Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 24, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 17 helped the community, but the Koop- man family as a whole has been in the valley for many, many decades. is generation has taken up the torch and with this sense of community and giving back," Hebert said. Despite the growth, the firm is always there to pick up the phone when the local community is in need. "Whenever there's a project or some- thing going on in the valley, when we need sponsorship or support, their name comes up, and they're reachable," Hebert said. While other family businesses in their industry get gobbled up by venture capital, Koopman Lumber's increased buying power and national relationships have made it resilient, turning the firm into a key player in the New England construction space in the process. "We belong to the largest lumber cooperative in the country, so we buy through that cooperative," Tony Brookhouse said of the firm's ability to navigate increased prices. "We have a very strong balance sheet, so we're able to leverage that when we need to make stands in the market and buy product. We have a big distribution center, 11 acres of just lumber, so we can store a lot of product." As the company grows, so does the family, helping to ensure the business lives on for a fourth generation and beyond. "We're probably going to have six or seven [children] that want to come in," Denise Brookhouse said. "So we want to keep expanding and keep growing the business to keep the next generations involved." Wanting to ensure future Koop- man Lumber leaders in the family are well-balanced workers, the firm requires they spend at least four years working outside the firm before they can come back. "ey bring back some new outside ideas," Dirk said, "and they learn the grass isn't always greener on the other side." Koopman's ability to keep on growing despite turbulence in the construction space is a testimony to its leadership and workforce, but the 86-year-old busi- ness founded by family patriarch Peter Koopman hasn't forgotten its humble Whitinsville beginnings, said Denise. "We haven't really forgotten our roots, which was, you know, to do-it-yourself remodelers, or just people coming into town for their snow shovels," she said. For more information you may visit our website at www.fitchburgma.gov/bids. To discuss further, please contact Mary Jo Bohart, Director of Economic Development at mbohart@fitchburgma.gov, or 978-829-1896. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2025 at 4:00 pm. Ideal Development Concept: • Full-service restaurant or diner catering to travelers, locals, and aviation community • Indoor and outdoor seating options • Modern amenities and inviting atmosphere Take advantage of this opportunity to be part of a growing and dynamic community at Fitchburg Municipal Airport! The City of Fitchburg seeks a developer/restauranteur to create a unique dining experience at Fitchburg Municipal Airport. We are accepting proposals to lease land and build a restaurant or diner that will serve both aviation enthusiasts and the general public. Location: Located adjacent to the airport administration building, this is a prime pad site of approximately 20,000 sf • High visibility location, easy highway access to Routes 2/190, and a steady stream of visitors • Utilities connections already onsite • Great views of runway, with added customer base from airport tenants in close proximity • Up to a 50-year lease term available. Route 12 Route 2 Restaurant Pad Site B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S O F T H E Y E A R F O C U S W Switch. Save. Simply. At Fidelity Bank, we're here to help your business thrive. 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