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
Not Yet A Member? Join the Chamber
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is here to help – with trusted resources, a strong business network, and a support system to keep your business and the region moving forward
Six months ago, the State House passed a raft of legislation that had been negotiated between business advocates and labor groups. The compromise eliminated numerous ballot questions in return for concessions on the minimum wage, paid leave, and mandatory premium pay on Sundays. On the 1st of this year, the initial phase of the Grand Bargain’s implementation took effect. As employers, you have a right and a need to know how these changes impact your business. see chart for a brief overview of the rules which just took effect.
*Due to an error in the Grand Bargain Legislation’s language, mandatory premium pay of time and a half (1.5 multiplier) will remain in effect for New Year’s Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans’ Day until further notice.
As was alluded to above, this is only the first phase of the Grand Bargain’s multi-year rollout. Further changes are approaching, and we encourage you to speak with your payroll company or human resource department about how these and future adjustments will impact you. If you would like to learn more about the Grand Bargain and its schedule of implementation, you can do so here.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Grand Bargain, the Chamber’s policy on it, or our stance on other matters before the State House, please contact Christopher McDermott at (978) 353-7600 ext. 224, or email him at .
(North Central, MA)–The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliate the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) today released a report entitled “Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts.” The recommendations developed by a taskforce of the region’s premier manufacturers focuses on steps the region and state can take to address their workforce challenges and fuel economic advancement throughout the region.
The report highlights a mix of both programmatic and policy related recommendations and strategies focused around workforce and education, regional cooperation and regional promotion. In addition to manufacturers, the Chamber and NCMDC also sought input from education and workforce leaders to produce this report.
“Aligning and integrating our educational system with the needs of employers must be a priority if North Central Massachusetts is to compete and prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” said Ray Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International and Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “Too many manufacturers today are having difficulty finding the qualified and skilled workers that they need, and the problem will only get worse if we are not ready with new solutions for the coming years.”
“We are excited to put forward these bold recommendations to strengthen our education and workforce systems for the benefit of both our students and employers,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We hope that this will be a useful resource for discussions around education reform in Massachusetts.”
Some of recommendations highlighted in the report include creating career pathways; a greater emphasis on both college and career readiness; expansion of career exploration programs into the middle schools; introduction of high school credentialing courses; increasing the labor pool by attracting more workers to the region; and expanding technical education in both vocational and conventional high schools.To view the full report, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com
With over 440 firms, North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state. One in every four private jobs in the region are manufacturing jobs, with one third of all private wages in the region directly related to the sector.Manufacturing firms in North Central Massachusetts range from the world class plastics industry cluster, to pharmaceuticals, photonics, paper, and biomedical devices to name a few.
Manufacturers today are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, operating advanced equipment and technology.However, many manufacturers have been unable to recruit the workers they need. Despite the high wage potential and increasing employer demand, there is both a need for more young workers and a skills gap among an existing and a transitioning workforce. Nationwide, 75% of employers report difficulty filling positions, with the problem being particularly acute in manufacturing. The challenge is expected to grow, since the average age of a manufacturing employee in North Central Massachusetts is 55 and young people typically rank manufacturing careers dead last due to false perceptions of the industry. If these individuals are unable to train replacements prior to retirement, the skills and experience they take with them will be lost permanently.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation remain committed to supporting and growing this critical sector of the region’s economy.The organizations convened the taskforce to address workforce issues and provide a unified vision for improving the workforce pipeline.The organizations are working with partners to address this skills gap, retain the region’s young talent, and introduce them to the high-tech, high-skilled, and high-paying careers of the modern manufacturing industry.The Chamber believes that building successful education partnerships between businesses and the region’s schools is critical to collective, on-going efforts.
Celebrating 35 Years of Building Businesses, Building Communities!
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. It was back in January of 1984 that this organization was formed as a result of the merger of several local chambers of commerce in the region. This major milestone is a great time for us to reflect on our history, but more importantly to look forward to the future of our dynamic organization and region.
