|
Last week, the Neponset River Regional Chamber along with, NFIB MA, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Restaurant association, hosted Massachusetts Small Business Day on Beacon Hill, bringing business owners from around the Commonwealth to Boston to discuss the challenges they face with state officials, business allies, and NFIB policy experts.
Dedham Representative, Paul McMurtry, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses welcomed attendees followed by legislative updates from Christopher Carlozzi, Jon Hurst of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, and Stephen Clark of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll then provided a keynote speech on some of the challenges facing the Commonwealth. Driscoll raised Massachusetts’ affordability and competitive issues and steps the Healey Administration is taking to help. The program ended with a panel discussion on rising energy expenses and the need to balance the switch to renewable energy with the realities of supply and cost. The panel was made up of Bill Ryan of the Mass Coalition for Sustainable Energy, Blair Hastey of Enbridge Energy, and Bob Rio of RAR Strategies. Throughout the day, speakers saluted the activism of small business owners and urged participants to stay focused and engaged as the General Court considers bills that impact their businesses. In his closing remarks, Chris Carlozzi said, “The voice of small business was heard loud and clear on Beacon Hill. Our members discussed high taxes, overregulation, affordable healthcare, labor mandates, energy costs, and the overriding need of relief for Main Street businesses. Our employer organizations and their members stand ready to work with Governor Healey and lawmakers to improve Massachusetts’ economy and fuel small business job creators.” Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO As we begin our spring membership promotion, I wanted to share some feedback from one our members, Karen Thompson.
"I am so excited to announce my new brand and website release for In Touch Well Being, LLC. Last year, my business was accepted into a grant program through the Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce. The grant allows for brick and mortar businesses to receive assistance for marketing and digital improvements. Having an older site, I was excited to upgrade and look at opportunities for people to learn more about me and my services. Over the past few months, I have been working with my logo designer, Bert Carrison of Carrison Design along with Kerry Aglugub of KMA Web Design and Tricia White of T. White Creations from the grant program. Together, we recreated the logo along with a responsive, SEO driven website and branded marketing materials. As we launch the new website I want to say thank you to Tom O'Rourke from the NRRC for choosing my business to have this amazing marketing upgrade along with Ben, Kerry and Tricia who have brought my brand and digital presence into 2023. I also want to thank Matt McKee Photography for the beautiful headshots. I am so lucky to be part of the Neponset River Regional Chamber because being a member has its benefits." Karen is one of 14 recipients of this grant funding from the Chamber over the past two years. If that's not a reason to join the Chamber, I don't know what is. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO Earlier this week we had the opportunity to hear community updates from 5 area town administrators. Our members got to hear about what's happening in our region from updates on economic development and housing to transportation and other matters of importance to local business.
From my perspective, the program served as a reminder of what makes this region so special. Sometimes when we are focused on our day to day lives, we can miss the bigger picture of what's happening around us. Here are a few of the community assets that were highlighted by our municipal leaders: The town of Canton has a wonderful new community space in the Paul Revere Heritage Site, which will soon feature a museum of discovery and innovation. The state's first TopGolf facility is currently under construction on Dedham Street and will soon be a major destination in the area. In Foxborough, Patriot Place continues to grow with ongoing updates to Gillette Stadium. The stadium will host the Army-Navy football game this fall. One of the premier sporting events in the world. Also Station One by Shovel Town Brewery recently opened in a converted former fire station in Foxborough center. Speaking of breweries, the town of Norwood now has two of them, Castle Island and Irish Brewing Boston. The town is also seeing tremendous growth and investment from Moderna which now occupies the entire site of what was once Polaroid. They are creating hundreds jobs in the process. Norwood is also the new home of the Skating Club of Boston, one of only two Olympic training facilities in the nation. The town of Sharon is even getting into the act. Construction of the Sharon Gallery, a mixed use development on 90 acres is expected to begin soon. The long awaited project will feature restaurant, retail, office and housing uses along with related infrastructure improvements. In Walpole, several redevelopment projects have recently been completed or are underway in the downtown district, including transit oriented development near the commuter rail station. After hearing our town officials talk about all this and more it reminds me of what a great community we live and work in. To learn more about what's happening in Norwood, be sure to watch Chronicle on WCVB TV Monday night. You may see some people you know. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO As the snow falls lightly outside, it's nice to be thinking ahead to spring. We are excited to see our calendar filling up with a host of meaningful programs and events.
