The seminar is scheduled for Tuesday October 12 and Wednesday, October 13, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, located at 860 South Street, Fitchburg.
“Many small business owners utilize QuickBooks to help them manage their business,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This is a great opportunity for businesses to learn from an expert on how best to utilize the platform for financial success.”
The seminar will be led by Nancy Burgess, MBA, of Burgess Consulting Associates, and offer an introduction of the platform, an overview of establishing company details, and reviewing data and financial reports.
The cost to attend is $109 and space is limited to 15 participants. Register online at www.northcentralmass.com or contact Kathleen Deal at 978-353-7600, ext. 235 or via email at for additional details.
Additionally, to ensure a safe environment for all, attendees are asked to abide by the COVID-19 mask advisory issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which advises those who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask or face covering if they are at increased risk for severe disease because of age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in their household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult.
State tax collectors brought in $3.992 billion of revenue in September, way up from September 2020 and half a billion dollars more than what the Baker administration was expecting to collect.
The Department of Revenue announced Tuesday afternoon that the September haul was $848 million or 27 percent greater than actual collections in September 2020 and $501 million or 14.3 percent greater than the month’s benchmark. September typically brings in about 10 percent of the state’s annual tax revenue, DOR said.
“September collections increased in all major tax types relative to September 2020 collections, including withholding, non-withholding, sales and use tax, corporate and business tax, and ‘all other tax’,” Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said. “The increase in withholding is likely related to improvements in labor market conditions while the increase in non-withholding tax collections is due to an increase in income estimated payments. The sales and use tax increase reflects continued strength in retail sales and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.”
Since fiscal year 2022 began on July 1, DOR has collected $8.751 billion from residents and businesses. The year-to-date total is $1.501 billion or 20.7 percent greater than actual collections during the same time period of fiscal 2021 and $525 million or 6.4 percent above the administration’s year-to-date benchmark.
During fiscal year 2021, Massachusetts state government collected more than $5 billion more from residents, workers and businesses than it was expecting, leading to a sizeable surplus. The $34.137 billion total for fiscal 2021 was $5.047 billion or 17.3 percent above the state’s benchmark and $4.528 billion or 15.3 percent more than the actual amount collected in fiscal year 2020.
By the time fiscal 2022 ends after June 30, 2022, DOR expects that it will have collected $34.401 billion in tax revenue. Revenues for the month of October, which DOR said is “among the lower months for revenue collection,” are due to be announced Nov. 3. DOR has set the monthly collection benchmark at $2.248 billion. – Colin A. Young/SHNS
Tourism is a major industry and capturing your share of our local tourists will help your business thrive. The Chamber encourages you to stop in and learn more about our advertising tools that can help you succeed. Local sights, conventions, and activities draw visitors from across the country to the area each year, making it a market you should not overlook.
The benefits to hotels, motels, and restaurants from tourism are easy to spot, but what about local shops and stores? We have designed some tips to help you optimize your return from tourism.
How to Capture Your Share of Our Tourists
The Chamber website offers members the opportunity to link to their businesses. Many visitors will visit our site to find places to stay, eat, shop, and entertainment ideas. Presenting your business on the site will help you reach more potential customers.
Identify what makes your business or products special. Do you offer local flavor? Items that are made by local artisans or craftsmen? Locally produced food products, or books featuring information on the area? Many tourists are mesmerized by and lured to shop where they can items that have been produced locally.
Have you created a welcoming storefront? Signs welcoming tourists and advertising specials can help draw trade into any business.
Take time to meet other business owners and their employees in the area. Tourists often rely on service staff at a local hotel or restaurant to provide them with information on where to shop. Networking is an excellent opportunity for business growth.
Have you noticed something on your own travels that you wish was available in your area, or that drew you into a business? Adding a new line can help you capture your share of tourists as well as bringing in more local customers.
Consider your online presence. Is your website easy to navigate and does it link to a social media page? Advertise or at least create a page on social media and update it regularly. It may take a while to grow an audience, but as long as you are providing interesting information, you should see growth.
