|
We've all seen the stories about the high cost of housing in Massachusetts and the outmigration of young talent currently occurring. What does this mean for our communities and businesses? What can be done about it? We've gathered a group of experts to help us understand what's driving these changes and what we can do in our region to remain competitive going forward.
Following the program, we will gather for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the speakers, ask questions and network with others. Panelists: Doug Howgate, President, Mass. Taxpayers Foundation Rachel Heller, CEO Community Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) Jill Rossetti, Superintendent of Blue Hills Regional Technical School Greg Bunn, Executive Director of the Metro South/West Workforce Investment Board Paige Duncan, Foxborough Town Manager Speaking topics include:
Tom O'Rourke President and CEO The Board of Director's of the Neponset River Regional Chamber recently voted to oppose two questions that will appear on the ballot in November.
Question 2 will eliminate MCAS as a requirement for high school graduation. This misguided ballot initiative that will make Massachusetts' school systems unfair and increase inequality by eliminating our only statewide education standard According to "Protect Our Kids' Future: No on Question 2", "a statewide graduation requirement ensures that students meet minimum standards before graduating. Abandoning students who need extra help by giving them diplomas and sending them on their way would negatively impact kids for the rest of their lives. Instead of dropping standards, as proponents advocate, we should do the hard work to lift students to ensure that every child receives the excellent education they are entitled to before graduating." Question 5 will change the way tipped servers are compensated. Currently every worker in Massachusetts is already guaranteed to earn at least the current minimum wage of $15 including tipped employees. If, after wages and tips, an employee does not earn $15 per hour, the employer must pay the difference. The proposed changes will increase the cost of doing business for restaurants significantly. According to a survey by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association this is not what servers want:
Best, Tom O'Rourke President and CEO As one of the most expensive states in the nation, high housing costs and lack of supply are impacting every corner of the Commonwealth. As the third most expensive state to rent a home and fifth to purchase a home, affordable housing remains out of reach for Massachusetts residents at all income and education levels.
The high cost of housing has people packing up and leaving our great state altogether. Between 2020 and 2022, over 110,000 residents left Massachusetts for more affordable homes and a better quality of life—the highest outmigration in thirty years. If we fail to act, we will continue to lose the glue that holds our communities together and helps our economy thrive—people. It will be impossible for Massachusetts to maintain its competitive edge with our talent fleeing to more affordable states. Those who stay will face higher financial burdens and increased barriers to economic mobility, perpetuating racial and economic divisions. Massachusetts projects a need for 200,000 more homes by 2030 in order to stabilize home prices and rents. To tackle this challenge, we’ll need a diverse mix of homes in all 351 cities and towns across the state. To that end, the Neponset River Regional Chamber recently joined "Our Massachusetts: Homes for a Thriving Commonwealth" a state-wide coalition of business, civic, non-profit, education, faith-based, and community leaders with a common goal: build 200,000 homes throughout the Commonwealth for people across income levels by 2030. The future of housing and the future of the Massachusetts economy are undeniably linked. The business case for investing in more housing in Massachusetts is clear: employers can’t hire and retain the employees they need. As rents and home prices get increasingly out of reach, people are moving farther away and looking to other states for affordability and a better quality of life. Business leaders consistently flag talent retention as central to their decision to locate or stay in Massachusetts. And, local businesses struggle to fill shifts. We applaud the legislature for approving Governor Healey's Affordable Homes Act this week to begin the task of reaching these ambitious goals. As for the Economic Development bill... Tom O'Rourke President and CEO We invite you to join us for our Annual Golf Outing on July 29th at Blue Hill Country Club.
Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just starting out, we welcome players of all skill levels. You can register as a foursome or as an individual. But if golfing isn't your thing, don't worry - there are still ways to participate! You can become a sponsor, volunteer, or contribute a gift card to our popular balloon raffle. Don't miss out on this exciting event and the chance to support the Chamber. Register now and we'll see you on the course! Monday, July 29 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Blue Hill Country Club 23 Pecunit Street Canton, MA Tom O'Rourke President and CEO Join us for our 3rd Annual Spring into Summer Networking Event. This is a multi-chamber event : Neponset River Regional Chamber and United Regional Chamber, along with sponsors, Norwood Space Center and Grazina Event Space. You will enjoy great food and drink along with lawn games and musical entertainment.
Bring a friend and show them the value of being a chamber member (and both attend FREE). Make this networking event the highlight of spring as we head into summer! The event will be held on Thursday, June 13 in the beautiful outdoor courtyard at the Norwood Space Center at 83 Morse Street in Norwood, from 5:30 to 7:00. BONUS feature: Representatives from a number of our resource partners including SBA, SCORE, MSBDC, MassDevelopment, etc. will be on hand to share information about their small business programs for local businesses. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO The Corporate Transparency Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, may require small businesses to report information about ownership to the government.
