Moon Hill Brewing Check

Chamber’s Economic Development Arm Closes Out a Successful Year

Reviewing loan filesThe Chamber’s economic development affiliate, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), completed its fiscal year on September 30, 2020. 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 in North Central Massachusetts with loans and technical assistance.  The NCMDC provided a total of 47 loans in FY2020 totaling $1,130,401. These included 31 conventional microloans totaling $852,500 and 16 loans under the SBA’s Payroll Protection Program for $277,901. The average size of the loans was $24,051 with the smallest loan at $2,607 and the largest at $54,177. Our conventional microloans were leveraged by another $495,626 in financing from local banks and credit unions and $188,249 in equity from borrowers, and helped retain 169 jobs and create 22 new jobs.  Our PPP loans helped retain another 47 jobs by covering critical payroll and operating expenses to businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  During the year, the NCMDC also provided over 1,200 hours of direct technical assistance to start-up and existing small businesses and hosted several successful workshops and forums in partnership with the Chamber. The NCMDC also launched an Economic Recovery Fund to provide emergency loans with $415,000 in contributions and secured grant funding from the state and the Mass Growth Capital Corporation to assist with its efforts to provide technical assistance to small businesses.  The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, please visit www.choosenorthcentral.com.

October Leads Awareness of Manufacturing in North Central Massachusetts

Chamber to spotlight manufacturers with special events

As  part  of  national  manufacturing  month,  the  Chamber  and  our  economic  development  arm,  the  North  Central  Massachusetts  Development  Corporation  will  host  a  series  of  events  and  programs  to  promote  manufacturing  and  highlight  the  importance  of  the  industry  to  the  economy  of  the  region.

“Manufacturing  is  alive  and  well  in  North  Central  Massachusetts,”  said  Roy  Nascimento,  president  and  CEO  of  the  Chamber.  “Supporting  careers  in  advanced  manufacturing  and  serving  as  fierce  advocates  for  local  manufacturers  are  a  priority  for  our  Chamber.”

The  Chamber  plans  on  coordinating  tours  of  local  manufacturers  as  well  as  highlighting  how  rewarding  careers  in  manufacturing  can  be  through  a  social  media  campaign,  showcasing  Chamber  produced  manufacturing  videos  and  hosting  special  events.  The  Chamber  will  be  partnering  with  local  manufacturers,  Mount  Wachusett  Community  College  and  MassHire  North  Central  Workforce  Board  in  these  efforts.  Stay  tuned  throughout  the  month  of  October  for  more  information  on  these  events.  For  more  information  visit  www.NorthCentralMass.com  or  contact  Sandie  Cataldo  at  [email protected].

 

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – North Central Massachusetts Manufacturing Bus Tour

Special manufacturing bus tour for Superintendents, legislators and media in the North Central Massachusetts region. The tour will visit and tour several local manufacturers in the region and showcase the region’s advanced manufacturing, high quality workforce, quality of life and opportunities in North Central Massachusetts.

 

Thursday, October 11, 2018

 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Business After Hours – Fitchburg Art Museum

185 Elm St, Fitchburg, MA

Join us to celebrate the manufacturing industry during a special edition of our Business After Hours series at the Fitchburg Art Museum’s newest exhibit – Furniture. The museum’s newest exhibit pays tribute to region’s industrial heritage of furniture manufacturing and will feature a variety of pieces, both new and antique, that were made locally!

Thursday, October 25, 2018

7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – CEO Unplugged featuring Ray Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International

The Chamber’s CEO Unplugged series gives young professionals access to local leaders for a chance to connect and learn about their journey to success. Each session provides a chance to meet with a local CEO in their workplace to discuss professional development such as leadership values, entrepreneurship, investment in community and career paths. In honor of manufacturing month, the October edition features Ray Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International, a global leader in the manufacturing of wood processing equipment and one of the largest manufacturers in Fitchburg. Attendance is open to any young professionals within the Chamber membership. But, seats will be limited to no more than 12 people. The program is free, but pre-registration is required.

Student Manufacturing Tours  – Various Dates and Locations

Throughout the month of October, the  North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will  be  partnering  with  local  manufacturers,  Mount  Wachusett  Community  College, the MassHire  North  Central  Workforce  Board and other partners to host a series of manufacturing tours for local students from  various high schools in North Central Massachusetts. These efforts are intended to showcase careers in advanced manufacturing and dispel old, negative myths and sterotypes that exist about manufacturing jobs.

