Article Source: State House News Service
Article By: Michael P. Norton
Buyers Pay Record November Median Price of $460,000
DEC. 15, 2020…..Low interest rates and the work from home shift are contributing to a continuing “frenzy” of home-buying in Massachusetts and sales activity and prices both set new records in November.
Sales rose nearly 25 percent last month and the median sale price of a single-family home increased 17.6 percent compared to last November, to $460,000, The Warren Group reported Tuesday morning.
After a pause when the COVID-19 crisis hit in March, the market roared back in the summer and the sales pace has held up through the fall as buyers, sellers and the industry have adjusted to conditions in the pandemic.
Sales in November exceeded sales in June, reversing the traditional pattern in which home-buying picks up in the spring and slows down in the fourth quarter, said Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group.
“Buyers are taking advantage of rock-bottom interest rates and the ability to work from home to set their sights on communities further and further from their offices now that community is less of a factor for many prospective buyers,” said Warren.
Sales in April were down nearly 14 percent. They fell off 30 percent in May and were down 24 percent in June, before beginning to rebound in June and July and then spiking 27 percent in September.
While a record 5,773 sales were recorded last month, sales dipped by 11 percent in Suffolk County, but were “especially strong” on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Warren said.
There were 41 home sales on Nantucket last month, compared to 12 in November 2019, and the median home sale price on the island in November was just under $2 million, according to the Warren Group’s data.
Home sales last month in Barnstable County were up more than 52 percent over November 2019, and sales out west in Berkshire County last month rose 43.5 percent over-the-year.
Single-family home sales are up 1.5 percent over the first eleven months of 2019. The median single-family home sale price this year is $445,000, an 11.3 percent increase compared to last year.
The condo market has not been as strong, but sales in November were up more than 11 percent compared to November 2019, and the median condo sale price last month rose 8.5 percent to $410,000, a record for the month.
Year-to-date, condo sales are down 3.5 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2019, with a median price of $415,000, a 9.2 percent increase. Median condo prices fell last month in Suffolk and Middlesex counties.
Gardner, MA – December 14, 2020 – Heywood Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Heywood Hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.
Win Brown, President and CEO of Heywood Healthcare said, “We are incredibly proud to receive this national accolade. We strive to provide an exceptional care experience for every patient and their family everyday, without exception. We are also tremendously proud of the care provided at Heywood Hospital’s LaChance Maternity Center, recognized as a Newsweek’s Best 2020 Maternity Care Hospital.
“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Heywood Hospital. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”
Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
Heywood Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ grade today when Leapfrog updated grades for Fall 2020. To see Heywood Hospital’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
About Heywood Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 134-bed acute care community-owned non-profit hospital in Gardner, MA, providing a broad range of high quality medical, orthopedic, bariatric, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital’s featured Centers include the Center for Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery. the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center, and the Heywood Heart and Vascular Center.
About Heywood Healthcare
Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system serving north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a 134-bed acute care community-owned non-profit hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group, with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region; and the Quabbin Retreat, our premier destination for treatment of mental health and substance misuse.
The organization includes six satellite facilities in MA: Heywood Rehabilitation Center & Heywood Urgent Care in Gardner, Winchendon Health Center & Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, Tully Family Medicine and Walk-In Care in Athol; and West River Health Center in Orange. The organization also includes the Heywood Healthcare Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.heywood.org.
A key aspect of this growth in online searches for local businesses is the widespread ownership of ‘smart’ mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that allow users to connect to the internet anywhere, at any time. The Pew Research Center reports that 77 percent of Americans now own a smartphone, up from 35 percent in 2011.
Location-Based Search Results Drive Local Traffic
Because smart mobile devices have built-in GPS trackers, Google and other search engines have adapted their algorithms to ensure that consumers who search for a business on their phone or tablet are automatically directed to verified companies that are located nearby.
Consumers tend to turn to localized searches when they need a product or service right away – categories like restaurants, coffee shops, and bars rank among the top local searches, while real estate agents, contractors, and gyms are also popular.
Other businesses that benefit from local search traffic include farms, dog walkers, and food trucks, as well as daycare services, clothing retailers, lawyers, dentists, and doctors. Simply put, the same kinds of businesses that used to see significant traffic from ads in the Yellow Pages and local newspapers 25 years ago are now benefiting from location-based internet searches.
