Funding to Gardner Downtown Crossing, LLC, for development of residential apartments, restaurant
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, today announced it has provided $250,000 to Gardner Downtown Crossing, LLC, under the NCMDC’s Regional Business Investment Fund (RBIF).
The funding will support the development of commercial space in a mixed-use building located at 25 Main Street in the city. The plans include six one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors, and a 5,000 square foot restaurant on the first floor.
Jonathan Bombaci, a redeveloper and owner of Gardner Downtown Crossing, is no stranger to redeveloping older, outdated buildings into modern apartments and commercial space in the city, as his team is currently redeveloping 2-10 Parker Street.
“The building at 25 Main Street is at the crossroads of downtown Gardner and provides much opportunity to develop living and dining spaces that will complement the current landscape while also providing the city with additional residents and visitors who will dine or call 25 Main their home in the future,” said Bombaci. “The RBIF is a viable lending option for us to cover costs and expenses that are typically not available for financing, and we are grateful to the North Central Development Corporation and the Chamber for offering this type of loan to us.”
The RBIF can be used by developers for engineering, soft costs, site work, infrastructure, and hard costs for specific developments in the 26 communities that make up the North Central region and differs from other loan programs offered through the NCMDC. The loans are very flexible and geared towards real estate projects, with flexible repayment terms, and can be used to cover soft costs and other expenses not traditionally covered by lenders. Also, unlike other loan programs, the RBIF can be used for housing projects and non-profits are also eligible.
The project has the support of City of Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson and local officials, and is considered an important redevelopment project in the downtown area of the city.
“The team at Gardner Downtown Crossing has already made a significant investment in the downtown area and we are looking forward to working with them as they redevelop the property at 25 Main Street,” said Mayor Nicholson. “We are grateful that Gardner Downtown Crossing sees Gardner as a place with tremendous opportunity for growth and we will be here to help assist them toward their success along the way.
The 40th Annual Meeting and Business Luncheon for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg.
This annual event celebrates business people working together to ensure a bright future for North Central Massachusetts and presents an opportunity for the region’s business and community leaders to build camaraderie among peers. In addition to the Chamber’s annual recognition awards and commencement for the Community Leadership Institute Class of 2024, a tabletop Business Expo will also be offered to showcase local businesses. The expo provides an opportunity for exhibitors to reach hundreds of business and community leaders from throughout North Central Massachusetts. The Business Expo will begin at 10:30 a.m.; the Annual Meeting and Luncheon will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and the Business Expo will close out the day from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.
The event is funded by the generous support of various businesses and organizations, including:
Annual Meeting Sponsor:
Fidelity Bank
Business Expo Sponsors:
MassHire North Central Workforce Board and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation
Supporting Sponsors:
AIS, Inc.; Enterprise Bank; Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority; Fitchburg State University; GFA Federal Credit Union; Great Wolf Lodge; IC Credit Union; Leominster Credit Union; Main Street Bank; Micro Machine & Electronics, Inc.; Mount Wachusett Community College; Rollstone Bank & Trust; and Staples.
Anthony Everett, Anchor of WCVB Channel 5 – Chronicle
This year’s keynote speaker is Anthony Everett, the 14-time Emmy Award-winning anchor of WCVB Channel 5’s nightly newsmagazine, “Chronicle.” Everett has hosted “Chronicle,” the nation’s longest-running, locally produced newsmagazine, since 2005. On the show, Everett explores the “Main Streets and Back Roads” of New England, serving as part storyteller and part ambassador for its best offerings. He has also served as co-anchor of NewsCenter 5 at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. Additionally, he has served as WCVB’s senior correspondent for major national events and breaking news and has regularly contributed to special reports for all WCVB newscasts. His strong reporting skills have helped WCVB garner multiple prestigious awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Awards for News Series and News Documentary in 2013, the Associated Press Awards for Investigative Reporting and Documentary Reporting in 2012, and the National Headliner Award for Breaking News in 2003.
Everett began his tenure at WCVB’s NewsCenter 5 in 1990 as a general assignment reporter. Prior to joining Channel 5, Everett was a general assignment reporter and weekday anchor on the 6 and 11 PM newscasts at WVIT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Hartford, CT. Everett began his professional broadcasting career in 1984 as a sports reporter and anchor at KSPN-TV in Aspen, Colo. He later became KSPN’s news director and remained with the station until 1987.
