Business Newsletter | December 2018
Below is a brief summary of some of the important items in Sturbridge this month. if you have any questions on any of the items listed here please contact the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator.
Sturbridge Express
On 10 November we had the final run of the Sturbridge Express shuttle pilot program. Over the past thirteen weeks of this pilot program, the service gave rides to over 400+ visitors and residents in Sturbridge. The Business Advocacy Group (BAG) would like to take a moment to thank all of you for promoting and supporting this pilot program.
Now that the pilot program has concluded, the BAG would like to see what your feelings were on the service and to get a better idea of what a Sturbridge Express shuttle might look like in 2019. If you could please take five minutes and complete this brief survey regarding the Sturbridge Express it will be greatly appreciated (click here to complete the survey). We ask that you complete the survey by Monday, 3 December.
Finally on Wednesday, 12 December at 5pm there will be a wrap up meeting at Rapscallion Brewery where the BAG will talk about the results and see how this service could be continued in 2019. If your business benefited from this service that it is requested that you try and attend to provide your input, especially if you want to see this continue next year.
Annual License Renewals are DUE
This is a reminder that annual business licenses need to be submitted to the town by the end of the month. Failure to do so will mean that the town cannot issue the license(s) you may need for your business to operate. It is vital that if you have not completed that paperwork that you do so immediately and submit it either via mail or email using the information below.
Town of Sturbridge Attn: Building Department 308 Main Street Sturbridge, MA 01566 | cforgit@town.sturbridge.ma.us |
Please note that it will take a few days to process the applications, so it is recommended that you get any applications to the town as soon as possible so that the paperwork can be processed and licenses issued before the end of the month.
Marketing Sturbridge with Discover Central MA
Over the fall, the Sturbridge Tourist Association (STA) has been working to promote you and your businesses to tourists throughout New England. It has done so through a partnership with Discover Central Massachusetts (DCM), the regional tourism board for Worcester County. Over the past few months, the STA and DCM have worked on two articles promoting the idillic fall nature of Sturbridge. One focused on a romantic getaway to Sturbridge and was sent out to DCM's 40,000 plus email readers. You can read that article by clicking here. The other article was written by Yankee Magazine and focused on a weekend getaway in Sturbridge. It was published on their website and sent to their vast readership. You can read that article by clicking here. We are very pleased to say that both campaigns seemed to produce great results and we look foward to partnering with DCM again in the coming months and years.
A Message from MassHire
Does your business have openings? Would you like to participate in our no-cost monthly mini-job fairs, called Job Day? They take place the last Thursday of the month from 10am to Noon at the MassHire Career Center in Southbridge. And besides the Job Days, MassHire can also list any job openings you have at no cost on JobQuest, the state’s job board used by all Career Centers. Every day thousands of job seekers log on to JobQuest looking for job opportunities throughout the state. Contact us at 508-765-6430 for more information or to be added to the distribution list for Job Days.
Sturbridge Tourist Association Vacancy
At this time there is a vacancy with the Sturbridge Tourist Association. Currently the STA is looking for a fifth member to participate in monthly meetings (usually the second Wednesday of the month at 6pm in the Center Office Building) and to help support their mission of serving as the fiduciary for their portion of the hotel/motel tax ($182,000 in fiscal year 2019). The STA uses that funding to help support local events and activities that will help to bring visitors to the community and bolster our local economy as well as funding the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator. You can read more about the STA by clicking here.
The seat is open to a residents and/or a business owner/manager in Sturbridge (even if they themselves are not a resident). If you are interested in joining please contact the Town Administrator at 508.347.2500 ext. 2 to speak about how to get appointed, or if you want to learn more about the STA please contact the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator at 508.347.2500 ext. 1411.
December Town Meetings
Click here to view the Board and Committee meetings that will take place in December. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact the Town Clerk at 508.347.2500 ext. 1. Please note that all meetings are subject to change as per Massachusetts General Law. Furthermore with the holidays the dates of some meetings may be shifted from their usual schedule.