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The Chamber Blog

Governor Healey Addresses the South Shore

5/28/2024

2 Comments

 
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The Governor recognized the Chamber’s ongoing work promoting multi-family and small-lot housing. She noted that we championed housing before it was broadly seen as essential to our economy.  We support the Healey-Driscoll Administration emphasis on housing as part of its economic strategy.  We have cautioned that a state formula may not work well in every single community and there will need to be some adjustments. 
 But the state is facing a real challenge on workforce and housing which needs to be addressed with some broad strokes. Chambers and business groups need to help our communities get to “yes” on housing in ways that preserve unique community characteristics and promote our future.   
Thank you to Marshfield Community Media for recording the event.
More photos can be found here!
Event Sponsor:
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Important vote on the South Shore's future

11/3/2023

4 Comments

 
We want to update you on the former South Weymouth Air Base, also known as Union Point or Southfield. A critical decision will be made by the Rockland Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:00 P.M.  

The new development team (New England Development and Brookfield Properties) has proposed a plan that moves this critical project forward. The plan will not move ahead without rezoning. Weymouth Town Council and Abington Town Meeting, as well as the Southfield Redevelopment Authority, all have already approved the necessary rezoning plan. Now it is up to Rockland Town Meeting to approve it or stop a project that will benefit the entire region-including Rockland. 

Only Rockland residents can vote or speak at the meeting, which starts at 7:00 at Rockland High School Auditorium. If you or your employees want to see economic opportunity and growth, we encourage you to attend. Download information about this special town meeting.

Rockland will gain a lot of new money for local services from the project. But, with almost every project there are opponents who see growth and change as something bad.  The new developers have impressive credentials and successful local projects such as Pinehills in Plymouth and University Station in Westwood. Their new zoning proposal plan, connecting runways to greenways, offers more open space, more homes, and more local tax revenue than previous plans. It also includes mixed used for retail and commercial.

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long identified the former Base as the most important economic opportunity for the three communities and the surrounding area. The project has a long way to go. Major infrastructure issues have to be addressed. However, the developers and state will not get to that step without having a viable zoning plan in place. 

On Tuesday night, only Rockland residents will have a voice in deciding on a successful project, with a top development team that has local roots, or a partially built neighborhood with an uncertain future and lost opportunities. The former Base has been closed for 25 years, this is the right plan, the right team, and maybe the last chance to see a great project. 

Please feel free to share with any Rockland residents.  
4 Comments

South Shore 2030 End of Year Recap

1/24/2023

25 Comments

 
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​If you live, work or play in Southeastern Massachusetts, you know our region offers something wonderful for everyone. In a changing world, we must keep our economy strong to ensure our people and places are here for decades to come. That's why the Chamber's South Shore 2030 plan was created. South Shore 2030: Choosing our Future is our constantly evolving roadmap that guides smart, informed planning decisions. A local team of large and small business leaders, nonprofit leaders, elected officials, and policy experts are building and implementing a plan to promote our region's economic future. Our mission is to create the right environment and balance for our current and future businesses and resident workforce to thrive.

Key Accomplishments

  • We strengthened our municipal engagement. 
  • We released our Infrastructure Priorities agenda. 
  • We helped support and fund municipal projects that were focused on driving future development investment, through zoning, housing and transportation solutions. 
  • We received the formal designation as a REDO (Regional Economic Development Organization) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
  • We witnessed a rise in positive press coverage for local development and revitalization efforts. 
  • We were nationally recognized for our first regional marketing campaign. 

2022 Highlights

Learn more about how we drove economic development in the region.
Release of South Shore 2030 Infrastructure Priorities Report 
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This report emphasizes the need for more regional thinking around water resources and transportation. Read the full report. 
 
This analysis of water and wastewater capacity for key development parcels that require multi-town or regional solutions offers several potential focus areas for future development and investment in the region. We are partnering with a neighboring region to do a similar study to explore more possible solutions. Water limitations and capacity challenges will take multiple solutions and even more committed stakeholders - we are one of them. 

