Business

Chamber’s Real Estate Forum Focuses on What’s Next in the Fight for Housing

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host the Annual Real Estate Forum: What’s next in the fight for housing on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 9-11:30 a.m. at UMass Amherst Charles River Campus, Newton (formerly Mount Ida). See the announcement from the Chamber below. When the MBTA Communities Act became law in 2021, it marked the most significant zoning reform in Massachusetts in decades — opening the door to new housing production across eastern Massachusetts. But no one believed it would solve the housing crisis on its own.Four years later, the pressure hasn’t eased.

Business

Charles River Chamber Hosting Immigration Webinar for Businesses

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host a free Webinar called “How policy shifts may impact your employees and business” on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 3 – 4 p.m. Via Zoom. It is free and open to members and non-members. See more information provided by the Chamber, below. As immigration policies continue to evolve, understanding the impact on your immigrant workforce is essential for business success.

Around Town

See the Chamber’s Business Breakfast Video, Featuring Attorney General Campbell

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The Charles River Regional Chamber held its 110th Business Breakfast on Nov. 7, which featured a chat with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell. A video of the event is available for those who could not make it to the event. See information below provided by the Chamber. Our 2025 Fall Business Breakfast, featured Attorney General Andrea Campbell in a conversation with NBC10’s Latoyia Edwards.

Around Town

Chamber, Local Restaurants Team Up for Gift Card Give Back in Response to SNAP Uncertainty 

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

More than 20 local restaurants are teaming up this November to help combat food insecurity. Between now and Nov. 26, when you purchase a gift card from a participating restaurant up to 25 percent of the sales will be donated to Spoonfuls, Inc. — a Newton-based nonprofit food recovery organization that rescues fresh, healthy food and delivers it directly to local food pantries, shelters, and community programs statewide. The Gift Card Give Back program is organized by the Charles River Regional Chamber and its member restaurants in response to uncertainty about the suspension of the SNAP program and the overall growing food insecurity. “The quick response from our restaurant community has been inspiring, especially at a time when so many of these businesses are facing challenges of their own,” said Charles River Chamber President and CEO Greg Reibman.

Business

Charles River Chamber “Still Optimistic” After Watertown Mall Sale

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A view of the plans for the now scrapped Watertown Mall Transformation Project. Alexandria Real Estate sold the Watertown Mall property, including Parking the Retail, OL1, R1, and the Parking Garage 1. The company retained the other properties on the left side of the illustration. (Courtesy of Alexandria Real Estate)

Last week’s sale of the Watertown Mall property ended plans to create a life science campus on the north side of Arsenal Street, but the Charles River Regional Chamber said it remains bullish on prospects for that section of town. On Oct.

Business

Charles River Chamber’s Fall Business Breakfast Features AG Andrea Campbell

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host the 110th Fall Business Breakfast with features speaker Attorney General Andrea Campbell on Friday, Nov. 7, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Newton Marriott Hotel, 2345 Commonwealth Ave. See more details provided by the Chamber, below. The Charles River Regional Chamber’s signature annual gathering, presented by Needham Bank, brings together hundreds of civic and business leaders for a morning of connection, inspiration, and celebration. 

Breakfast and networking kicks off at 7 a.m., with our program starting promptly at 8 a.m.

Our featured speaker will be Massachusetts’ Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, who’ll be joined by NBC10 Boston’s Latoyia Edwards for a fireside chat.We’ll be honoring 2Life Communities’ CEO Amy Schectman with the chamber’s highest honor the R.L. Tennant Award and will hear from Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in her final address to the business community as mayor. 

Get your tickets before we sell out. Register here

Business

Chamber Hosting Webinar on Unlocking Energy Savings for Your Business

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The following information was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The chamber’s Environmental Committee is hosting a webinar on the Main Streets energy efficiency program, which is now available to businesses, commercial property owners, non-profits, and houses of worship in Watertown and Newton Centre. Main Streets is a partnership between local energy providers, like Eversource and National Grid, and communities across Massachusetts to help small business owners become more energy-efficient. In this webinar, you will learn about how Watertown and Newton Centre business and property owners can access enhanced incentives under the Main Streets program before they run out later this fall. Including:

• no-cost, no-obligation energy assessments

• weatherization

• LED lighting

• refrigeration and kitchen upgrades

Unlock Energy Savings for Your Business: Main Streets Incentives in Watertown & Newton Centre

Thurs. Sept 18, 8:30-9:30 a.m.  

Via Zoom, Free

REGISTER NOW

Business

Charles River Chamber Awards Scholarship to Watertown High School Student

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Jessica Camara

The Charles River Regional Chamber announced its 2025 scholarship recipient fromWatertown. See the announcement below. Watertown High School graduate Jessica Camara is a tenacious leader who founded the school’s Medical Club and is determined to excel in her academics. Her chemistry teacher says she “had the maturity and confidence to advocate for herself when she did not understand something, and I can clearly remember multiple times when she would come in during lunch or before school to ensure she completely mastered topics covered.” Camara is a member of the Women in STEM club, and she allocates her leisure time to volunteer at an elementary school. She plans to continue her education at Sacred Heart University to major in nursing, with hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner.