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Business Newsletter - January 2020

Posted on: December 23, 2019 - 3:40pm
Joshua Hyde Public Library
The newly renovated Joshua Hyde Public Library

Below is the monthly Business Newsletter for January 2020. The stories below detail important business news that the town wants to share with business leaders this month. If there is a topic you'd like to learn more about, or if there is a story that you'd like us to cover in a future edition, please contact us by clicking here.

Special Town Meeting - January 27th 

There will be a Special Town Meeting (STM) held on January 27th beginning at 7pm at Tantasqua High School. The meeting will cover a variety of topics that require a vote of Sturbridge residents. There will be more information coming out about the STM including the Warrant Articles for the meeting in the coming weeks. Please check sturbridge.gov for more information on the first Town Meeting of 2020. 

Business of the Year Award - Winners Announced 

Beginning at the end of November, the Sturbridge Tourist Association (STA) announced they were seeking nominations for the first ever Sturbridge Business of the Year Awards. Businesses could be nominated in one of four categories: Shop, Eat, Stay or Play. After that announcement, the STA collected nominations for the award through the first few weeks of December via an online nomination form. By the close of the nomination period, the STA had received seventy-five nominations for Sturbridge businesses. At their December 17th meeting STA members reviewed all of the nominations and selected the following four businesses as the 2019 winners: 

  • Shop - Alternatives for Health; Owner - Salli Greene
  • Eat - Sturbridge Seafood; Owner - Ken Yukimura
  • Stay - Comfort Inn and Suites; Owner - Parlin Desai 
  • Play - Escape the Pike; Owner - David and Meghan Jaquith 

The STA is proud of all of its winners. For winning the 2019 Business of the Year, the STA is awarding each business with the following: 

  • Recognition at the January 21st meeting of the Board of Selectmen with the presentation of the award (public is welcome to attend)
  • A $1,000 reimbursable marketing grant to promote their business in 2020
  • A one year membership to Discover Central Massachusetts 

The STA would like to congratulate all those businesses who received nominations for their hard work in 2019. The STA would also like to thank all those who helped nominate these fantastic Sturbridge businesses. The Business of the Year award will continue going forward, so the STA encourages all businesses to continue all of their great efforts in 2020. 

Economic Development Forum - 13 February 2019 

The Town of Sturbridge is hosting an Economic Development Forum on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 6 pm. The forum is open to all members of the public and local business leaders.

Last year, Sturbridge launched an initiative to develop a coherent and consistent economic development strategy. The Town secured funding for the project through a $24,850 grant under the Commonwealth Community Compact and was then able to hire Boston based McCabe Enterprises to develop the strategy. This project includes surveys of residents and Sturbridge businesses on economic development issues; benchmarking of Sturbridge in relationship to other comparative communities; and an assessment of Sturbridge’s needs, strengths and challenges for its businesses and economic development.

At the Forum on February 13th, the consultant will share their preliminary findings from the local surveys and economic development assessment. It will also be an opportunity for the public, both businesspeople and residents, to ask questions and comment upon future economic development needs and priorities in Sturbridge.  

The Economic Development Forum will be held at Veterans Memorial Hall in the Sturbridge Town Hall at 308 Main Street on Thursday, February 13th at 6 pm. For further information, contact Mr. Kevin Filchak, Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator for the Town of Sturbridge at 508 347-2500, extension 1411 or email kfilchak@town.sturbridge.ma.us.  

Surveys for Economic Development Self-Assessment 

The Town of Sturbridge was awarded a Commonwealth Community Compact grant this fall to conduct an economic development self-assessment and develop an economic development strategy for Sturbridge. The Town has hired a consultant using the grant funding to conduct this study. Part of their research includes two surveys, one for residents and the other for business leaders. Please click here to view the business survey and consider taking ten minutes to complete it. If you have questions, those can be directed to Kevin Filchak at (508) 347-2500 ext. 1411. 

Business Directory and Event Submission Forms 

In an effort to better promote the fantastic businesses that we have here in Sturbridge, we have developed new forms to help businesses share information with the Town.

Submission form for Business Directory

This form is an opportunity for businesses to share their contact information and a brief summary of their business. The Town will then maintain this list on its website as another location to promote Sturbridge businesses to the general public. 

Event Submission  

This form is a location where businesses can share events with the Town that they would like help promoting. The Town will then share these events on its social media pages, its monthly newsletter and with its regional partners. 

Town Meetings 

Please click here to view the calendar for Sturbridge Boards and Committees in January. Please note these meetings are subject to change as per Massachusetts General Law. If you have questions please contact the Town Clerks office.