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 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
We want to remind our Tourism Members of 2 very helpful ways we can promote your business but we need your help to do it.
1. EVENTS
Send us your calendar of special events. We want to expand our online calendar of events. You are able to post your event here. We will feature you events on visitnorthcentral.com which has seen a significant increase in traffic in the past year. We will also include selected events on our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram. (Our Facebook following ranks 3rd in the state among the 16 Regional Tourist Councils.) Whenever possible we will also feature upcoming events on our email newsletter.
2. PHOTOS
We are also working on expanding our photo files. We have constant need for updated photos for our:
If you have any questions, please contact Vicky Tippawong at . Thanks you for your ongoing support of all our marketing efforts to promote North Central Mass.
Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | Worcester County | Local Business | Visit North Central Massachusetts | Visit North Central Local Tourism
Here is a recap of efforts over the Spring from the Chamber’s destination marketing arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM).
Website
We continue to see strong growth in our website traffic to our tourism website – Visitnorthcentral.com. Users for FY24 are up 54.99% compared to the same timeframe the previous year and pageviews are up 54.66%. We are averaging about 18,237 pageviews each month for FY24. Furthermore, efforts are underway to align the content of Visit North Central’s seasonal landing pages with our SEO strategy to ensure consistency with its SEM campaign.
Tourism Advertising
We have continued with our efforts to effectively promote the region through a combination of print and digital advertising tactics tailored to our targeted markets. Our winter & spring campaigns have been featured on AAA Northeast, Boston Magazine, Boston Spirit, Hearst WCVB, LocaliQ, and MassLive. We actively engaged with travelers at the Dream Destination Travel Show held in Springfield this April, and we’re gearing up to participate once more in October. These efforts underscore our commitment to showcasing the region as a desirable travel destination.
Branding
As we transition into spring and summer, we are collaborating with photographers improve the Chamber’s photo library to capture the essence of North Central Massachusetts, focusing on its vibrant restaurant scene, exciting events, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.
Social Media
Our Visit North Central Massachusetts Facebook & Instagram accounts have a combined following of 39,217. Our ongoing priority is to expand our social media reach and nurture meaningful engagement with our audience.
Shoulder Season Campaign
In collaboration with two other Regional Tourism Councils, we have been continuing to implement an off-season marketing campaign funded from a federal grant. We have advertising campaigns with Hearst Digital Story Studio, Yankee Magazine and several regional publications.
Public Relations
As part of the shoulder season campaign, we hired CM Communications, a Boston-based PR Agency that specializes in destination marketing, to assist us with generating more interest in the three regions among the travel media and other travel influencers. Visit North Central Massachusetts hosted Press Familiarization Trips in February and March as part of a tour of Central Massachusetts. The tour of our region included visits to Great Wolf New England, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Wachusett Brewery, Letz Rage, the Icon Museum and Fitchburg Art Museum. The Fam Trips, attended by travel writers, regional bloggers and social media influencers specializing in ‘Family Travel’ and “Arts & Culture” also included stops in the Discover Central MA and MetroWest areas.
MA Office Of Travel & Tourism
Several members of the Chamber staff attended the MA Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism in early April in Boston. This was the first statewide tourism conference since before COVID and provided excellent networking opportunities with other tourism leaders and state officials, as well as valuable seminars on a variety of topics, including public relations, AI and sports marketing. The Chamber also met this spring with the new Director of the Mass 250th Celebration to review ways to coordinate the event with the celebration surrounding Johnny Appleseed’s 250th Birthday.
Visitor Center
Our Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center in Lancaster is entering its busy season. We have continued to make improvements to the center, including investing in a new electronic door counter to give us more accurate estimates of traffic at the center, and adding an additional National Park style informational sign on the grounds. A new furnace is scheduled to be installed this Spring. Our vision is to not only be the best visitor center in the state, but to also transform the center into a destination in its own right that provides an engaging experience and encourages visitors to learn more about the region’s communities and local attractions. Retail sales at the gift shop are up modestly about 5%. We had 28,176 visitors at the center from January to April 30. Our visitor count has been going up each month, and we expect the numbers to climb much higher now that we are entering our busy season.
Email Newsletter
We recently launched a monthly Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM) subscription based email newsletter to help promote the region to visitors. The our VNCM email list already has 2,897 subscribers and has an average open rate of 49% and click through rate of 9%.
Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | Worcester County | Local Business | Visit North Central Massachusetts | Visit North Central Local Tourism | Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center | Small Town Economy | Community Development | Business Growth | Visit North Central Massachusetts Tourism Updates
MANUFACTURING COUNCIL: In March. we launched the Manufacturing Council of North Central Massachusetts to enhance the Chamber’s support of the manufacturing industry and the regional economy. The council operates as a special interest group within the Chamber and is open to members and non-members working or interested in learning more about the manufacturing industry. Members will have the opportunity to network with peers, participate in tours of manufacturing facilities to learn best practices, attend quarterly meetings featuring experts in the industry, gain exclusive access to policy leaders, and collectively advocate for the industry. The first meeting of the council was held in March at Burkart-Phelan, Inc in Shirley. Christine Nolan, director of the Mass Center for Advanced Manufacturing was the featured speaker at the March meeting. A tour of Burkart-Phelan, Inc. was also included as part of the program. The next quarterly program is scheduled for June 3 and will feature a legislative briefing geared towards manufacturers. Members interested in participating should contact Valerie Bruno at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or via email at .
NEW LOANS: The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the Chamber’s economic development arm, has approved and closed 13 loans for a total of $594,500 for the year to date through April. The majority of the loans were micro-loans made through our traditional lending programs and focused on supporting start-up and existing small businesses in need of capital. These loans leveraged $50,095 of private borrower funds and from our banking partners. The RBIF loan was the largest loan at $250,000 (See next section for details). The NCMDC has another $1,405,000 in leads/deals in its pipeline and another $200,000 in loans approved, but not yet closed. We currently have a total of 96 loans in our loan portfolio with a total principal balance of $3,027,337.92.
REGIONAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND: The loan granted through the Regional Business Investment Fund (RBIF) for $250,000 was made to a developer and owner of a three-story mixed use building in Downtown Gardner. The funding provided under the RBIF will be used to fit up commercial space in the building for use as a restaurant. The developer is also converting the top floors into 14 units of housing. This loan is leveraged with an additional $1.9 million in financing from a traditional lender.
LATINX OUTREACH: As part of our effort to reach the LatinX community, we have strengthened our ties with organizations such as LABO (Latin American Business Organization) and Amplify Latin X. We participated in the Annual LABO Expo at the DCU Center on Saturday, April 27 as an exhibitor and will be attending Amplify LatinX’s annual Latino Summit on May 21 as guests. On a local level, the Chamber/NCMDC sponsored an event hosted by Fitchburg based nonprofit organization “Centro Celeste” on April 20. Centro Celeste is a Uruguayan Non-Profit organization aimed to advance the dense Uruguayan population of North Central Massachusetts.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Our economic development team continues to provide guidance and support to existing and start-up businesses. For year to date, our team has provided 1,067 hours of technical assistance. We also continue to connect our clients to partners such as NewVue Communities, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE) for services such as business plans, projections, marketing plans, growth and others subjects. In addition, we also continue to connect with professionals who can provide technical assistance beyond the scope of what we can do directly, including services for marketing, public relations, website/media design, bookkeeping and legal.
ONLINE TRAINING: In the Spring, we launched Initiate Prosperity, an on-line technical assistance program. Initiate is a proven online technical assistance tool with over 300 resources to include interactive tools, templates, videos and guides, also provided in Spanish. To date, we have had 13 small businesses that have signed to take advantage of the platform. Access to the platform is complementary for Chamber members and NCMDC clients to use. Email our team at to request access to the online platform.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS: The NCMDC continues to offer scholarship mini-grants between $500 – $5,000 to our borrowers to assist with technical assistance. These Scholarship Grants can be used to pay for services such as training on social media platforms, understanding bookkeeping and QuickBooks, learning to create a strategic marketing plan, and more training opportunities provided by our trusted consultants. Since January, we have approved one new grant to a small business for software management training.