We truly have a mix of new and traditional programs on the agenda, but even the traditional have some unique new aspects to them. First up is our inaugural "March Madness Bracket Challenge". The brainchild of our Young Professional group, we are inviting all members to participate by filling out a bracket for the men's college basketball tournament. If you've ever done it, you know that being a basketball geek is not a requirement. If you've never done it, give it try. We will get together for a Viewing Party at Irish Brewing Boston on March 23 to watch the Sweet 16 round, sip some local brews and talk trash. On March 28 we are bringing together town administrators from our communities to talk about what's happening in our region. They will share updates on economic development, housing, transportation and other matters of importance to local business. You won't want to miss this. Next up on April 10 we will gather with folks from 10 other Chambers in Southeastern Mass. to celebrate opening day of horse racing at Plainridge Part Casino. This event draws hundreds of people to enjoy food, drink, networking and maybe a little gambling. Finally, Restaurant Week returns April 30 through May 4. There will be much more to come on that, but mark your calendar now and make plans to support our local restaurants. Check out these events here. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO One of my favorite movies growing up was Steve Martin's "The Jerk". It's one of those movies I can watch over and over and still laugh out loud. One scene in particular is when the phone book arrives at the gas station where he is working. You can watch it here. (for those under a certain age, a phone book was a printed directory that contained everyone's phone number in a particular region)
While phone books have gone out of fashion, the Chamber continues to publish an annual directory of our members so that you can find other members of the Chamber with whom you can do business. The directory also contains useful information about our communities and the many amenities, places to go and things to do that our region features. We distribute these guides not only to our members, but to local hotels and town halls where they can be shared with residents and visitors. We also have an e-book version of the directory on our website. You can access the e-book here and in it you can click on ads from our members which feature video's with information on them. Your printed directory will be arriving in your mail box soon and we hope that you will use it when looking for products and services locally. The Boston Region's Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) establishes a vision for the region’s transportation system and guides both capital investments and research studies to support that vision. The current LRTP, Destination 2040, was adopted in 2019. The next LRTP, Destination 2050, will be adopted in 2023.
As our region's representative on the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), I strongly encourage you make your voice heard by completing the survey. It only takes a few minutes. Why? Because the survey will help shape the LRTP which will inform how federal highway funds are spent in Eastern Mass. All too often these surveys are skewed by special interest groups advocating for priorities which don't necessarily reflect the interests of the entire region. Instead, they focus more on inner city issues at the expense of the needs of the outer suburban communities, i.e. bike lanes, rapid transit, climate resiliency, etc. While all of those issues are important, we have greater needs in our Chamber region. First and last mile connections to employer locations, which will help employers attract the workforce they need; upgrades along the Route 1 corridor; continuation of the Foxboro/Patriot Place commuter rail pilot program; and most importantly, the reconstruction of the functionally obsolete and dangerous interchange of Routes 93 and 95 in Canton. Almost every day the communities of Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood see increased commuter traffic spilling off Route 95 onto Route 1, Route 1A and ultimately onto side streets and through neighborhoods, seeking a quicker and more efficient way to their ultimate destinations: jobs in Boston or along the Route 128 corridor. This pass-through traffic chokes local roadways not designed for such use and leads to more care and maintenance than would normally be needed. Don't miss this opportunity to chime in on the future of transportation in our region. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO Chamber members make a difference in our communities in a variety of ways. First and foremost they provide products and services that people need and want for their own personal or business reasons. They create jobs that employ thousands of local people. They provide needed tax revenue to our communities. But most do much more than that through their community support of local organizations, non-profits, sports groups, cultural institutions and many others.
