Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 28, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 67 Congratulations to the Worcester Business Journal for 35 years of outstanding service to our local business community. Thank you for your expert reporting, thoughtful insights, and commitment to supporting the people and businesses of Worcester. The work you do truly makes a difference. Cheers to many more years. T H A N K Y O U F O R 3 5 Y E A R S O F M A K I N G A DIFFERENCE. 35th Anniversary WBJ Continued from previous page their traditional manufacturing base has undergone a more gradual transformation to high-tech manufacturing of products like medical devices. At the same time, the city—once widely seen as struggling with crime and poverty, especially downtown—has benefitted from its location in a somewhat less hectic part of the state. "Forty years ago we really didn't have much of a tourism economy," said Roy Nascimento, executive director of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. "e region really has emerged as a destination for visitors and groups." One flagship in that development is Great Wolf Lodge, the indoor water park and hotel that opened its first New England location in Fitchburg in 2014. Another is Game On Fitchburg, a 100-acre sports center featuring everything from soccer tournaments to ax-throwing parties. As with Marlborough's sports center, these kinds of attractions bring visitors who stay to eat downtown and explore other area attractions. "at is transforming the downtown, bringing a lot more vitality," Nascimento said. "It helps create additional businesses." Sarah Tavitian, a small business developer at NewVue Communities, a nonprofit addressing housing and small business needs, said the downtown is now alive with restaurants and shops catering to both locals and visitors. Aside from tourists, many individuals and families are choosing the city as a less expensive option than communities farther east with access to both green space and city life. "Fitchburg really is up and coming," Tavitian said. She said it's helpful that people have multiple transportation options thanks to the commuter rail stations downtown and in West Fitchburg and the Twin Cities Rail Trail that connects Fitchburg and Leominster. She credits the chamber of commerce and other local boosters with marketing local businesses so that people visiting for any reason, or moving in, know what the region has to offer. Nascimento said Fitchburg has worked hard to become more friendly to both businesses and housing developments. For example, it's streamlined its permitting processes, used TIFs to attract companies like Great Wolf Lodge, and, five years ago, moved to a single tax rate, reducing taxes on commercial establishments. "I think that reputation has taken some time, but it's been changing," he said. "A lot of folks have discovered Fitchburg." The NewVue Communities Small Business Technical Assistance team has helped a number of entrepreneurs bring life to Fitchburg's Main Street and surrounding area. COURTESY NEWVUE COMMUNITIES COURTESY FITCHBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY A stroll down Main Street in Fitchburg was a different experience in years past.

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