As of this writing, President Biden is working to garner support for two major plans, a $2.3T infrastructure bill dubbed the American Jobs Plan announced in March and a $1.8T American Families Plan. The American Families Plan, if approved, would include: a national paid family and medical leave benefit similar to Massachusetts that would include a 12 year ramp up period; over $200B for two years of pre-K for every student; $109B for two years of community college, and grants to expand access for high-demand programs. The infrastructure plan would include: $479B for transportation infrastructure improvements to roads, bridges, public transit, Amtrak, electric vehicle production, and airports. The plan aims to spur job creation through projects designed to improve drinking water, update the electric grid, expand broadband access, and modernize buildings. It would also provide incentives for companies that manufacture products within the country, and calls for higher wages, with the President pitching a $15 minimum wage. Biden’s plans call for increasing the income tax rate for the top 1 percent of earners from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, along with higher tax rates on capital gains and dividends on individuals earning more than $1M, and eliminating other corporate tax provisions.
At the state level, Governor Baker set an end date of June 15, 2021 for the Commonwealth’s State of Emergency. The Baker-Polito administration and state legislature each continue to work on a solution for the unemployment solvency issue facing the state and impacting small businesses across the Commonwealth. On April 1, Governor Baker authorized $7B in borrowing in an effort to stabilize the state’s trust fund. This law also limited the average rate hike to 18.5 percent; however, businesses are still seeing dramatic increases, even ones who kept full staff throughout the pandemic. The state is set to receive billions from the federal government in recovery funds and the Chamber has joined with other business groups and most of the members of our legislative delegation in advocating that those funds be put into the UI trust fund to ease the burden on the business community. In other advocacy efforts, the Chamber was also part of a joint letter sent out in March to Energy Secretary Theoharides on the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 and the need for a measured approach using available resources and we testified at a transportation hearing in support of Phase II of the Twin Cities Rail Trail project in the region.
While the State House continues to operate largely remotely, the state budget is operating on a normal timeline as opposed to the current fiscal year. The Governor released his $45.6B proposed budget in January. The House released their $47.716B proposed budget on April 14, while the Senate released their $47.6B proposed budget on May 11. Once the Senate debate wraps up, the budgets will head to conference committee where the two branches work out their differences on the budget. The Chamber has been working closely with members of the region’s delegation and several coalitions throughout the budget process to advocate for economic development priorities, support for the workforce development pipeline, and increases to funding that will aid in economic recovery for North Central Massachusetts and help the industries hit hardest by the pandemic.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at (978) 353-7600, ext. 224; or via email at .
State lawmakers on Thursday agreed to schedule this year’s sales tax holiday for the weekend of August 14 and 15.
A 2018 law that put the state’s minimum hourly wage on a gradual path to $15 and created the paid family and medical leave program also made the holiday, when the 6.25 percent sales tax is waived for many purchases, an annual fixture and tasked the Legislature with picking an exact date each August.
The House and Senate each adopted a resolution (S 2487) Thursday setting August 14 and 15 as this year’s dates.
“We invite all residents to go out and benefit from this opportunity as we incentivize investment in our businesses and continue the work of setting our economy on a path to post-pandemic recovery,” Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano said in a statement.
The law directs the Legislature to adopt the joint resolution “not later than June 15,” which was Tuesday, and says that if lawmakers fail to adopt the resolution, the revenue commissioner must designate a date by July 1. Last year, the Baker administration scheduled the weekend for August 29 and 30th.
A Department of Revenue spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email asking if the department would go along with the Legislature’s chosen date or pursue something else in light of the missed deadline.
The holiday, in which the state agrees to forgo revenue that would otherwise be collected in a bid to spur buying at local businesses, allows shoppers to avoid paying taxes on most retail items that cost less than $2,500.
Through May, the state had collected $30.451 billion in tax revenue this year, an increase of 23 percent over the same 11 months of fiscal 2020 and $3.938 billion above the revenue department’s expectations.
Critics of sales tax holidays have knocked the idea as an annual gimmick that merely redistributes economic activity while forcing state government to give up millions of dollars in taxes it would otherwise collect. Supporters say the tax holiday enables consumers to pay less for purchases and gives businesses a jolt of activity in the middle of August.
New regional economic development plan sets a path forward for growth, opportunities in North Central Massachusetts.
