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 was saddened to hear of the passing of local business and community leader Ron Ansin. Mr. Ansin was a past Chair of the Board of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and was very active in the Chamber and community. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of business and philanthropic leadership, helping to make North Central Massachusetts a better and more vibrant place. He was instrumental in the Chamberโs economic development programs, contributing towards important initiatives that helped to advance our regional economy and are still playing a role today. He was the first to recognize the positive impact that tourism could have locally and encouraged the development of the Chamberโs tourism efforts in North Central Massachusetts. He was also influential in the construction of the Chamber building, which opened in 2006, and numerous local students have received a helping hand with continuing their education through his commitment to the Chamberโs Annual Scholarship Program. In addition to the Chamber, Mr. Ansin also supported many local institutions ranging from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, Applewild School, Fitchburg State University, Mount Wachusett Community College, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts and UMass Health Alliance Hospital to name just a few. He also played a pivotal role in establishing Enterprise Bank. He touched many peopleโs lives in countless ways. Our deepest sympathy is with the Ansin family, and with all of those who were personally touched by his legacy.
James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D., President, Mount Wachusett Community College has been elected Chair of the Chamberโs Board of Directors for 2023-2024. The announcement was made at the chamberโs Annual Meeting on June 15, 2023.
Dr. Vander Hooven was named president of Mount Wachusett Community College in 2017. Headquartered in Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a public, two-year college that was founded in 1963 to serve the people of North Central Massachusetts. The college is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and offers 70+ credit-bearing degree and certificate programs, non-credit, personal enrichment classes for lifelong learners, and workforce development that includes custom, on-site training.
Dr. Vander Hooven earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from The Ohio State University and his Master of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Wyoming. In 2009, he was awarded his Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Maine, where he focused on student access.
In addition to his involvement with the chamber, Dr. Vander Hooven also serves on a number of boards and charitable organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg/Leominster, United Way of North Central Massachusetts, Wachusett Business Incubator and the GFA Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee.
He succeeds Christopher McCarthy, president of Fidelity Bank who now moves to the position of Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.
โI am incredibly honored to have been elected Chair of this dynamic and respected organization that plays such a leadership role in advancing North Central Massachusetts,โ expressed Dr. Vander Hooven, โI am excited to continue Chris McCarthyโs efforts and look forward to working alongside an incredible Board and staff to make sure the Chamber remains a strong resource for our business community.โ
Vander Hooven was first elected to the Chamberโs Board of Directors in 2018 and has held several leadership positions including Vice Chair, Treasurer and has served on the Chamberโs Leadership Council, the One North Central leadership committee and the executive committee. As the Chair of the Chamberโs Board of Directors, Dr. Vander Hooven will work with the Board, Chamber staff, and membership to champion the Chamber in its mission to serve the regionโs business community.
โJim has served as an important member of the Chamberโs Board of Directors and Executive Committee for several years and is a valued leader in the community,โ noted Roy Nascimento, Chamber president & CEO. โWe are fortunate to have his respected leadership as we continue to advance the interests of our members and work together to promote North Central Massachusetts.โ
In the same election, Barbara Mahoney, president & CEO of Leominster Credit Union was elected Vice-Chair and Dr. Richard Lapidus, president of Fitchburg State University was elected to the position of Treasurer. Board members elected for new terms were Nick Haritos, president & CEO of AIS, Inc. in Leominster; John Heroux, president of Micro Machine & Electronics in Leominster; and Nicole Moorshead, general manager of the Chocksett Inn in Sterling and the Colonial Hotel in Gardner.
Continuing current terms on the Board of Directors are Allie Catlin, co-owner of Smithโs Country Cheese in Winchendon; Jackie Cullen, co-owner of River Styx Brewing in Fitchburg; Tony Fields, president and owner of Cleartech Group in Leominster; Matthew Fournier, president of Elite Construction & Design in Fitchburg; Melissa Glenny, president of Franklin Professional Associates in Leominster; Michael Johansen, president & CEO of Bemis Associates in Shirley; Rachel Lopez, president & CEO of Resource Management, Inc in Fitchburg; Lori Richardson, president of Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts in Leominster; and Rodrigo Souza, owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse in Leominster.
