The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its partnership with UniBank's UniPay! All of our payments for membership, programs, events, sponsorships and more will be convenient, fast, and secure through UniPay! Stay tuned in the next couple weeks for the roll-out and more information! | |
Southwick’s Zoo Announces the Passing of Beloved White Tiger
Southwick’s Zoo is saddened to share the passing of one of its most cherished residents, Taj, a white tiger who had been under veterinary care.
At 18½ years old, she had reached the later stage of her natural lifespan. In recent weeks, her quality of life had been declining, as she had stopped eating and was becoming increasingly arthritic and weak. Following ongoing monitoring and consultation with veterinary specialists, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her to prevent further discomfort and any suffering.
Over the past few months, she received attentive medical care to manage age-related conditions, including arthritis and joint discomfort, as well as evaluation of a growth on her eyelid. Throughout this time, her dedicated team of keepers and veterinary staff remained by her side, closely monitoring her health and prioritizing her comfort.
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David Hill Earns John Maxwell Certification in Training and Coaching, Expands Offerings and Joins Worcester Auxilium as Mentor
David Hill, founder of Path to Mastery Sales Training, Consulting & Coaching, is proud to announce his new dual certification as a John Maxwell Certified Trainer and Coach — a milestone that adds one of the world's most recognized leadership development programs to his already extensive professional portfolio.
David's philosophy is simple: convert leads into customers. He specializes in helping small, service-based business owners find customers, follow up consistently, and close more sales.
With 36 years of sales experience and 14 years as a certified trainer and coach for industry-leading brands including Grant Cardone's 10X, Keller Williams Realty, and Success, David has built a reputation as one of the region's most trusted voices in sales training and business development. His work is rooted in a simple but powerful philosophy: converting leads into customers. David specializes in helping small, service-based business owners find customers, follow up consistently, and close more sales — giving them the systems and confidence to grow without relying on guesswork.
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MassDEP Waste Ban Education and Outreach
Since the start of 2020, MassDEP has issued more than 900 enforcement actions to Massachusetts businesses and institutions. About ¾ of this enforcement includes cardboard, a material that is readily recyclable with stable markets and for which many businesses receive payments to offset collection costs. Surprisingly, many businesses that receive waste ban enforcement actions already have a recycling or composting program for the material that they have disposed in the trash. They usually do not need to establish a new program to comply, they just have to effectively implement their existing program. In many cases, when they do this, their recycling program becomes more efficient, and they can save money on reduced trash disposal costs.
MassDEP funds the RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program that provides no cost technical assistance for business to comply with the waste bans. Please contact RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts at (888) 254-5525 or via email at info@recyclingworksma.com. This program focuses on meeting businesses where they are at and implementing programs as cost-effectively as possible. RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts also provides a website that includes a searchable database of recycling service providers as well as helpful best management practices, available at http://www.recyclingworksma.com.
For more information about the waste bans, please visit mass.gov/guides/massdep-waste-disposal-bans. Or contact 857-286-6302, or email at catherine.vaneven@mass.gov.
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The 4th Annual Senior Scoop Connects High School Seniors with Immediate Employment Opportunities at Polar Park
Whitinsville, Mass. (March 10, 2026) The Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development (BV Hub) is pleased to announce the return of its 4th annual Senior Scoop, in collaboration with Worcester Public Schools and the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board. The event will take place on the main concourse at Worcester’s Polar Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Senior Scoop brings together graduating high school seniors from across Central Massachusetts who are still exploring their next steps with local employers ready to hire and train entry-level talent. Each year, the event welcomes nearly 500 participants and provides a direct, supportive pathway for students to transition from high school into the workforce or career training programs.
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Volunteer Season is Here!
Grow Food. Build Community. Make an Impact.
We are excited to announce the opening of our 2026 volunteer season, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the fields!
Join us to grow, tend, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables for neighbors experiencing hunger. Every volunteer visit helps bring healthy, locally grown produce to people in our community who may not otherwise have access to it.
Gather your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or community groups, and spend a morning outdoors getting your hands in the dirt while making a real impact.
Volunteers are welcome Monday through Saturday, May 5 through mid-October, from 9:00 AM to Noon (excluding holidays) at our Grafton farm. Volunteer scheduling at the Community Harvest Project apple orchard begins mid-summer — look for that announcement in June!
As an ALIVE-certified Service Enterprise, you can be confident your team will have a welcoming, well-organized volunteer experience.
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With the support of our donors and volunteers, CHP made an impact last year:
· 285,000+ pounds of fresh produce harvested
· Distributed to over 60,000 households across Massachusetts
· Over 6,400 volunteers engaged in daily farming
Your garden helps make all of our work possible! It's time to get started: Click here to go to the online store! Every order includes a free pollinator seed packet! (while supplies last)
🗓️ Online Store Closes: May 4 at 12 PM
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Climate Smart for Agriculture Program (CSAP)
Program Purpose
Provides reimbursement funding for capital improvements that increase farm sustainability, efficiency, and climate resilience through one streamlined application.
Maximum funding - 20% cash match
- Early-stage farms: Up to $30,000 total
- Established farms: Up to $150,000 total
Application deadline: May 7, 2026 - Project completion: June 30, 2027
Project Areas Include:
- Food safety improvements
- ♻ Compost systems
- 💧Soil health & water management
- 🌦 Climate-resilient infrastructure
- ⚡Energy-efficiency upgrades
- 🔋Renewable energy (shovel-ready projects)
Best fit for farms that:
- Are planning larger infrastructure or equipment investments
- Want to apply for more than one project area
- Can complete projects within the contract timeline
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BVCC Hours
Monday: Remote
Tuesday - Thursday: 9:00am-4:00pm
Friday: Remote
Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED
Office Phone: 508.234.9090
Jeannie Hebert, President & CEO
Phone: 508.234.9090 ext. 106
Cell: 508.981.5782
jhebert@blackstonevalley.org
Liz O’Neil, Executive Director
Phone: 508.234.9090 ext. 102
loneil@blackstonevalley.org
Kristen Kearnan, Office Administrator & Membership Manager
Phone: 508.234.9090 ext. 100
kkearnan@blackstonevalley.org
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Our Mission
To preserve and enhance the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley by addressing the needs and concerns of businesses and providing leadership, support and resources in connection with issues which impact commerce and the quality of life in the Valley.
Serving Our Community
The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is a donation site for the Peace of Bread Food Pantry. Please drop off your non-perishable food items in our lobby during office hours for the people of the Blackstone Valley.
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Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
670 Linwood Avenue, Building A, Suite #5, Whitinsville, MA 01588
508.234.9090 | www.BlackstoneValley.org
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