Walk into your business with the eyes of someone who has not seen it before. Is it laid out well and does it have a pleasant scent? If not, a few simple changes can make a major impact on sales.
Don’t be discouraged if they leave without purchasing anything the first time. They may be window shopping today, but come back later and bring even more friends with them if they like what they see.
Take advantage of offline marketing, including flyers and ads.
Most importantly, offer guests a friendly welcome. Make certain your staff does as well. Tourists, and local shoppers, gravitate to businesses that are welcoming, clean, and provide value for their dollar.
Increased tourism brings money to the community and provides an opportunity for your business to capitalize. We encourage you to contact us and learn more ideas on improving your share of this expanding market.
Mount Wachusett Community College is pleased to announce our Dean’s and President’s Lists for the summer 2021 semester. Students who complete a minimum of 12 semester hours are eligible. The Dean’s List requires a 3.30 to 3.99 grade point average while the President’s List requires a 4.0 grade point average.
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito today announced the appointment of Terrence Reidy as Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Reidy has served as Acting Secretary since July, when he was appointed to replace former Secretary Thomas Turco, III following Secretary Turco’s retirement.
“Secretary Reidy has spent his career focused on keeping Massachusetts’ families and communities safe, from his time as a prosecutor to his service in our Administration, most recently as Acting Secretary,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Terry is a proven leader who has effectively guided the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security these past few months, and we are confident that he will continue to lead with distinction.”
“From collaborating with local law enforcement to overseeing the Commonwealth’s efforts to monitor and respond to potential homeland security threats, the role of Public Safety Secretary is critically important, and we are pleased that Secretary Reidy will continue to serve in this capacity,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are glad to have him on our team and wish him well as he continues his service.”
“I am deeply grateful to the Governor and Lt. Governor for their confidence in me. I am honored to serve Massachusetts in this role of ensuring the safety and security of our communities across the Commonwealth,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “Alongside the dedicated team at EOPSS, I am eager to continue working closely with the Administration, the Legislature, state and local agencies and our community partners in advancing policies that result in meaningful progress.”
Prior to his appointment as Acting Secretary in July, Reidy served as Undersecretary for Law Enforcement, a position he held since 2019. In that capacity, he has provided strategic leadership to the Massachusetts State Police, the Municipal Police Training Committee, and the Office of Grants and Research. In addition, Reidy served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes. Drawing on his prosecutorial experience collaborating with community leaders, he oversaw the creation of a hate crime resource guide for Massachusetts schools and partnered with police to ensure that every department in the Commonwealth has a trained, dedicated civil rights officer.
Before joining the Administration, Reidy was an Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and Assistant District Attorney in Worcester and Suffolk Counties. In addition to his work in government, Reidy dedicates time to volunteering as a coach for several youth sports organizations. He completed his undergraduate studies at Colby College and earned his juris doctor from New England School of Law.
Event offers opportunity for Chamber members, local leaders to engage directly with Congressman McGovern, Congresswoman Trahan
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Annual North Central Massachusetts Congressional Luncheon on Thursday, October 14, 2021, featuring the Honorable Jim McGovern, United States Representative for the Second Congressional District of Massachusetts, and the Honorable Lori Trahan, United States Representative for the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts. The program, sponsored by Fitchburg State University, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA.
“The Congressional Luncheon is a great opportunity for our members and community leaders to directly connect with our federal delegation, ask questions and learn more about the national issues affecting our region’s economy and quality of life,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Thank you to Congressman McGovern and Congresswoman Trahan for their participation in this popular, annual program.”
“Civic engagement is a core principle of Fitchburg State University, and we are honored to continue our sponsorship of this invaluable opportunity for our local business and civic leaders to interact with their legislative delegation,” said Richard S. Lapidus, President, Fitchburg State University. “I also thank the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for organizing this event to help bring topics of concern from our region to the attention of our local, state and federal representatives.”
First elected to Congress in 1996, Congressman McGovern serves as Chair of the influential House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation, and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. In 2014, Congressman McGovern was named as a Democratic Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and domestic commodity distribution and consumer initiatives. Before his election to Congress, Congressman McGovern spent 14 years as a senior aide for the late U.S. Representative John Joseph Moakley (D-South Boston).