Read More
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Weymouth Chamber Opposition Letter for Proposed 18-Month Building Moratorium

12/6/2022

1 Comment

 
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Members of the Town Council,
 
As Chairman of the Weymouth Chamber of Commerce I want to state the Chamber’s strong opposition to the 18-month building moratorium that is before the Council.
 
Our Chamber will continue to support the Mayor’s and other elected official’s ongoing efforts to better understand the town’s water usage through water audits, the DPW’s monitoring and repairing damaged infrastructure, the installation of modern, accurate water metering devices, and the eventual replacement of aging infrastructure.  The Chamber also supports efforts to explore any reasonable avenues to identify and potentially acquire water from other resources.

The Chamber supports those measures because the Chamber recognizes the importance of water supply and quality to the town.  Water is critical not just for residents, but for the many businesses that contribute significantly to the tax revenue collected by the town.  This tax revenue is crucial to maintaining our police, fire, schools, parks, playing fields, libraries, and roads and sidewalks.

The building moratorium will effectively shut down new growth as a critical revenue source.  Investment momentum is not a light switch.  Although you can shut off investments with a moratorium it will not simply snap back on when (or if) the moratorium is lifted.  Stopping meaningful economic investment into Weymouth does not stop investors from investing elsewhere, as they surely will.  As word spreads that Weymouth is “closed” it could take years to regain the momentum that will be lost.  Our concern is the impact this will have on future budgets and needed projects.

The Weymouth Chamber of Commerce respectfully urges the Town Council to oppose this seemingly draconian measure and allow the town’s elected leaders and Boards to continue weighing the merits of each project on a case-by-case basis.

Sincerely,
George Berg, Chair, Weymouth Chamber

1 Comment

South Shore Chamber of Commerce Wins Best In Show Award from National Chamber Association

9/6/2022

1 Comment

 
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ROCKLAND, MA AND ALEXANDRIA, VA, ISSUED AUGUST 31, 2022… The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has been named one of three Communications Excellence Best In Show winners by ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. ACCE is the leading national association for chambers of commerce and economic development organizations representing over 1,600 members, and more than 9,000 industry professionals.

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce initially won the 2022 Award for Communication Excellence for “Overall Best Campaign” for their Hello! South Shore campaign. Hello! South Shore is a regional destination marketing campaign that was created and designed to assist the regional recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19. After receiving a Regional Pilot Project Grant through the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, the Chamber partnered with local towns, businesses, and organizations to create a series of excursions that ran throughout the summer. The excursions were designed to spotlight arts, culture, history, outdoors, food, shops, recreation, holiday events, farmers’ markets, and neighborhoods across the South Shore. 

The campaign was the first to formally promote the South Shore region. It’s companion website www.hellosouthshore.com encouraged 600,000+ residents to think of “local” as more than their own neighborhood or town and promoted broader exploration. This was accomplished through an exciting and robust marketing campaign—launched in less than six weeks— spotlighting discovery and the many excursions across the 25 cities and towns the chamber represents. The Chamber enlisted local business members for campaign creation including logo and creative development as well as media placement. The campaign launch spanned three months during the summer of 2021 with 125 unique communications produced and delivered through email, radio, social media, billboard, magazine, and other forms of media. The website, www.hellowsouthshore.com, is still very much the hub for all the excursions and places to visit in the region. 

As a result of this groundbreaking campaign for the South Shore Chamber, Hello! South Shore reached nearly a million impressions in just 13 weeks. The project also provided countless local businesses, organizations, and events the much-needed support they deserve as they recover from operational losses due to the pandemic.

The Best In Show Award was announced live at the ACCE Annual Convention held July 27 in Indianapolis. The Hello! South Shore campaign competed against major metro chambers and regional chambers in 3 other award categories including Digital Media, Website, Print & Electronic Publications. 

“Effective communications and storytelling are crucial to supporting a chamber’s mission and showcasing its impact,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “The South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s innovative efforts to help drive engagement and make a difference in the region it serves are inspiring and very deserving of this recognition.”

“Looking ahead and beyond recovery, the Hello! South Shore project is directly linked to our larger economic and community development goals as part of the South Shore 2030 Plan,” explained Peter Forman, president & CEO of the 121-year-old chamber. “If you’re thinking about a campaign to brand your region, think local. Marketing the assets of your community to outsiders falls flat if the local businesses and residents don’t recognize and value those assets first.”

