News / Updates

Congressman Olver Visits Putnam Place

On Monday February 4, 200 mZeal Communications and Foster Miller welcomed Congressman John Olver to their ribbon cutting ceremonies at Putnam Place. The two Research & Development companies held their grand openings and discussed their current government contracts awarded with the support of Congressman Olver.

mZeal Communications, which initially leased 2,000 square feet of office space in August 2006, has moved their corporate headquarters into a newly renovated 9,000 square foot modern office facility with plenty of room for expansion. mZeal Communications provides innovative technology solutions for the U.S. Army and other federal government agencies.

The company's president, Rajini Anachi, said "Putnam Place is the perfect fit. Moving here allows me to focus on growing my business and be near resources such as Fitchburg State College."

Founded in 1956, Foster Miller, an engineering, manufacturing and technology development company with locations in Waltham, MA., Washington, DC, and Albany, NY has opened an new research and development office at Putnam Place. The Putnam Place location specializes in developing and testing a Locomotive Automatic Collision and Emergency Notification System for the Transportation Department.

"We are certainly pleased that Congressman Olver is supporting these very important companies at Putnam Place," said Charles Caron, Chairman for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority. "These are quality companies providing quality jobs right in the heart of downtown Fitchburg."

Putnam Place is currently home to 16 businesses with over 180 employees, including the Worcester County Registry of Deeds and DRS Power Technology.

____________________________________

January 23, 2008

FITCHBURG REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ELECTS OFFICERS

The Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority announces that the following officers were elected for 2008 at its Annual Meeting on January 15, 2008. Charles Caron, Chairman; James Hohman, Vice Chairman and Kenneth Caron, Treasurer.

Mr. Charles Caron is a Residential/Commercial Real Estate Agent with Prudential Beacon Properties of Fitchburg, Mr. Hohman is a Portfolio Manager with First Financial Trust in Leominster and Mr. Kenneth Caron is a CPA with Reagan & Company , LLP in Fitchburg. The FRA Board also consists of George "Bud" Leonhardt, owner of Academy Glass in Ayer and James Pandiscio, Real Estate Finance Specialist with IC Federal Credit Union in Fitchburg.

Mr. Leonhardt, before turning the chairmanship over to Mr. Caron, expressed his thanks to the Board for the support over the past two years. Mr. Leonhardt also acknowledged the yeoman's effort put forth from Tom Szocik, Executive Director and Jennifer Hines, Executive Assistant. Mr. Leonhardt stated that "The Board is challenged with charting the course, Tom and Jen have done a fine job steering the ship".

________________

December 7, 2007

2007 Fitchburg Downtown Holiday Storefront Window Contest Winners Announced

Mayor Dan H. Mylott is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Fitchburg Downtown Holiday Storefront Window Contest. In the “Non-Traditional/Unique” category, Design at 639, at 639 Main Street, won first place with its living room setting and white feather tree hung with glistening tools of the trade: paintbrushes, sander wheels, paint stirrers, etc. Second place was awarded to the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance Storefront Artists at 633 Main Street for its tree limbs with white lights, snowflakes and paintings. It’s Finally Hair, at 37 Elm Street, won third place with its finely wrapped, prickly paradox of white lights sculpting a large green cactus.

For the “Traditional” category, Dr. Knute Alfredson’s storefront at 655 Main Street won first place with its animated Mr. & Mrs. Claus, The Fitchburg Business Center at 344 Main Street won second place with a beautiful array of lights on trees and deer reminiscent of a walk in the woods, and Johnsonia Associates Limited Partnership at 524 Main Street with its Victorian flair.

Select Engineering at 305 Main Street, received the Mayor’s Award for its “Remember When” display honoring our troops as well as its historical display of downtown businesses and Honorable Mention has been awarded to Roux Travel Services, Inc. at 349 Main Street, for its “Winter and Summer” windows.

“These displays have created an old-fashioned, neighborly feel in Downtown and we are very proud of the thirty businesses who participated. Their efforts compliment the season and the City’s natural and architectural beauty. Many thanks to our Contest Committee, Kent Bourgault, Nancy Livingston, Michele Castellani, Donna DesChenes and Maureen Hayes, as well as Ellen DiGeronimo, the Downtown Coordinator, for their ideas and efforts.”

The event complimented the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Mayor's Children's Holiday Party.

More photos here.
_______________________________________

Lunenburg Wal-Mart Awards Grant to the Fitchburg Riverfront Park Foundation

November 16, 2007

Lunenburg Wal-Mart associates presented the Fitchburg Riverfront Park Foundation with a $250 grant today. The Foundation plans to use the funds towards its 5th Annual Fitchburg Forge-In Blacksmith Festival. The donation was made by Wal-Mart as part of the company's community grant program.