Congresswoman Trahan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. In her first term, she served on the House Committee on Education and Labor, as well as the House Armed Services Committee. Currently, she serves as a member of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She was instrumental in securing federal designation of the Nashua River as a scenic waterway, and filed legislation addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting career readiness programming in public high schools. As a member of the largest female caucus elected to the U.S. Congress, she holds the distinction of being the first Portuguese American woman ever to serve on Capitol Hill.
Make sure to reserve your spot early! Pre-registration is required and easy. Register online at www.northcentralmass.com. The cost is $42 for members and $55 for non-members. Please contact Kathleen Deal at 978-353-7600, ext. 235 or via email at for more details.
Additionally, to ensure a safe environment for all, attendees are asked to abide by the COVID-19 mask advisory issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which advises those who are fully vaccinated wear a mask or face covering if they are at increased risk for severe disease because of age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in their household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult. Visit www.northcentralmass.com for the Chamber’s COVID-19 event protocols or to stay informed on any changes to local or state health protocols.
Have you ever wandered through the woods and wondered who had been there before you?
In Massachusetts, many parks and trails have been carved out of historical sites. Author Alison O’Leary, an award-winning journalist and coauthor of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s new guide Best Day Hikes Near Boston, will share her favorites through this hour-long virtual program.
Using maps and historic photos, she describes several day trip destinations with historical significance and interesting features in Massachusetts. Special effort is made to include varying levels of difficulty (flat and easy to steep and challenging) and variety of scenery.
These sites include:
-A former rubber factory overlooked in the woods;
-Contributions of the Roosevelt-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to our favorite parks;
– Offbeat tales of local residents;
– Sites of former grand estates (and tales of the owners).
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Fitchburg Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
This is a free program. For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.
SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE – Leominster’s Aaron Industries was honored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Tuesday at Polar Park in recognition of its innovative and sustainable practices relative to the recycled plastics industry, according to an announcement from the office of state Sen. John Cronin.
“We are thrilled to be honored at this year’s Manufacturing Awards Ceremony and are proud to be a part of the North Central Massachusetts manufacturing community. This recognition has reinvigorated our efforts to continue producing sustainable, quality, recycled products while continuing to foster economic growth in the region,” said Robert Tocci, president of Aaron Industries.
The Leominster-based manufacturer, which has been a fixture in North Central Massachusetts for four decades, is a leader in recycled plastic innovation and one of the largest resin compounders in the Northeast.
“Aaron Industries has been a major catalyst for economic mobility in the district for decades, and continues to serve as a model for manufacturers across the commonwealth. They have continuously implemented thoughtful and innovative manufacturing practices and are a treasured member of the community,” said Cronin, who nominated Aaron Industries for the award.
Aaron Industries, which oversees the production, shipping and receiving of its products, is a member of MassRecylce, a nonprofit coalition focused on reducing and recycling waste products in the environment. It also hold a third-party certification for GreenCircle Certified LLC.
The event, which was held virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to promote and recognize the work of the state’s top manufacturers. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealy, along with members of the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, state Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Jeffrey Roy, also offered remarks at the event.
The ceremony marks the start of Manufacturing Month in the Commonwealth, which for the past six years has focused on promoting and aiding the work of manufacturers, as well as fostering cooperation between the industry and lawmakers.
Lawmakers will continue to collaborate with manufacturers throughout the month, with Cronin heading to Mount Wachusett Community College’s Devens Campus for a look at the school’s advanced manufacturing program next Monday.
EXIT New Options Real Estate Franchisees Denise Wortman and Susan Wright joined real estate professionals from all over the country recently at the Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, for an intensive training and networking workshop.
EXIT Realty’s Broker Owner Training is one of the most leading-edge programs available in the real estate industry. Many of the industry’s top professionals, including company executives and EXIT Realty’s Co-Chair, Tami Bonnell, gather to teach the essential skills to build a top producing brokerage in any market.