Fitchburg | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce | Chamber Updates | Board of Directors | James L. Vander Hooven | Board of Directors | Barbara Mahoney, president & CEO of Leominster Credit Union | Dr. Richard Lapidus, President of Fitchburg State University | Nick Haritos, president & CEO of AIS, Inc. in Leominster | John Heroux, president of Micro Machine & Electronics in Leominster; and Nicole Moorshead, General manager of the Chocksett Inn | Allie Catlin, co-owner of Smithโs Country Cheese in Winchendon | Jackie Cullen, co-owner of River Styx Brewing in Fitchburg | Tony Fields, president and owner of Cleartech Group in Leominster | Matthew Fournier, president of Elite Construction & Design in Fitchburg | Melissa Glenny, president of Franklin Professional Associates in Leominster | Michael Johansen, president & CEO of Bemis Associates in Shirley | Rachel Lopez, president & CEO of Resource Management, Inc Fitchburg | Lori Richardson, President of Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts Leominster |ย Rodrigo Souza, owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse in Leominster.
During high energy price challenges, National Grid has partnered with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to support small businesses. We are pleased to announce the National Grid Small Business Energy Relief Grant, a one-time grant of $1,000 aimed at assisting eligible small business owners in overcoming financial obstacles.
Eligibility
Small Business Status: The business should have 150 employees or fewer and provide proof of business, such as a DBA Business Certificate or Articles of Organization. Additionally, submission of 2022 Business Taxes/Schedule C is required to demonstrate ongoing operations.
National Grid Customer: The business must be a National Grid customer for electric and/or gas services. Applicants must furnish the most recent National Grid Bill/Statement, showing the Business Name, Primary Business Address, and Account Number for verification purposes.
Qualifiers: The business must be located within one of the 27 communities serviced by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, as depicted here, or be a Member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber or a Loan Client of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC).
Grant Details:
Grant Amount: Successful applicants will receive a one-time grant of $1,000 to alleviate the financial burden of high energy prices.
Availability: Grants are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, providing timely support to eligible small businesses. Priority will be given to NCMDC Loan Clients and/or Chamber Members.
Application Requirements: Complete applications are essential, as partial or incomplete submissions will not secure a place in the grant allocation process.
Single Grant per Business: Only one grant will be provided per small business, ensuring fair distribution among eligible applicants.
Grant Decision and Disbursement: Successful applicants can expect to receive a check within one month of the grant decision, enabling prompt financial relief.
Application Period Closed – We are no longer accepting applications.
Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber | Business Growth | Business Development | Massachusetts Business Environment | Small Business Grants
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 Courseย
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
Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc., a food pantry and thrift shop, today welcomed The Paper Store employees to the non-profitโs Mechanic Street location to recognize a recent fundraiser supporting the non-profitโs mission to help those in the community survive and thrive.
The fundraiser, which was held in July, offered the opportunity for community members to purchase VIP Early Access tickets to The Paper Storeโs Warehouse Sale, with 100 percent of the early access tickets donated to Ginnyโs Helping Hand. The sold-out event welcomed more than 250 people and raised more than $6,000 for Ginnyโs Helping Hand. In addition to the financial donation, the organization also received $375 in donations from shoppers and non-perishable items. Additionally, six pallets worth of clothing donations were provided from The Paper Store following the sale to Ginnyโs Thrift Store.
In the week following the historic floods in the City of Leominster, The Paper Store again reached out to Ginnyโs Helping Hand to offer support. This time, the store donated a portion of its Leominsterโs location proceeds in the week following the flood to Ginnyโs Helping Hand, resulting in approximately $3,000 toward the organizationโs flood relief efforts.
โWe would like to thank The Paper Store for partnering with us and for their unwavering commitment to helping us provide much needed emergency resources for those in our community who need it most,โ said Brandon L. Robbins, executive director, Ginnyโs Helping Hand. โThis support will go a long way in helping the more than 2,000 clients we serve each month.โ
The Paper Store, which is located at Water Tower Plaza in Leominster, is a family-owned, specialty gift business offering an array of exclusive curated gifts, fashion, jewelry, home dรฉcor, kidsโ toys, stationery and more.
“The Paper Store was thrilled to partner with local Leominster charity Ginny’s Helping Hand as the beneficiary of our first annual Warehouse Sale. We are proud over $9,000 is going back into the community to help families struggling with food insecurity and with the additional funds for those who were affected by the floods,โ said Tom Anderson, president and CEO, The Paper Store.
