Join us online every Tuesday evening from 6pm-8pm to participate in NewVue Communities Art Stewards Training.

October 20 through December 8, 2020

FOCUSING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Welcome and Introduction  October 20, 2020

Intro to Training Series

By: Jessie Olson

• What is The Big Picture
• What topics will be included?
• Who will be the presenters?
• Goals for the series
• Questions & answers

Water Street Bridge  October 27, 2020

The Rail Trail: Leominster-Fitchburg

By: Tom Skwierawski, City of Fitchburg

• What are the plans?
• What is the timeline?
• What is the cost?
• When will it be completed?
• Possibilities for participation of art stewards

The Theatre Block Project  November 3, 2020

By: Tom Skwierawski, City of Fitchburg

• What are the plans?
• What is the timeline?
• What is the cost?
• When will it be completed?
• Possibilities for participation of art stewards

FAM Artist Resident Selection November 10, 2020

By: Nick Capasso, Fitchburg Art Museum

The Fitchburg Arts Community  November 17, 2020

By: Marc Dohan, NewVue Communities

• What are the plans?
• What is the timeline?
• What is the cost?
• When will it be completed?
• Possibilities for participation of art stewards

ReImagine North of Main    November 24, 2020

MassDevelopment TDI

By: Joe Fergusson and Francisco Torres

• What are their roles?
• Are there any future projects?
• What are their costs?
• Is there a timeline?
• Possibilities for participation of art stewards

Main and Boulder Streets December 1, 2020

Two Way Streets

By: Tom Skwierawski, City of Fitchburg

• What are the plans?
• What is the timeline?
• What is the cost?
• When will it be completed?
• Possibilities for participation of art stewards

Overview and Next Steps  December 8, 2020

By: Jessie Olson, Facilitator

• Public art and social justice
• What does the current moment call for?
• How do we respond?
• How can art impact social change?

GRADUATION CEREMONY December 18, 2020   6pm-8pm

NewVue Communities thanks our fellow sponsors: City of Fitchburg, Fitchburg Art Museum, Mass Development and North of Main

Congressman James McGovern and State Representative Natalie Higgins joined members of the NewVue Communities leadership team for a tour of the Carter School Apartments on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.  The newly completed renovation of the Carter Junior High School on West Street provided a beautiful back drop for Marc Dohan, Executive Director to brief Congressman McGovern and Representative Higgins on both the challenges of a project like the Carter building and the positive impact of completing such an important affordable housing opportunity for the community. “We are very pleased to have this building completed and the apartments at full capacity. The condition of the building certainly provided some unique challenges given its earlier condition,” said Dohan.

A tour of the building included meeting Carol Bergeron, a tenant who moved into her unit the beginning of March. Ms. Bergeron spoke with Congressman McGovern about how pleased she was to have secured an apartment, describing it as spacious and beautifully designed. Ms. Bergeron who was born and raised in Leominster was most happy about the opportunity that her new housing provided – an opportunity to move back home to Leominster. “There is a great deal to like about this place and my apartment, but probably the best thing is that the people who manage the building are so nice, responsive, and helpful,” said Bergeron.

Congressman McGovern, who supported the Carter School project throughout its development, spoke about the critical need for affordable housing and encouraged NewVue to continue identifying projects that have the impact of the Carter School Apartments. “The opportunity to tour the Carter School Apartments as a finished project was wonderful, and I’m glad my office was able to help support this important project,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “While affordable housing continues to remain unreachable for far too many families, I was so glad to see that these welcoming and affordable units will serve as homes that families can be proud of. I commend NewVue for taking this project on and seeing it through to completion. It’s impressive.”

State Representative Natalie Higgins offered her thoughts on the project and said “I’m so thrilled to see the Carter School Apartments filled with new and old neighbors. NewVue Communities worked relentlessly to ensure this project was successful, even helping residents move in throughout the start of the COVID-19 state of emergency and continues to bring so many opportunities to the residents of Leominster through its work.”