“It was nice gathering in person! The Broker Owner training has not been in person for 18 months due to Covid”.
This program, which is provided at no charge by EXIT Realty and is exclusively attended by the brokerage’s top management including franchisees, brokers of record and administrators, enhances their business acumen and positively affects their approach to life. Attendees are also encouraged to return regularly to “sharpen the saw.” They leave well-equipped to build a successful real estate brokerage for the benefit of the Leominster community.
About EXIT Realty:
EXIT Realty is a company founded and built on human potential. A full service, forward-thinking, real estate franchisor with offices across North America, EXIT has to-date paid out more than a half a billion dollars in single-level residual income to its associates. The Expert Marketing Suite™ including geolocation Smart Sign™ technology gives sellers an edge in a competitive marketplace. A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund, and to-date, $6 million has been allocated to charity. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com and www.joinexitrealty.com.
EXIT New Options Real Estate is located at 12 Main St. For more information, please call 978-852-7955 or visit www.exitnewoptions.com.
Workers Credit Union is pleased to announce that its PlanIt branch design earned the title of “Best of Show” in the Operations and Member Experience category by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Operations & Member Experience Council. The Operations & Member Experience award category recognizes organizations who have facilitated unique, innovative, or otherwise outstanding approaches to member service at their credit unions.
“This award is validation of our commitment to invest in both people and technology to better serve our members and advance their financial well-being,” says Workers Credit Union Chief Banking Officer Peter Rice.
Workers Credit Union’s PlanIt locations are designed to provide personalized, judgement-free, financial education and coaching to all Workers Credit Union members. All Workers branch staff are trained and certified financial coaches who meet with members one-on-one, both in person and virtually. The coaches become true partners, taking members through the step-by-step process of achieving financial wellness and empowering them to make good decisions at every life stage whether they are getting a first mortgage or planning for retirement.
Workers Credit Union and 16 other credit unions were recognized at the recent CUNA Operations & Member Experience Virtual Conference, September 21-23. “We are pleased that so many credit union professionals joined us to help honor their peers’ achievements,” said Brad Aspgren, chair, awards & recognition committee and SVP Operations, American Airlines FCU. “The award winners’ work was inspirational.” Other award categories include The Excellence in Technology Awards, The Professional of the Year Award, and The Top Community Contributor Awards. To watch a recording of the awards ceremony, please visit this link. Next year’s conference will be September 21-24, 2022, in Las Vegas. Visit cunacouncils.org/ometech for more information.
The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (MA-NAHRO) has awarded Linda E. Byrne who is the Chairman of the Fitchburg Housing Authority its prestigious public housing board member of the year award. The award acknowledges those public housing board members that have exhibited examples of community leadership, advocacy for public housing and community development, and has communicated to the media and public the importance and accomplishments of public housing.
On Tuesday, October 5th, starting at 11:00 am at the Wallace Tower Apartments community room located 55 Wallace Ave., an awards ceremony will be held. Joining the celebration will be Constance Desbiens, Executive Director of the Dartmouth Housing Authority and President of MA-NAHRO, State Representative Michael Kushmerek, State Senator John J. Cronin former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa A. Wong, and Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale.
A day before the state’s COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave program was set to expire, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday approved an extension of the program until April 1. The Legislature sent the extension bill (H 4127) to Baker’s desk on Monday.
The program was first authorized under a law passed in May with the intention of giving workers time to quarantine, recover, get vaccinated, or help a family member dealing with the coronavirus. It was set to expire Sept. 30. The May law created a new $75 million emergency COVID-19 sick leave program offering workers up to one week of paid leave, capped at $850. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano said this week that an extension would “help Massachusetts continue its progress towards full recovery.” Spilka said Monday that just over $2 million had been used of the $75 million pool.
The new law reallocates up to $500,000 from the emergency leave fund for a public awareness campaign to promote awareness of the program, and directs the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to develop the campaign. Baker signed the bill Wednesday afternoon, according to his office, and his action was confirmed by the secretary of state’s office, which receives laws after they have been signed by the governor.
