The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was named 2023 national Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, a first for any Massachusetts chamber. The organization was chosen from 1,600 chambers across the U.S. for its economic development programs serving businesses in 27 cities and towns.
Leading the efforts is Roy Nascimento, the go-to resource for professional connections in the region and one of North Central’s biggest business advocates. He was hired in 2015 after holding various chamber leadership roles in Eastern Massachusetts.
“What I thought would be a short-term stepping stone turned out to be a very fulfilling career,” Nascimento said.
The challenges facing businesses in North Central Massachusetts are quite different from those in Eastern Massachusetts, and Nascimento and his team have dialed in on opportunities to reach underserved communities.
Through its lending division called the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp, the chamber has provided more than $1.37 million in microloans and more than $100,000 in microgrants to small businesses through Central Massachusetts, with 88% percent of that financing toward minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as low-income business owners. In November, the chamber launched its Regional Business Investment Fund, designed to provide low-cost financing for real estate projects in North Central Massachusetts struggling to get financing from traditional lenders.
Through its Visit North Central Massachusetts tourism organization, the marketing of North Central as a destination led to a 39% percent increase in local visitor spending in 2022, rising to $195 million. To address workforce and development issues, the chamber convened a coalition called the North Central Massachusetts Talent Compact. The chamber itself provided $66,000 in scholarships for students and workers to develop their skills.