We thank those businesses, foundations and individuals who supported NewVue Communities in 2019 through the Community Investment Tax Incentive Program

Anonymous
Athol Savings Bank
Berkshire Bank
Blue Hub Capital
William Brassard
Kate Casa
Crocker Foundation
Davis Square Architects, Inc.
DeVellis Zrein, Inc.
Robert Dorfman
Enterprise Bank
Fidelity Bank
Matthew and Kellie Fournier
Samuel Godin
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Hackett Feinburg, P.C.
Mathew Hutt
Hutter Construction
ICON Architecture, Inc
Klein Hornig, LLP
Leominster Credit Union
Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation
Erin and Heidi Nano
Michael R. Martin
Quality Contracting Inc.
Resolution Architects LLC
Rollstone Charitable Foundation
Resource Management Inc.
Rocheford Family Trust
Robert Ruxin and Peggy Shukur
Santander Bank Foundation
Ann Silverman
United Way of Mass Bay
Andrew and Elizabeth Van Hazinga
WaypointKLA
Wingate Management Company, LLC

If you would like to support NewVue Communities or learn more about
the benefits of the Community Investment Tax Credit program and join
our CITC Team, learn more. Or, contact Kerry Flathers, Director of
Development and Communications at kflathers@nvcomm.org.

In November 2019, NewVue Communities submitted a 2020 Community Revitalization Fellowship application offered through the Center for Community Progress in Washington, DC. NewVue’s Program Officer Meredith Geraghty, and Community Organizer, Francisco Ramos prepared the application with full confidence that the Fitchburg Community Art Stewards can make a national difference using the arts to transform abandoned and distressed properties.

Today, February 11, 2020, NewVue Communities proudly shares the Center for Community Progress press release announcing that six Fitchburg Art Stewards have been selected to participate in the national training program. Congratulations to our Art Stewards.

Center for Community Progress Press Release

Are You Dreaming of Owning Your Own Home? That’s the big question asked in the promotional material for NewVue Communities’ Homebuyer Education class. Madeline Mendoza, Housing Services Manager and the instructor for the classes convinced participants on Wednesday, January 21, that big dreams need planning and it is never too early to start.

Seventeen individuals representing 13 families jump started their new year with a commitment to learn more about buying a home. Attendees traveled from Athol, Fitchburg, Gardner, Littleton, Westminster and Worcester to participate in the first of three evening classes. Madeline engaged the group in a variety of discussions including one’s readiness to buy a home, budget and savings plans, credit and debt management, and the application and approval process for a home purchase loan.

Let’s face it, sometimes, it’s all about the snacks, and in this class the snacks are plentiful. Madeline understands that most participants who arrive for the three-hour class have likely already put in a full day. “In addition to making sure participants benefit from a carefully designed workshop, I want them to be comfortable. I want them to look forward to the next session. We hear a lot of laughter during the class and that makes everyone’s time enjoyable,” said Madeline.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey to purchase a home. The Homeowner Education classes will help you build buyer confidence, develop a workable plan, and hear about the experience of others in the group,” stated Madeline.

This class is being held in the community room of the Watermill Apartments on Water Street in Leominster. Classes are often held at the NewVue training room at 470 Main St. in Fitchburg.

Dreaming of owning your own home? Check out Future Homebuyer Classes at newvuecommunities.org or call 888-978-6261.

FITCHBURG—The ideaLab in the Fitchburg State University Theater Block continues to partner with local and regional agencies in support of small business development in the city.

Bay Colony Development Corp. President and CEO Mary Mansfield recently presented a check for $10,000 to NewVue Communities Executive Director Marc Dohan to support NewVue’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program. 

Fitchburg State is redeveloping the Theater Block at 717 Main St., with the ideaLab on the second floor hosting a variety of business development initiatives in partnership with NewVue Communities. Small businesses interested in securing financing and technical assistance are encouraged to contact NewVue at 978-342-9561 or to visit their website at nvcomm.org.

The program focuses mainly on micro-enterprises (businesses with 5 or fewer employees) and very small businesses (businesses with 20 and fewer employees) and in addition to Bay Colony Development Corp. is supported by the City of Fitchburg CDBG Program, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture, City of Gardner CDBG Program, corporate grants and private donations.                           

Bay Colony Development Corp. is a Certified Development Company designated by the U.S. Small Business Administration to market, process, and close SBA 504 loans in the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and certain counties in Connecticut.  The SBA 504 program provides up to 90 percent financing for commercial and mixed-use real estate purchases, new construction, equipment acquisitions, debt refinance and leasehold improvements.