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
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
Chamber News
2/11 – MBTA Fitchburg Line Schedule Improvement Initiative (RSVP 2/4)
MBTA Fitchburg Line
Schedule Improvement Initiative
Date: Thursday February 11th
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Can-Am Machinery, 44 Old Princeton Rd. Fitchburg MA
Join our unified effort to petition the MBTA for an earlier outbound train and a commuter rail schedule that works for our region. Lunch and raffle provided by Can-Am Machinery.
Agenda:
Opening Remarks: Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale City of Fitchburg
Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella City of Leominster
Mayor Mark. Hawke City of Gardner
MBTA Update: Mohammed Khan MART Administrator
Wachusett Station: Bruno Fisher MART Deputy Director
Reverse Commute Benefits: Jake Daniels Can-Am Machinery
Open Forum: Corey Lynch MBTA Deputy Director
(Rail Operations)
Details:
The MBTA has released a draft of the new Fitchburg Line Commuter Rail schedule. The new schedules will be implemented on May 23rd. From now until February 12th, the MBTA is accepting public comment on the new schedules.
With the new schedule the earliest train arriving to Fitchburg is 9:07 AM. The purpose of this initiative is to inform the MBTA that North Central Massachusetts residents, businesses, institutions and elected officials want an earlier train (8:00 AM) and a commuter rail schedule that works for our region.
Residents and business owners have been lobbying the MBTA for an early train for many years.
Please join our efforts in petitioning the MBTA now before their public comment period ends February 12th.
Raffle Items:
2 Boston Bruins tickets for March 5
Dinner for two in Boston’s North End
Each prize includes round trip commuter rail passes
All-Day Workshops Scheduled for Entrepreneurs in Fitchburg rescheduled
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and Hometown Bank are holding two business workshops on February 2, aimed at assisting potential and existing entrepreneurs. The workshops were originally scheduled for January 12th, but were rescheduled due to a conflict.
The free workshops are being held in cooperation with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), SCORE, City of Fitchburg, City of Leominster, and NewVue Communities (formally Twin Cities CDC).
Both workshops will each run approximately two and a half hours and will be held at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg on Tuesday, February 2, 2016.
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. 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. Presented by Robert C. Alario, CPA
To register, please contact Sandie Cataldo at 978-353-7600 ext. 232 or or register online at northcentralmass.com.
Upcoming Events
The North Central Golf Tour: Friday on the Fairway at Templewood Golf Course
Friday on the Fairway at Templewood Golf Course
July 31, 2026
Templewood Golf Course
Event Start at 1:00pm
View
Event
Fore Then Pore: Golf Clinic, 9 Hole Play & End of Summer Bash
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
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
Business Benefit Series: Quarterly Roundtable - Cashflow, Financial Literacy for Small Business Owners
Legislative & Candidates Reception
The reception features an open bar and gourmet appetizers.
View
Event
Connect North Central
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, September 25, 2026
8am-9am
View
Event
North Central Golf Tour Championship: Fore the Future FLNC Scholarship Golf Classic at Oak Hill
North Central Golf Tour Championship: Fore the Future
An FLNC Non-Traditional Scholarship Fundraiser
View
Event
Congressional Luncheon Sponsored by Fitchburg State University
Join us for our 11th Annual
Congressional Luncheon
View
Event
Work North Central Massachusetts Career & Hiring Event!
FREE for Job Seekers! Walk ins Welcome!!
View
Event
Business Benefit Series: HR Council Legal Update
Join us for this in person HR Legal Update
View
Event
Good Morning North Central: Sponsored by IC Credit Union
November 19, 2026
7:15am - 9:00am
View
Event
Connect North Central
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, November 20, 2026
8am-9am
View
Event
Member News
Sign Up Open for Habitat for Humanity Golf Outing To Help “Build Dreams” for Area Families
Sign Up Open for Habitat for Humanity Golf Outing To Help “Build Dreams” for Area Families
4th Annual Golf Tournament to Raise Funds for Local Building
Anyone who loves to tee up and walk the fairways, or might like the chance to try their swing, can do so and also help “Build Dreams” for area families at Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts’ 4th Annual Building Dreams Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 19th –rain or shine-at the Shaker Hill Country Club in Harvard, MA.
Habitat NCM is reaching out to the community for participants in the event, including foursomes ($600), singles ($175) and event sponsors to help support the tournament. Registration includes greens fee and cart, golf shirt, golf balls, golf towel, golf tees, pen and gift bag, morning refreshments, snacks, and luncheon, and the shotgun start is at 9:00 a.m. and registration open at 7:30 a.m.
Sponsorships opportunities for the event are available and local businesses and organizations are encouraged to apply early as space is limited. Sponsor benefits include recognition and company branding (logo, tagline, etc.) at the event and in all printed and digital media releases as well as on Habitat’s website and Facebook page. Sponsor branding is also imprinted on select event giveaways (shirt, gift bag, golf balls, etc.) Sponsorship rates vary, depending on sponsorship level chosen.
Sponsorship forms are available at www.ncmhabitat.org.
Contests on the course include Hole-in-One, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and Closest to the Flamingo and prizes are given to the winning foursomes. Think you have what it takes to win these contests and help a good cause? Sign up now!
Sign Up Today!
To register for the event, please visit the Habitat for Humanity North Central MA website at www.ncmhabitat.org Deadline to register is August 30th. All teams registered by August 1st will receive a free Bag ‘O Rope to improve their score.
All proceeds from the Golf event will benefit the work of Habitat for Humanity North Central MA, bringing affordable housing to those in need throughout the organization’s 25 towns and cities in the region.