If your business caters to consumers and clients in your neighborhood, focusing your marketing efforts on local online search could provide a great return-on-investment for your company.
Dr. Sam Alkhoury, DMD is the self-proclaimed “market disrupter” when it comes to his field and specialty with orthodontics.
Dr. Alkhoury started his business in 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. In 2007, he was awarded #1 Orthodontist in Worcester two years in a row. He developed and implemented a unique approach to orthodontics and designed an efficient and repeatable business model that has led to the successful acquisition or launch of 15 Simply Orthodontics locations, , located primarily in the Central MA area, but expansive to New England.
“I noticed that other orthodontists were more ‘traditional,’ and no one was using any outside the box methods to help patients in non-extraction treatment,” Alkhoury said.
“Patients love it when you tell them you don’t have to take any teeth out!” he laughed.
Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, which is a part of Simply Dental Management, opened in Fitchburg in July 2018. They are a one-stop shop that is perfect for your family and pediatric needs, from the first time at the dentist or when it is time for braces.
They service all community members, including Medicaid so that they can provide treatment and orthodontic care to all who need it, including an Orthodontics Discount.
“It is important to note that the orthodontics discount is designed to help those families who have been denied the benefit through MassHealth,” said Dr. Alkhoury. “On March 25 of this year, Massachusetts changed its eligibility criteria for those under 18. We’ve seen a 50% reduction in case acceptance by the state since then, making it really difficult for families to get the treatment they need.”
Because of this reduction, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry of Fitchburg provides $550 off of traditional braces or Invisalign, and $59 Pediatric Dentistry exam, cleaning, and x-rays, with some restrictions that may apply.
“Since we are in the medical field, we have very strict guidelines,” stated Dr. Alkhoury. “We’ve implemented precautions like pre-screening questions before they come in and when they come in, social distancing, keep number of patients in the office as low as possible, calling from cars before coming in. One challenge that we faced was acquiring personal protection equipment (PPE) for all team members.”
The American Dental Association (ADA) website states that their guidance calls for the highest level of PPE available—masks, goggles and face shields.
With local businesses facing the current ongoing pandemic, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry sees a bright future ahead and is looking into acquiring business in the Fitchburg area to add to their existing location. They are looking to organically grow their existing practices with patients, and to continue to open new practices where their services are needed in New England.
According to Dr. Alkhoury, the price of orthodontic treatment has been trending down, regardless of COVID-19, but he urges patients to invest in it while they are able to do so, as the cost of treatment might go up in the near future.
““If you’re thinking about it, come and do it before it’s too late!” he said.
Simply Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry is a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and is currently welcoming new and previous patients to their practice who want to boost their self-esteem through their beautiful smiles. The practice is located at 50 Whalon Street in Fitchburg, and can be contacted via phone at 978-424-4255 or online at https://www.simplyorthopedo.com/
The measures outlined below with go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, December 13. The entire Commonwealth will move to Phase 3, Step 1 of the Reopening Plan. In addition, the following updates to capacity limits will go into effect:
Outdoor gatherings at event venues and public spaces to 50 people
Outdoor Theaters and Performance Venues to 25% and no more than 50 people
Close Indoor Theaters and Performance Venues and a few smaller indoor recreation businesses like roller rinks and trampoline parks
Reduce capacity from 50% to 40% for several industry sectors noted below:
Arcades/Indoor and Outdoor Recreational Businesses
Driving and Flight Schools
Gyms/Health Clubs
Libraries
Museums
Retail
Offices
Places of Worship
Lodging (common areas)
Golf
Movie theaters (no more than 50 people per theater)
Restaurants and Event Venues Protocols Updates
The following updates will be made to restaurant and event venue protocols with regard to face coverings, seating, and performances:
Wear masks at all times except when eating and drinking
Seat no more than six per table and encourage customers to only dine with same household
Put a 90-minute time limit on tables
Prohibit all musical performances at restaurants
Close food court seating
Workplaces and Fitness Centers Protocols Updates
The following updates will be made to the Office Spaces and Fitness Centers protocols with regard to face coverings:
Require mask wearing in offices when not in your own workspace and alone
Require mask wearing at all times in gyms
Encourage teleworking
All updates to sector specific guidance can be found on www.mass.gov/reopening later this week.