In the 1990s, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce led a major community and business-based planning effort that resulted in a bold strategy to advance the economy of the
region into the future. The regional plan, which led to the implementation of several economic development programs across the region, resulted in great success.
Following implementation of the plan, the region continues to benefit from a strong economic impact of tourist dollars and manufacturing jobs, while also supporting existing businesses with lending programs, and new start-ups with financial and business assistance.
In the past 25 years since the previous plan was developed, North Central Massachusetts has certainly changed! Our region now offers opportunities where one can open a small business in an old mill, build furniture in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, learn to design a video game in a tech lab, or even visit a farm or orchard for fresh produce. We’ve seen the region’s 26 cities and towns and the former Fort Devens experience their own economic challenges and opportunities. But these communities have also come out of these scenarios stronger than before due to the combined strength of our region where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
In early 2020, the Chamber and its affiliate organizations hired RKG Associates, a national economic development consulting firm, to help us develop a new Regional Economic Development Plan and learn how the region should position itself over the next ten to fifteen years. With the collaboration of regional business and community leaders, dignitaries, the boards of directors at the Chamber, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Visit North Central Massachusetts, three steps were identified as the region looks toward success through the year 2035: defining goals, assessing and defining market opportunities, and identifying recommendations and actions to advance economic development. By utilizing data and stakeholder input, the new Regional Economic Development Plan revealed several strengths and opportunities for which the region can compete for businesses, employees and residents. It also identified weaknesses and threats for the region to acknowledge and respond to effectively in the months and years ahead.
“A central tenant of this plan is growing our region from within,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “The goals and recommendations included in the plan are structured to help the region come together and provide opportunities for each city and town across our region to succeed.”
The plan analyzed the demographic, economic and real estate markets, as well as target industries, and identified five themes. These themes include leveraging the region’s industry and business growth opportunities, enhancing regional equity through talent and workforce development and infrastructure for economic potential, advancing innovation and entrepreneurship, and improving the delivery of economic development efforts, programs, and funding.
North Central Massachusetts was compared to five other regions both within Massachusetts and other states, including Greenville County in South Carolina and the Lehigh Valley Region in Pennsylvania. The five comparison regions are comprised of those inside Massachusetts that are seen as peers or have a composition the region may want to strive for. The two regions outside Massachusetts (Greenville and Lehigh Valley) were chosen because of their robust manufacturing and transportation/logistics sectors and both are experiencing significant job growth compared to national averages.
“By utilizing a benchmarking exercise, we were able to understand the strengths and opportunities North Central Massachusetts has compared to other regions,” added Nascimento. “This also gives us a portrait of how the region may look to improve its competitive position over time.”
When the team began working on the plan, the economy of Massachusetts and the United States was experiencing a long period of economic growth with very low unemployment rates and positive growth emanating toward North Central Massachusetts from the Greater Boston region. Those positive growth trends were quickly diminished in March 2020 with the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing shutdown of the national economy.
“The pandemic has shifted the context of economic development across the entire ecosystem,” added Nascimento. “While it is difficult to predict the short- and long-term systemic impacts and changes presented by the pandemic, the goals developed for the plan were structured to address current and near-term needs through the economic recovery, as well as looking past the recovery to a future where the region prioritizes strategic yet organic growth that is cultivated from within.”
One of the more pressing challenges for the region’s employers is attracting and retaining younger workers who are interested in the region’s most concentrated areas of employment in health care, advanced manufacturing, and government and public services industries. While these sectors represent strong and stable industries, job opportunities in health care and manufacturing offer a wide array of pay grades that require both highly-skilled and entry level workers. Additionally, the region’s industrial sector has experienced an increase in higher-paying, higher-tech firms within the chemical manufacturing, electronic product manufacturing, research & development, and computer systems design, among others.
“Looking ahead, we need to focus on strengthening and growing the advanced manufacturing, logistics, distribution and health care industries, with an emphasis on continuing to develop the skills of our younger workers,” said Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO of Leominster Credit Union who also serves as Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board and as a member of the Chamber’s Economic Development Taskforce that helped develop the plan “We know by building the skills of today’s workforce to accommodate tomorrow’s technology we can remain a competitive and attractive region for employers and employees alike.”
