Formed in 1924, this Chamber, as the advocate for the region’s business community, has always located its offices in the Downtown area of the city of Marlborough. Originally the Chamber occupied empty storefront spaces until they were rented out to a new business. In the early 1980’s, the Chamber office moved into one room of the post office on Florence Street. In 1986, the Chamber office moved into the Victoria Building on Main Street.

The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce office is back on Florence Street at number 11, where it has been since 1993.

Because the Chamber serves the needs of the city’s many businesses and community at large, the leaders of the Chamber felt strongly about keeping the presence in the downtown core area. The Chamber often plays a catalytic role in organizing and promoting community forums on important issues that impact local businesses. In 1965, the Chamber raised funds to build the tower that houses the John Brown Bell and in 1999, the Chamber, while celebrating its 75th Anniversary, raised the funds to build the current gazebo in front of the Walker Building.

Ever since the first period of industrial growth 1836 and 1890, Marlborough has been a place where entrepreneurs can find a receptive environment for new ideas. Entrepreneur and civic leader Samual Boyd, who opened the city’s first shoe factory, is credited with turning this agricultural town of 2500 people to a shoe manufacturing center of 14,000 people. Boyd was also instrumental in helping prepare the city for its future by bringing in the railroad and by building its electric railway, which ran through the downtown area.

A booklet highlighting the city of Marlborough’s qualities, opportunities and advantages, produced by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce in 1927, described the Living Conditions as “Nearness to one’s employment is one of the outstanding advantages of living in Marlboro. Most of Marlboro’s population live within easy walking distance of their work and habitually go home to a warm dinner at noon. This fact alone makes for industrial stability and contentment.”

The downtown area of Marlborough, as in many New England communities, was where the city started and then grew. It was the core of residents and businesses which grew into the great community of Marlborough.

Today, the Marlborough Regional Chamber still holds meetings and events downtown. The President’s First Tuesday Business Talks is held the first Tuesday of every month at Main Street Café. This meeting is open to all people who want to talk about business and community issues.

Celebrating the designation of the City of Marlborough as the #1 place in the State of Massachusetts to raise children, the Chamber continues to be very involved with the city’s school system through the School/Business committee and the Annual Chamber Scholarship Program, where the Chamber, through the Marlborough Regional Community Foundation, awards $5000 in scholarships to graduating high school students.

In 2009, the Marlborough Regional Chamber’s leadership identified a need to bring higher education to the city of Marlborough. Quinsigamond Community College seemed like a natural fit for our community. Our Leadership Team meets monthly to delve into the curriculum, stability and placement of the classes. One of the initial focuses in partnering with both the Assabet Valley Technical High School and the Marlborough High School to offer college courses onsite. Another and most important focus is to locate a facility to house the new Quinsigamond Community College site. Quinsigamond also partners with four year colleges so students can flow from high school right into college and get a bachelors degree locally, affordably and with ease.

Recently, the Marlborough Regional Chamber’s 2010 Business Awards were given out at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner. Among the awards, two downtown businesses were recognized. The Entrepreneurship Award was given to Welly’s Restaurant on Main Street for outstanding success in entrepreneurship, success and growth in less than two years. Marlborough Savings Bank took a blighted corner in downtown and created a wonderful banking center in an impressive building. For these efforts, they received the Marlborough Pride Award.

The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce is the hub for business development and growth. Our networking programs and events connect member business people to potential customers and vendors. In today’s world of electronic communication, it is far more important to establish relationships one on one to grow business contacts. The Chamber has positioned itself to keep business in the region and to be The Connection For Success!

Marlborough Regional Chamber Board of Directors, in an effort to serve our community and our business members better, decided to pursue an initiative to “Increase the Mayor of Marlborough, MA term from two years to Four years”.

This proposed ballot question for November 2, 2011 municipal election, will be “Shall the term of office for the Mayor be four years, commencing in 2013?”

The approval of this measure means that the Mayor of Marlborough, MA, will be elected to a four-year term, rather than a two-year term, beginning with the election of Novem ber 5, 2013.

The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce surveyed the membership and 98% of those responded felt the Chamber Board of Directors should push forward with this initiative for the following reasons:

1)  Efficiency: A four year term is inherently inefficient. It requires approximately eight months for a new mayor to evaluate the city’s organization, after which an election cycle begins.

2) Stability& Economic Growth: Marlborough’s size of population requires a four-year Mayoral term to enhance the long-term city planning.

3) Improved Labor Relations: A four-year term will promote better labor relations and negotiations.

4) Proven Success: Twelve cities having mayors with four-year terms.

5) Partnership With Business Community: A longer term would enhance relations with the business community, retaining and creating jobs.

6) Fiscal Planning: A four year Mayoral term will strengthen long term financial planning for the city.

I am asking all of you to join in this effort. Your community will be a better place when we all work together.

The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce strives to keep our member businesses informed on the best practices for employee eligibility verification required by the Department of Homeland Security.

An I-9 Form is the Employment Verification Form required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHC) to verify an employee’s identity and an employee’s eligibility to work. All employees must complete this form and provide valid original identifications. President Obama’s focal points for immigration reform have enhanced the 19 enforcement efforts. The President stated the (DHS) and the (DOL) are working to fine employers who are exploiting illegal workers. If audited, fines range from $110 for one single, minor or technical violation or up tp $3200 per violation for serious fisrt offenses. A third offense can be a fine of up to $16,000, per offense.

Check your employee records now to make sure they are up to date. I-9 Forms must be filled out and kept under lock and key.

For more information contact: Sheldon Prenovitz of Administrative Business Resources, sprenivitz@abrhr.com.

Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce is working with Quinsigamond Community College to provide local community with higher educational opportunities in Marlborough. A leadership team consisting of Marlborough chamber business members, Assabet Valley Technical High school administrators and Quinsigamond Community College administrators meet monthly to craft the curriculum and facility requirements for this area.

The goal is to present classes to the Marlborough region in September 2011. Among the benefits will be local, affordable higher education classes to students. Local employers will benefit from a pool of  higher educated workforce.

On March 3, 2011 the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards dinner. The purpose of our Annual Awards dinners is to honor members who have demonstrated outstanding supportive and forward-thinking behavior throughout the previous year.

Please congratulate the award recipients for 2010:

1. Small Business of the Year – Buffet Way Catering
2. Business of the Year – Mirick O’Connell
3. Business Person of the Year – - Tracey Ingle, Ingle Law
4. Marlborough Pride – Marlborough Savings Bank
5. Marlborough Spirit – New England Sports Center
6. Green Award – Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc.
7. Entrepreneur of the Year – Welly’s (Restaurant)