We can't let them fight this fight alone
We can't let them fight this fight alone
If there are any soon-to-be high school graduates in your orbit, please let them know that the deadline for our scholarship program is March 29, two weeks from today.
New this year, we’re expanding eligibility to include high school graduates attending community colleges and other accredited post-secondary programs.
For decades we limited participation to students attending four-year colleges. But we’ve come to recognize that there’s more than one path students can take to a fulfilling career, just as different jobs require different skills, knowledge, or credentials.
Should the Needham Line turn Orange, with a stop near Newton?
Should the Needham Line turn Orange, with a stop near Newton?
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu confirmed she is talking with the MBTA about building a new, city-funded, Needham Line commuter rail station just off the VFW Parkway in West Roxbury, reports Gintautas Dumcius at CommonWealth Beacon.
The location is close enough to the south edge of Newton that it might be helpful to businesses at Wells Ave Park; getting to and from the Mount Ida/UMass campus; or to Oak Hill Park residents, especially if some parking at the vacant West Roxbury High School was available for commuters.
Here's an idea that might make it even better: Jarred Johnson, executive director of the advocacy group Transit Matters tells Dumcius his group has pushed to convert the Needham Line into a subway line, swapping out the purple commuter rail trains for the Orange Line cars.
Businesses can't let housing advocates fight this fight alone
Businesses can't let housing advocates fight this fight alone
A new survey released this week confirms something many employers have known -- and been worrying about -- for some time now.
Hiring and retaining young workers is growing increasingly harder.
One-out-of-four young residents say they're planning to leave Greater Boston over the next five years, due in large part to the high cost of rent and the challenges of purchasing a home.
That’s according to a Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation survey of 823 young adults who live in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.
Asked about factors guiding their decision to stay or move, cost of rent was important for 83 percent of respondents; job availability for 87 percent; ability to buy a home for 78 percent; efficient public transportation/mobility for 72 percent; proximity to family 68 percent; and affordability and availability of child care 60 percent.
This is our future folks. Literally.
And that’s something business owners should be reminding their town meetings, select boards, and city councils about every time someone suggests ignoring, or creating a half-hearted response, to the MBTA Communities Act.
We can't keep letting abutters block other efforts to diversify our housing supply too, as just happened on the Cape.
We can't let housing advocates fight this fight alone.
Don’t let ‘em tell you market-rate housing doesn’t help either
Don’t let ‘em tell you market-rate housing doesn’t help either
The MBTA Communities Act does not require housing to be built near transit. Instead, it mandates cities and towns to zone for more multi-family units.
It also doesn’t allow communities to require that new units be affordable, so as to not create situations where new homes are never built because they don’t pencil out.
However construction of market-rate housing creates a chain reaction that ultimately opens up affordable housing options for low-income renters, yet another study, this one from the Federal Bank Reserve of Minneapolis, confirms.
Every 100 new market-rate apartments built can lead to 70 openings in lower-income housing within five years, according to the study, which tracked individual renter moves across 12 U.S. metros.
When high-income residents move into new market-rate housing, their old place is then available for others and the price on it may lower because of a shift in demand. (Bisnow)
Needham candidates get down to business
Needham candidates get down to business
Three candidates are running for two seats on Needham’s Select Board -- incumbent Kevin Keane and challengers Josh Levy and Tina Burgos – in the April 9 town election.
The Needham Channel has interviews with the candidates.
And we will be hosting a Business Community Town meeting with the candidates on March 27 at 3 p.m. This will be a one-hour virtual debate focused on issues of importance to the town’s economic development, businesses, and nonprofits. RSVP.
Friday grab bag
Friday grab bag
- Boston has been selected to host the inaugural ClimaTech Conference, focused on innovation and emerging technologies that could combat climate change and contribute to economic growth, June 3-5.
- Challah-luiah! Welcome back to Cheryl-Anns in Brookline. Closed since a 2021 fire, they’re finally reopening today. (March 15). (Universal Hub)
- Karen and Tony Russo’s latest Globe column about the "humble cabbage" is yet another reminder of how special Russo’s was and how much it is missed.