As for the region’s demographics, post-retirement residents make up an increasing share of the region’s population, with a modest increase expected in the next ten years. “With an aging population, the region is likely to experience an increase in health care utilization,” said Winfield Brown, President & CEO of Heywood Hospital and another member of the Economic Development Taskforce “The need for additional healthcare and social services is likely to thrive and will serve as one of the key industry sectors for growth over the next ten years.”
The region’s large geography means that while some communities function within the economy of larger anchor cities like Boston or Worcester, others rely more heavily upon North Central Massachusetts markets like Fitchburg and Leominster. What’s interesting is that more workers who live in the northern and western parts of the region tend to commute to other North Central Massachusetts communities and not out of the region.
“As the region begins to heal from the pandemic, we believe our opportunities for tourism in North Central Massachusetts will serve the region well as individuals and families may find easily drivable amenities, food and farm attractions, and arts and culture venues here in the region as an appealing and affordable option rather than traveling by air or to destinations in the U.S. and around the world,” said Henry Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge and a member of the Taskforce “Given the effects of the pandemic on the restaurant and retail industry in the near term, there is uncertainty around the demand for future skilled workers; however, this could also present an opportunity to support growth in local businesses if skilled workers are looking at the region as a place to open their own business and hire locally.”
Perhaps the region’s greatest single advantage in economic development is its ability to serve as a “pressure valve” for Greater Boston’s overheated real estate market. From a cost perspective, real estate in the region is far less expensive than other Massachusetts regions and, in some cases, also more cost-effective than comparable regions outside of Massachusetts. Lease rates, rents, and housing purchase prices are generally lower in North Central Massachusetts than in the other three Massachusetts regions, with residential rents as much as $1,000 less per month. While the cost of living in the region is less expensive, average earnings for jobs in North Central Massachusetts are in line with those jobs in the Greenville and Lehigh Valley regions, but $30,000 – $40,000 less than MetroWest and Route 128.
“The current, demanding real estate market in North Central Massachusetts is a true testament of the draw this region is for individuals and families who want the convenient access to amenities with a more affordable cost of living,” said Matthew Fournier, Owner of Elite Construction & Design and a member of the Taskforce “What used to be a weekend destination for apple picking or leaf peeping is now a place where we call previous visitors our neighbors.”
While the Regional Economic Development Plan shows the strengths, opportunities, threats and weaknesses of NCM, it does not portray what we who live and work in North Central Massachusetts have known all along: that our home here is where the heart is.
To view the Regional Economic Development Plan in its entirety, click here.
Leominster Credit Union was founded in 1954, and is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution dedicated to providing deposit, pending, and other financial services to North Central Massachusetts residents.
As of today, Leominster Credit Union is headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts and currently has over 50,000 members. The credit union grew over time through word of mouth, relationships, partnerships, marketing initiatives and community engagement. LCU gives back to organizations that they can benefit through education, encompassing a wide variety of organizations, whether through financial literacy, local charities, scholarships, and more.
President and CEO Barbara Mahoney has been with Leominster Credit Union since 2003, having three CEOs she worked for prior to becoming one herself. Mahoney and her predecessors have built a solid foundation for LCU, and she hopes to continue to build on that by developing relationships with members, listening to their needs to be able to become financially sounds and retain their business.
“We hope to do that through every phase of their life, educating them in regards to what their options are and addressing their needs throughout those different phases,” Mahoney said. “We try to build relationships. It’s not just putting out a product or service, it’s partnering with them with a variety of different things that might meet their needs. We want the members to walk away feeling good about what they received, and LCU is at the front of their mind.”
Not only does Leominster Credit Union have a member-centric culture, but they also provided approximately $20 million in PPP loans for small businesses throughout Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like many other businesses, LCU is continuing to try and navigate through COVID, addressing any additional needs for their members and what the situation has presented.
“We’re currently at 50 percent capacity, and planning on decisions on what life might look like when we are 100 percent,” Mahoney states. “Our priority throughout the pandemic has been the safety and well-being of employees and staff, as well as the psychological comfort of both.”
The credit union is currently preparing to get most of the employee back into the facilities. All branches are open 100 percent, and staffed at 50% capacity.
“We’re preparing for the August 1st reopening and what that might look like for us; we’re also reviewing our work-from-home policy, getting a committee together to make recommendations as to what that might look like, potentially a hybrid situation, depending on the employee’s role,” she said.
