us to be able to rotate where our All School Art Exhibitions are held, in an effort to connect with all facets of the community. The venue change allows for greater community access, allowing the public to see all of our schools, but also gives the host school an opportunity to display a higher amount of its students’ work. The color of the boards are varied, which will show off our art pieces better. The grey backing will help to specifically show off works that have a darker composition, that we have noticed get lost while viewing on our current black backings.
By law, the membership on the Board of Trustees who votes to award the grants is made up of three members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, the City Treasurer, the Superintendent of Schools, a member of the School Committee, the City Council President or their designee, and the Mayor or his designee who serves as chair.
A full listing of the grants awarded can be found here:
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie White as Manager of Talent and Education Initiatives. In this position, she will be responsible for working with employers, regional partners, and education leaders on developing strategies and programs to build and strengthen the region’s current and future workforce.
Most recently, White worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, where she assisted in the planning, organization and implementation of services and activities for the Club’s members. She previously worked for the James Monroe Wire and Cable Company, the Career Center of Lowell, and LUK, Inc.
A resident of the North Central region, White holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Keene State College.
“Katie’s background and leadership will serve the Chamber and our members well as we work to enhance the business climate and advance the economy in the region,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Her experience provides us with a unique perspective on how to actively engage and excite our region’s youth on job opportunities now and in the future.”
“I am looking forward to seeing where my professional experiences and passion for systemic change in education and the workforce will guide me on this new endeavor at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce,” said White.
Help us celebrate this collective national honor! The Chamber is launching a new campaign to take our collective “Chamber of the Year Award” on tour to some of our member’s locations. Our members are key contributors to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. This “trophy tour” is a way to acknowledge our members contributions to our success and share in this prestigious national honor as well as build community spirit.
Here’s how it would work:
1. If you would like to participate, then contact Maureen Babcock on the Chamber team at mbabcock@northcentralmass.com and schedule a convenient date and time. Someone from the Chamber will bring the Chamber of the Year trophy to your workplace and stay with it during the visit. You will have approximately thirty minutes with the trophy;
2. Snap a photo of the Chamber of the Year trophy at your workplace. It can be a traditional photo of you with the trophy at your business or it can be a fun photo with the trophy incorporated into your day to day activities. We encourage you to be creative and to highlight your business and community;
3. Share the photo on social media using the suggested hashtags of #chamberoftheyear,#trophytour and #northcentralma, and please make sure to tag the Chamber;
4. Enjoy watching the Chamber of the Year trophy journey throughout the region!
Guidelines:
Photo Guide: We encourage creativity and showcasing your business with the photo! The Chamber of the Year Trophy can be photographed with products your business manufactures, at a meeting of your staff, at a project site, sitting at the reception desk, or even at an office lunch. Traditional photos are fine too, such as taking a photo of the trophy in front of your company sign or taking a group photo with the trophy. If you don’t have an office, then feel free to take the photo at the Chamber office or out in the community;
Safety: The trophy is made of crystal, so please make sure to be careful when handling the trophy to avoid damage or harm to any individuals. You should treat the trophy like you would any other valuable heirloom. A member of the Chamber staff will accompany the trophy during the visit to assist, and will sanitize the trophy between visits;
Duration: We anticipate that each visit will be about 30 minutes. If you think you will need additional time then please let us know in advance
Any Questions: Please feel free to reach out to Maureen Babcock at mbabcock@northcentralmass.com or by phone at 978.353.7600 ext. 222 with any questions or if you would like to schedule a visit.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), announced it will be hosting an inaugural Entrepreneur Awards Reception and Resource Showcase. The event is intended to help connect entrepreneurs and recognize them for their success and community impact.
The Entrepreneur Awards Reception and Resource Showcase will be held on Thursday, March 28, 5 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way in Leominster, and is open to all Chamber members, NCMDC clients, potential entrepreneurs, and the local business community. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided. The event will also feature a table-top expo with NCMDC clients, as well as resource and banking partners who can assist existing small businesses or those looking to start a business.
In addition to the resource showcase, the event will also feature an awards program to recognize small businesses that have worked with the NCMDC and experienced success in starting or growing their business. Of the awards, recognition will include a business owner who works with underserved communities or populations, a business that provides needed services for the communities, and a business that has shown growth over the past year resulting in quality jobs and increased revenue.
“Our entrepreneurs pursued their dreams, and by doing so, offer new innovation and opportunity for our region that results in overall job and economic growth,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We hope this event will provide our entrepreneurs the opportunity to not only connect with key resources to help them elevate their business, but also to network with other entrepreneurs to develop camaraderie as they continue toward successful business growth. It also provides us with the opportunity to recognize their hard work and dedication to our community.”
Cost for members is $15 and non-members is $25. Registration is available online at www.northcentralmass.com. A limited number of sponsorships are available. Please contact Valerie Bruno at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or vbruno@northcentralmass.com for more details or to reserve a showcase table.
