An Electronic Publication of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Inside this edition, you’ll discover the latest Chamber initiatives and success stories from across our region. From economic development projects and upcoming networking events to policy updates and workforce training opportunities, we’re keeping you connected to what matters most for your business and North Central Massachusetts.
June 2026
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The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts, focused its marketing efforts last quarter on promoting the region as a Winter destination, with a heavy emphasis on utilizing digital strategies. We invested in an assorted mix of strong content on VisitNorthCentral.com highlighting winter activities and businesses. This included developing a new Winter landing page and blog articles such as “A Winter Getaway Might be Closer than you Think” and “Snow on the Mountain”. We also conducted several sponsored content campaigns targeted to the drive market. During the Winter season we also invested in some paid social media; targeted and geofenced digital advertising; YouTube advertising; and some limited print advertising. Our Facebook page garnered 221,443 impressions, reach of 78,845 and 8,004 engagements since the start of the Winter season. “Find Your…” was utilized as the overarching theme for our advertising campaigns during the season. The campaigns centered around the wide range of activities, lodging, restaurants, breweries and cultural attractions in North Central Massachusetts. Our winter activities were promoted as “Find Your Thrill” through geofenced digital ads on MassLive and LocalIQ affiliate websites and targeted YouTube advertising. The MassLive display ads garnered 251,401 impressions and 216 clicks thus far. The LocalIQ digital ads garnered 57,235 impressions and 72 clicks thus far. The targeted YouTube advertising campaign resulted in 98 clicks, 40,872 interactions and a 47.28% view rate. We also worked with MassLive and Telegram & Gazette to promote the region as a winter getaway destination through “Find Your Slice of Simplicity” branded content. The content focused on the unique lodging options, restaurants, museums and relaxing winter activities in the region. The MassLive content resulted in 39,701 impressions, click through rate of 0.61% and 244 clicks. The Telegram & Gazette content garnered 9,894 reads, a 20.06% click through rate, and 1,985 clicks. The sponsored social media post resulted in 6,247 link clicks, over 400 reactions, and nearly 150 shares. For print media, we advertised in AAA magazine in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York as well as Baystate Parent monthly issues through “Find Your Winter Wonderland”. These advertisements were targeted towards families with young kids centered around the family-friendly experience our region provides. We also partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, the Massachusetts Ski Association and five other regional tourism councils on a collective winter campaign with Hearst media highlighting the state as a ski and winter destination. And, during the season we implemented some shop local marketing to promote supporting local businesses. Preliminary data from Arrivalist indicates a 14% increase in visitors traveling to the region over the same period the prior year, but down 27% over pre-pandemic 2019. Top four origin markets were Boston; Rhode Island; Connecticut; and New York.
As we move in to the Spring, we will continue our past strategies of promoting the outdoor assets of our region as well highlighting local attractions and businesses. We will do so through pivoting to a more digital focused marketing mix with geofenced and targeted digital ads, connected-app streaming ads, targeted YouTube advertising, paid Pinterest ads, branded content, social media and print media. We are also planning to resume some sale development activities, including participating in some travel industry trade shows in the Spring to promote the region.
After being closed to the public for more than 700 days, the Massachusetts State House reopened to the public in February. As local communities also rescind or revise their mask ordinances, the reopening of the State House certainly represents a major shift in the pandemic. While COVID-19 continues to remain present, communities across the Commonwealth are adapting and learning to conduct business in this new environment. As the Chamber continues our advocacy efforts, we look forward to the opportunity for staff and Chamber members to interact with legislators on important issues in the people’s house.
Election season is also heating up, with contested races for all of the major constitutional offices, some of which will be decided in the state primary on September 6th. The Chamber once again looks forward to playing an informative role throughout the process, and we have launched a new election series as part of our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast focusing on candidates for these statewide seats. Episodes will continue to be posted in the coming weeks and will remain up through the election. The Chamber is also monitoring races in the House and Senate. 1st Middlesex District Representative Sheila Harrington was recently appointed to be clerk-magistrate of Gardner District Court while 1st Worcester District Senator and former senate president, Harriette Chandler, announced she would not seek reelection leaving at least two open seats in North Central Massachusetts. We are working to engage candidates in regards to our members’ priorities and our initiatives.
