Good morning folks,

As nonprofits in Massachusetts brace for expected cuts to federal funding, part of Gov. Maura Healey’s recently released budget proposal is also providing jitters.

Healey has proposed limiting the charitable tax deduction to $10,000 for couples and $5,000 for individuals — a move could save the state an estimated $164 million.

"Charitable donations are a very important funding source for nonprofits, and right now, more than ever, we need charitable giving to go up, not down. So the governor's proposal raises a lot of concerns," Jim Klocke, CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network tells Sam Drysdale at State House News.

"The group of households that will be impacted by it are households that make significant annual income, the people giving the most to nonprofits — $25,000, $50,000, $100,000,” added Erin Keohane, Chief Advancement Officer at Spoonfuls, a food recovery nonprofit based in Newton.

“We certainly hope they give to us for more reasons, because they believe in our mission, but if they lose the financial or tax incentives, there’s a fear that they may stop their charitable giving,” Keohane added.

However Healey does not believe capping the charitable deduction would significantly reduce giving.

"I don't think it's going to change people's giving, based on our review and estimates last year," she said.

Oh fudge, city council stands between this vacant property and a sweet idea

Here’s some (potentially) sweet news for anyone who has ever rolled their eyes whenever a national bank announces plans to open another branch in one of our commercial centers.

A chocolate and ice cream maker with roots in Newton that dates back to 1924 is looking to take over the site of the long-vacant Bank of America branch in West Newton.

That should delight everyone, right?

Maybe not a few Newton City Councilors.

Hilliard’s Chocolates, a fourth-generation family-owned business that has three locations in Southern Massachusetts and once operated three shops in Newton has secured an agreement to purchase the 1 Chestnut Street property.

But, due to a quirk in the layout  (pages 3-4 here) a slice of the parking lot that had always been used by bank customers belongs to the city.

The city leased 14 spaces to Bank of America. Hilliard’s says it needs at least eight spots to make its business model work and is prepared to sign a long term lease.

But several councilors have been balking. They insist the spots be available to anyone, even though it’s not as if those eight spaces can be made into metered parking.

Hilliard’s has made it clear: They need eight spaces. Otherwise they’ll take their homemade treats elsewhere.

Will the council be forever known as the Grinch(es) who stole future Valentines Day? Or will their hearts grow three sizes and give Hillard’s the lease?

Find out when the issue goes before the Real Property and Reuse Committee on Feb. 25.

A familiar face in a new role

After a decade in the Newton development trenches at Mark Development, Damien Chaviano is returning to his roots, reuniting with Samuels & Associates, the accomplished Boston development firm where Chaviano’s career launched.

The Newton resident joins Samuels as co-president, overseeing acquisitions, capital, legal, accounting and investor relations.

However, Chaviano’s new gig doesn’t end his relationship with Mark and principal Robert Korff.

Samuels just partnered with Mark and Beacon Communities on 319-unit rental residential project (nearly half are affordable) in Somerville. Samuels is also now managing Mark’s Trio property in Newtonville, with other collaborations likely.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that Robert Korff, my colleagues at Mark Development, and the many partners and collaborators have accomplished over the past 10 years,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

“We have changed the landscape of how development is thought of in many communities, especially my hometown of Newton, as well as introduced diverse housing typologies to meet the needs of these communities today.”

During his tenure at Mark, Chaviano was instrumental in setting company development and acquisition strategy, sourcing a development pipeline exceeding 2 million square feet, with an estimated total project cost of $1 billion.

Tuesday grab bag

• Mass Bio is warning that the Trump administration’s (temporarily on hold) termination of billions of dollars in indirect National Institutes of Health funding will significantly harm the state’s economy and “undermine efforts underway in Massachusetts to develop tomorrow’s innovative therapies and cures.”  U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss blasted the move as “a $2 billion chainsaw to the Massachusetts economy.

• Our condolences to the family, friends, employees and customers of Joseph Albert LeBrun, proprietor of the Linden Store Delicatessen in Wellesley.

• Trader Joe’s and Costco have both begun limiting the number of eggs customers can purchase. 

• The Cambridge City Council just abolished single-family-only zoning in Cambridge, allowing the construction of four-story residential buildings citywide. (BBJ)

• The National Immigration Law Center has created a guide for employers: “What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace.”

• Attend a film screening of “In A Different Key,” a true story of love, difference, and the right to belong, followed by a panel discussion featuring individuals with disabilities, school administrators and other stakeholders at Newman Elementary School in Needham tonight (Feb 11) 6:30 p.m. Register.

• B. Good the fast casual restaurant located for years between The Container Store and Ben & Jerry’s on Rte. 9 west in Natick has closed.  (Natick Report)

• The Needham Select Board will be taking public comment tomorrow (Tuesday, 6 p.m.) about yet-another proposal to ban the sale of plastic water bottles and as well as black plastic food containers.

• Thinking about running for office or working on a campaign? League of Women Voters Newton has published new resources, including a "How to Run for Office "guide and a discussion with former elected officials.

• Happy birthday Gerrymander.

A note to members: We never sell, or share, your email address

Our chamber, along with at least several other chambers, continues to victimized by an entity alleging that it is selling mail lists of our members.

We’ve been dealing with this issue for a while. The soliciting entity or entities’ name and email domains keeps changing. We do not have confirmation that they actually have a member list, or are an actual entity.

While member companies are searchable via our online directory, member emails are not public. We do not sell or share your email addresses and have no reason to believe we’ve been victims of a data breach. If you are contacted, please report these as spam.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

Meet Wellesley’s select board candidates

• Wellesley's annual town election is March 4, and voters will have several opportunities to hear from candidates Michael Tauer, Odessa Sanchez and Kenny Largess running for one open seat on the Wellesley Select Board.
  
  
• This Thurs. (Feb. 13): Meet the Candidates Night hosted by the League of Women Voters of Wellesley,  6:30–9 p.m. at the Wakelin Room, Wellesley Free Library.
  
  
• Feb. 19: The chamber will host a virtual business and economic development-focused debate at 11 a.m. RSVP
  
  
• Feb. 26: Sustainable Wellesley’s conversation with the candidates on supporting Wellesley’s climate goals and prioritizing resiliency, 7 p.m. in the Wakelin Room.
  
  

This year’s Women in Government b’fast has a special twist.

For the past eight years, our annual Women in Government series has provided an intimate platform for chamber members to hear from a diverse group of female leaders.

Past speakers have included Rep. Katherine Clark, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly Budd, Labor Secretary Lauren Jones, State Sen. Cindy Creem and Navy Commander BJ Farrell.

We’re taking a different approach this year. We’re hosting a fireside chat with two local leaders who are stepping back from their jobs: Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick, who is retiring in July after nearly 35 years with the town, and Newton’s first female mayor, Ruthanne Fuller, who will conclude her eighth year as the city’s chief executive in December, after serving eight years as a city councilor.

We’ll invite Mayor Fuller (she spoke at our first-ever Women in Government Breakfast in 2018) and Fitzpatrick to reflect on the journeys that brought them to the public sector, focusing not so much on policy but on experiences.

It’s happening March 21, 8:30 a.m. at Charles River Country Club. Scroll down for tickets.

That’s what you need to know for today (four years ago today the World Health Organization officially named the virus "COVID-19”) unless, you need to know that, while Trump is wrong about the WHO, he’s right about pennies.

Please shop and dine locally this Valentines Day.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

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