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Membership Sponsors Extend a Hand to Fellow Employers

Posted on October 26, 2020

Jim McCarthy knows all too well how it feels to lead a business through challenging times.

That’s why the president and chief executive officer of R.H. White Construction Company Inc. in Auburn decided earlier this year to pay for five smaller companies in central Massachusetts to join the largest business association in Massachusetts.

The five companies, which range from a landscaper to a gift shop, have joined thousands of others tapping into Associated Industries of Massachusetts for real-time updates on COVID-19 regulations and other issues.

“During this crisis, many businesses were, and are, in survival mode and did not have the staff or resources to filter through the vast amounts of information that they were inundated with.   In many cases small businesses may have only had their accountant or sound bites from the news to make decisions with,” said McCarthy, who serves on the AIM Board of Directors.

“Being AIM members we knew firsthand that they were providing a light in the storm with invaluable information that was clear and concise so business leaders could make decisions and have a resource to actually talk to about issues they are facing.”

R.H. White is one of a growing number of Massachusetts companies sponsoring AIM memberships through an initiative the association developed as part of its response to the COVID economic downturn. Companies have so far provided 72 free memberships to mostly small businesses that are taking advantage of AIM’s unique blend of public-policy advocacy and practical advice.

“The pandemic created a swirl of complex issues for small Massachusetts companies. Am I an essential business? When can my business re-open? How do I apply for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program?” said Bob Paine, Executive Vice President of Membership, Sales and Engagement at AIM.

“AIM is a statewide community of employers and these sponsoring companies recognized that by extending a helping hand to other businesses in the community.”

Janice Goodman, owner of Cityscapes in Boston, feels that same sense of community. Goodman last year sponsored an AIM membership for Breaktime Cafe, a supported transitional employment program tailored to young adults experiencing homelessness.

At the other end of the state, the Berkshire Innovation Center, a Pittsfield-based business accelerator that brings together private companies and academic partners, purchased memberships to expand its network and the services available to its member companies. Among the companies to benefit from the Innovation’s Center purchase are Sonoco Plastics, Neenah Technical Materials, SolaBlock Intertek, Robatel and EMA3D.

“Not only do they have access to AIM programing, HR Services and policy expertise, they have access to the massive network of AIM members and partners,” said Ben Sosne, Executive Director.

“Obviously, with the COVID-19 pandemic, HR and policy related expertise has been needed on all fronts.  Our members have been faced with tremendous challenges and I’ve been incredibly impressed with the array of services AIM has been able to deliver, and the speed at which information is produced and disseminated.”

Other AIM-member companies that have sponsored memberships include Twin Rivers Technologies of Quincy, Brynach LLC of Lakeville, AIS of Leominster, McLane Middleton of Woburn, FLEXcon Company of Spencer, ICA Group of Northampton and Business Development Strategies of Medfield.

Paine said AIM expects to expand the sponsored membership initiative as employers continue to struggle with the economic aftershocks of COVID-19. Sponsoring employers may buy memberships in packs of 5, 10 or 20.

Know a small business that could benefit from a sponsored AIM membership? Contact Bob Paine, rpaine@aimnet.org.