LCU continues to implement current COVID protocols: social distancing with floor details, shields, and other guidelines as recommended by the state and CDC.
They are also recommending and encouraging employees to get their vaccine as they do feel it will help with the environment and help protect people. According to a recent poll conducted among LCU employees and staff, approximately 65 percent said that they would be vaccinated.
Throughout the pandemic, Leominster Credit Union has remained a true partner to their members, listening to their needs and providing financial solutions through seminars/webinars, accounts, mortgages, and investments so that each member can be prepared for the future.
LCU also provides a financial literacy program with Fitchburg High School, hoping to expand on that with other local schools within North Central Massachusetts, the Worcester County area, and across their geographical footprint. They’ve received rave reviews from school administration and student alike.
Much of this would not be possible without the support of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
“The [North Central Massachusetts] Chamber of Commerce does a great job in the area with the fact that they bring businesses together, and providing valuable information to their Chamber members,” Mahoney said.
She adds that they provide an emphasis on young professionals, helping them become established to get their businesses on the ground and enhance continued growth, providing updates and information to members and keep them updated on local news and COVID-19.
Leominster Credit Union just celebrated their work anniversary of 67 years in service to the local North Central Massachusetts area. They look to continue and introduce new technology efficiency through digital platforms that are easy to use and convenient for their members, and enhance digital channels so that they are more efficient for the user.
Leominster Credit Union delivers with meeting the expectations of their audience and members, either in person at a local branch, online at www.leominstercu.com, or via phone 800-649-4646.
With the lifting of travel restrictions and COVID-19 rates improving, Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM) has resumed its destination marketing efforts to help attract more visitors to our region’s businesses and attractions. We launched a campaign in the Spring called “Discover Your Next Adventure” to target the weekend and day trip markets. We have been executing this campaign through multiple channels including print, digital, and social media. We secured print advertising in AAA Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Boston Spirit Magazine and Bay State Parent. We also utilized branded content campaigns promoting the region to day trippers through AAA Northeast and several other media publications. Our efforts align with the pent-up demand as consumers, who have been unable to travel since the lockdown in mid-March of 2020, are looking for new unique and outdoor experiences. The pandemic solidified a new interest in outdoor activities that sets up our region in a position for increased success. We have seen strong demand for hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking and other activities. We also continue to invest in social media and curating new relevant local content highlighting activities and businesses in our region. We produced five new “Taste of North Central” videos promoting our local businesses and attractions. The videos that have been published so far have garnered over 20,000 views. Our Facebook page saw 248,900 impressions since the launch of the spring campaign, which represents a 390% increase over the same period the previous year. Our www.visitnorthcentral.com website also has seen strong traffic with a 16% increase in visitors over the same period last year.
As of April 1, 2021, our new Spring/Summer 2021 edition of the Guide to North Central Massachusetts hit the stands. The visitor guide is our primary publication promoting the communities of North Central Massachusetts and includes information on our local communities, a calendar of events, stories about the region and much more. We have invested in expanding the distribution this year. The guide will be available through AAA offices throughout New England and hundreds of new locations including hotels, visitor centers, attractions and airports, including Logan and Worcester. We are also distributing it in Canada, an important market for our region.
In other news, the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center in Lancaster has started to see an uptick in visitation since the Spring. Our staff at the center is looking forward to a busier season going into Summer as more and more people resume traveling. We still have all of our safety measures and protocols in place. We also recently applied for a matching capital grant from the state to make some renovations and improve the experience for our 165,000 annual visitors. Our vision is to not only be the best visitor center in the state, but to also transform the center into a destination that provides an engaging experience and encourages visitors to learn more about the region’s communities, local attractions and businesses.
As we move in to the Summer, we will continue our efforts to attract consumers that will be critical to the recovery of our local businesses and economy.
Rachel Lopez, president of Resource Management, Inc. (RMI) has been elected Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2021-2022. The announcement was made at the chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 10, 2021.
Headquartered in Fitchburg, RMI was established in 1995 as a PEO and full-service HR out servicing firm. Its experts offer a wide range of HR services including payroll processing and taxes, compliance guidance and paperwork, workers’ comp insurance and safety management, HR and personnel administration, and benefits administration. Since its founding, RMI has grown into one of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the nation. It operates today in thirty-nine states and has over 6,000 employees.