A panel of communications and marketing professionals from ten U.S.-based chambers of commerce evaluated entries submitted for this year’s competition. Entries were organized by category — based on the chamber’s annual revenue. Judges presented 13 Awards of Excellence and three Best in Show awards.

About the South Shore Chamber of Commerce
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce is the largest, not-for-profit business organization in the region and holds a 5-Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Funded by members and partner businesses for over 120 years, our mission is to cultivate a stronger South Shore economy by encouraging a robust and diverse business climate; and by supporting the local members and communities we represent.  We know when businesses succeed, our communities succeed. To learn more, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 781-421-3900.

About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is the professional society supporting the people who lead local, regional, statewide, and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers. For information, visit www.acce.org.

Special thanks to all the local businesses and organizations that participated in
Hello! South Shore:

​Abby Park
Alba Quincy
Alba on 53
Alma Nove
Anna's Harborside
The Artisan Pig
Barrel House Z
bia bistro
Black Tie Barber Shop
Board 143
Braintree 4th of July Committee
Burke's Alewerks
Burton's Grill
Buttonwood Books
Caffe Tosca 
Carmela's
Captain John Boats
Clandestine Kitchen
College Hype
The Company Theatre
Cushing Café
Derby Street Shops
East Coast Printing
edible South Shore
Epicurean Kitchen
Gerard's Turkey Farm
Glow Beauty Boutique
Greenside Grille
Hawk Visuals
Hemlock Ink
Hollywood Agency
Hotel 1620
Hull Lifesaving Museum
Idle Hour
Inn at Scituate Harbor
Island Creek Oysters
Jac's Café
Joye
Lenny's Hideaway
Leone Marketing Solutions
Levitate
Liv Creative Cuisine
Locally Yours
Lucca South Shore
Lucky Finn
​Main Street Media Group
Mamma Mia's
Marshfield Community Media
Mill Wharf
Mono Mono Boutique
Moonrise Cinemas
Nantasket Flatts
Novara Restaurant
Nona's Homemade
North South River Watershed Association
Off the Wall Kidz
Olde Salt House
PaddleSurf MA
The Parrot
Peace N Quiet Sailing Charters
Players Sports Bar & Grill
Plimouth Patuxent
Plymouth County Development Council
The Quarry
Quincy Farmers Market
 The Red Lion Tavern
Salty Harbor / 3 N 3
Salty Whale Cohasset
Sand & Water
Sandpaper Factory Goods
The Sandpiper Company
Sarcastic Swine BBQ
Second Wind Brewing
Slacktide Coffee Roasters
South Shore Arts Center
South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Home Life Style
South Shore Music Circus
South Shore Pottery Shop
Spin 350
Stars on Hingham Harbor
Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park
Stellwagen Brewing Company
Three Buoys & a Mermaid
The Tinker's Son
Three V
Trident
Tosca
Untold Brewing
Uva Wine Bar
Vela Juice Bar
Wahlburger's
The Weathervane Golf Club Tavern
Welch Company
Wildlands Trust
YupSup
Zef Cicchetti
1 Comment

South Shore Site Readiness Study

11/10/2021

1 Comment

 
Last month, the Chamber launched a study of water, wastewater and development in a section of the South Shore is in the news.

Here is some follow-up coverage of the report and how Weymouth officials view it in terms of the town's future.
  • Report: Upgrades needed to South Shore water, sewer systems
  • 'We know what the benefits are': Mayor Hedlund says Weymouth will consider joining MWRA
  • Columbian Square, Union Point top priorities for Weymouth District 6 candidates

If you missed the report's release, you can view the presentation here or download the slide deck. Want to read the full report? Click here!
1 Comment

South of Boston Spotlight: Atlantic Mechanical Contractors

4/7/2021

3 Comments

 
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Atlantic Mechanical is currently working on a diverse array of projects such as a new Roche Bros supermarket, Trade Roots Laboratories, and a new SpOt bakery.