The Town’s zoning for economic development is limited and outdated. Please attend one or both of these forums and tell us what you want for new economic development in Sterling. At these forums, the following topics will be discussed:
The importance of economic development.
The tax benefits of economic development.
The impact of economic development on your tax bills.
What the Town allows for economic development and what other towns allow.
Is the Town’s Performance Zone right for economic development?
What do you want to see for new economic development?
All this and more will be discussed at the public forum.
Public Forums on Economic Development
Wednesday March 6, 2024 at 6:30 PM
1835 Town Hall (31 Main Street)
If you can’t attend the Wednesday night forum, the program will be repeated on Saturday March 9, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Please attend and give us your input!
Thank you – the Sterling Planning Board & Economic Development Committee
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce today announced the launch of the Manufacturing Council of North Central Massachusetts to enhance the Chamber’s support of the manufacturing industry and the regional economy.
The Council, which is open to Chamber members and non-members working or interested in learning more about the manufacturing industry, will provide knowledge, resources, and support to create a stronger and prosperous manufacturing sector in North Central Massachusetts.
“The Chamber has always been a strong champion of local manufacturing, advocating and supporting the industry in multiple ways,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “I believe that our strong advocacy and support of the manufacturing industry is one of the things that helps set our Chamber apart. From hosting manufacturing tours to publishing a manufacturing directory and supporting workforce efforts for the industry, the Council is a natural extension of our work and reflects our commitment to supporting and growing this important sector of our economy.”
While the economy in North Central Massachusetts is diverse, the region has a rich and proud manufacturing history, and continues to play an integral role in the regional economy. Manufacturing is the third largest industry in North Central Massachusetts, with more than 400 manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and electronics. It also accounts for 15 percent of the region’s total employment and one-third of all private wages paid in the region. North Central Massachusetts is unique in that manufacturing in the region is twice as concentrated when compared to the U.S. average.
Council members will have the opportunity to network with peers, participate in tours of manufacturing facilities to learn best practices, attend quarterly meetings featuring experts in the industry, gain exclusive access to policy leaders, and collectively advocate for the industry. Additionally, connections to workforce and talent leaders, as well as the eligibility to participate in the Chamber’s CEO Manufacturers’ Roundtable Program, will be offered.
There is no fee to join the Council for Chamber members, however fees related to meetings or programming may apply, depending on the program.
The first meeting of the Manufacturing Council of North Central Massachusetts is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. at Burkart-Phelan, Inc, located at 2 Shaker Road, #D107
Shirley, MA. Christine Nolan, director, Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing, and acting hub program director, Northeast for the Microelectronics Coalition, will be the featured speaker at the March meeting. In addition, Lillian Burkart, founder and president, Burkart-Phelan, Inc., will provide an overview of the company and a tour for attendees.
Coffee and continental breakfast will be provided. There is no cost for Chamber members to participate. Non-members are welcome to attend for a $35 registration fee.
To register, please visit www.northcentralmass.com or call 978.353.7600 ext. 235. Pre-registration is required, space is limited.
For more information about the Council, contact Roy Nascimento at 978.353.7600, ext. 225.
In the Photo: bankHometown’s Grove St., Worcester office Vice President, Branch Officer Isabelo Cruz Lopez (left) and Assistant Branch Manager Allysha Desrosiers (right) present a check for $5,275 to Trish Appert, executive director of Friendly House, one of 16 food pantries receiving donations from the bank’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising campaign to help address food insecurity.
Robert J. Morton, president and CEO of bankHometown, announced that the bank’s 20th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $84,400 for local food pantries. This brings the total amount raised since the program’s inception to $415,400.
The annual appeal is part of bankHometown’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves. Throughout November, the bank invited customers, employees, and members of the community to donate at bankHometown branches. Up to $2,500 per donation was matched, dollar for dollar, by bankHometown and the total divided among food pantries in Massachusetts and Connecticut communities the bank serves.
Each of these pantries received $5,275:
Massachusetts Food Pantries:
Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry
Auburn Youth and Family Services Food Pantry
CARE Food Pantry, Clinton
Food Share, Southbridge, Charlton & Sturbridge
Friendly House Pantry, Worcester
Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc., Leominster
Millbury Senior Center Food Pantry
Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf
Sutton Senior Center Michael A. Chizy Food Pantry
St. John’s Food for the Poor, Worcester
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Webster
Connecticut Food Pantries:
Community Kitchens of Northeastern CT, Killingly
Daily Bread, Putnam
Friends of Assisi, Killingly
Project PIN Food Pantry, Moosup
Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group
“On behalf of bankHometown, I’d like to thank all those who generously donated to our Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraiser to help fight food insecurity in our communities,” said Morton. “We’re pleased to host this annual appeal and that so much was raised to help families in need this holiday season.”