Habitat NCM is supported only by local funding, donations and money raised at these events to help those in need in our cities and town. Habitat NCM is hoping to see local banks and businesses join the cause by donating additional funding needed for a successful event.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income central Massachusetts families seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and repairs simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. 90 percent of surveyed Habitat homeowners in 44 U.S. cities said they could not have owned a home without the help from Habitat.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts is a non-profit housing ministry that builds simple, decent houses with people in need. It is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, serving 25 towns and cities in North Central Massachusetts, including Acton, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Leominster, Maynard, Pepperell, Princeton, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Townsend, and Westminster. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture.
Let’s build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter, together.
National Non-Profit, Facing Addiction selects Fitchburg, MA as Pilot Community
Project aims to address the public response to addiction through grassroots driven campaigns
Facing Addiction announced today that Fitchburg, MA has been selected as one of 15 communities to participate in the organization’s pilot community project. The project, first announced by Facing Addiction (www.FacingAddiction.org) in October 2015, will work to reform the public response to the addiction crisis in 15 selected communities via a grassroots-driven campaign strategy. Specifically, Facing Addiction will work with Fitchburg, MA and 14 other communities to:
• Secure increases in localized funding to adequately address the crisis
• Train advocates on proper organizational and advocacy techniques to reform their community’s response
• Invest time and resources in communication opportunities with elected officials and other policy makers
• Provide media guidance to garner press coverage to further highlight the solutions to the problem
• Develop political strategies and aid community stakeholders in the development of an overarching “campaign strategy”
“As addiction to alcohol and other drugs now impacts 1 in 3 households in America, we must urgently work to turn the tide on this health crisis. We received over 50 applications from communities across the country for this program,” said Greg Williams, Facing Addiction’s Co-Founder and Executive Vice President. “We are excited about the prospect of working to train,
organize and mobilize citizens in Fitchburg, MA to ensure a shift toward a public, health-centered response to those impacted by addiction.”
The Joint Coalition on Health (JCOH) submitted an application on behalf of the City of Fitchburg after requesting and receiving the full support of Fitchburg leadership including Mayor DiNatale, Chief Martineau and Fitchburg Board of Health Director, Stephen Curry. All three expressed the need for a more collaborative community approach in addressing this deadly issue. Susan Buchholz, Co-Chair of the JCOH Sub-Committee on Opiates and Addiction, coordinated the effort to assist Fitchburg to apply as a Pilot Project with Facing Addiction. “The process of applying to partner with Facing Addiction was a labor of love. So many compassionate, dedicated individuals and organizations, throughout the region, provided their support by helping to gather the necessary information.” stated Ms. Buchholz. She added, “It is clear that here in Fitchburg, like many communities across the country, it is difficult if not impossible to find anyone who has not been impacted by the tragedy of addiction. We are excited about working together to build on existing efforts within the community and to foster further meaningful, sustainable and positive change on the issue of addiction.”
Facing Addiction is a national non-profit organization dedicated to unifying the voices of the more than 45 million Americans and their families directly impacted by addiction. Facing Addiction is bringing together the best resources in the field in order to reduce the human and social costs of addiction, every year, until this public health crisis is eliminated. The organization was launched in historic fashion on October 4th, 2015, in front of tens of thousands on the National Mall at the UNITE to Face Addiction rally and concert, and recently was co-sponsor of the launch of the U.S. Surgeon General’s seminal report on the addiction crisis in America, in Los Angeles on November 17, 2016.
In addition to Fitchburg, MA the following communities have been selected to participate in Facing Addiction’s Pilot Community Project:
Annapolis, MD – Baton Rouge, LA – Billings, MT – Boise, ID – Chicago, IL – Cumming, GA – Martinsburg & Berkeley Springs, WV – New Canaan, CT –
Rochester, NY – Safford, AZ – San Diego, CA – Springfield, MO – West Bend, WI – West Linn, OR
The Joint Coalition on Health (JCOH) is a grassroots public health and human service coalition formed in 1998, whose mission includes advocating for underserved and marginalized populations by addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health. The Coalition has a long history of collaborating with diverse partners to create evidence-based initiatives, guided by assessment data and focused on systems, environmental and policy change.
Prior JCOH initiatives include founding Fitchburg Community Health Connections, the region’s first federally qualified community health center. To date, JCOH has brought more than $7 million in state, federal and foundation funding to North Central Massachusetts. Meetings of the Joint Coalition on Health are open to the public and are held monthly. For more information about the Coalition, contact Susan Buchholz at
Questions on the Pilot Project should be directed to Facing Addiction’s National Director of Outreach & Engagement, Michael King, who can be reached at .
Leominster Credit Union Donates Books to Local Organizations
For the seventeenth consecutive year, Leominster Credit Union participated in Children’s Book Month, an annual event sponsored by the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
During the month of April LCU members and employees collected donations of 1,375 new and used children’s books. The books were distributed to the Red Raiders Lending Library program and various organizations.
This year’s event was spearheaded by LCU employees Nancy Daigle, Kathy Hurley and Rachel Terrell. Since 2009, LCU collected and donated 7,118 books to various agencies.
L-R: Nancy Daigle, LCU Receptionist; Kathy Hurley, LCU HR Generalist; Erin Vasington, Red Raiders Lending Library;
John O’Brien, LCU President & CEO; Rachel Terrell, LCU Executive Assistant.
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $600 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling and North Leominster with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24 hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
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.”
Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast
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.
Job Board Postings
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.
- Maintenance Technician
CapEx Facility Services & Construction · Leominster, MA
- Mental Health Counselor Adult Inpatient Psych
TaraVista Behavioral Health Center · Harvard, MA
- Supervisor Operations, 1st Shift
DRS Power Technology, Inc. · Fitchburg, MA
- Quality Inspector
AIS · Leominster, MA
Regional Leaders
Chamber Partners