Christina DiRusso, vice president of commercial lending at bankHometown, was recognized with the NCMDC’s Banker of the Year Award in recognition of her active involvement and support of the NCMDC.
ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS RECEPTION AND RESOURCE SHOWCASE: We hosted our inaugural Entrepreneur Awards Reception and Resource Showcase event on March 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel. The event brought together NCMDC loan clients, entrepreneurs, community leaders, chamber members and resource partners for an evening of celebration and networking. From lending institutions to professional service providers, attendees had access to many resources and expertise to help them overcome challenges and achieve their entrepreneurial goals. The evening culminated with an awards presentation, where several NCMDC loan clients were recognized for their remarkable achievements and contributions. NewVue Communities was acknowledged as our Community Partner of the Year and Christina DiRusso was recognized as the 2024 Banker of the Year. The reception proved a valuable opportunity for attendees to build new connections, find solutions for their businesses, and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels economic growth. Thank you to the sponsors that helped support this new event.
WELCOME SIGNS: As part of our community development efforts, we once again were able to sponsor the construction of a number of welcome signs in member communities. Signs were recently completed in Lunenburg and Pepperell, and we are looking to continue this initiative in several more communities in the coming months.
Hundreds of college students, high school students and a diverse mix of job seekers from throughout the region were able to connect with employers and resource providers about employment and career opportunities at last year’s Work North Central; Career & Hiring Event
CAREER & HIRING EVENT: We have tentatively scheduled the Work North Central Career & Hiring Event for October 9, 2024 at the Mount Wachusett Community College Campus in Gardner. We are expanding the annual hiring event to include more career exploration. We are hoping to include more schools this year and other organizations that focus on supporting individuals with employments, including supported employment agencies, veterans’ groups and others. Members interested in participating should contact Valerie Bruno at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or via email at to learn more or to reserve space at the event.
JOBS BOARD: Nearly 300 jobs are currently listed on our WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board and over 12,000 jobs have been posted since we launched the online resource. The jobs board continues to be one of the most visited sections of our website. We also continue to post the jobs on a Work North Central Facebook page that we have established. Postings are complimentary for members. Contact us if you would like more information. Members can visit WorkNorthCentral.com to post their opportunities or email them to Sabbra Reyes at and she will post them for you.
SOLAR: From its inception in August 2014 through March 2024 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 13,610,346 kWh of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program. The collective savings to participants totals $2,806,006.
CHAMBER GIFT CARDS: We currently have 34 members merchants that are participating in the Gift Local eGift Card program. Since January 1, we have sold 52 gift cards valued at $2,180. During the same timeframe, 29 cards valued at $909.72 were redeemed at participating small businesses. Members interested in participating in the Gift Card program should contact Maureen Babcock for more information at 978.353.7600 ext. 222 or email . There is no charge to participate and accept the Gift Cards.
MEMBER DISCOUNTS: Members interested in participating in the member to member discount program should contact Maureen Babcock at . This program is designed to encourage members to buy from other members to save money, increase visibility and promote new business for their company. We ask that any discounts offered be exclusive, or nearly so, to the member-to-member program.
Fitchburg | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce | Chamber Updates | Manufacturing Council | Chamber Updates | New Loans | Regional Business Investment Fund | LatinX Outreach | Technical Assistance | Technical Assistance Scholarship Grants | LatinX | Online Training | Entrepreneur Awards Receptions and Resource Showcase | Welcome Signs | Career & Hiring Event | Jobs Board | Solar | Chamber Gift Cards | Member Discounts
The North Central Golf Tour: Friday on the Fairway at Templewood Golf Course
July 31, 2026
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
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
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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