Everett is a graduate of Tufts University in Medford, MA. He has taught journalism classes at Tufts and currently serves as a guest lecturer in their Film and Media Studies Program. He has also lectured and spoken at Boston College, Harvard Business School, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and many other educational and community groups throughout New England. Everett is an FAA-certified and licensed drone pilot and enjoys aerial photography, skiing, cycling, boating, and fishing as hobbies.
Registrations for the Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon are being accepted through June 19, by contacting the Chamber at 978.353.7600, ext. 222 or ext. 235, or via email at . Registration is also available online. The cost is just $55 per person for members and $70 per person for non-members and includes lunch. Reservations are required. Supporting sponsorships, expo tables and tables of ten are also available.
$46,000 awarded to the region’s most outstanding high school seniors.
Families, friends, fellow graduates, and business and community leaders recently gathered for the annual Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce scholarship program to recognize the region’s most outstanding high school seniors. The awardees were acknowledged during the Annual Scholar’s Breakfast held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg.
Proceeds from the breakfast program benefit the Chamber Foundation and help support Chamber scholarships in future years. Maria Milagros, an award-winning speaker, award nominated author, TEDx speaker, storyteller and empowerment life coach, led the ceremony and delivered the keynote address.
For the Class of 2024, a total of $46,000 in scholarships were awarded from either endowments or funds provided by local companies and individuals. The Scholarship Committee selected the recipients from among college-bound seniors who live in one of the 27 communities served by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce based on a student’s overall merit, including academics, sports, volunteer work and employment.
Twenty-three scholarships of $2,000 were provided to the following seniors:
Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the Chamber Foundation has awarded more than a million dollars in scholarships to more than 680 students. Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, with scholarships endowed through the Chamber Foundation often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community whose philanthropy and commitment to the community have helped shape the region.
“The North Central region is exceptional in its generosity, investment and commitment to supporting its future leaders,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “These scholarships are one way we can recognize local students as they continue their education through the support of organizations and individuals who help make these scholarships possible for our graduating seniors.”
The Chamber wishes to thank the Scholar’s Breakfast Premier Sponsor: Rollstone Bank & Trust; Recipient Ticket Sponsor: Great Wolf Lodge; Supporting Sponsors: AIS, Inc. and Steel-Fab Inc.; Program Sponsor: North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation; Center Piece Sponsor: Leominster Credit Union; Gift Sponsor: Fitchburg State University; as well as the many Chamber members who contributed towards the scholarships.
The Chamber Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities. Funds raised by the Chamber Foundation are utilized primarily for education and workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts.
For more information on the Chamber Foundation of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce scholarship program or to view a list of the named scholarships, please click here or call 978.353.7600, ext. 225.
As we welcome Summer, 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.
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%.
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.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Massachusetts following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to severe storms and flooding that occurred on Sept. 11-13, 2023.
“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Massachusetts small businesses and residents impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”
The disaster declaration covers Bristol and Worcester counties in Massachusetts, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth in Massachusetts; Tolland and Windham in Connecticut; Cheshire and Hillsborough in New Hampshire; and Bristol, Newport and Providence in Rhode Island.
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SB can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
Customer Service Representatives at SBA’s Business Recovery Centers will assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. The Centers will operate as indicated below until further notice. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Recovery Center in advance.
Business Recovery Center (BRC) Worcester County
North Central Chamber of Commerce
860 South Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC) Bristol County
Coyle Cassidy High School
2 Hamilton Street
Taunton, MA 02780
Opening: Tuesday, May 21, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 2.375% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.5% for homeowners and renters, with terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
“The opportunity to include measures to help prevent future damage from occurring is a significant benefit of SBA’s disaster loan program, said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “I encourage everyone to consult their contractors and emergency management mitigation specialists for ideas and apply for an SBA disaster loan increase for funding.” With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant, apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 15, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 18, 2025.
Prepare for an exceptional takeover of Fitchburg City Hall this Juneteenth. CoFF33 Corp is thrilled to announce the inaugural Buy Black Market Juneteenth Celebration, scheduled for Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This festival-like event will utilize every corner of the historic venue for activities that entertain, educate, and empower.
This vibrant event will combine the communal spirit of a neighborhood cookout with the entrepreneurial energy of Black Wall Street, creating an exhilarating environment where education meets jubilation. With a dynamic lineup of local entrepreneurs, artists, and thinkers, the celebration is set to be a focal point of culture and community connection.
Event Details:
Location: Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main St, Fitchburg, MA
Date & Time: June 19th, 2024, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Event Highlights:
Marketplace Vibes on the First Floor: Stroll through a bustling market featuring local Black-owned businesses showcasing everything from artisan crafts to tech innovations.