Article Source: State House News Service
Article By: Matt Murphy
The First One Can Be the Hardest
DEC. 4, 2020…..The lame duck logjam broke open this week, and from it spilled the possibility that compromise, in these blustery days of December, might be at least a fraction as contagious as COVID-19.
With daily cases of the deadly coronavirus reaching new heights and hospital beds getting filled at a troubling pace, the Legislature began to showcase why it was, exactly, that they voted back in July to ignore decades of precedent and extend its session by not one or two but more than five months.
The first domino to fall was perhaps the hardest to tip over, despite all the wind at its back in July. As real gusts whipped up and down the coast on Monday, House and Senate Democrats struck a deal to reform how police in Massachusetts must conduct themselves on the job, and how the police will be policed moving forward.
The compromise bill, sparked by the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests over police violence against Black people, would create a new Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to certify all law enforcement in Massachusetts, and to decertify police that violate their duty to serve and protect.
The bill would limit the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and strip police officers of their qualified immunity protection from civil lawsuits if their certification gets revoked for misconduct.
But this bill was no slam dunk with lawmakers, and Gov. Charlie Baker remains a powerful wildcard. Not a single Republican backed the policing reform bill, and Speaker Robert DeLeo could not whip a veto-proof majority, with the 92-67 vote in the House a nailbiter by Beacon Hill standards.
The margins put Baker in the unusual position of actually having considerable leverage as he weighs how to approach the issue over the coming days and weeks. On the one hand, Baker wants a new POST Commission with the authority to certify and decertify police, and legislative leaders know that.
But because of the complexity of the legislation and its attempts to take on issues like qualified immunity, Democratic leaders may be forced to negotiate amendments with the governor unless they’re willing to risk a veto that would push off action to next year.
The annual state budget is a different breed of bill, and was the second box to get checked this week.
Unlike the more than four months it took to negotiate a compromise policing bill, it took almost a month to the day for the House and Senate to move the fiscal 2021 from a House Ways and Means draft, released two days after the election, to a final budget on its way to the governor’s desk.
Of course, that budget is still five months late by non-pandemic standards. But who’s counting anymore, except maybe the bond rating agencies.
The final budget now in Baker’s hands for review proposes to spend more than $46.2 billion in a year during which lawmakers have been girding for the financial worst, but not yet seeing it. Revenues continue to outperform 2019 in spite of the pandemic, and rather than make real tough choices about where to spend, the conference committee simply upped its draw on reserves by $200 million to $1.7 billion, using about 48 percent of the “rainy day” account.
How that will be received by Baker, who recommended using considerably less in reserves, remains to be seen, as does his reaction to a controversial expansion of abortion access that would make abortions after 24 weeks legal in cases of diagnosed fatal fetal anomalies.
Other policy changes included in the budget include an acceleration of sales tax collections opposed by retailers and other small businesses and the authorized use of ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders.
But along with developments on the legislative front, there was also “light at the end of the tunnel” in the fight against COVID-19 as Gov. Baker said he expects the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to begin arriving in Massachusetts by mid-December.
The state expects 300,000 doses to arrive by the end of the year, with health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities and seniors or those with underlying health conditions expected to be among the first to get access.
The full plan for vaccine distribution is expected to be detailed by the administration next week after it was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control this week for review, but Baker said it could be April before the general public can start rolling up their sleeves for the shot.
“It would probably be Q2 before just Joe Q or Jane Q Citizen would have access to a vaccine,” Baker said.
But the vaccine can’t arrive fast enough. The second surge is worsening, and there are signs that the fears harbored by public health officials over Thanksgiving travel and gatherings may be coming to life.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had thought the infection rate in his city might be trending in the right direction until early this week when the data began to point to a surge within the surge.
“It could be the first signs of what the Thanksgiving holiday brought,” Walsh said Tuesday, detailing how Boston had clocked 407 new cases on the day, or more than twice the daily average.
Statewide records would also continue to fall throughout the week, with Thursday’s 6,477 new reported cases the most of any time during the pandemic, and statewide hospital capacity dipping below 25 percent. Baker went to Worcester to mark the readiness of the first field hospital to open since the spring at the DCU Center, and said another one is being prepped for Lowell. The state is also thinking about how to fortify outdoor testing sites against a New England winter.
But despite the gathering storm, Baker dismissed as “rumor mongering” another statewide lockdown and he said at this point he has no plans for further restrictions or forced business closures.