We are continuing to monitor the State’s COVID-19 response. In February, Governor Baker signed a $101 million COVID-19 spending bill that included $76 million in direct state spending aimed at boosting access to masks, vaccines and rapid tests, particularly for schools, congregate care facilities and homeless shelters, along with another $25 million in available federal funds to be directed to the state’s COVID emergency paid sick leave program. At the end of February, the Baker Administration also announced a new $75 million dollar grant program to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program comes as part of the $4 billion ARPA spending plan signed into law in December. These funds will be administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation through two different grant programs, the New Applicant Grant Program and the Inclusive Grant Program. Applications for the programs are open until April 4, 2022.
Following the announcement of Governor Baker’s final proposed budget of $45 billion, the Chamber met with the region’s delegation virtually for our annual Legislative Briefing. The briefing provided an important opportunity to thank the delegation for their ongoing support of Chamber priorities, while advocating for a number of items in the upcoming budget and legislative session. The Chamber is focused on securing support for a number of crucial areas that will help advance North Central Massachusetts including economic development, workforce development, education and tourism.
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 .
Imagine a modern renaissance, built on our past with the vision of a sustainable, modern future. Guess what? It’s happening right now in North Central Massachusetts. With more than 7,500 businesses based in the 27 communities that encompass North Central, we are building on the strong bones of our industrial past to redevelop buildings and create green living spaces, all while staying true to our traditional New England roots.
In 2020, a group of local business and community leaders, dignitaries and other key regional stakeholders got together to really understand what makes our region tick. The result is One North Central, a regional economic development plan to set a path forward for growth and opportunities.
One critical factor that bubbled to the surface early on was the North Central Massachusetts real estate market’s affordability compared to Greater Boston. Our region is home to more than 52 million square feet of industrial, retail and flex space, which is an increase of 375,000 square feet since 2006. And, with industrial and office lease rates approximately $15 per square foot, the region offers a relatively large share of competitively priced warehouse and distribution space. In fact, North Central Massachusetts offers the highest potential for industrial space demand, more than double when compared to the other four Massachusetts regions identified in One North Central. In fact, we have a unique competitive edge over many other regions closer to Boston—the lower cost of both owner and renter housing. It’s an advantage which could attract new talent to live in the region who could purchase homes typically out of reach in many other parts of the state.
The region’s plethora of unique historic downtowns and town centers with a variety of community types offer a wide spectrum of opportunities for businesses and families alike. Want to take a commuter rail to a walkable downtown or open a small business in an old mill? You can. Interested in building furniture in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, learning to design a video game in a tech lab or visit a farm or orchard for fresh produce? You can do that, too. For our region’s largest communities, downtown areas are fast becoming destinations for arts and culture, restaurants and green space that attracts residents, employees, and visitors to live, work, learn and enjoy.
“A major focus of our economic development is our Urban Renewal Plan focusing on the Mill Street and Downtown areas which are designed to create opportunity for private investment, stimulate economic growth, and improve and expand housing opportunities,” said Trevor Beauregard, Director, Community Development and Planning, City of Gardner, and Executive Director, Gardner Redevelopment Authority. “In concert with state funding and grants, the availability of lending for private development in Gardner is also stimulating the city’s targeted areas for development and growth.”
Beauregard highlighted the Timpany Crossroads Project as a well-sighted, successful private investment located along the commercial corridor at the corner of Route 2A and Route 68, which offers businesses convenient access to major roadways and provides maximum high visibility. And in March 2021, Community HealthLink announced it purchased 13 acres of land next to Walmart on Timpany Boulevard to build a new 20,000-square-foot facility. The new building will be fully ADA-compliant and LEED certified, and offer primary and family medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as urgent care.
