Good morning friends,

Gov. Maura Healey will address our chamber on the critical economic issues of the day, March 31 at 9 a.m., at the Newton Marriott.

You’re invited to join us. Register here.

Be there for Three Squares

Also coming up fast on the chamber calendar (one month from today!) is “Spring Seasonings: A Taste of our Towns,” April 7, also at the Newton Marriott.

Next week, we’ll announce this year’s lineup of our 40 featured restaurants and beverage purveyors, who will be providing sample bites along with wine and beer tastings.

Today, we’re announcing that we’re partnering with Three Squares New England, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity across Eastern Massachusetts.  A portion of event proceeds will help local hunger relief organizations address urgent needs—because no one in our communities should go hungry.

Spring Seasonings is our biggest community event of the year. It always sells out.  Reserve your spot here.

This program literally saved businesses and jobs

During the height of the pandemic, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) distributed  $21 billion through more than 217,000 forgivable loans to Massachusetts businesses of all sizes — including many in our chamber communities.

The program literally saved businesses that we frequent today. It’s also projected to have helped 1.1 million workers in Massachusetts keep their jobs during that time,

reports William Hall at the BBJ.

And while there had been allegations of fraud throughout the program, in Massachusetts federal prosecutors have filed only 36 cases of fraud out of those 217,000 loans.

But now, like many federal programs, it’s not clear if the SBA will be in a position to execute a similar effort if needed in the future, let alone offer the vital support it provides to small businesses whenever a disaster wreaks havoc in any corner of the nation.

Last month the agency fired some staff, rehired them, then fired them again. There are reports of larger reductions coming.

Newly-confirmed SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler says the agency will be pausing or reducing some loan programs. That includes its energy efficiency lending program and programs serving small disadvantaged businesses with government contracts. Its Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is closed too.

And Politico reports that the administration installed new employee monitoring software designed to track keystrokes and remotely activate computer cameras and microphones at the SBA. (A great way to boost morale, eh?)

This week Loeffler also announced plans this week to close SBA offices in "sanctuary" cities, including the Boston office.

Could the state’s housing message be getting through in Wellesley?

Wellesley’s Advisory Committee voted, 9-5, this week to not endorse a Town Meeting citizen’s petition that would gut one of the town’s few available tools for creating new affordable housing.

The petition would basically obliterate the town’s Residential Incentive Overlay, or RIO bylaw, which allows properties close to public transit and commercial districts to be rezoned for new multifamily or assisted living development.

In urging his colleagues not to support the item, advisory member Doug Wilkins put it bluntly when he said the petition is like going to the doctor for a swollen finger and being told, "Well, I can cure this with antibiotics, but I think we should amputate."

Wilkins, a retired Superior Court judge, also warned that if Town Meeting passed the anti-housing petition, it would play into the “worst stereotypes” that Wellesley is an exclusionary community.

That, Wilkins added, would send a “dangerous” political message to Beacon Hill that could fuel calls for more state-regulated zoning enforcement.

“Let's not poke that bear,” he remarked. (Watch his remarks here at 2:57:49)

Still, some supporters of the item argued this week that multifamily housing adjacent to single-family homes should be prohibited.

And, yes, that does play into a certain “worst stereotype.”

Ultimately Town Meeting will decide in April.  Here’s our letter opposing the warrant item.

Friday grab bag

• Check out our op-ed “Watertown Should Think Twice Before Adopting BERDO” in the Watertown News.  A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is Monday (March 10) at 6 p.m.
  
  
• CVS Health Corp. is discontinuing its Wellesley-based accountable care business and will lay off 183 employees. The majority of employees impacted are remote workers, the company said. (BBJ)
  
  
• Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 20 at noon for a virtual debate featuring the candidates for the Needham Select Board.  So far only incumbent Heidi Frail is confirmed. We are awaiting a response from challenger Vikram Kaul, who has yet to respond to our invitation. We hope he accepts.
  
  
• MassCEC is offering a pilot incentive program providing no-cost temporary/mobile EV charging infrastructure and grants of up to $50,000 per new electric vehicle for Massachusetts-based fleets. Contact Mac Bruce before March 14.
  
  
• Nine East Wine Emporium on Rte. 9 in Natick has closed after 25 years in business. The shop served many customers from Wellesley, which does not allow full service package stores. (Natick Report)
  
  
• The Watertown Affordable Housing Trust & WCC host a community discussion on Accessory Dwelling Units, March 24, 6 p.m. at the Apartments at Coolidge School.  Details
  
  
• Purchase tickets for a chance to win a locally-themed gift basket with items donated by Needham-area restaurants and businesses to benefit the Needham Education Foundation. 
  
  
• Boston's sister effort to MBTA Communities is Squares +Streets and Roslindale is the first neighborhood adopting new zoning. Learn about the new zoning's implications on housing, affordability and displacement, March 13, 7 p.m. at a virtual discussion. Register
  
  
• Find out how Needham went from being a Tory town to marching on Lexington in just two years, and how they fared when they did at “Needham’s Winding Road to Revolution,” March 16 at 2 p.m. at Needham History Center.

Women owned businesses team up

Twenty-eight women-owned small businesses in Newton are celebrating International Women’s Day and National Women’s History Month with Passport to DISCOVHER program.

Visit a minimum of ten of the participating businesses through March 31 and have your passport stamped at each one. At the end of the month, five winners will receive gift baskets filled with products and gift cards from each of the businesses.  No purchase required.

Newton Food Pantry to finally get its own home

Finally today, for the past eight years the Newton Food Pantry has operated out of the basement of Newton City Hall and before that from the basement of Waban Library and the First Unitarian Universalist Society church in West Newton.

None of those spaces were adequate to serve the unmet needs of many more members of our community than one might expect in an affluent community.

Meanwhile, since the start of the COVID pandemic, the pantry's service numbers have more than doubled — to more than 2,500 people, while a Greater Boston Food Bank study, estimated nearly 6,000 Newton residents regularly experience food insecurity.

This week the nonprofit announced a plan to construct its first-ever standalone food pantry building, a major step forward for the nonprofit and its clients.

Once it opens next spring, the new 5,000 SF facility, at 131 Rumford Avenue in Auburndale, will offer increased storage, expanded service areas, modernized infrastructure and dedicated parking, which means the new pantry will be better equipped to do what it does best. Details.

And that’s what you need to know for today — Employee Appreciation Day — unless you need to chill out from another stress-filled week by watching the Smithsonian’s giant panda cam.

Please support our local business!

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

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