Business Bulletin

Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Leads Lunch May 1 Explores AI Marketing Tools

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A workshop on “Using AI for Digital Marketing” takes place as part of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly Leads Lunch. The workshop, which discusses artificial intelligence tools for email and other digital marketing campaigns, takes place Wednesday, May 1, from noon- 1 p.m., at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., third floor, Haverhill. Admission is free for Haverhill Chamber members and $10 for guests. Registration takes place online at HaverhillChamber.com. Leads Lunches takes place on the first Wednesday of every month.

Business Bulletin

State’s First Robotic Amazon Warehouse Opens in North Andover; Town Made ‘Generous’ Agreement

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A grand opening of the state’s first automated Amazon warehouse in North Andover near the Haverhill border brought in such dignitaries as Gov. Maura T. Healey yesterday morning. Amazon workers fill customers’ orders alongside robots at the new building that opened in January, bringing over 1,500 jobs to the area, according to Sergiy Sushalskyy, the facility’s general manager. Higher-ups at Amazon as well as local and state officials packed into a white tent just outside the warehouse for the ceremony. Speakers emphasized the efficient and high-tech nature of the operation, which uses robots the governor said were all built in Massachusetts. Touting the state’s high per capita investment in robotics startups, Healey said “that’s the power of being a leader in technology.

Business Bulletin

Haverhill’s John Greenleaf Whittier School Plans End-of-Year Events with Help of Covanta

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Haverhill’s John Greenleaf Whittier School students will enjoy a variety of end of school year activities thanks to a donation from Covanta. Teacher Barbara Greenwood said graduating eighth graders will enjoy a promotion ceremony with food, music, a photo booth, decorations and favors. Covanta’s donation also helps children whose families cannot afford for the end of the year field trip to Canobie Lake Park and provides scholarships for field trips to the Museum of Science and Blue Man Group. “Teachers have worked tirelessly to raise money throughout the year, but needed that extra boost to make it happen,” Greenwood said. “We are so very appreciative of Covanta’s continuous support of our school community.”

The money also enables seventh grade students to take their first trip in more than five years to STEM day and also attend the New Hampshire Fisher Cats ball game.

Business Bulletin

Bethany Community Services Draws Names of Those Eligible for New, Affordable Apartments

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Those who entered a lottery to live in one of 48 new affordable apartments at Bethany Community Services’ Merrimack Corner will be notified by mail of their ranking following a drawing this past Wednesday. Eligible applicants will be matched with an available apartment that meets their criteria. The drawing took place in public at the Haverhill Public Library with participation by Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. In total 252 eligible applications were drawn and each was assigned a number. Once the 48 units are filled, all remaining applicants will be included on the wait list for future openings.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack Valley Credit Union Grows in Industry Loan Rankings in Mass. and N.H.

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Merrimack Valley Credit Union was included in Banker & Tradesman and The Registry Review’s Top Lenders of 2023, marking the first time the credit union has been featured on these lists. In Massachusetts rankings, the credit union was ninth for volume of single-family mortgages and 10th for number of loans, seventh for volume of loans and eighth for number of condominium mortgages, seventh for volume of residential nonpurchase loans, 10th for volume and eighth for number of commercial purchase loans and fourth for volume of loans and fourth for number of multifamily purchase loans. In New Hampshire rankings, Merrimack Valley Credit Union was 10th for volume and ninth for number of single-family mortgages and 10th for volume and eighth for number of condominium mortgages. Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Brad Egan credited the accomplishments to the credit union’s professionals. “Looking forward, we will be launching exciting new products and continue investing in technology to improve the speed and convenience of obtaining loans,” he added.

Business Bulletin

Downey Law Group Offers Free ‘Shred it with DLG Day’ and Food Drive

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To submit Business Bulletin announcements, click on image. Downey Law Group, with offices in Haverhill and Topsfield, is planning a free document shredding and food drive. “Shred it with DLG Day” takes place Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at its main office at 462 Boston St., Topsfield. In return for shredding, Downey Law Group asks residents to bring canned goods, cereals, pasta, juice drinks or diapers or give a $25 to $100 Market Basket gift card.  All food and gift cards will be distributed to food pantries in Haverhill, Ipswich and surrounding communities. “This is a great opportunity to shred confidential documents and give back to those in need of help with basics we sometimes take for granted, like food.

Business Bulletin

Whittier, Lawrence Tech Superintendents to Address Workforce Development at Forum

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The superintendents of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical and Greater Lawrence Technical Schools are scheduled to address education and workforce development at a forum this month by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch and Greater Lawrence Tech Superintendent John Lavoie discuss what business leaders need to know about vocational jobs and trades during the breakfast forum Friday, April 26, from 7:30-9 a.m., at Edwards Vacuum, 20 Creek Brook Drive, off Route 97, in Haverhill. Admission for members is $10 and non-members, $20, and may be reserved online at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.

Business Bulletin

CNA Stores Designates Pan-Mass Challenge as its April Charity

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CNA Stores of Haverhill and Amesbury has named the Pan-Mass Challenge as its April Charity of the Month, continuing to demonstrate, what the company says, the “spirit of giving and support” by the cannabis community. Pan-Mass Challenge is an organization that CNA Stores owner and CEO “Rob DiFazio, his family, and a close-knit group of local friends have passionately supported for nearly a decade.” The Challenge’s bike-a-thon is the biggest athletic fundraiser for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. CNA Director of Business Development and Community Outreach Scott Winters, who has been a cannabis advocate since 2015, draws a parallel between the company’s charitable impact and a time when people “expressed concerns about the potential impact of cannabis stores.”  Winters says he “consistently emphasized to his neighbors and community members that these individuals were not only valued members of society but also respected contributors to communities across the state.”

Through the Charity Jar program, CNA Stores’ customers have donated approximately $347,295 since late 2020, not counting contributions CNA itself has made to various local nonprofits or its roughly 2,500 hours of community service. In February, for example, CNA customers rallied behind L’Arche Boston North, which houses individuals with developmental disabilities, with $12,224 in donations. Likewise, in March, nearly $11,000 was raised for Mass Fallen Heroes, an initiative supporting veterans and their families.