Each year, we get to recognize a few of those members whose success in business and support of the community stands out among others. We are currently accepting nominations for our Annual Awards which will be presented at the Annual Meeting on January 27, 2023. I encourage you to consider nominating a member business or individual whom you feel is worthy of such recognition. Simply download the nomination form and return to it to the Chamber office. There are four categories of awards:
Our guest speaker at the Annual Meeting is Jordan Maynard, a Commissioner to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The mission of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is to create a fair, transparent and participatory process for implementing the expanded gaming law which will include sports betting in 2023. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO We are sharing this article by Kaytlyn Mroz, Contributor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in recognition of Chamber of Commerce Day which was October 19, 2022.
Here are five reasons why joining a chamber of commerce can be the best thing you do for your business. It helps you make business contacts When you decide to join a local chamber, you automatically open up yourself — and your business — to a network of potential partnerships. Business contacts from your local chamber could become the supportive community you turn to one day for assistance or vice versa. In addition, your new business contacts may be the people who serve as your sounding board for new ideas, come up with solutions to internal business problems, and even partner with you on a new endeavor. It increases your credibility Belonging to a chamber gives your business a leg up compared to those who are not members. A company with this level of credibility becomes desirable to consumers, increasing the likeliness they’ll seek out your goods or services in the future. Compare belonging to a chamber as you would having a college degree when applying for a job; it tells your future employer — or consumer — you know what you are doing. While your business's positive perception increases, so will your profits as you establish credibility and brand recognition within your industry. Your membership dues could potentially pay for themselves thanks to the influx in your consumer base. It expands your network As your local chamber continues to grow, so will your network. The chamber will hold networking opportunities — usually monthly — allowing you to get to know community members, fellow business owners, and other professionals in your industry. While the events can range from formal to fun, each will allow you to make new connections and foster additional exposure for your business. Your business's relationships and possible expansion through a local chamber network will often be unmatched. While your business's positive perception increases, so will your profits as you establish credibility and brand recognition within your industry. It provides key business resources Your local chamber can make a great marketing resource for your company via avenues like its newsletter, website, social media, and more. In addition to networking events, chambers often hold events, such as "lunch and learn," where members can pick up new skills or techniques. These types of events can offer resources for advancement for all your employees. Chambers also offer financial resources. Though you will pay membership fees, your chamber can provide financial aid when your business is suffering through times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This financial assistance could help you find the return on these membership fees. It supports your professional development Most chambers of commerce host events and training sessions geared toward professional development. By providing these opportunities for your and your business's growth, the chamber creates an avenue for you to improve skills and gain knowledge without breaking your company's budget. Taking advantage of the chamber’s professional development opportunities will help your business make necessary changes, share its expertise with others, and grow. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO As we begin to head into the holiday season, we're reminded of those who may be in need. We know that many Chamber members have certain causes that they support. It may be a clothing drive, food pantry collections, volunteer days, etc.
For example, Chamber Board Chair, Julie Molloy's company, Compass Realty, is conducting a coat drive. In order to support our member's efforts in these worthy causes, the Chamber board is asking members to let us know if there is a particular cause you are supporting and we will list them on our website. This way we can encourage other members to assist where they can. To submit your cause, simply email the information to Karen Collins at Karen@nrrchamber.com. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO Our Fall 2022 Membership Drive Is Here!
Chamber members, we need your help. September means "Back to School" but for us it means "Back to Business"! Now is the time to bring new businesses into the Chamber so they can enjoy the benefits just as you do. We have a robust calendar of events in September and October. We are asking you to reach out to businesspeople that you know and/or do business with and invite them to an event. If you do, you can both attend at no cost. Anyone that joins the NRR Chamber from now until our Chamber Talks event on October 20th will receive 50% more membership time! All new members who join during this time frame will receive 18 months of membership, that's 50% more for their annual membership dues. In addition, all new members will be entered into a raffle to be drawn at our Chamber Talks event. You can join in on the fun as well: Refer a brand new NRR Chamber member and be entered into a raffle prize drawing as well. Raffle prizes include - Legacy Place Gift Cards, Complimentary Business Portrait Session with Kenneth Berman Photography, Movie Night Themed Gift Basket from Compass Real Estate and more! For more information regarding membership, please contact: Julie Molloy, Chair of the Board Ken Berman, Membership Committee Member Tom O'Rourke, President Thank you for your support! Julie Molloy, Chair of the Board Compass Real Estate |
