Join us for the New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival! – October 8th
Don’t miss all of the excitement at the New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival on Sunday, October 8th under the tent on City Pier 3 in the historic Port of New Bedford. Roughly, twenty local food establishments will be serving up delicious samples of their signature chowders, soups and quahogs. Amongst last year’s participants returning to defend their prestigious “Chowderfest Titles” are: The Black Whale, Freestone’s, Cove Surf & Turf, Brazilian Grill, Mike’s Restaurant and Tia Maria’s European Cafe. These distinguished competitors will be up against new comers SouthCoast Behavioral Health, The Moby Dick Brewery, and Carmines Italian Ristorante to name a few. The impressive list of contenders is growing daily, guaranteeing an enthusiastic friendly competition. Engage in the exciting competition by voting for your favorite chowders, soups and quahogs from several local establishments!
After the voting ends, the fun continues with antique fire truck rides, children’s face painting, exciting lobster races, gift certificate raffles, live music from local band “Business Time”, beer, wine, cocktails and a variety of desserts. Tickets are $15 prior to the event and $18 the day of. Tickets are available online here.
They can also be purchased at a variety of locations that can be found on the Chamber website. For more information on attending or participating in the New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival, call The One SouthCoast Chamber at 508-999-5231. Come and enjoy this highly anticipated community event with your friends and family!
South Coast Businesses Unite for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
The South Coast of Massachusetts is no stranger to the ravages of hurricanes, having been hit hard in the past with devastating results. The hurricanes of 1938 and 1954 wreaked havoc in our area and other hurricanes have been “just misses”. Harvey has caused monumental losses of property and lives in Texas, and we are looking for our members to step up and provide some much needed assistance in their time of need.
The Chamber has a non-profit charitable arm, the New Bedford Chamber Foundation, a tax-deductible 501.c.3 entity through which we are looking for contributions of any amount to aid the victims of Hurricane Harvey. 100% of the proceeds of this fundraising efforts will be sent to the American Red Cross, and we will publicize the names of the contributors so our community knows that you care.
Please make a check out to New Bedford Chamber Foundation and mail to The One SouthCoast Chamber at 794 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. We will, in turn, aggregate the funds and send on to the American Red Cross in the name of the South Coast business community.
The High Cost of Electricity is a Major Issue Impacting Massachusetts Businesses
Submitted by the Southeastern Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Alliance
(Bristol County Chamber of Commerce, Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce and SouthCoast Chamber)
The High Cost of Electricity is a Major Issue Impacting Massachusetts Businesses
The objective of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Alliance (SMCCA) is to increase the visibility of chamber member businesses on Beacon Hill and Washington D.C. The alliance is also intended to serve as a platform to work with members of the legislative delegation on policy formation as well as response to existing initiatives put forth at the statewide or national level that directly affect Southeastern Massachusetts. A long standing issue of great concern impacting Massachusetts businesses and residents alike within southeastern Massachusetts has been the outrageously high cost of electricity. Cheap electricity is available throughout much of the United States. It is not the case in Massachusetts.
A major factor driving up the cost of electricity is high demand without adequate infrastructure to support consumption. That problem is getting worse due to the continued decommissioning of primary power plants with no real time replacements. The consequence is that pricing is going up again in the state that already has the highest costs for electricity in the continental United States.
The pricing situation is particularly acute in Southeastern Massachusetts where the Brayton Point Station in Somerset, once the litigation target of the Conservation Law Foundation, is now permanently offline. While the decommissioning of Brayton Point has been a great victory for environmentalists, this 1,530-megawatt power plant was the primary producer of electricity in the Southeastern Massachusetts. The termination of both the Brayton Point and the Montaup Electric Co. plant power plants in Somerset leaves Southeastern Massachusetts with no means of producing reliable energy and equates to a greater than 2000 megawatts net loss of electricity production in Massachusetts.
After years of advocacy, state government has finally begun to address the issue of electricity infrastructure. Please know that the trending away from “dirty” fossil fuels is recognized as a good thing by the collective membership of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Alliance and many other corporate citizens within Massachusetts. That is why the Cape Cod Canal Region, SouthCoast and Bristol County chambers of commerce were strong proponents for the energy bill that became the new state procurement law in 2016. With the recent submission of numerous on-shore wind, hydropower and off-shore wind proposals as part of the Commonwealth’s long term “Clean Energy” solicitation it is also important not to neglect our immediate needs.
What was hoped for by many business groups and ratepayers is a pragmatic policy that reduces or at least stabilizes electricity costs, while also looking ahead to sustainability. From the perspective of Southeastern Massachusetts the opposite looks to be the case as future sustainability has clearly superseded costs. That is why it is asked that the expansion of natural gas infrastructure should no longer be put aside solely for political convenience.