In fact, the Cannabis Control Commission greenlighted a completely new business this week – recreational marijuana home delivery. The CCC risked a lawsuit by saying yes to two new types of licenses for either dispensaries to deliver their product, or for independent business owners to buy direct from wholesalers and venture out on their own.
The one service that likely won’t be able to escape shutdowns is public transit.
The MassINC Polling Institute released the findings of a new poll Thursday showing, unsurprisingly, that people don’t like the idea of drastic service reductions to balance the transit agency’s books.
Rep. Carlos Gonzalez reviewed the official copy of the compromise policing reform bill, joined by fellow conferees Sen. Will Brownsberger and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, before filing the legislation in the Senate clerk’s office Monday afternoon. [Sam Doran/SHNS]
The survey also found people don’t believe the T will ever restore the cuts if and when its finances improve. Well, that got under the skin of the Baker administration, which criticized the pollster for not asking people how they would propose to pay for transit that’s not being used, and insisted the cuts were temporary.
But the 66 percent of people saying the state should just tap its budget for more money weren’t alone in thinking the MBTA should reconsider its plan. The MBTA Advisory Board said the agency was being unnecessarily cautious in its budget projections for next year, and could eliminate the need for widespread service cuts with just a little positive thinking.
The advisory board’s own budget analysis suggested the financial hole facing the T could be 20 percent smaller than the worst-case scenario being planned for, negating the need to end weekend commuter rail service or cut 25 bus routes and all ferry services.
“The Advisory Board’s view is that risk of permanent loss of ridership, increased congestion, and other negative effects of service cuts to people and communities is too high a price to pay right now, just as a vaccine is on the horizon,” the board wrote.
MBTA officials, however, are forging ahead with their plan and a vote on Dec. 14, and alternatives don’t seem to be in their line of vision.
“The vast majority of MBTA service will continue, the proposed service changes are not permanent, and the MBTA will periodically realign service as feasible to match current and future ridership patterns when durable revenue is available for pay for such service,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a statement.
Leominster, MA – Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is proud to support the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and the 2021 Workplace Campaign.
“We would like to thank our wonderful employees and Board of Directors for their support, generosity and kindness during this difficult year. We know that with this $15,000 donation, the United Way of North Central Massachusetts will be able to help so many individuals and families in our communities,” stated Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO, Leominster Credit Union.
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has continued to work tirelessly to improve the lives in the communities in which we work, live, and serve by providing services focused on health, education, and financial wellness.
“On behalf of those we serve, I’d like to thank the Leominster Credit Union team for their continued support and partnership. As the need for food, heat, and housing support increases due to the recent pandemic, we need all hands-on deck to support those most impacted. The financial support from LCU will go a long way in our work to support our friends and neighbors in need and is just one of many ways LCU continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to our community,” said Kory Eng, President & CEO, United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
For more information about the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and how to donate, please visit https://uwncm.org/.
If your website analytics have been stagnant for a while, you may be wondering what you can do to boost your traffic. Is it time to give your website a new look? We believe in supporting local businesses, so we’ve put some thought into the matter. Take a look at 3 tips for determining whether it’s time to update the look of your site.
Update When Customers Show Signs of Disinterest
Take a look at your bounce rate — That’s the metric that measures how many people visit your site but leave without making any purchase. Maybe your site looks tired or is hard to navigate, and that’s causing potential customers to bounce away from it. Pay special attention to complaints from customers, whether by email, phone or on your social media platforms, that your site is less than functional or that it looks out of date.
Update When You Feel the Heat From Your Competitors
Updating your website is a signal to your customers that you’re staying on the cutting edge of your field. If you’re in a heated competition for customers, the look of your website can send a message that you’re the company they want to deal with. Imagine visiting a site that has outdated content, no new news, and a tired look. Wouldn’t you click and go elsewhere? Don’t give your customers a chance to do that.
Update to Go Mobile
Increasingly, customers are accessing the internet via their mobile devices, and they may become frustrated if your website is hard to navigate because it hasn’t been optimized for mobile. If so, you need to add responsive design to your site, or adjust your current responsive design so it pairs with current technology. Depending on how your site is coded, you may need a full redesign, rather than just giving the existing material a fresh appearance.
We encourage you to keep your website active and up-to-date so that customers throughout our community can direct their business your way.