What it means: The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) aims to combat illicit activity including tax fraud, money laundering, and financing for terrorism by capturing more ownership information for specific U.S. businesses operating in or accessing the country’s market. Under the new legislation, businesses that meet certain criteria must submit a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), providing details identifying individuals who are associated with the reporting company. Why it matters: The CTA will impact millions of small businesses across the U.S. Knowing the intricacies of this act and its potential impact is essential for small businesses. Otherwise, they may incur criminal or civil penalties for not filing or updating this report. Click Here to Learn More Don't Be Scammed: FinCEN has learned of fraudulent attempts to solicit information from individuals and entities who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. These fraudulent scams may include: Correspondence requesting payment. There is NO fee to file BOI directly with FinCEN. FinCEN does NOT send correspondence requesting payment to file BOI. Do not send money in response to any mailing that claims to be from FinCEN or another government agency. Correspondence that asks the recipient to click on a URL or to scan a QR code. Those e-mails or letters are fraudulent. Do not click any suspicious links or attachments or scan any QR codes in emails, on websites, or in any unsolicited mailings. Correspondence that references a “Form 4022,” or an “Important Compliance Notice.” This correspondence is fraudulent. FinCEN does not have a “Form 4022.” Do not send BOI to anyone by completing these forms. Correspondence or other documents referencing a “US Business Regulations Dept.” This correspondence is fraudulent; there is no government entity by this name. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO The Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the return of the Taste of Neponset River Region on Wednesday evening, April 10th, 2024!
The Taste of the Neponset River Region is an elegant food and beverage tasting event where guests may sample the creations of the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries in the area. You'll also enjoy music by local musicians from the The School of Rock and magical entertainment from Dennis Blanchard, Eventful Magic! The TASTE is open to the public so gather some friends and make a night of it. Tickets are limited so get yours now! In recent weeks the Department of Transitional Assistance has seen a notable increase in skimming incidents affecting DTA clients.
Skimming, as you are undoubtedly aware, is a fraudulent practice wherein criminals obtain card information illegally by installing skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals or ATMs. These devices capture sensitive card data -- including card numbers and PINs -- which are then used for unauthorized transactions, leading to financial losses for customers and businesses. Given the severity of this issue and its potential impact on our clients, it is imperative that we all take collective immediate action to address and mitigate the risks associated with skimming. In this regard, we respectfully urge all retailers to: • Conduct Regular Inspections: Ensure that all point-of-sale terminals and ATMs are routinely inspected for any signs of tampering or unauthorized devices. Encourage staff to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. • Enhance Security Measures: Consider implementing additional security measures such as tamper-evident seals, security cameras, and encryption technologies to safeguard customer data and prevent skimming attacks. • Educate Staff and Customers: Provide training to employees on how to recognize and respond to skimming attempts. Educate customers about the importance of vigilance when using payment cards and advise them to report any suspicious transactions promptly. • Collaborate with Law Enforcement: Work closely with local law enforcement agencies to report incidents of skimming and gather intelligence to identify and apprehend perpetrators. The Chamber is excited to announce that the highly anticipated Taste of the Region event will be returning in 2024.
This gastronomic extravaganza will be held on April 10, 2024, at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. The event promises to captivate the taste buds of our community and celebrate the rich culinary tapestry of our region. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the finest offerings from local restaurants, caterers, breweries, wineries, and distillers. In addition to the delicious food and drink, there will be music, raffles, and a cash bar. This is an excellent opportunity for networking and creating new connections. Limited tickets are available, so grab your coworkers, colleagues, and friends to join in on the fun. Don't miss out on what will be our biggest event of 2024! As we enter the New Year, I'd like to reflect on a 2023 filled with accomplishments and collaborative initiatives that have strengthened our Chamber and our community. We began the year with our Annual Breakfast and Awards Ceremony, highlighting some outstanding members and the return to all, in person, face to face events. The energy in the room was exhilarating, as we were ready to get back to business as usual, networking without masks, and certainly without Zoom.
As the year progressed, we leveraged state funding for a number of Chamber initiatives. We proudly hosted our 3rd annual Restaurant Week, showcasing the culinary talents of 15 participating restaurants within Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood. This event highlighted the diverse flavors of our region and fostered economic growth by attracting customers to return to a favorite restaurant or explore a new dining experience. We also worked hand-in-hand with small businesses, helping them establish a robust online presence through the creation of new websites. This initiative aimed to enhance visibility for these small businesses, drive traffic to their physical storefronts and to their new websites, ensuring their sustainable digital presence. We are grateful to have worked with such talented collaborators as Kerry Aglugub, KMA Web Design, Tricia White, T. White Creations, Amanda Deiratani, Deiratani Designs and Diana Bagas, Launch Social Media. As always, our dedication to facilitating meaningful connections among our members remained steadfast with the organization of 20 "noon networking" and "after hours" events throughout the year. These gatherings provided invaluable opportunities for our professionals to build relationships, share insights, and forge partnerships that contribute to the growth of our business community. We are thrilled to announce that we proudly welcomed 34 new members this year to our ever-expanding network! The summer brought us our competitive Golf Tournament at Brookmeadow Country Club, attended by some impressive foursomes, with enviable handicaps . The day started with a little fog and mist, but the sun emerged and our golfers enjoyed a terrific day of awards, raffle prizes and camaraderie. And rounding out our year, our fall flagship event, Chamber Talks was a huge success. This "ted talk" themed event brought together our local industry leaders and professionals for engaging discussion. Thank you to our panel from Legacy Place, Castle Island Brewery, Morva Stone, Mass Restaurant Association, Northeast HR Association, our MC Rob Ferrini, and, our host at Grazina (Little Bird Events), who outdid herself with beautiful decor and delicious food and drink. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce the return of what will be our biggest event of 2024, The Taste of the Region. Mark your calendars for April 10, 2024, at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton for this greatly anticipated gastronomic extravaganza which promises to once again captivate the taste buds of our community and celebrate the rich culinary tapestry of our region. As we step into this new year, we are excited for what's to come. The Chamber will always remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering growth, collaboration, and prosperity for our members and for our community. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Julie Molloy, Chair of the Board, 2022 & 2023 |