​We have been working closely with our friends in the hospitality industry to assist our restaurant partners with getting back to “business as usual”, or “normal business operations” as soon as possible. We have worked diligently with this industry to help the restaurateurs that were open during these most difficult times while now re-opening those businesses who had been shut down.
 
One area that has not suffered as bad as some others are our local breweries. We have been working with area business owners to expand their businesses by adding and upgrading refrigeration and HVAC capacities, along with custom maintenance plans that keep their equipment running at peak efficiency while extending their useful life and identifying issues before they become expensive problems. Our maintenance programs are tailored to each facility and are a proven investment.

Within a year’s time, under unprecedented circumstances, Gratta Property Management was also able to construct, build, and complete a brand new 42-unit apartment complex, combined with an underground garage and a new café, Fuel America, situated on the ground floor, in the district’s bustling Weymouth Landing. As Gratta Property Management is also the Owner of Atlantic Mechanical, Atlantic installed all the state-of-the-art HVAC systems incorporated into the interior of this fabulous building. 

As spring arrives and the building is now almost 100% occupied, this project is bound to be a welcomed addition to the Landing’s history.

A satellite refrigeration compressor station for a major grocer on the South Shore was completely designed, fabricated, and installed by craftsmen from Atlantic Mechanical. The handsome control panel was fabricated in our shop and the custom mounting framework was built on-site.  Prior to this installation there was a problem with the existing compressors where they could fail under certain high demand conditions and this new station has added capacity and redundancy to the system and greatly reduced the risk of failure.

With Atlantic Mechanical, you will find a complete service and installation provider with the goal of maintaining lasting relationships long after the completion of any project. With Atlantic Mechanical, you will acquire an experienced business partner, not just a vendor.
We are tomorrow’s solutions for today’s environment.

​Whether it’s complicated, state of the art systems or multi-unit residential, Atlantic Mechanical leads the market in expedience, cost, and expertise.

HVAC • REFRIGERATION • 24 HOUR SERVICE & SALES
AtlanticMechanical.com • 781.331.1009


3 Comments

South of Boston Spotlight: Ellis Realty Advisors

4/5/2021

10 Comments

 
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Ellis Realty Advisors an Interview with Dave Ellis
Founder and Managing Partner, Dave Ellis, sat down for a quick Q&A on the eve of the Ellis Realty Advisors 3-year business anniversary. He provided insight into launching the company, building a team, the strengths of the South Shore, and the benefits of being a member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.
 
Q - What surprised you the most in your first three years?
 
I’d say how excited I was, and how excited other people were about the launch of Ellis Realty Advisors. I didn’t know what kind of reception we would get, from the market, different brokers, peers, clients. When we launched I had some reservations. Did I make the right decision? Does this make sense? But as I started to hear people’s excitement, I was very encouraged.
 
Q - Every company has a 5 year plan, and we’re just about in the middle of E.R.A’s 5 year plan, what are you looking to accomplish next?
 
I think it’s a balancing act, we want to grow in all directions, expand our different business lines that support our brokerage, and expand on our team’s strengths. But we also want to continue building relationships within our community, and adding value to the communities we live and work in. I want to continue building relationships with non-profits, and other organizations that are striving to do good in the world.

Company culture is also a focus. I’ll never tell you I know everything about something, I’m always trying to learn and educate myself on different things, and that’s the culture I hope to foster within the company, one that supports learning and growth.
 
Q - What do you focus on when building a team of agents?
 
The way I view building a team is similar to building a team in sports or other organizations that foster teamwork. I think it starts with a little bit of competition, we are in a competitive industry after all. I want agents that genuinely want to be the best they can be, and believe they can do better than the competition, but that’s not everything. They also need to have respect for each other, and collaborate. One person isn’t going to take the ball and score on their own, everyone is going to rely on each other.
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You also have to have good communication with your team to maintain that, offering praise and constructive feedback when you need to. It goes back to that learning mentality, if you’re a team of know-it alls, you’re not going to grow and solve the problems you’ll collectively face. 
 
Q - What advice would you give to other businesses that are looking to ramp up?
 