Much has changed since our founding, but the Chamber has remained true to our mission of supporting our members and advancing North Central Massachusetts.It is inspiring that so many of the Chamber’s decisions made over the last 35 years are still making a difference today in supporting local businesses and growing our economy. I would like to thank our entire Board of Directors for their leadership and role in guiding this organization and serving the interests of our members and communities.I would also like to thank and acknowledge the 159 board members that came before them who helped drive our organization to what we are today.
More importantly, I would like to thank you, the business community, for your years of dedication and support in shaping our Chamber. The business community is, at its core, the backbone of our organization and the driving force in making our region a thriving one. We are extremely grateful for your continued support and always value your voice.
Over the next year, we will celebrate this milestone with you, our members and partners. It is you who have led this community for the past 35 years and it is you who will lead us into the future, remaining focused on the pressing needs of the day and committed to working collectively to advance our region.
While we have much to be proud of, the history of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will continue to unfold. Standing still and resting on our laurels is simply not possible. We have bold plans for the future and look forward to working with you to continue to drive North Central Massachusetts forward.
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
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, November 20, 2026
8am-9am View
Event
Joint Mayor's Meeting
December 4, 2026
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Future Leaders of North Central: Annual Holiday Party & Ugly Sweater Competition
December 8, 2026
Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Rd. Shirly, MA View
Event
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Michael Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown, announced the promotion of Christina DiRusso to Vice President Commercial Lending.
Christina was hired in January of 2014 and was based in the Leominster, MA office. She covers the North Central MA market as a commercial lender.
In May of 2017 Christina was promoted to Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending.
She received a Certificate in Commercial Lending from the Massachusetts Banker’s Association in 2012.
Christina is active in the BNI Group of Leominster and is a committee member of the North Central Mass Community Development Corp and currently serves as a board member of Newvue Communities, CDC in Fitchburg.
She resides in Leominster.
bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and has $730 million in assets. bankHometown has served its communities since 1889 and operates thirteen full service offices; eight in central Massachusetts and five located in northeastern Connecticut.
Social Security Workshop
Know the facts before signing up for Social Security
Kurt Czarnowski, formerly with the Social Security Administration, will
explain what you need to know about your Social Security benefits, so you
can see how it fits as part of your overall retirement plan.
800.581.5363 fidelitybankonline.com
Tuesday, May 8th
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fidelity Bank Community Room
9 Leominster Connector, Leominster MA
Refreshments will be served.
April 30, 2018– Now in its 7th year, Habitat for Humanity North Central MA will welcome the new building season with its Annual Spring Breakfast scheduled for May 9th at the First Parish of Bolton. The event, which also marks the Affiliate’s 30th year of serving cities, towns and communities in North Central MA, is held to build awareness of the Agency’s Mission and provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about current building and renovation projects in the region. It is only fitting that this year’s speaker at the event is a Public Historian who will share stories on the evolution of factory worker housing, giving us insight into our current renovation project on School Street in Acton.
Chuck Arning, a retired National Park Service Interpretive Ranger, will be talking about the history of mills and mill housing in MA. He was chosen because the house at 43- 45 School St. is located in what was considered Acton’s industrial district in the 1800’s and the structure was originally used for mill worker housing for those employed at the many mills that dotted the area along Fort Pond Brook.
Arning has produced over 85 video and television episodes on the outdoor recreation, history, preservation efforts, and people of the Blackstone River Valley. He is a Member of the American Antiquarian Society and the National Council for Public History. Chuck previously served as the Public Historian Board Member for the New England Historical Association and is also a member of the Western Historical Association, the George Wright Society and the American Association for State & Local History.
In addition to hearing from Mr. Arning, Habitat NCM founding members will also speak on the early days of the Affiliate. The program will conclude with a celebration of a local homeowner who recently paid off her Habitat mortgage.
There is NO COST TO ATTEND this event but, reservations are required as seating is limited. Please visit the Habitat website to reserve your spot. The Breakfast and program will be held from 7:30 – 8:30am.
Thank you to Avidia Bank, Enterprise Bank and the Law Office of David Rocheford for supporting the event through their sponsorship commitment.
About Habitat NCM
Habitat for Humanity NCM offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income central Massachusetts families seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture.
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.
Got a job you want featured? Click here to submit a job posting to our job board or email . This is a member benefit. Post jobs at no extra cost. No algorithms or budgets to manage!