“We have a two-pronged approach to economic development in Fitchburg,” said Tom Skwierawski, Executive Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Fitchburg. “We are
looking at the west and east sections of the city in very different ways. On the east, we have agricultural, greenfield development sites with the potential for tremendous commercial development. On the west side, we have a commercial recreation hub that started with Great Wolf Lodge and is now home to Game On, both of which provide family experiences for recreation.”
A big challenge for Skwierawski is the current real estate market’s low inventory which is making it difficult to welcome new residents to the city. “While we want to create continuous activities for the weekend traveler, we also want to attract people who’ve been priced out of the greater Boston area. We want them to purchase a home and raise a family here, but that’s hard to accomplish when there is little to no real estate inventory available.”
The City of Fitchburg is also turning to its downtown area, which the city refers to as “InTown,” into a destination arts and culture hub surrounded by residential units for those priced out of Boston, Worcester and the Merrimack Valley. “We have the Moran Square project which includes 44 residential units and commercial development opportunities, and several projects along Main Street designed to increase traffic to the downtown area,” he said. “We’re currently working on the redevelopment of 655 Main Street which will create four rental units and become the future home of the Dario’s on Main restaurant; 805 Main Street which will provide eight units; and the former Harper Furniture building renovation which will connect with the former Summer Street Firehouse providing 44 units and commercial space.”
In addition to the city’s InTown redevelopment, Fitchburg State University was awarded a $475,000 grant from MassDevelopment in December 2021 for the Main Street Theater Block rehabilitation project, which will provide 500 to 2,200 square feet of additional space to accommodate restaurants, retail space, art galleries and studios. And, in keeping with the city’s mission of creating an arts and culture hub, the Fitchburg Art Museum and NewVue Communities are working together to create the Fitchburg Arts Community, which will bring approximately 60 units of affordable rental artist residences and workspaces to three historical buildings adjacent to the Fitchburg Art Museum.
While downtown is a key area for growth, Skwierawski said industrial development like the Amazon warehouse on Intervale Road is equally important. The 97,000 square foot warehouse, slated to open in August 2022, will provide up to 300 jobs in the region. “We are really excited about this development and are looking to expand an industrial park at the sand pit adjacent to the warehouse.”
Just as Gardner and Fitchburg are looking to enhance their downtown areas, the City of Leominster is busting at the seams with business growth in its downtown area, said Amanda Curtis, Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster. “We are making significant investments in the downtown area, from our Monoosnock Brook Gateway Project to our upcoming Façade Program for downtown buildings. We want to make our downtown accessible for walking and outdoor dining,” she said.
Planning for the Monoosnock Brook Stabilization Project began 2019 and is funded by two Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grants totaling over $367,000. It’s an important project that will replace the current stone walls along the brook and the large culvert below the municipal parking lot off Mechanic Street. “The brook is a centerpiece of our downtown and provides a quiet respite for our residents and businesspeople during their lunch hour and lets families experience nature just a few steps from a bustling downtown area,” added Curtis. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.
Part of Gardner’s Urban Renewal Plan includes a pedestrian corridor with street markings and signage to make the public walkways more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. “We are working to expand the bike path from the [Mount Wachusett Community] college to downtown through a bicycle and walking network using shared streets and multiuse paths,” said Beauregard.
Speaking of bicycle friendly paths, the Twin Cities Rail Trail, which follows an abandoned rail corridor from downtown Fitchburg to Mechanic Street in downtown Leominster, is scheduled to be open to the public in 2023. The trail runs parallel to Route 12 and will be open for all non-motorized use. “By bringing the rail trail directly to Mechanic Street, cyclists and walkers will be able to access all of what downtown Leominster has to offer while being active outdoors,” added Curtis.