FITCHBURG, Ma., November 30 – Workers Credit Union has received the 2020 Spirit of North Central Award for Corporate Leadership of the United Way annual campaign. During the United Way’s Annual Meeting heldearlier this fall, Workers was honored along with three other local businesses.
The award recognizes corporate partners that embody an overall spirit of giving through contributions of time, leadership and resources in support of United Way of North Central Massachusetts’ work. The recipients demonstrated excellence during a particularly challenging time through robust volunteerism and participation in the United Way workplace campaign. Each year, Workers Credit Union employees participate in the United Way in a variety of ways: payroll contribution, Day of Caring volunteerism, and employee-led fundraisers throughout the year.
“Receiving this award from the United Way is a testament to our employees’ dedication to the community and the overall culture here at Workers Credit Union. Each year, we are able to collectively donate thousands of dollars to support the important work of the United Way and help build a stronger North Central Massachusetts. I am proud to work with such caring people,” said Doug Petersen, president and CEO of Workers Credit Union.
“It’s more important than ever to support our local organizations to ensure they can continue to provide relief to the community,” said Tim Smith, Chief Financial Officer of Workers Credit Union and Vice Chairman of the Board at the United Way North Central Massachusetts. “We hope other businesses will join us in sponsoring the United Way for the 2020-2021 campaign year.”
Donations toward the United Way of North Central Massachusetts can be made at www.uwncm.org.
Workers Credit Union, a $2 billion federally-chartered credit union headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, is a member-owned financial institution with full banking services to meet a lifetime of financial needs, including the Workers Way™ and the GiveBack program. With branches in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, Westford and Worcester as well as online, mobile, telephone, and video-teller banking, Workers proudly serves more than 106,000 members.
Three new apple trees were planted this Fall at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center on Route 2 in Lancaster! Special thanks to MassDOT for providing the new trees to replace ones damaged earlier this year.
The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center, considered by many the gateway to North Central Massachusetts, opened in 1997 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-seven communities of North Central Massachusetts. The center has an impressive collection of unique items that showcase the region, including 91 apple trees on its premises to highlight the region’s strong agricultural heritage and connection to apples. The center has been highlighted in the media, including WCVB’s Chronicle and the BBC.
The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center is open every day from 9am-5pm and also features a popular gift shop that carries many local products including jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, fudge, chocolates, cheese, sparkling cider, donuts and that local icon of American kitsch – the pink plastic flamingo! Visitors to the center can also find a wide selection of books highlighting the history of the region, plus good-quality logo merchandise and souvenir items.
This year has placed unimaginable challenges on the North Central Massachusetts small business community. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented wave of disruption to our local economy which many are predicting will permanently alter how we make things, buy things and even where we work. The Chamber has always been a strong advocate for buying local and other initiatives that help to strengthen our local communities and contribute to the economic sustainability of the region. Our efforts to support local businesses take on a new significance this year, and we know that shopping local is going to be more important than ever before this holiday season. The small businesses that help define our local communities continue to face hardships as the pandemic goes on, and it threatens to exacerbate the trend towards online shopping and consolidation among many of these industries. However, there could also be opportunities for our local businesses and the regional economy as supply chain disruptions exposed by the pandemic may encourage consumers and businesses to look to local suppliers and local businesses to help them fulfill their needs.
Since the pandemic began, the Chamber has been focused on providing guidance, resources and a support system to help businesses get through the crisis. Recognizing the importance, the Chamber has developed several marketing campaigns to support small businesses and encourage consumers to shop, eat and visit locally. We have developed new locally focused content, new messaging and we are utilizing digital and social media channels to promote, connect and engage with consumers.The Chamber has also been utilizing its “Gift Local” gift card initiative to encourage shopping local. With nearly 50 businesses currently participating, consumers are given a choice when deciding on where and how they want to spend their money.
“Our restaurants, hotels and local retailers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. These businesses are finding innovative ways to adapt, transform and survive,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We want to encourage people to support local businesses whenever they can. These business owners are working hard to keep their doors open, create jobs, and fill needs in our community and deserve our support”
The state has also stepped up with a new awareness campaign entitled “My Local MA” to encourage consumers to support local businesses. The Chamber has embraced the effort and is supporting the campaign.
“The My Local MA campaign reminds Massachusetts residents that where they shop, dine and travel matters,” said Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. “Supporting My Local MA strengthens community pride and helps keep our economy running. Spending locally keeps people employed and keeps Main Streets and small businesses thriving in our 351 cities and towns. We want people to stay safe and put their money where their heart is — right here in Massachusetts.”
