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Why we're teaming up with chambers statewide

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Why we're teaming up with chambers statewide

Our chamber is teaming up with nine other regional chambers to form a statewide policy network; the Massachusetts Chambers of Commerce Policy Network.
 
Led by the presidents and CEOs of the ten chambers, we plan to use our collective voice to advocate for policy and business issues that will strengthen the quality of life and economy in the Commonwealth.
 
Our goal is to grow a statewide economy that works for all and strengthens our ability to retain talent and businesses in Massachusetts. 
 
We’ll do that by collaborating on policy priorities and collectively making knocking on doors on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill to promote the issues that matter to our membership.
 
Each chamber will continue to focus on its own unique local issues and operate independently, as always.
 
?But we’ve agreed to collaborate on issues that impact Massachusetts’ future: statewide competitiveness, taxes and revenue, transportation, broadband access, talent development and retention, housing, climate change, higher education, and the ease of doing business.
 
Joining the Charles River Regional Chamber in this effort are the Greater Boston Chamber, Worcester Regional Chamber, Springfield Regional Chamber, Western MA Economic Development Council, Cape Cod Chamber, South Shore Chamber, North Shore Chamber, One SouthCoast Chamber, and 1Berkshire.
 
Together we represent about 10,000 member businesses and nonprofits.
 
 
Life science cluster rises in Needham
 
A new cluster of life science companies is emerging in a building in Needham.
 
Evolved By Nature, has just signed a long-term lease at 117 Kendrick Street, joining life sciences companies Xenon Pharmaceuticals, ABio-X Holdings, Candel Therapeutics, and Verastem Oncology at the Bulfinch Companies-owned 213,000 SF office and lab building.
 
Also in the same building are BBK Worldwide, C&W Services, Warner Bros. Games, and Workbar (which is home to your favorite chamber). 
 
Nearby tenants in the N-Squared neighborhood include chamber members Tripadvisor, Shark/Ninja, Bigbelly Solar, and NBC10, with Children's Hospital on the way.
 
And speaking of Bigbelly, here’s another story about how this Needham-based company is making a difference, this time in Philadelphia.
 
Three years ago this week
 
This Thursday marks the three-year anniversary of the day Gov. Charlie Baker ordered all non-essential businesses and organizations to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Baker, as you'll recall, said the shutdown would be for "at least two weeks."
 
As we all know it lasted a lot longer than that. Baker's four-step reopening plan launched on May 18, 2020. But fitness clubs and other business types were closed until July, while bars and many large venues didn't reopen until even later.
 
Court: Grubhub overcharged restaurants
 
Speaking of the pandemic, a Massachusetts court ruled last week that Grubhub violated a fee cap limiting how much the meal delivery company could charge restaurants during the shutdown.
 
Last week’s ruling decided only a dispute over one contention of the lawsuit, and not the full case, according to Restaurant Business.
 
“We look forward to continuing with our case to hold the company accountable and refund restaurants for the fees they were illegally charged.” Attorney General Andrea Campbell wrote in a statement.
  
Also pandemic related: Ten days and counting.
 
Globe editors laid out the case over the weekend for allowing restaurants to continue offering drinks to-go.
 
We're also waiting for lawmakers to extend the rules that allow for remote public meetings.
 
Both measures expire in ten days (March 31) unless Beacon Hill acts.
 
And I can tell you right now: If I have to go back to sitting through municipal meetings in four different communities, I'm going to need a lot of drinks to-go.
 
Newton looking at banning plastic stuff
 
The Newton City Council's Programs and Services Committee will discuss the proposed ban on the sales/distribution of a number of plastic items (including plastic water bottles, black plastic takeout containers, plastic floss picks, etc) tomorrow (March 22) at 7 p.m.
 
Here’s the proposed ordinance. And here’s an op-ed I wrote about it for Fig City News. 
 
Get the skinny on Watertown's future
 
For anyone interested in economic development in Watertown, I recommend attending our virtual Business Community Town Hall tomorrow (March 22) at 9 a.m. about Watertown’s draft comprehensive plan. Register
 
Even if you can’t attend, the report itself is a pretty good introduction to how the city has grown and may grow and this report may drive a lot of future decisions there. After you've looked it over, complete the comprehensive plan survey found on this page by this Friday (March 24)
 
Needham voters to consider adding package stores
 
When Needham voters go to the polls on April 11 they’ll be asked if they support increasing the number of establishments that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption (a/k/a package stores).
 
The proposal has already been approved by Town Meeting and would allow for one additional full-service retailer (up from the currently allowed six) and five additional licenses to sell beer and wine only (presently only two such stores are allowed)
 
Wait, here's more need to knows
 
  • Stone L’Oven Pizza in Waban was the site of two burglary incidents earlier this month. Anyone with information should call Newton Police at 617-796-2104 or leave an anonymous message at 617-796-2121. Anyone in need of pizza, order here.
 
  • The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority will resume fare collection on all transit services starting May 1, following three years of suspended fare collection due to COVID-19. MWRTA will no longer accept CharlieCards, and will instead introduce a new card called the “CatchCard.” Details
 
  • Newton City Councilor Brenda Noel will not seek reelection this fall. “For the past six years, I have been balancing a full-time job as the executive director of Pathway To Possible with the role of the Ward 6 City Councilor, as well as parenting twin daughters. It has been invigorating, rewarding, and meaningful, but it also has been a lot for me and for my family. It is time for me to make a change,” Noel said in a statement.
 
  • The Needham Virtual Roundtable with U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss has been rescheduled to tomorrow (March 22), 4-5 p.m. Both Needham businesses and residents welcome. RSVP.
 
  • The Watertown Business Coalition and Rotary Club of Watertown are co-hosting a networking event with a focus on nonprofits tonight (March 21) 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Taffer’s Tavern in Arsenal Yards. RSVP
 
  • The City of Watertown, in collaboration with Helpsy, will host a clothing drive Sat. (March 25), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Boston’s Jewish Community Day School at 57 Stanley Ave. in Watertown.
 
  • Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and now the Charles River Chamber is offering a unique opportunity to sponsor our inaugural Pickleball Tournament this summer. Contact Lise Elcock to learn more.
 
Business Leaders of Color now seeking sponsors
 
Finally, an update on our collaboration with Colette Phillips and her company Get Konnected!
 
Working with an amazing panel of judges, we’ve just selected the honorees for our 2023 list of "50 Most Influential Business Leaders of Color" list and a separate list of Emerging Leaders of Color (under 40).
 
We’re now working on the print and online copies of our lists for our big reveal this spring. 
 
The print and online report will be an updated -- and expanded -- version of the original list first published in 2020 that became a resource for corporations and nonprofits looking to hire, looking for board members, looking for expert commentators and looking for thought leaders across the region.
 
Learn how your company can be aligned with, and help support, this endeavor by becoming a sponsor.
 
Thanks for your consideration.
?
 
That’s your need to knows for today -- the first full day of spring -- unless you need to know how to make a guitar out of stuff bought at Ikea
 
Be back Friday.
 
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
617.244.1688
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