Musical Soul on the Second Floor: Let loose with performances from DJ Renzo, Provenance, Nasih, and J. Jordan of JoE GriZzLy, alongside an array of spoken word artists who embody the rhythmic heart of African American culture.
Engaging Minds on the Third Floor: Engage with speakers like Demetrice Phillips, Rev. Annie Belmer, and other luminaries who will delve into topics from Fitchburg’s role in the abolitionist movement to the ongoing influence of Black-owned enterprises.
The Buy Black Market Juneteenth Celebration is more than just a gathering; it’s a platform for honoring the roots of Juneteenth, celebrating today’s achievements of the Black community, and fostering the growth of tomorrow’s leaders. The event is open to all and welcomes the public with suggested donations at the entrance to support local Black-owned businesses and community empowerment initiatives.
This program is supported by the Fitchburg Creative City Partnership, funded by MassDevelopment/TDI and the Barr Foundation as part of the larger Creative Cities initiative. This support underscores the event’s significance in fostering community engagement and economic development.
Come be part of something historic — celebrate, learn, and connect at the heart of Fitchburg!
For more details or to get involved as a vendor or performer, please visit our website at https://www.coff33corp.org/buyblackmarket or contact us at .
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce announces financing of $150,000 to Mark Lafrennie of Gardner, MA for the purchase of the lawn care business portion of J. Martin Landscaping of Westminster, MA.
J. Martin Landscaping, in business for over 30 years, offers lawncare and landscape construction services, and operates a retail garden center—The Brook Bound Nursery and Garden Center at 170 State Road East.
Under the terms of the sale agreement, Mark Lafrennie, a 20-year employee and Manager of J. Martin Landscaping, is purchasing the lawn care portion of the business, which includes lawn care, plantings, seeding, clean-up, mulch application, show plowing, sanding and salting. The new business will be known as M. Lafrennie Landscaping and be located at 530 Pearl Street in Gardner, MA.
Jay Martin will continue to own and operate the landscape construction and retail garden center in Westminster.
“We are thrilled that the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation could support Mark with the funds needed to keep this well-established business moving forward,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “With a strong client base and excellent reputation, it is wonderful to see respected local businesses change hands successfully, keeping the spirit of small business ownership alive and thriving in North Central Massachusetts.”
As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.
“I am very grateful to the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation for helping me achieve this milestone of business ownership,” remarked Lafrennie. “For the last 20 years, Jay Martin has been a great friend and mentor, and I am proud to carry on his legacy of great service to our loyal customers.”
For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.
North Central Massachusetts Chamber President & CEO Roy Nascimento has been appointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 (CCC100).
The committee advises the U.S. Chamber’s board of directors on policy, recommends programming and strengthens outreach to the chamber and business community.
“CCC100 has a long-standing reputation as one of the most prestigious appointments in the chamber community,” said chamber vice president Sara Armstrong.
“These appointments reflect our continued dedication to naming diverse, high-profile leaders to serve on this important committee.”
Nascimento was one of seven experienced chamber leaders appointed to CCC100:
Chellie Cameron, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Chris DiPentima, President and CEO, CBIA
Will Green, President and CEO, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Roy Nascimento, IOM, CCE, President & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Andrea Reay, IOM, President and CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce
Vanessa Green Sinders, President and CEO, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Michael Skelton, President and CEO, Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Bruno as Manager of Events and Programs. In this role, Ms. Bruno will be responsible for planning and executing the many events and programs of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations. These include signature events such as the Good Morning North Central breakfast series; Annual Meeting; Legislative and Candidates Reception; Congressional Luncheon; Economic Forecast Breakfast; and numerous other workshops, seminars and special events geared towards supporting our members and advancing the region.
“At the core of our membership benefits are the robust programs and events offering the opportunity for members to exchange ideas, expand horizons, and develop business relationships,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “With Valerie’s unique background of being an entrepreneur, our members can expect robust event and programming opportunities geared with the business and community leader in mind under her leadership.”
Ms. Bruno brings a diverse background in events and entrepreneurship. She joins the Chamber from Originally Crafted Events, LLC, a small business she founded in 2020 specializing in the production and execution of small- to large-scale events. She previously worked at Redi, serving as Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist, where she was responsible for identifying and planning community and industry events.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Framingham State University and an associate’s degree in business administration from Middlesex Community College. While in college, she was active on the Entrepreneur Advisory Board, and was recognized in 2016 with the Entrepreneur Award. An active member of her community, she currently resides in Fitchburg.
Existing members or businesses interested in learning more about the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s events and programs can reach Valerie at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or via email at .