- Mayor Ruthanne Fuller says Newton settled a teachers' contract “that we can afford.” But still Fuller dropped the “o-word” at a city council meeting the other day. (Newton Beacon)
- Plugged In Band Program is hosting the first annual Dirty Water Music Festival, on April 6, 7 p.m., Powers Hall Needham. Proceeds support the scholarship and inclusion fund. Details
- Chamber member Naturepedic in Wellesley is expanding its footprint, opening a new standalone organic mattress and bedding store on Newbury St. in Boston.
- Needham’s three transportation committees - the Mobility Planning & Coordination Committee, the Transportation Safety Committee, and the Rail Trail Advisory Committee - host a hybrid public forum on March 18, 6:30 p.m. at Needham Town Hall and via Zoom to align activities, projects, and planning initiatives to facilitate public awareness of current and planned projects.
- The Common Room in Needham Center (at the former Latina Kitchen) is officially open!
- The Newton City Council votes Monday to join the state’s Ten Communities pilot, requiring most new building construction and substantial renovations be all-electric, effective Jan. 1, 2025. (Newton Beacon)
- Wait until you read what the guy whose group the Mass Teachers Association President Max Page points to as an alternative to MCAS says about eliminating MCAS.
What's next for Needham Bank?
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Three months after Needham Bank’s successful public launch, BBJ’s Trajan Warren caught up with Joe Campanelli, the bank's chairman, president, and CEO.
He asked him if the bank might one day be acquired or an acquirer?
Banks can't be acquired for three years after going public. And Campanelli said he isn't planning to look for potential suitors once those three years are up. But didn’t rule it out.
“They can try. If they wanted us, it would take a lot to take it just given our track record and we’re growing and it’s an attractive marketplace,” Campanelli said. “If we keep executing our strategy, the nice part is we'll control our own destiny.” What about acquiring other banks? “You’ve got to earn the right to be an acquirer, which we think we’ve done.”
He asked him if the bank might one day be acquired or an acquirer?
Banks can't be acquired for three years after going public. And Campanelli said he isn't planning to look for potential suitors once those three years are up. But didn’t rule it out.
“They can try. If they wanted us, it would take a lot to take it just given our track record and we’re growing and it’s an attractive marketplace,” Campanelli said. “If we keep executing our strategy, the nice part is we'll control our own destiny.” What about acquiring other banks? “You’ve got to earn the right to be an acquirer, which we think we’ve done.”
“If something came along that was opportunistic, that was a great fit into our strategy, we would look at it,” he said.
Needham’s stock has been trading at $14, plus or minus, now versus $10 when the IPO was issued in late December.
Read the full interview here.
Mouthwatering news from us next week
Mouthwatering news from us next week
We can hardly wait to tell you about the amazing restaurants signed on to participate in “Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns,” on April 8 at the Newton Marriott Ballroom.
Look for the list early next week. Reserve your place.
Your chamber keeps on rockin' and rolling!
Your chamber keeps on rockin' and rolling!
Finally, please say hello to these 22 businesses and nonprofits who joined, or returned after a long absence, your chamber in February.
- Above the Rest Building Services
- Ailie
- Brick Marketing
- Bud's Goods & Provisions
- Da LaPosta
- District 118 Kitchen + Bar
- Eastern Mass News Alliance
- Jim's Landscaping
- Lacrosse Unlimited
- Longyear Museum
- Mixed Operations
- NaisLee Catering LLC
- New Vision Business Advisors
- Newton at Home
- Newton South Booster Club
- Oakley Home Access of Greater Boston
- Prism Benefits, PBC
- Ritcey East
- SFP Wealth
- Siegel Solutions Inc
- Sue Hardy Homes
- The Organizing Diva Professional Organizing and Life Coaching Services
- Union Pharmacy
- WellConnect Concierge
Is your business or nonprofit missing from the list above? Or this list? Go here or email to learn about becoming part of our community of businesses, nonprofits and Citizen Members.
That’s what you need to know for today -- The Ides of March – unless you want to see some pretty cool photos taken at just the right time and place.
Have a great Saint Patrick's Day!
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
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