Leveraging gas in combination with the expansion of green alternatives is a reasonable option that can be used to contain the high cost of electricity while also meeting environmental aspirations. There is no reason why Massachusetts cannot be practical and forward thinking by moving forward on both fronts simultaneously. Lack of action on this issue of infrastructure has been a key factor in raising electricity costs, which most certainly has been impacting the Massachusetts economy. Now is the time for action.
Respectfully,
Rick Kidder
President and Chief Executive Officer
SouthCoast Chamber
Marie Oliva
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce
Robert A. Mellion, Esq.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bristol County Chamber of Commerce
Message from the Membership Campaign Co-chair
If you are a business owner you owe it to yourself, your employees, your customers and your bottom line to seriously consider joining The One SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce. It is headed by a solid team of professionals that are dedicated to helping ensure that your business grows and thrives. There are so many benefits! From networking opportunities, expos, sponsorships, ribbon cuttings, advertising opportunities, committees, shop local programs, advocacy, the list goes on. You’ll be working side by side with fellow businesses to not only help your business but continue to grow and succeed as a community. If you are a member already, you know full well how beneficial your membership is. And,if you are not a member yet, I urge you to join during the 2017 SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive.
Chris Johnson
Marketing Manager of SERVPRO® of Dartmouth / New Bedford and Marion/Middleboro
2017 Membership Campaign Co-chair
New SouthCoast Chamber Logo
The One SouthCoast Chamber is pleased to announce we now have a new logo for our new name! Chamber President & CEO Rick Kidder said “We are pleased to unveil our new logo, a graphic representation of the Butler Flats lighthouse, an iconic symbol of New Bedford and the South Coast. Just as lighthouses light the way for mariners, the Chamber helps businesses find their way and sheds light on issues of importance to the business community.”
Chamber members that wish to add the logo to their website can download the member badge here.
We would like to thank Chamber member Sergio Dabdoub for designing the new logo.
STEM Employers Step Up To “Hire A Youth”
By Brenna Souza
The Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership relies heavily on our involvement with area employers in order to be successful and to ensure that we make the most out of all high school interns’ experiences. The focus this year at the state level for Connecting Activities is to recruit and partner with more employers within the STEM field who are looking to “hire a youth.” STEM is based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and students are being educated within all four disciplines. Work in the STEM field is growing rapidly and statistics have shown that the need for STEM related jobs will rise drastically by 2018.
The GNBCAP was extremely lucky this year to get the chance to partner with Tegra Medical, LLC. Tegra Medical stepped up and sponsored three students through the Connecting Activities internship program, who have worked in Engineering and Manufacturing while at the facility. Tegra Medical is a STEM employer who focuses on precision machining and contract manufacturing, which services the medical device industry.
Kenneth Campanale the Director of Regulatory and Quality at Tegra Medical, spoke with the GNCAP on the benefits he feels his organization received from hosting student interns. Mr. Campanale stated, “We have received more than what we have given to these students. The students are well prepared to work in a new environment and have a great work ethic. They have been an excellent resource to our team. Once they are trained on a task, they need little supervision with completing the task. We look forward to the summer months because we will have these resources to help support our team.”
Click here to see a video about the students experience at Tegra.
(video provided courtesy of Bristol Community College)
Employers who choose to host these student interns are given the chance to someday offer the students an opportunity to be employed closer to home and bring work back to the South Coast area. While hosting a student intern, an employer is giving the students the power and tools needed in order to be successful in the future. The objective for the GNBCAP is to provide a work experience that gives students the opportunity to expand knowledge gained in the classroom by applying it in a work setting.
If you are interested in hosting a student intern or would like more information, please contact Brenna Souza (508)999-5231 ext. 29 or bsouza@southcoastchamber.com
About the Connecting Activities Partnership
The Greater New Bedford Connecting Activities Partnership, a collaboration of the City of New Bedford Office of the Mayor, the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board and Youth Council, Bristol Community College and The One SouthCoast Chamber, promotes the connecting of academic and workplace learning through Connecting Activities workplace internships. Area employers assist high school seniors to make more informed decisions about their future education and career choices. Currently, we service students at Dartmouth High School, Fairhaven High School, New Bedford High School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School and Old Rochester Regional High School. More information about the partnership is available at www.southcoastchamber.com or by calling (508) 999-5231.
Call for Membership Drive Volunteers & Prize Donations -We Need Your Support!
The One SouthCoast Chamber will be holding a Membership Campaign on Tuesday, September 12th and Wednesday, September 13th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please consider giving three and a half hours of your time with fellow business leaders, all while sharing the value you derive from being a member. The day will include a complimentary lunch. In addition, valuable prizes will be awarded to top recruiters!
The Chamber provides numerous services for its members, including networking and professional development, export services, an electricity discount program, free and low cost marketing, school-to- career initiatives, trade shows, as well as government affairs programs and advocacy to encourage a positive business climate for the New Bedford Area.
In addition, the Chamber’s New Member Campaign will also feature several “join now” incentives for businesses and organizations that enroll with the Chamber, including free advertising, web site listings, admission to Chamber networking programs and more.
