WATERTOWN, MA – MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, announced its Seventeenth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award winners, recognizing 10 companies as 2020 Corporate Heroes for their outstanding response to the tremendous challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Impact Award’s celebrates 2020’s Corporate Heroes from all regions of the Commonwealth. The winners will be honored at a virtual awards ceremony on November 24, with Citizens as presenting sponsor.
For 16 years, MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, has been honoring employers that have grown in Massachusetts with facility expansions, financial investments, increased employment, and community engagement, through its Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards. This year’s awardees (including three past award winners – Insulet, AIS, Inc., and Quest Diagnostics) reflect the spirit of Massachusetts businesses to solve problems, serve their communities, and provide for the livelihoods of their workers in the midst of the global public health and economic crisis.
Narrowed down from more than 30 nominations, the 10 winning companies (listed below) were selected after virtual site visits with judges from finance, architecture, economic development, utilities, construction, engineering, and legal backgrounds. All awardees are either headquartered in Massachusetts, or have primary operations here. When challenged by the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the companies responded by meeting a need in battling the COVID-19 virus with a product or service, through extraordinary charitable actions, sustaining their employees under adverse business circumstances, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
“Amidst the loss of life and economic and social hardship brought by the pandemic, we have seen incredible acts of selflessness, sacrifice, and resilience among the people of Massachusetts,” stated Peter Abair, MassEcon’s Executive Director. “In honoring these awardees for their remarkable efforts against the pandemic, we hope to begin to shine a light why Massachusetts is such a special place to live in this world.”
“The challenges we have seen during the past year have been unprecedented, and we continue to see the impact on our daily lives, our community here in Massachusetts, and our economy,” said Jerry Sargent, President, Citizens Massachusetts. “It is with great pride and appreciation that Citizens joins in honoring the efforts of companies across the Commonwealth who stepped up and shifted their operations to support not only their employees, but also their neighbors.”
“In light of these challenging times, we join MassEcon in applauding the business community for their tremendous contributions to the battle against COVID-19 with these 2020 Corporate Hero awardees,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “Thanks to these outstanding companies, the Baker-Polito Administration continues its efforts to combat the pandemic by striking a balance that allows us to reopen the economy, protect public health, and limit the spread of the virus.”
17TH ANNUAL TEAM MASSACHUSETTS ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD WINNERS:
Central: Quest Diagnostics of Marlborough – Life sciences company that pivoted operations and became the state’s largest coronavirus testing lab, having done approximately 1 million COVID PCR tests since the last week in March.
Greater Boston: The Kraft Group of Boston – Group of privately held companies in manufacturing, distribution, sports and event management, construction, private equity, venture investing, sustainability and philanthropy that committed the New England Patriots team plane to transport N95 masks from China to the U.S., as well as $2 million toward the acquisition of the 1.2 million masks available.
Northeast: Batten Brothers of Wakefield – Manufacturer, designer, fabricator, installer and provider of custom designed signage, awnings, and flag poles that pivoted to manufacture and install acrylic walls and shields to protect from the coronavirus.
Southeast: Contollo Mass Manufacturing LLC of Franklin – Manufacturer of disposable and reusable gowns, latex and nitrile gloves, and hand sanitizer that started up in place old die cutters to produce PPE for the pandemic; and after Governor Baker visited the facility, received a $1.8 million grant for preparation, machinery pivoting, material, training, and a quality management system to produce PPE products for Massachusetts during the pandemic.
West: Boyd Technologies of Lee – Advanced manufacturer of regulated single use devices and components, gels, creams, lotions, liquid media, and other cosmetics and drug solutions; and materials sourcing service provider for those seeking advanced flexible materials, chemicals and advanced pharmaceutical ingredient; that sourced close to 200,000 PPE masks and N95 respirators for frontline workers in the region.
Local Impact Corporate Heroes
AIS, Inc. of Leominster – Manufacturing company that pivoted its philanthropy efforts by turning their seating line into a facemask production area to help save lives by producing and donating thousands of facemasks for its employees and to first responders and frontline workers in their community who were at higher risk of infection.
FLEXcon of Spencer– Global leader in coated and laminated films and adhesives used in graphics applications, manufactured goods and new products, that now makes face shields for employees of essential businesses requiring PPE. Employees came up with product design, prototyping, user testing, assembly instructions, name, logo, packaging, website, and production process.
MA Life Sciences Emergency SupplyHub of Cambridge – Life science industry and hospital associations that donated and shifted operations to produce PPE and other supplies to support healthcare workers on the front lines; doctors, nurses, and paramedics volunteering on the front lines; and scientists conducting laboratory work against the coronavirus.
Global Impact Corporate Heroes
Insulet of Acton – Healthcare/medical device manufacturing company that implemented virtual training for new users of Omnipod (insulin management system) and expanded its financial assistance program for current customers who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Upon meeting certain financial criteria, a current customer in the U.S. or Canada, may receive up to a six-month supply of products (60 Pods) free of charge.
ThermoFisher Scientific of Waltham – Life science product research and development instrumentation company that provided PPE to labs and healthcare professions, developed of one of the first COVID-19 diagnostic tests to be granted emergency use authorization in the U.S., continued its work to improve and expand diagnostic testing to more than 50 countries globally, and supports for more than 100 different projects to develop vaccines and therapies.