I think the best way I found to grow was relying on advisors to help steer me in the right direction. Getting advice from people who have the experience helped me confidently make certain decisions, and take certain actions that I otherwise might not have thought of. Whether it’s from a CPA, an attorney, a business coach, a life coach, commercial real estate broker, you name it, you should always be asking how we can do better. And once you have gotten better, I’ve found that you don’t stop asking yourself that question.
 
Q - How has being a South Shore Chamber of Commerce member helped with your business?
 
Relationships and economic development. It’s a fantastic medium to find like-minded professionals, which is always important. Especially as a business that’s tied to economic development, and tied to what’s going on in the communities around us. It’s also a great sounding board for various initiatives taken by the people in the community. I credit a lot of my success and growth as a business owner to the South Shore Chamber because I was able to make really strong connections and friendships through the chamber.
 
Ellis Realty Advisors is a leading provider of real estate services on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Ellis Realty’s team consists of multi-disciplined commercial real estate professionals specializing in a range of services for tenants, owners, investors and developers.


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The Weekly Wrap-up

1/15/2021

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Thank you to Rockland Trust for their continued support of South Shore 2030 and the Housing Initiative.

Welcome new members, The Cabinetry and Old Colony Elder Services!

We released our 2020 Recap for South Shore 2030 this week. Download it here!

Welcome to our newest Executive Committee members, Rich Fernandez, BID-Milton and Bonnie Simmons, Citrin Cooperman. 

Did you miss these blogs?
- Zoning Reform Passes in the Legislature
- Happy Chamberversaries!
- Guest Blog from Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP: Unpacking the Federal Stimulus Package’s Direct Payments

We're happy to announce these early supporters of our 2021 programming - 3Mentor Advisory, Brigham Health, Hollywood Agency, and MountainOne Bank. Don't miss the opportunity to become a sponsor or underwriter this year! Read more about offerings here!

Upcoming Events:
1/20 Housing on the South Shore: Water/Wastewater Capacity
1/29 NPO Annual Meeting (for Non-Profit members only)
2/05 Kitchen Spotlight with Chef Greg Jordan, The Quarry Restaurant

Did you see this week's Front Doors featured on our social media? SSCC members - send us your front door!

Alden House Historical Site
Cardinal Cushing Centers
Jac's Cafe
Senior Helpers South Shore
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The Weekly Wrap-up

1/8/2021

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We're pleased to announce Eastern Bank as our newest South Shore 2030 funder and Mission Partner.

Thank you Bay Copy, Campanelli, Curry College, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP, Perry CRE, and Rockland Trust for their continued support of the Partnership program.
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​Welcome new members Alden Ash Consulting, LLC, My Brother's Keeper, Pop-A-Lock Locksmith of Southeastern MA, Production Resources, Seacoast United Sports Club, and Swell Marketing Group!

Welcome to our newest Board of Directors: Jack Connell, Eastern Nazarene College; Nancy Curry, Envision Bank; Brian Renstrom, CLA; and Frank Zona, Zona.

You will soon hear from our two newest Ambassadors: Mary Ann Blackmur of Brigham Health and Damion Outar of JCO Groups of Services.

We want to welcome the new leadership at the following organizations: Dr. Allen L. Smith, President, South Shore Health; Robert Cinnante, President, South Shore Conservatory; and Steven Telesmanick, CEO, School on Wheels of Massachusetts.

​Don't miss these upcoming events!
  • 1/12 @ 9 AM  Coffee Connections
  • 1/20 @ 2 PM  Housing on the South Shore: Water/Wastewater Capacity
  • 1/29 @ 11 AM  NPO Annual Meeting (for non-profit members only)

Have you seen our Virtual Event Sponsorships & Committee Underwriter opportunities?

REMEMBER: Send us your front door to be featured in our #FrontDoorFriday posts!

Check out our Year in Review video below!

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 South Shore Chamber of Commerce.  All Rights Reserved.
1050 Hingham Street, Rockland MA 02370
Phone: 781.421.3900 | [email protected]  |  sitemap

Photo Disclaimer: Photos found on website may be subject to copyright. Housing photos provided by development teams for use; other photos taken by staff, unless noted. Main header image by Hawk Visuals.
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