"Our associates were excited to make this donation to such a worthwhile cause," said James McGilvery, Wal-Mart manager. "The money will be utilized for programs in the local community that we are glad to support. This is just a small part of Wal-Mart's ongoing commitment to the communities in which we operate."

With more than 90 percent of its charitable giving targeted at local communities, cash donations through Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart & Sam's Club Foundation exceeded a record $300 million in 2006. Of this total amount, $70 million was given through the community grant program to help support local organizations, large and small, from schools, YMCA and other youth programs, fire departments, libraries and more.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log onto its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.

October 23, 2007
Contact: Dan Curley, Fitchburg EDO 978-345-9603

or alla yakovev, pioneer institute 617-723- 2277

Fitchburg Clears the Way for Small Business

New Pioneer Guide for Entrepreneurs Charts a Path For Economic Growth

Fitchburg – The maze of local, state and federal regulations can discourage even the most determined entrepreneur. To help Fitchburg’s entrepreneurs start and grow their companies, Pioneer Institute has published Navigating Through Regulations and Licensing Requirements in Fitchburg, a step-by-step guide to government regulations for small business.

“The Entrepreneurial Guide provides a rational, transparent process to opening your business here in Fitchburg”, Mayor Dan H. Mylott said.

The new Fitchburg guide, produced by Pioneer Institute’s Center for Economic Opportunity, will be presented in conjunction with Mayor Mylott at a press conference on October 24, 12:30 pm in the Veteran’s Memorial room at Fitchburg City Hall. Pioneer Institute Executive Director Jim Stergios will join the Mayor.

Navigating Through Regulations and Licensing Requirements breaks down the regulatory requirements for more than 20 different types of businesses, from hair salons to auto body shops. Complex local, state and federal requirements are presented in a logical, concise way. Navigating also includes a comprehensive list of resources for business owners to help them start or expand their company and hire new employees.

“Small businesses form the roots of the urban economy,” said Pioneer Director Stergios. “Are cities doing enough to help them grow? Too often, government regulation can be a real obstacle. Fitchburg is fighting that by making it easier for small businesses to expand.”

The Fitchburg Guide is the latest in a series that includes Boston, Lawrence, Quincy, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Brockton and New Bedford. The Guide series is part of Pioneer’s Center for Economic Opportunity’s Middle Cities Initiative, which seeks to promote the revitalization of Massachusetts’ cities. The Initiative focuses on education, public safety, effective management, economic development and business creation in the Commonwealth’s urban centers.

The Guide is presented in partnership with the City of Fitchburg and was produced by Pioneer with support from Fitchburg Savings Bank and the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation.

Pioneer Institute is a non-partisan public policy organization that seeks to enhance the quality of policy debate in Massachusetts through the support, distribution, and promotion of original research on issues of urgent public concern.

Click Here for a copy

_________________________________________________________________

Brainstorming ideas for the downtown's future

By Kate Czaplinski

Article Launched: 10/21/2007 10:05:35 AM EDT - Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG -- Lifelong city resident Martha Quirk placed one of her three red stickers next to the words "implementation of plans" Saturday, a goal she hoped city officials would follow.

"I've lived in the city all my life and I've seen the city spend money on consultants to tell them what to do, but those plans are never implemented," Quirk said, as dozens of other attendees at the Downtown Fitchburg Community Forum placed similar stickers next to their top three goals for the city's future.

Community members, election candidates and city groups discussed five-year goals for Fitchburg during the all-day event, held at the Christ Church on Main Street.

Besides "implementation of plans," stickers found their way to such goals as "change perception of Fitchburg," "additional restaurants downtown" and "marketing, marketing, marketing."

Bob Biagi, of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), facilitated discussion groups, and later in the morning groups took guided tours of downtown.

The session ended with attendees choosing top goals and planning how the city can reach them.

Planning Board member Nancy Maynard and resident Jay Sullivan expressed hoped Saturday that the progress made throughout the day would lead to action.

"This is a really exciting time for Fitchburg and many people want to focus on the negative but I think we should be focusing on the positive," Maynard said. "This was a wonderful forum today, all the areas of the city were represented."

Adding a bookstore and coffee shop to Main Street to draw college students into to the downtown area was just one of the ideas that enticed Maynard and Sullivan.

"I have been to meetings like this and everyone leaves energized, but after the excitement dies down nothing happens," Sullivan said. "I think it's a matter of organizing and telling people what they have to do to get something accomplished."

Representatives from the Fitchburg Public Library, Fitchburg State College and the Fitchburg Art Museum also attended the forum, according to downtown coordinator Ellen

The ideas that came out of Saturday's forum will be part of plan sent to the MRPC in the future.