Just a few miles away is Devens, home to more than 100 businesses and organizations providing more than 4,000 jobs all bolstered by approximately 2,100 acres of open space and recreation land. Formerly known as Fort Devens, the former U.S. Army base is now home to bustling businesses in technology and innovation, as well as New England Studios, producer of such television shows and movies as Dexter, Defending Jacob and Castle Rock. Growth and development abound in this community, with King Street Properties developing a 45-acre biomanufacturing campus consisting of five buildings with 700,000 total square footage. And last summer, SMC Ltd., a medical device contract manufacturer, announced plans to double its footprint with the addition of a 207,000 square foot manufacturing and warehouse facility, resulting in approximately 400 new jobs.
For all its successes, sometimes growth can present challenges, as Leominster’s downtown growing pains can attest to. With just about every square foot of downtown commercial space filled, the Economic Development Office is working in collaboration with Mayor Dean Mazzarella and downtown business owners to both find additional space while maintaining that uniquely positive small town, customer experience. Curtis noted, “We have monthly downtown business group meetings with our business owners so we are made aware of their challenges and how we can work together to create solutions.”
Curtis was quick to point out the Mall at Whitney Field is a hot topic of conversation in Leominster, with many rumors swirling about the future of the mall and surrounding area. “The mall is a work in progress and while there are many rumors about the future of the mall, including tearing it down, this is simply not the case,” said Curtis. “The investors who own the mall want to see this succeed so in this case patience is asked by all in the community while we work to figure out the best path forward.”
Collaboration is certainly key, not only with business owners, but also between other cities and towns in the region. “What we’ve realized over the years is that we cannot achieve our goals as a city without partnering with other cities in the region,” said Curtis. “We want our businesses to thrive and if Leominster cannot accommodate the needs of a new business or a business that needs to grow its footprint, we will work with other communities to collaborate and help our business owners find the most appropriate location to achieve their goals.”
Skwierawski and Beauregard also praised their respective city officials for collaborating with them on several of the economic development projects, both past and current.
“We are all rowing in the same direction and by having our Mayor, City Council, NewVue Communities, ReImagine North of Main, the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber in our corner, it makes our work a lot easier. But more importantly, a collaborative environment provides business owners with the confidence that we will work as a team to help them achieve their goals.” Beauregard also said the Gardner City Council and its Mayor Mike Nicholson are all very supportive of all the city’s initiatives, which makes it much easier to move projects forward seamlessly and as quickly as possible.
It’s truly an exciting time to see how our cities and towns are redeveloping areas by modernizing buildings from our past, creating sustainable housing and establishing recreation areas connecting cities together as we work toward building North Central Massachusetts for the next generation.
Fore Then Pore: Golf Clinic, 9 Hole Play & End of Summer Bash
August 21, 2026
Golf Clinic, 9 Hole Play & End of Summer Bash
August 21, 2026
The Woods of Westminster
Event Start at 1:00pm View
Event
Sponsors Reception: Old Mill
August 26, 2026
Thank you to all our sponsors who help sponsor this past 2025-2026 program year! We are truly honored by your continued support and efforts to continue to make our community thrive! View
Event
MASSACHUSETTS – Main Street Bank is pleased to announce that Carl Flumerfelt has accepted the position of Senior Vice President Commercial Lender, effective August 15th, 2022.
Carl will be supporting Main Street Bank’s Commercial Loan Department by connecting with new and existing business customers. Using his years of experience in commercial banking, Carl works closely with clients to understand their business and how the appropriate business loan option will work to support their day-to-day functions and growth. While his office is based in the bank’s Ayer, MA location, Carl will be the first of our Commercial Lending Team to be available via Main Street Bank’s video banking service, Video Connect, to meet with and serve business clients from virtually anywhere.
“Building mutually successful deals and forming meaningful connections with clients are my favorite parts of this job, and I am excited to have access to the resources at Main Street Bank to do even more of it,” says Carl.
Carl comes to Main Street Bank after 35 years of service at Winchester Savings Bank. There, he oversaw the operational and strategic aspects of their commercial, retail, and consumer lending teams. Carl comes highly accredited with both Associates and Bachelor’s degrees from Bentley University, as well as an MBA from Babson College. He also has experience as a CRA officer, a Regulation O Officer, and a Bank Corporator and Executive Committee Member. Raised in the north shore community of Hamilton, MA, Carl is a proud New Englander. Anyone who has met Carl is familiar with his infectious approach to life and business. Main Street Bank is thrilled to have such a prestigious banker as part of our commercial lending team.
