Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 12, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 33 BY JOHN QUIRK Special to WBJ A s Massachusetts grapples with the cost of living, it's clear that people need a helping hand. Massachusetts is the most expensive state in the U.S. for a family of four to live comfortably. at requires a family's income to exceed $313,00. Struggling residents oen turn to federal, state, and local policymakers for support. But, even beyond government, those with influence can do more to pave a new path forward. e public and nonprofit sectors need the private sector to step up. Businesses large and small have an obligation to serve their communi- ties, and not just customers. ere is more to success in business than the bottom line. We can do well, but it means little if we don't do good. I look to my own family for inspiration. My grandfa- ther Edward Quirk Sr. established Quirk Tire in Water- town all the way back in 1926, and not just to sell tires. He wanted to help people in times of desperation and touch families' lives, building relationships, and earning trust over decades. My grandfather's and my father Ed- ward Quirk, Jr.'s vision helped thousands upon thousands of families, as the business grew across New England. Our business community needs to remember the val- ues of humility, community, and charity now more than ever. People need our support. In 2024, dozens of Massachusetts companies contrib- uted major gis to worthy nonprofits across the state. Hundreds of millions of corporate dollars fund the state's nonprofit sector in any given year, in addition to employ- ee volunteer hours and other forms of giving. But we can do even more. VIP Tires & Service, which is today's evolution of Quirk Tire, regularly contributes to charitable causes. We were proud to receive the 2025 WishMaker Award from Make-A-Wish Maine, which VIP has supported since 2008. VIP employees and cus- tomers have donated $1.6 million to help children with critical illnesses, and we are certainly not alone. However, many larger companies than VIP don't sup- port New England's communities through charity. Small businesses are coming up short, too, even with slimmer profit margins. About 25% of small business owners don't donate to charitable causes, leaving a nonprofit funding gap that ultimately hurts people in need. Without philan- thropy, business leaders are letting people down. Let's commit to giving more. We can help change people's lives, but we need all hands on deck. e business community isn't really a community otherwise. John Quirk serves as executive chairman of VIP Tires & Service, a Maine-based company with Central Massachu- setts locations in Framingham and Worcester. Without community giving, business is a failure Marlborough's pro-business reputation pays dividends O ver the past two decades, the City of Marlborough has honed a well- earned reputation as a business- friendly community. Under former mayor Arthur Vigeant and current mayor Christian Dumais, the city has made itself a haven for industry of all kinds. Marlborough is home to the largest concentration of public companies in Central Mass. e New England Ice Center, with its focus on youth sports, has been the sneakily major driver of hotel stays and restaurant meals. e Apex Center became a beacon experience-driven entertainment immediately aer it opened in 2017. Multiple multi-family housing projects have been in various stages of development, as Central Massachusetts struggles with housing. While the city has its own local regulation and will listen to the concerns of residents about new developments, its reputation is best summed up as: Marlborough will do whatever it takes to make your business dreams a reality. is includes obvious efforts like property tax breaks but also includes the little things. For example, to address businesses' concerns over the lack of public transportation between their offices and the Commuter Rail into Boston, Marlborough worked to set up shuttles and bicycles to help workers get that last mile to work. If you've ever spent time with Meredith Harris, executive director of the City's Marlborough Economic Development Corp., her mantra is clearly: Whatever issue might prevent your business from relocating, expanding, or staying in Marlborough, the City is your partner in the solution. is attitude most recently paid dividends when a developer with a Marlborough-based proposal secured the $200-million State Police crime lab project and the coveted 300 life sciences jobs that come with it. As WBJ Managing Editor Eric Casey notes in his "Marlborough's $200M win" story on page 6, the City bolstered developer Greatland Realty Partners' bid by including a $9-million property tax break. e crime lab is just one economic development victory among countless others for Marlborough, ranging from helping small businesses obtain bank loans to German life sciences firm Sartorius completing a $100-million expansion in the city. Even the $8.5-million sale in December of the Solomon Pond Mall, which has been losing tenants for years, feels more like a fresh beginning than the end of a formerly great economic driver. Each Central Massachusetts community is going to have its own nuanced approach to economic development, shaped by the desires of residents and the government officials in charge. While Marlborough's pro-business attitude might not be the right fit for anybody, the lessons from the city should be learned by everybody. The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W John Quirk W

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