Why is this important? A recent survey conducted by the Chamber shows that 64% of the small businesses reported losses when compared to 2019, with nearly 27% reporting losses of 50% or more. Nearly 60% also reported that they expect it will be more than six months before their operations return to normal. Twenty-five percent of respondents also estimated they could stay operational on current cash flow and reserves for just six months or less.The survey also showed that marketing to reach their customers was the most requested resource when asked what resources, beyond financial assistance, would be most helpful.
It’s no secret that local small businesses have a tremendous impact on our local economy. When you buy goods and services from local businesses and merchants, the money you spend stays in our communities.National research shows that for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $48 stays in our cities and towns.That’s compared to only $14 of $100 that is spent at a chain and just $1 when spent at large e-commerce retailers.Those dollars support the essential services that we all rely on, including police, fire, schools, streets and more.
Local and independent small businesses are also more likely to give back to the community, create more jobs and opportunities, and support other area small businesses. They are often the first to step up when teams need sponsors and fundraisers need venues or goods.Small businesses also work hard to keep your trust each and every day, providing unparalleled products and services.All of this helps to strengthen our communities and contributes to our quality of life.
With the holiday season before us, there is no doubt that consumers are all thinking about shopping and the gifts they want to buy for the people in their lives. With busy schedules and the pandemic, it’s easy to consider turning to the internet to get shopping done. But that type of shopping has consequences on the local community. This winter is expected to be a difficult one for many small businesses, the Chamber will be encouraging everyone to consider local businesses when making their buying decision. Not only does this support local businesses, but it has profound rewards for the community.
How to Grow When It’s Slow: Increase Productivity Right Now
“Imagine –” suggests business expert Cameron Herold, “If you train your employees on interviewing, train them on effective meetings, train them on an email management, train them on time management, or if you could really work on skill development right now – you can come out of this stronger.”
Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, best-selling author, and speaker. We caught up with him via a recent podcast interview he did for Real Estate Rockstars Radio. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Periods of slow growth come with great challenges both for businesses and consumers. However, you can take advantage of such times to improve efficiency and increase productivity. Cameron has some great advice for business owners in his interview, and we put together some recommendations inspired by Cameron.
Clean up your business systems – and your work space
Most businesses will focus only on sales and marketing to survive hard times. You can also use this time to work on your standard operating procedure to ensure it meets your current and future needs. Slow growth periods are ideal times to purge and clean your warehouse, offices, desks, filing systems, and other important areas of the business. Cleaning the workplace will go a long way in creating a better work environment and improving efficiency.
Training and skills development
Considering the busy schedules that characterize modern workplaces, employers have little or no time to train their employees. When it is slow, you can use this time for training and skills development. Train employees in critical areas like interviewing, effective meetings, time management, and email management. Skills development will also help to address weaknesses and strengthen skills, allowing you to bring employees to a level where they can work without constant help and supervision. In a nutshell, training and skills development will contribute to improved employee performance.
Take advantage of technology
Periods of slow growth can allow businesses to make the most of existing and new technology. As more employees work and communicate remotely, they will save significant commuting time and be less distracted when handling projects. Businesses can maximize technology to increase productivity by setting up efficient communication channels and empowering all employees to work remotely. Teleconferencing and working from home are quickly becoming the new normal, a factor that could affect the organizational structure of many companies.
Explore alternative work sites
Changes such as teleconferencing and working remotely will have a significant impact on office leasing. There will be cases where staff members are unable to make it to the corporate office, and working from home is not an option. This situation may force businesses to identify alternative working sites such as sterilized co-working spaces. Choosing a great facility will allow you to carry on with your activities despite the disruption caused by issues such as infectious epidemics. Employees can remain productive in emergency situations.
Proactive employee support
When your employees work remotely, your physical office will be set-up into numerous virtual offices. Maintaining proper communication between managers and employees will require that you give your staff the necessary support. Through observations and conversations, you will be able to identify and understand any signs of agony. These include low morale, low work productivity, and anxiety relating to the slow-growth period. Addressing employee concerns will help in increasing productivity to ensure your business survives the tough times.
For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for the next article in the 6-part series How to Grow When It’s Slow on the topic of building culture in a remote working environment.