Lopez grew up in the family owned business, starting out as its first employee when she was just 15. She started in payroll and went on to work in every department within the company and eventually managed the sales and product development department before being promoted to President of the company in 2017.
She succeeds David A. Duval, president and founder of Protective Services, Inc. who now moves to the position of Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.
“It is an honor and privilege to have been elected Chair of this dynamic and respected organization that plays such an important role in North Central Massachusetts,” expressed Ms. Lopez, “I am excited to continue David Duval’s efforts and make sure the Chamber remains a strong resource for the local business community.”
In the same election, Christopher McCarthy, president & COO of Fidelity Bank in Leominster was elected Vice-Chair and director Cheryl Molebash, general manager of Dixie Consumer Products in Leominster was elected to the position of Treasurer. Board members elected for a new three-year term were Allie Catlin, co-owner of Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon; Rodrigo Souza, owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse in Leominster; and John Zarrella president of Research Results, Inc. in Fitchburg.
GARDNER, MA – June 14, 2021 – On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Mount Wachusett Community College Director of Paramedic Programs, Peter Laitinen was presented the EMS Educator of the Year award during the organization’s Annual Meeting and EMS Awards Celebration.
“Peter Laitinen has been practicing compassionate care for his patients in our area for more than 30 years. His medical care and critical thinking under pressure is second to none,” Tina Dixson, Executive Director of the Central MA EMS Corporation stated. “He is able to pass his knowledge and compassion on to the EMS providers that he teaches and mentors. He has never stopped his own education through formal means and self-research on best practices in the EMS field, all of which he applies to his care and shares with his colleagues. All of this along with a great sense of humor make him an incredible provider and an amazing educator.”
Laitinen joined MWCC in 2017, bringing with him over 35 years of public safety experience, including 31 as a state and nationally registered paramedic and ten years of law enforcement experience. Laitinen earned his AS in Nursing at Greenfield Community College, his BS in Nursing at Curry College, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Homeland Security/Emergency Services Management. In addition, he holds an associate degree in emergency medical technology from Quinsigamond Community College.
At MWCC, Laitinen has been instrumental in the development and success of the Paramedic Technology Program, which has now graduated 17 students in its first two classes with 100% employment as paramedics within six months of graduation. The MWCC Paramedic Technology Certificate program is one of only nine such programs in the state, and the only program in North Central Massachusetts. The intensive 14-month program prepares students to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Certification Exam.
“We could not be more proud of the dedication shown by Peter,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven during the Class of 2021 Paramedic Pinning ceremony. “I know that our students are well prepared to serve our communities as paramedics thanks to your efforts. Thank you so much for the work that you do with our students and everything you have done for MWCC.”
The Central Mass EMS Corporation (CMEMSC) was designated by the Department of Public Health as the Region II emergency medical services council in 1977. The CMEMSC goal is to foster improvement and assure the availability of competent EMS services throughout the region. CMEMSC provides assistance and support to the DPH in a cooperative effort to coordinate, maintain, and improve the EMS system throughout Central Massachusetts. As the Regional EMS Council and a 501c3 non-profit, CMEMSC has been acknowledging outstanding achievement in the EMS field, like that of Peter Laitinen, at its annual meeting and awards celebration since 1995.
As business owners, we understand what overwork feels like. We throw ourselves into growing and promoting our businesses, we devote ourselves to our customers and clients — and yes, we end up exhausted.
That tired feeling that weighs you down might come from any of several sources. Once you understand why you’re so tired, you can start to make some changes to give you the energy you need to run your business. Take a look at some of the sources of exhaustion as well as some tips to boost your energy so you can accomplish what you set out to do.
What’s Making You So Tired?
When we’re honest without ourselves, we can usually pinpoint the reasons we’re tired. But sometimes they’re not so obvious. Generally, that fatigue you feel boils down to one of three reasons:
1. You’re Not Taking Care of Yourself
Are you eating well, sleeping well, taking time for yourself? As entrepreneurs, sometimes we don’t even know the answer to those questions — but the answers can have a profound effect on our energy level. Maybe you’re giving yourself a boost with sweet snacks, relying on the sugar high to keep you going.
