New England Council Kicks off Centennial Commemorations with Launch of Fellowship Program and Series of Regional Celebrations
BOSTON, MA – The New England Council—the nation’s oldest regional business association—is kicking off celebrations of the 100th anniversary of its founding this month by announcing the establishment of a new fellowship program, and holding the first in a series of regional events to commemorate the centennial.
Today, the Council announced the establishment of the New England Council Fellows Program, whereby the Council will select a total of six non-profit organizations – one in each state – and will provide these organizations with $5,000 each to support the hiring of a summer intern to support their charitable mission. The goals of the program are twofold: to support worthy organizations with missions to provide important services in the region, and to help provide young adults with valuable work experience to prepare them for future career success. Each organization will have discretion to hire a fellow whose background and experience best meets the current needs of their organization. The Summer 2025 NEC Fellows will also be invited to attend any New England Council events that take place throughout the year to network and have the opportunity to hear from speakers including members of Congress, Governors, and other policy leaders. The six organizations selected to host NEC Fellows this summer will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are so incredibly proud of all that The New England Council has accomplished over the past 100 years,” said President & CEO James T. Brett. “Launching this fellowship program is our way of giving back to our region by supporting organizations who are making a real impact in our communities, while also making an investment in New England’s future by providing hands-on learning opportunities to young adults.”
In addition to the launch of the NEC Fellows Program, next week, the Council will host the first in a series of Centennial Toast events in Boston. Over the course of the year, the Council will host a Centennial Toast in each of the six New England states to gather with Council members to celebrate the organization’s achievements over the past 100 years. Specials guests at these cocktail receptions will include Members of Congress, Governors, other elected officials, and past New Englander of the Year honorees from each state. The first Centennial Toast will be held at the UMass Club overlooking the city of Boston on March 18.
“These Centennial Toasts will be a wonderful opportunity to gather with members and friends of the Council to celebrate this landmark anniversary. We’re looking forward to raising a glass and toasting the Council’s proud history and bright future,” Brett said.
Centennial festivities will conclude in October 2025 when the Council hosts its Centennial Celebration at the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA. The Centennial Celebration replaces the Council’s traditional Annual Celebration honoring several New Englanders of the year. At the Centennial Celebration on, the Council will instead present several Centennial Awards to leaders from the region in recognition of their contributions to economic growth and quality of life in New England. As the Council looks to the region’s future, it will also present several Rising Star Awards to individuals who represent the next generation of leaders in New England. The Council expects that close to 2,000 guests will attend the Centennial Celebration on the evening of October 20, 2025.
The New England Council was founded in September 1925 when the six New England Governors gathered with key regional business leaders in Poland Spring, Maine, to discuss how they could collaborate on shared economic goals. The Governors and executives agreed that they should collaborate to advocate for the best interests of region in Washington, DC, and established a non-profit organization to facilitate this work called The New England Council. For 100 years, the Council has carried on this work, helping business, non-profit, and academic leaders in the region build connections and collaborate to advance regional policy goals. The Council’s membership has grown to some 650 member businesses and organizations representing every sector of the region’s vibrant economy in all six New England states.
About The New England Council – The New England Council, the country’s oldest regional business organization, is an alliance of businesses, academic and health institutions, and public and private organizations throughout New England formed to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the region. The Council is dedicated to identifying and supporting federal public policies and articulating the voice of its membership regionally and nationally on important issues facing New England. The NEC is also committed to working with public and private sector leaders across the region and in Washington through educational programs and forums for information exchange. For more information, please visit: www.newenglandcouncil.com.