The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of January 23 to January 30, 2020

Scholarships Available through the
North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation

(North Central, MA) – The North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for its 2020 Scholarship program are now being accepted. Each year, the Chamber Foundation distributes approximately 25 scholarships to local high-achieving high school students in North Central Massachusetts. Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation has awarded over a million dollars in scholarships.

Students interested in applying for a 2020 scholarship through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation should contact their high school guidance department to submit an application. Deadline for applications is Friday, February 28, 2020. A limited number of scholarship applicants are submitted by each school in the Chamber’s service area each year and then reviewed by a committee of Chamber members.

Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. Scholarships endowed through the Chamber Foundation are often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community whose philanthropy and commitment to the community have helped shape North Central Massachusetts.

The Chamber’s Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities. Funds raised by the Foundation are utilized primarily for education/workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts, including scholarships to eligible applicants pursuing education and grants to support economic and community development projects.

For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation’s scholarship program or a list of the named scholarships, please visit northcentralmass.com or call 978.353.7600 ext. 222.

North Central Mass Development Corp Provides
Financing to Popcorn Castle in the Mall at Whitney Field

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) recently approved a $25,000 loan to Eric Machuca, owner of Popcorn Castle, a start-up popcorn and snack food re-tailer in the Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster MA.

Popcorn Castle sells traditional as well as specialty popcorn with a wide variety of flavors such a buffalo, BBQ, ranch, etc., and sugary glazes ranging from birthday cake or chocolate to the tradi-tional caramel corn. Popcorn Castle also has many other popular snack foods such as fried dough, churros, ice cream and more. Eric worked with NewVue Communities on the business plan and projections for his new business and this loan was used to fund equipment and start-up costs. For more information on Popcorn Castle stop by the Mall at Whitney Field or check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Popcorn-Castle-100106481449563/.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for work-ing capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.