For commercial lending related questions or assistance, Carl can be contacted directly at 351-213-0391 or at .
FITCHBURG, MA: United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) is inviting community members who are interested in serving on non-profit boards to meet local non-profit organizations at its inaugural Board Connection event, taking place on Wednesday, October 12, from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg.
The event will kick off with a panel discussion on being a non-profit board member moderated by Irene Hernandez Guzman, a trustee on the Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees. Panelists include Eric Carriker, Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts; Bruce Platzman, Chief Executive Officer at AIS and a member of UWMC’s Board of Directors; and Patricia Stern, Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry.
After the panel, attendees will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with local non-profits that are seeking board members at an agency exhibition.
Admission is free for community members and the event welcomes attendees with all levels of experience who seek to give back. Attendees can learn about responsibilities involved in being non-profit board members and other opportunities such as volunteer committees.
Organizations with 501c3 non-profit status that serve North Central Massachusetts are also invited to register as event exhibitors for a small fee. Each exhibitor can set up a table at the agency exhibition, during which they can connect with business and community members about opportunities to get involved, as well as network with local professionals and increase brand visibility.
Advance registration is required for both attendees and non-profits and can be completed at uwncm.org.
Event panelist Bruce Platzman says he hopes to inspire others to learn more about the benefits of joining non-profit boards, stating, “Serving on these boards of directors has provided tremendous insight and fulfillment on many levels. I look forward to sharing my experiences and perspectives at this important event.”
UWNCM President and CEO Kory Eng adds, “This event will leverage United Way’s duel focus of building non-profit organizational capacity while connecting volunteers to rich experiences to support their community. Serving on a Board of Directors is a great way to connect to the local community, build your skills and to make significant impact on the lives of others.”
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.
(Leominster, Mass.) Fidelity Bank announced the appointment of Andrew Beauvais to Vice President, Manager of the Fidelity Bank Winchendon Banking Center located at 1 School Square in Winchendon.
In this role, he will oversee the LifeDesign banking approach at the Winchendon Banking Center and continue to care for Fidelity Bank clients when they are making financial decisions.
Andrew comes to Fidelity Bank from Worker’s Credit Union where he served as Assistant Vice President, Financial Wellness Coach at its Townsend location. He has more than 10 years of banking experience serving in a variety of management roles at TD Bank and GFA Federal Credit Union.
“Andrew has much experience in providing financial coaching to clients on building savings and credit, eliminating debt, and planning for various phases of life,” said Sheila King-Goodwin, Senior Vice President, Chief Community Banking Officer, Fidelity Bank. “With his additional experience overseeing daily banking center operations and service, he is the perfect fit to bring our LifeDesign approach to banking to our clients in Winchendon.”
A resident of Winchendon, Beauvais earned his high school diploma from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School. He holds a Massachusetts producer license for Life and Health Insurance and annuities and is a Certified Financial Education Instructor for the National Financial Educators Council.
Member Spotlight
Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody
When the workday ends and the lights go down, Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody, Inc. gets to work. “We operate as our clients’ silent partner after business hours,” says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the company’s expansion into North Central MA. “We are not often seen, but we ensure facilities are clean, secure, and ready for business each day while serving as the eyes and ears for our clients when they are not on site.”
Discover local business stories through our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast series. Listen as Chamber members share their journeys, insights, and contributions to our thriving regional business community.
From Chamber events and ribbon cuttings to community celebrations and regional highlights, stay connected with what’s happening across North Central Massachusetts. Follow us on social media for the latest photos, updates, and stories.
Looking for your next opportunity? Explore current job openings from employers across North Central Massachusetts on our Jobs Board. Whether you’re starting a new career or making a change, you’ll find a variety of local positions available to help you take the next step.
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