Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce closes, transitioning members to the Nashoba Valley chamber

A large brick building sits behind a parking lot behind a grassy area with bushes.

Image I Courtesy of Google Images The Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce was previously located at 234 Littleton Road in Westford.

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By Mica Kanner-Mascolo

Thirty-six years after its inception, the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce has closed.

The business members of Middlesex West are now transitioning to neighboring Shirley-based Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, a process Nashoba Valley expects will take some time, according to a Friday press release from the Nashoba chamber

"This is a bittersweet moment for many of us," Melissa Fetterhoff, president and CEO of the Nashoba Valley Chamber, said in the release. "For years, our two chambers have been great neighbors, sharing resources, hosting joint events, and supporting each other’s success. We are truly honored that the MWCoC Board has chosen the Nashoba Valley Chamber to continue supporting these local businesses, and we welcome them to our growing family."

Middlesex West had been left without a leader for the past couple of months since previous Executive Director Jenna Amara stepped down from the role in November. Amara, who had been the chamber’s sole full-time equivalent employee, now serves as the managing director of CoWorks @ Vita Therapia, a Westford-based coworking space and business support provider, according to her LinkedIn profile.

"We are excited to see this as an opportunity to expand our community and connect even more businesses across the region," Fetterhoff said.

Founded in 1989, the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce had 240 members as of June, making it the 12th largest chamber in Central Massachusetts when ranked by total membership, according to data compiled by WBJ’s Research Department.

The Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce had 500 members as of June, making it the fourth largest chamber in the region. If all Middlesex West’s members were to transfer, the total 740 chamber members would elevate Nashoba Valley to the second largest in the region.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.