Worcester Business Journal

Country Bank's experienced staff, well known as problem solvers, guide businesses from start to finish, according to Jessica McGarry, 1st vice president, Commercial Lending. "Our lenders and support team have a good handle on structuring loans and work through any problems, making dreams come true," she said. Focused on community and relationships has earned Country Bank a solid reputation in Worcester. McGarry reported that within five minutes of the Main Street Business office are 15 projects in which the Bank has been involved. "Businesses are the engine on which everything runs and there is an overlap between community investing and financing. We are honored to be a part of revitalization happening in Worcester." Harding Green is a prime example of Country Bank's involvement and investment in community. Ray Quinlan and Allen Fletcher, developers of Harding Green, a mixed-use building on Kelley Square in Worcester, approached Country Bank when a previous funding agreement fell through. Country Bank demonstrated faith in the apartment/public market project, which led to an explosion of business activity and construction in the area. "Once we got our project underway, a lot of other projects followed," Quinlan said. "Country Bank was proud to put their name on a project in an important location. ey understood the value of our project to the community," Fletcher added. When Edward Carney, president and COO, Claremont Corp., was seeking funding to acquire AC Hotel by Marriott in Worcester, Claremont did due diligence and found that Country Bank has a very strong presence in Central Massachusetts and a strong reputation. "ey offered us competitive terms and were easy to deal with," said Carney. "Country Bank is a relationship-based bank and that's important to us." Country Bank has also attracted attention from companies outside the local area. When Washington DC-based Menkiti Group sought to establish a presence in Worcester, the company learned of Country Bank and its commitment to community, according to Mark T. Rengel, vice president, Development. "We were impressed with Country Bank's outreach and engagement with the local community. It touched a chord with us as it parallels with our own mission statement," he said. e project at 554 Main Street in the eatre District has become a mainstay of Menkiti's portfolio, Rengel noted. "Coming from DC, we were welcomed with open arms by the City of Worcester and the local business community. From the very start, Country Bank served as a beacon for our organization, always quick to be a referral source when we needed to expand our professional network," he said. "eir professionalism and company culture are at the heart of how they operate." Charles (Chip) Norton, managing partner, Franklin Realty Advisors LLC, developer and property manager for the Mercantile Center, first engaged with Country Bank in 2018, emphasizing the importance of working with continued on page 15 wbjournal.com | February 20, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 13

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