North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce leads effort to replace welcome sign at important gateway in Fitchburg
Sign provides recognition of civic pride for residents and visitors alike
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce today announced it has sponsored the construction of a new welcome sign for the City of Fitchburg on South Street, a key gateway to the community.
The new sign replaces a welcome sign originally constructed by the Sons and Daughters of Italy in 2003 in memory of the late Mary and Joe Ramondelli of Fitchburg but was partially destroyed by a car accident in recent years. Mr. Ramondelli, a retired Fitchburg police officer, and his wife were very active in the community.
Patricia Vacca Martin, a Fitchburg resident who was involved with the design of the original sign, said it is nice to have the sign restored. “Mary and Joe were active members in our community and with the Sons and Daughters of Italy,” said Vacca Martin. “We are grateful the Chamber stepped up to help fund the restoration of the former sign so our community will always remember Mary and Joe and their commitments to making Fitchburg a better place for all of us.”
The new sign is part of a project to construct welcoming signs at key gateways in communities in the region in order to boost civic pride and serve as a positive first impression for visitors. The project was partially funded by a grant secured by the Chamber.
The new sign on South Street mirrors a sign located in West Fitchburg near Route 2, of which the Chamber sponsored a few years ago. The signs were designed and produced by Add-A-Sign in Leominster and represent the region’s traditional New England style. The Fitchburg welcome sign includes a carving of the City of Fitchburg seal and is painted in the proud city color of red with gold lettering. In addition to Fitchburg, similar welcome signs are also being installed at key gateways in Gardner, Leominster and Westminster in the coming months. Each sign is carved with the community’s seal and painted to match their official colors. Additional signs will be constructed for other communities in North Central Massachusetts as funding becomes available.
“One of the goals of our regional economic redevelopment plan, One North Central, was to capitalize on our region’s unique locations,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Each city brings a distinctive experience to the region and with this project, those entering Fitchburg will learn about the city while receiving a warm welcome as they arrive.”
“As Fitchburg continues to implement our Urban Redevelopment Plan, the signs are truly a welcome addition to our city,” said Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale. “We are grateful for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for providing these personalized signs to welcome visitors to our city and to also welcome our residents home.”