Robert J. Morton, president and CEO of bankHometown, is kicking off the bankโs annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive for 2023 to help support local food pantries. The annual appeal is part of the bankโs charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the bankโs commitment to making a real difference in the neighborhoods it serves.
This marks the 20th year of the bankโs annual appeal, which invites bank customers, employees, and community members to donate money between November 1 and November 30 to help fight food insecurity. All donations up to $2,500 per customer will be matched dollar for dollar by bankHometown and the total raised will be divided among participating food pantries across Massachusetts and Connecticut in communities the bank serves. In 2022, through contributions and matching donations, the campaign raised over $66,000, and since inception has donated more than $331,000.
Donations of any amount are encouraged. As an added incentive to give, the bank offers those who donate the opportunity enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card, which will be awarded at each of its 16 locations.
โNeighbors Helping Neighbors shows how communities can come together to help others in need,โ said Morton. โbankHometown is proud to lead this annual giving tradition. We thank everyone who selflessly gives each year.โ
Those who wish to participate have until November 30 to make their donations. Checks should be made payable to โbankHometown Neighborsโ and can be dropped off at any bankHometown branch or mailed to:
Mary C. Mulrenin
Executive Secretary
bankHometown
31 Sutton Avenue
Oxford, MA 01450
A total of 16 food pantries will be supported this year and include:
Pictured left to right, Childcare Director Pamela Christian Ridings, Executive Director Lisa Welcome and School Age Childcare and Camp Director Chelsea deBettencourt.
Through its Community Impact Fund for 2023-24, UWNCM awarded $616,335 to 31 agencies, funding 40 programs. The Community Impact Fund is a long-standing UWNCM initiative that supports critical programs in the areas of Early Education and Youth Development, Basic Needs and Economic Opportunity &
Financial Literacy.
The latest round of grants was awarded in year three of a four-year cycle and is expected to make an impact for over 97,000 households based on results from the previous year, which saw a 32% increase in households served from year one. Funding will be spread throughout the 22 communities in UWNCMโs service area and support a diverse array of programs.
YMCA of Central Massachusetts โ Montachusett Branch in Fitchburg received grants for three programs that will provide enrichment opportunities for children from pre-K to youth as well as support services for families. The agencyโs Executive Director, Lisa Welcome, says, โWe are so grateful to UWNCM for their on-going support of our initiatives for children and families. This funding will go a long way to further our cause to strengthen the foundations of community through programs and services that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.โ
UWNCM also recently distributed $182,810 to 13 agencies through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educationโs (DESE) After School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Program. Funds were made available through a $4.5 million grant awarded by DESE to a regional effort of United Ways located in Central, North Central and South-Central Massachusetts with the goal of helping after school and out-of-school time programs rebound from impacts of COVID-19.
The most recent distribution is the sixth round of grants awarded and will support after school programs for the 2024 school year, from enabling youth to learn about themselves through nature, to providing positive female role models to young girls in underserved communities. In total, UWNCM has distributed nearly $1.4 million in DESE grants to local non-profit organizations, public school systems and towns and municipalities, with additional rounds to come.
The Guild of St. Agnes, based in Worcester, received a DESE grant to bring the Snapology program, which introduces students to STEM topics through creative play, to the greater Gardner area.
Katie Sullivan, Director of Communications & Development, Guild of St. Agnes, says, โOur summer Snapology program supported by UWNCM was a huge success! The children love being actively engaged in STEM/STEAM teambuilding projects using toys from LEGOยฎ and KโNex along with programming technologies. This program is a highlight at several of our school age sites, and we are extremely excited to have them back duringย this school year!โ
Speaking about both grant programs, UWNCM Director of Community Impact Judy Tomlinson adds, โWith these two initiatives, UWNCM is thrilled to support agencies that are tackling critical problems in our community by offering both well-proven and innovative solutions. As always, we are grateful to our donors, community partners and volunteers for joining with us to provide immediate relief to people in need while building a brighter future for all.โ
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.
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. โWe operate as our clientsโ silent partner after business hours,โ says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the companyโs expansion into North Central MA. โWe 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.โ
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 whatโs happening across North Central Massachusetts. Follow us on social media for the latest photos, updates, and stories.
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