North Central Massachusetts e-Newsletter » North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

E-Newsletter

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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Chamber News

All-Day Workshops Scheduled for Entrepreneurs in Clinton, Ma

Posted on May 26th/in Chamber News /by northcentralmass

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and Clinton Savings Bank are holding two business workshops on June 21, 2016 aimed at assisting potential and existing entrepreneurs.

The free workshops are being held in partnership with the North Central MA Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), SCORE, NewVue Communities and the Town of Clinton Community & Economic Development Office.

Both workshops will each run approximately two and a half hours and will be held at the Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton, MA on Tuesday, June 21.

Session I: Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing, and Financing Your Business will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will focus on evaluating and understanding the fundamentals of owning one’s own business. Information on how to get started, where and how to get financing and the loan application process will be presented. Registration begins at 8:00. Continental breakfast will be provided for all participants. Presented by Roland Nutter, AdviCoach

Session II: Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will focus on understanding a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. The workshop will also explain how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficiently. Registration begins at 11:00. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Presented by Robert C. Alario, CPA

To register, please contact Sandie Cataldo at 978-353-7607 ext. 232 or or register online at northcentralmass.com.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is a non-profit corporation with the mission of creating jobs and improving the economy of North Central Massachusetts. NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program. The NCMDC works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects with loans and business assistance. Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $4,200,000 in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy in 26 communities in the North Central Massachusetts region.

For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978-353-7607.

Regulatory Update: Navigating the Changes to New Overtime Rules

Posted on May 23rd/in Chamber News /by northcentralmass

On May 18, 2016, the federal government announced changes to the existing overtime regulation. This change will impact employees who are eligible for overtime pay, and may require businesses to make changes in how they pay or schedule certain employees. This change is expected to impact 84,000 workers in Massachusetts.

The information below is intended to help you better understand these changes. Because this is such an important issue, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a workshop on this topic. For more information on that workshop, click here, or read more below.

Understanding the change

Under the new regulation by the United States Department of Labor, most salaried workers earning up to $47,476 a year must receive time-and-a-half overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours during a week. The previous salary threshold for overtime pay was $23,660. The changes are expected to either see employees’ salaries rise above the new threshold, or workers below the new threshold working fewer hours during the week.

Who is entitled to overtime?

Employees who are are entitled to overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act have traditionally been considered non-exempt employees. Employers must pay these workers overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. There are some exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act that classifies workers as exempt employees. These employees are administrative, executive, professionals, or outside sales staff. These employees are exempt from required overtime pay.

Exempt status can usually be determined by testing whether or not an employee spends most of their time in a decision making role. Because this test is open to interpretation, the salary threshold is another standard in determining overtime eligibility. So even employees who are legitimately in management positions or in decision making roles are still eligible for overtime pay if their salary is below $47,476 – under the most recent rule change. Teachers, doctors and outside sales representatives continue to be exempt from overtime pay requirements.

What’s next?

The new regulation will go into effect on December 1, 2016. Part of the new regulation calls for the overtime salary threshold to be updated every three years to keep up with inflation. At this point, it is recommended that employers assess their organizations, especially exempt employees who earn less than $47,476. There are several considerations that can be made like reclassifying workers, shifting duties or responsibilities, and increasing pay to meet the threshold.

Possible Congressional Response

There are several potential actions Congress may take to block the new regulations, which include 1) adopting a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act; 2) enacting specific legislation, such as the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (S. 2707 and H.R. 4773), which would overturn the proposed rule; or 3) attaching a rider to an appropriations bill to block enforcement of the rule for a year. However, any action by Congress to overturn the new regulatory changes are unlikely to be successful since it is expected that the President would veto any of these measures and it doubtful that there are sufficient votes (two-thirds in both the House and Senate) to override any Presidential Veto.

Chamber Workshop on New Regulations

In an effort to help members better understand the impact of the new overtime rules and to help prepare for them, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special edition of its HR Council on Wednesday, June 15th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 pm Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg MA. Employment attorney Corey F. Higgins of Mirick O’Connell will discuss the new overtime rules. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. To register, please click here or contact the Chamber at 978-353-7600 ext. 235.

Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center Unveils New Renovations

Posted on May 10th/1 Comment/in Chamber News /by northcentralmass

The Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center recently hosted a business after hours through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to highlight to the community the work of the center and to unveil recently completed renovations. The event was attended by local business and community leaders and included a special ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the improvements. It was a great opportunity to let local business and community leaders see the importance of the visitors’ center as a hub for tourist information for North Central Massachusetts. The renovations i ncluded new brochure racks, new shelving and displays, upgraded security systems, a new POS system for the gift shop, and renovations to the bathrooms. The primary goal of the renovations was to better showcase North Central Massachusetts as well as to improve the visitor experience for the hundreds of people who come through the door every day.

The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center, considered by many the gateway to North Central Massachusetts, opened in 1996 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-six communities in North Central Massachusetts and what they have to offer for visitors and families. Open 360 days a year from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., the visitors’ center greets people from the local community as well as those traveling down Route 2 to their destination and those who are vacationing locally with us.

“It’s important to us that everyone who walks through the visitors’ center doors feels welcomed” said Diane Burnette, Visitor Center Manager for the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association. “Whether we are a daily stop for you, or you are coming into the area for the first time, you should have a positive experience here at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center.”

The center features a gift shop that carries many local products including jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, fudge, chocolates, sparkling cider and that local icon of American kitsch – the 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.

Over 165,000 people walk through the visitor center doors every year. Some come in for a pit stop on their route, some for directions to a local destination or information on local attractions, and some for the local products from across the region that are sold in the gift shop. One thing that every single visitor receives is a welcoming feeling and a nice “hello” and “have a great day’ as they enter and leave again.

The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center is open daily. Normal business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center is located at 1000 Rte. 2 Westbound, between exit 34 & 35, in Lancaster, MA. For more information, please call 978-534-2829 or visit www.visitnorthcentral.com.

Upcoming Events

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MassHire Lunch and Learn: Building our Future Workforce

September 22, 2026

E-Newsletter

June 2026

Not Yet A Member? Join the Chamber

Chamber News

Upcoming Events

MassHire Lunch and Learn: Building our Future Workforce

Legislative & Candidates Reception

Connect North Central

Ribbon Cutting: MOD Creative Studio

Meet & Greet: The Farm Stand Winchendon

Community Leadership Institute Class of 2027

Leominster Mayor's Meeting

North Central Golf Tour Championship: Fore the Future FLNC Scholarship Golf Classic at Oak Hill

WLC Luncheon | Women of Impact: Leading Through Awareness & Action

North Central Mass Workforce Development Roundtable

Fitchburg Mayor's Meeting

Congressional Luncheon Sponsored by Fitchburg State University

Meet & Greet: [RE]Architect

Manufacturing Bus Tour 2026

Business After Hours: RC Excitement Halloween BAH

Connect North Central

Business Benefit Series: HR Council Legal Update

6 Chamber B.A.S.H.

Fitchburg Mayor's Meeting

Business Benefit Series: Quarterly Roundtable - Work Smarter, Not Harder: Tools That Give You Back Your Time

Good Morning North Central: Sponsored by IC Credit Union

Joint Mayor's Meeting

Future Leaders of North Central: Annual Holiday Party & Ugly Sweater Competition

Connect North Central

Leominster Mayor's Meeting

Women's Leadership Connection Luncheon

Connect North Central

Fitchburg Mayor's Meeting

Winter Reception

Leominster Mayor's Meeting

Fitchburg Mayor's Meeting

Economic Forecast Breakfast

Annual Scholars Breakfast

Leominster Mayor's Meeting

Joint Mayor's Meeting

43nd Annual Meeting & Business Expo

Member News

Member Spotlight

Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody

Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast

Out & About

Celebrating Great Wolf Lodge’s $30 Million Investment in North Central Massachusetts

Discover Your Leadership Potential with CLI

Cinco de Mayo Business After Hours Recap

Job Board Postings

Regional Leaders

Chamber Partners

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

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