North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation Awarded Workforce Development Grant

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) was awarded an $8,000 matching AMP it up! grant from MassDevelopment to support its efforts to respond to the region’s shortage of skilled workers in the manufacturing industry.  Working in partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg State University, the region’s public schools, and local manufacturers, the NCMDC will utilize these funds to support its efforts to raise awareness of career paths in the advanced manufacturing field.

“We’re very excited about this opportunity to continue our efforts with our partners in the community and address the region’s workforce challenges,” stated Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its development arm the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “These are high skilled jobs that attract employers and serve as a gate way to the middle class for many people” he continued. “Ensuring the next generation is ready to fill these roles is absolutely essential.”

“There’s a stigma attached to these careers,” explained the NCMDC’s Public Affairs Manager, Christopher McDermott. “Peoples’ perception of the industry is largely based upon what it was a century ago. They don’t realize that careers in a modern facility involve far more skill and growth than they did before.”

The grant will be used to continue the momentum sustained from receiving this grant in previous years by continuing outreach to audiences that are not typically associated with careers in manufacturing and aims to target a new audience for a potential future workforce.

Outreach will highlight the exciting, technology-driven, well-paying career options in manufacturing, dispel common myths about the industry, and bolster the prospective employee base for these quality jobs with North Central Massachusetts companies.

MassDevelopment established the Advanced Manufacturing Program (AMP) to address the loss of skilled labor and knowledge that will arise as Baby Boomers leave the workforce. The problem is particularly acute in North Central Massachusetts, which is home to over 440 manufacturing firms and relies on this industry for roughly a quarter of its employment. Regionally, roughly 32% of those employed in manufacturing are over the age of 55, while 18 to 35 year olds rank manufacturing dead last among industries in which they would choose to begin a career.

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 Main Street Bank Charitable Foundation awarded The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation a $30,000 grant

The Main Street Bank Charitable Foundation awarded The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) a $30,000 grant for the Economic Advancement Fund to implement and expand the regional economic development program.

The NCMDC is the principle resource for the region in terms of economic development; lending and financing; and implementing a multi-faceted regional economic development strategy to enhance economic development services while expanding lending capacity to accommodate the region’s unique industry mix.

“We are very grateful to Main Street Bank for their support of our Economic Advancement Fund”, said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the NCMDC. “They have been a longstanding partner and this contribution demonstrates their continued confidence and commitment to our collective efforts to advance the economy in North Central Massachusetts.”

“Main Street Bank is proud to support the Economic Advancement Fund”, said Wally Dwyer, President of Main Street Bank. “We have enjoyed a long and mutually rewarding relationship with the North Central Mass Development Corporation.  We believe they are a valuable asset for our customers and our communities.”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR THE PURCHASE, RENOVATION & REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HISTORIC MEETING HOUSE – WESTMINSTER, MAThe Town of Westminster Massachusetts is requesting proposals for the acquisition, renovation and redevelopment of a most noteworthy and remarkable town-owned historic building:  the Historic Meetinghouse built in 1839, located at 3 Bacon Street.  Used as the Town Hall until 2006, the building is located within the socially, culturally and economically emerging Village Center District. The building offers a unique opportunity for a high-quality redevelopment (residential, retail, office or a mixture of uses) that can seamlessly integrate itself into the fabric of our Village Center and be a community asset for years to come. Deadline for RFP submission is Friday February 16th, 2018. To obtain a copy of the RFP, please contact Town Planner Stephen Wallace (978-874-7414 or [email protected] ) or visit the Town of Westminster municipal website: www.westminster-ma.gov

The Town of Westminster Massachusetts is requesting proposals for the acquisition, renovation and redevelopment of a most noteworthy and remarkable town-owned historic building:  the Historic Meetinghouse built in 1839, located at 3 Bacon Street.  Used as the Town Hall until 2006, the building is located within the socially, culturally and economically emerging Village Center District. The building offers a unique opportunity for a high-quality redevelopment (residential, retail, office or a mixture of uses) that can seamlessly integrate itself into the fabric of our Village Center and be a community asset for years to come.

Deadline for RFP submission is Friday February 16th, 2018. To obtain a copy of the RFP, please contact Town Planner Stephen Wallace (978-874-7414 or [email protected] ) or visit the Town of Westminster municipal website: www.westminster-ma.gov