If you are unable to volunteer your time, please consider donating a prize or gift certificate for those who will be participating in the campaign. Your support will help make this Membership Campaign a great success!
Last year’s prize sponsors were: AAA of Southern New England,Back Nine Club, Cotali Mar Restaurant, Country Club of New Bedford , Dunkin Donuts, Fran’s Travel, Hampton Inn of Fairhaven/New Bedford, Clifton Larson Allen, LaFrance Hospitality, Luzo Auto Body, Mirasol’s Café, Moore & Isherwood, Not Your Average Joe’s, The Pasta House, Rose Alley Ale House, Pawtucket Red Sox, Residence Inn by Marriott, The Steamship Authority, The Whaling Museum and YMCA Southcoast.
If you are interested in volunteering for the drive or, are interested in becoming a prize sponsor, please contact Ian Abreu, Manager of Business Development & Public Policy at The One SouthCoast Chamber at: (508) 999-5231, ext.24, or, via email at iabreu@southcoastchamber.com
The Business Voice: Call for Volunteers and Locations
- Business willing to put petitions in their place of business where registered New Bedford voters could sign to place the issue on the ballot
- Volunteers to help gather signatures from New Bedford registered voters
- Your support to help bring this change to our city by adding your name to the list of supporters. Please send your name and business name to Rick Kidder at rkidder@southcoastchamber.com
The Business Voice – June 2017
Proposed Massachusetts ‘millionaire tax’ question heading to 2018 ballot
By: Ian Abreu
A proposed “millionaire tax” constitutional amendment is heading to the 2018 ballot after Massachusetts lawmakers voted 134-55 on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 to place the measure before voters.
Under this proposal, individuals with annual incomes above $1 million would be subject to a 4% surtax. This surtax would only apply to portions of income over $1 million. The current income tax rate is 5.1 percent.
If you would like to communicate with your elected state senator and or representative about this proposal and make your voice heard, you can do so by following this link: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Compromise Reached on Health Assessment
By: Ian Abreu
Thanks to the lobbying and advocacy of Chambers, Associations and the business community all throughout the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has deviated from his original $2,000 per worker penalty assessed on employers who employ more than 10 full time workers if they do not provide what has been defined as “adequate” health insurance.
The new proposal calls for an increase in the “Employer Medical Assistance Contribution” levied on all employers with six or more employees from a maximum of $51 per employee to $77 per employee. This new assessment is expected to generate approximately $75 million in new state revenues for FY 18’.
The second tier assessment would also apply to companies with six or more employees and be capped at $750 per non-disabled employee who chooses to enroll in Mass Health instead of an employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
The Baker administration expects to collect $125 million from the tier-two penalties, which are designed to target companies whose workers are contributing to the state’s rising Medicaid expenses by opting for public plans, if income-eligible, instead of private coverage.
If you would like more analysis on this new proposal, please click here to read the latest commentary from the “Commonwealth Magazine.”
First Joint Meeting of the “Southeastern Massachusetts Legislative Alliance” Scheduled
By: Ian Abreu
The One SouthCoast Chamber continues to strengthen our regional government affairs approach, and as such, have formed the “Southeastern Mass Legislative Alliance,” which will consist of our Chamber, the Bristol County Chamber (formally the Fall River Chamber), Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber and others.
As a member of our Chamber, we would like to extend an invitation to all of you to attend our first joint meeting, in which we will discuss the alliance, next steps, etc.
Time & Date: Friday, July 21st @ 8 a.m.
Location: Bristol County Chamber of Commerce, 200 Pocasset St., Fall River, Ma 02721
(We will be joined by special guest speaker, Congressman William Keating, 9th Congressional Representative.)
We hope you all will be able to adjust your summer schedules accordingly so you can attend.
Chowderfest Returning this October – Calling All Restaurants!
Planning has begun for the 12th Annual New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival and we are inviting restaurants throughout the SouthCoast to join us on Sunday, October 8 at City Pier 3 to showcase their signature dishes from 12 noon to 5:00 pm.
This year “ChowderFest” award categories will include Clam and Seafood Chowder, Kale Soup, Signature Soup, Stuffed Quahog, and Best Table Presentation. Competing restaurants will serve up sample-sized portions of their most popular dishes and will be featured in an intense promotional advertising program leading up to the event!
There will be chances to receive trophies, plaques and cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in two separate contests, “Judges Choice” and “People’s Choice” The tasting wraps up by 3pm and the votes are tallied by our team of volunteers. The fun continues with children’s activities live music, beer, wine, cocktails, cold drinks, and desserts until the awards are presented at 4:30pm.
Don’t miss out on of all the excitement happening at Chowderfest and the opportunity to serve your delicious signature dishes to over 3000 attendees. Sponsorship opportunities are also available on all levels making it possible for organizations of any size to get involved and gain exposure. For more information contact Deven Robitaille, Programs and Events Manger at 508 999-5231.