"People are taking the time to spend their day here," DiGeronimo said. "Using their ideas is part of respecting their willingness to participate."

DiGeronimo called the day a success because it generated new ideas and methods to implement them.

"Main Street is the heart of the city," DiGeronimo said. "If that heart is beating that energy goes out into the rest of the city."

'Forge-In' forward in Fitchburg

By Kate Czaplinski

Article Launched: 10/14/2007 10:05:52 AM EDT - Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG -- Waltham resident Carl West, 49, delicately hammered his heated iron pole, shaping the glowing metal to create a pair of bow tongs. West drew the largest crowd of interested onlookers at Saturday's Forge-In Festival, with his charisma and skill.

"For most people, steel is immutable," West said, banging a steel rod against his work bench. "I get to put it in a fire, pick up one end while the other is glowing red and form it to my will. It's a power trip."

West was one of 13 blacksmiths -- from novices to professionals -- clinking hammers and burning coals at Riverfront Park Saturday for the fourth annual Blacksmith Forge-In and Autumn Festival.

West said his love affair with the art of blacksmithy began in 1977, when he read a poem called "The Village Blacksmith," by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Soon after, West found several opportunities to pursue his dream as a sculpture student.

"Essentially God said, 'You are going to be a blacksmith,'" West said. "Too many things happened that let me know it was what I was supposed to do."

West and the other blacksmiths competed in three sessions of live competition during Saturday's event.

The Forge-In and Autumn Festival drew larger than normal crowds Saturday, according to event coordinator Katrina Burton.

"I've never done anything like this before," Burton said. "I wanted to bring the whole community together and I think it all worked out."

Burton credited the event's creator, Achla Madan, for starting the tradition.

"She financed this forge-in four years ago and paid out the prizes to the winners," Burton said.

Madan said Saturday the event helps bring artists to Fitchburg, and is modeled after events she'd seen around Europe.

The event also provided new material for the Riverfront Park Gate. Burton, who said she learned the craft from (Deb Ash), forged a panel for the gate, which is made up of pieces related to the theme of "all along the riverbank." The winner of the decorative panel competition received $1,000.

"I'm only a beginner, but I've really enjoyed it," Burton said.

Burton's husband, Bill Burton, competed in the live competition Saturday in the novice category.

The live competition started at 9 a.m., when beginners forged "S" hooks, a pair of drive beam hooks and finally a plant hanger. Intermediate-level blacksmiths forged a toasting fork, swivel hooks and a punch hole trammel. Professional-level blacksmiths forged bow tongs, fireplace pokers and shovel and a outdoor Suffolk thumb latch.

Winners in each division received cash prizes.

Five students from Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School in Marlborough also competed in the Forge-In. The young blacksmiths all were members of the school's ornamental iron work class, which is one-of-a-kind in the state, according to its teachers.

Neil Mansfield and Mark Chludenski teach the metal-working classes at the school and accompanied their students to Saturday's event.

"It's great for the kids to be able to showcase their talents and technical skills," Mansfield said.

The students are taught welding, sheet metal work and other professions, but the ornamental iron work class is a fresh edition to the curriculum, according to Mansfield.

"This is an opportunity to express themselves," Mansfield said. "We are the only school in Massachusetts to offer this program."

Assabet student Madeline Hernadez, 16, was the only female competitor Saturday.

"First thing I fell in love with (at school) was blacksmithy," Hernadez said after finishing her "S" hooks early. "I'd be upset about something and just start banging away and it was a great stress-reliever.

Joe Lambert, 35, of Athol, competed in the Intermediate division Saturday. He said he formed an interest in blacksmithy when he saw it demonstrated at a craft fair in Templeton.

"I'm an iron worker, but that doesn't offer any creative release," Lambert said.

Residents enjoyed watching the live competition as well as perusing antique stands and food offered by local groups. The Boy Scouts and Senior Center had tables at the event.

Ken Posco, of Marshall Farm, donated 200 pumpkins to the festival, according to Katrina Burton. The pumpkins were carved by local children at the 21st Century after-school program Friday. One-hundred of the pumpkins lined the wall beside the river at the park Saturday.

"The pumpkin carving was really my baby this year," Burton said.

Burton was already taking down suggestions for next year's Forge-in and Autumn Festival.

Mayor Dan H. Mylott was pleased the weather turned out so well.

"I think this event is only going to grow in the future," Mylott said.

Helen Obermeyer-Simmons, a graphic design teacher at Fitchburg State College and former president of the Fitchburg Historical Society, said she was pleased to see the event was such a success at bringing metal-work artistry to Fitchburg.

"We have been waiting for the revival and I think it's finally here," Obermeyer-Simmons said.