And then there’s caffeine. Yes, that cup of coffee in the morning gets you going — but if you’re drinking more four cups a day (that’s the equivalent of two energy drinks, by the way), the crash you feel when the caffeine wears off can be exhausting.
How about your sleep habits? Do you stay up scrolling through social media and realize you’re going to bed an hour (or two) later than you should? If you don’t practice good sleep hygiene, you can’t expect to arrive at your office with the energy you want.
2. You’re Stressed
You might be proud of how many hours you work per week to keep your business thriving — but those long hours are the primary cause of your exhaustion. And when you don’t give your body time to unwind, it forgets how to do relax. How many nights have you spent staring at the ceiling in an ending cycle of stress as you review everything that went wrong yesterday and all the things that might go wrong tomorrow.
Stress affects your body’s hormones in a negative way, so the problem feeds on itself. When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, often known as the “stress hormone” — and its presence in your system keeps you awake, which makes you more exhausted, which makes you more stressed — and the vicious cycle continues.
Of course, the workplace isn’t the only source of stress. If your relationships or home life causes stress, or if your personal to-do list is piling up, you’ll find yourself surrounded by negative emotions in all directions.
3. Your Body is Working Against You
We talked about cortisol, the stress hormone, above. But other hormonal imbalances can also make you fatigued and irritable. Estrogen, progesterone, melatonin and thyroid imbalances should all be treated by a physician. Various auto-immune diseases, such as lupus, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, can all affect your energy level. Once you’ve made the appropriate lifestyle changes, if you’re still feeling regular exhaustion, don’t try to diagnose yourself, but head to your doctor’s office for diagnosis and treatment.
How to Boost Your Energy During the Work Day
Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to end fatigue and regain energy. Take a look at some small things you can do to boost your energy levels.
Unwind before bedtime. Turn off your screens — TV, computer, and smartphone — at least two hours before you go to bed.
Take breaks during the workday. Many people finding that taking just a few minutes for deep breathing and meditation helps refocus their mind and their energy.
Clean up your sleep hygiene. Abstain from caffeine before the evening, and go easy on alcohol. Turn your bedroom into a haven, with blackout curtains and a noise machine if needed — and don’t lounge on your bed outside of your normal bedtime.
Hand off tasks other people can do. If you’re working 60 to 80 hours a week, ask yourself how much of that time is spent doing things only you can do. Delegating routine tasks to others will help rejuvenate your energy and your mindset.
Get some exercise. Climb the stairs to your office. Park as far from the front door as possible. Take a walk at lunch. Exercise releases all sorts of good chemicals that boost mood and energy.
Get outdoors. Sometimes staring at the same four walls produces exhaustion (even if one of those walls is a window). Make sure you get outside your office for part of your workday each day.
(Leominster, Mass.)Fidelity Bank today announced the appointment of Joseph Silva to Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, effective immediately. In this role, he will lead all aspects of Commercial Banking and Cash Management sales with a focus on growing the business while also embracing Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign approach. He succeeds Barry Bliss, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, who recently announced his retirement forthcoming in August.
“Joe has extensive experience in credit, lending and business development, as well as leading teams toward exceptional results in client-focused growth,” said Christopher W. McCarthy, President & COO. “He is a positive, collaborative and innovative leader, making him a terrific match for our LifeDesign approach to banking.”
Silva joins Fidelity Bank from Pawtucket Credit Union, where he served as Head of Commercial Lending for the past nine years. Prior to Pawtucket Credit Union, he spent five years at Bank Rhode Island.
“Fidelity Bank has a strong reputation of understanding the complexities of today’s business environment by offering sound solutions to empower business owners and their companies,” said Silva. “As leader of the Commercial Banking teams, I’m committed to continuing the strong tradition of helping commercial clients realize their financial hopes and dreams.”
Silva received a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communications from the University of Rhode Island and is also a graduate of the Bank Leadership Program from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.
He will be relocating to Massachusetts in the coming months with his wife, Saovala, and family.
The Fitchburg Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites written quotes from Contractors for the Canton Valley(705-2) Development for the Fitchburg Housing Authority in Fitchburg Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by Next Phase Studios.
The Project consists of: Canton Valley Envelope and Lighting, #097124 – Envelope, lighting, ADA conversion and site work project at the Canton Valley Development in Fitchburg, MA. Scope of work to include membrane roof replacement for all (8) residential buildings and Community Building, exterior door replacement, selective window replacement at residential units, wood siding removal and replacement at (3) residential buildings (5 previously replaced). Renovation of three existing units to be ADA accessible and provide ADA accessible kitchen in the Community Building. Sidewalks to be removed and replaced and new ADA compliant ramps to be installed.
Filed Sub Bid Categories: Miscellaneous Metals, Roofing and Flashing, Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical
The work is estimated to cost $ 1,517,067.00
Quotes are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A (2)(B) & to state prevailing wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.149
§26 to 27H inclusive. Contractor must be DCAMM Certified.
Written Quotes will be received until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday July 7, 2021. Sub Bid deadline is Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:00 am.
All Quotes should be submitted electronically to: www.biddocsonline.com and received no later than the date & time specified above.
Contract Documents will be available digitally at:
During bidding, the job site will be available for inspection between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PMon Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Please wear a face mask during site visit. Location is Canton Valley State Public Housing Development located at 42 Valley Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420. Email: to schedule.
Every business needs a website — even businesses that only operate in the local area. But what do you do if you’ve recently started your business and you don’t have the money to hire a web designer? Many business owners consider designing a site on their own, but is that really your best option?
Using an Online Site Builder
If you don’t need an elaborate site, you could build one using one of the many online site builders — such as Squarespace, Weebly, or Wix. These sites have drag-and-drop builders that make designing a site so simple a toddler could do it. If you decide to go this route, you should purchase a domain name from a domain registrar company such GoDaddy or Namecheap and purchase the monthly package that gets rid of the site’s branding. This way, your website looks completely professional.
Keep in mind, when you use an online site builder to create your website, you’re required to pay a monthly hosting fee to keep the site up and running. It could cost you anywhere from $18 to $40 per month, and you can’t create really intricate websites using a site builder. You create your website by simply altering a template. So if you want a more elaborate website for your business it’s not a good option for you.
Designing a Self-Hosted WordPress Site
A self-hosted WordPress site is also an option for anyone who wants to design his or her own site. You can purchase tools that make the building process a lot easier — such as Divi or Beaver Builder — for a one-time fee. These plug-ins let you use drag-and-drop technology to design your website. You still need to purchase a domain name and you’ll need to pay for monthly hosting — but it’s a lot less expensive.
It’s important to understand that there is a learning curve when using plug-ins that let you build your website like a drag-and-drop site builder would. The good news is, there are plenty of tutorials online — both on the developer’s website and on YouTube — that show you a step-by-step process for creating practically any type of site you want. However, it can be rather time-consuming and you might need to know a little bit of coding to create the site you want, so if you really don’t like technology, a self-hosted WordPress site probably isn’t the right option for you.
Hiring a Website Designer
The freelance web designer space is a crowded one, which is good news for you. With so much competition online, you can find web designers design complete sites for a few hundred bucks, as well as designers that charge thousands. When choosing your designer there are a few things you should keep in mind:
Cheaper isn’t necessarily better — web designers who charge more are likely more experienced.
Look at the web designer’s portfolio before you sign a contract. If the designer doesn’t have a portfolio, it’s not a good option. Also, it’s important to choose a web designer that has designed websites with similar design elements and features to what you want.
Ask for references, and follow up with them. It’s easy to lie about your experience and quality of work online, so you shouldn’t choose a web designer based solely on his or her portfolio.
When it comes to designing a website there are options available for everyone. It’s up to you to decide what type of website you want and whether you have enough confidence in yourself to get the job done easily.
At Orangetheory Fitness, we believe the benefits of exercise extend well beyond the studio. We embrace the idea that a healthy lifestyle can drastically improve workplace performance; increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and relieve stress. We are committed to building relationships with businesses who share our beliefs.
We are running the best promotions Orangetheory has ever run – 1 Month Free and up to $50 off a heart rate monitor for new members.
We can customize a program for your team including but not limited to:
– A corporate discount on monthly memberships
– A 1-hour fitness FLEX YOUR COMPETITIVE class, exclusively for your employees at your studio
– A 1-hour LEARN & BURN team-building class at your location
– An idea of your choosing- we welcome customizing a program that supports your mission and values
Let’s all run, row, lift and sweat our way to improved morale with the help of certified coaches that tailor your workout to your own fitness level.
