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UPCOMING EVENTS   
see what's happening  
Register online or contact Erin Lawrence, (508) 586-0500 x 231, [email protected].
*Thursday, July 26
Business After Hours
Water Pointe Condominiums
8 Island Court, Easton (behind Stoneforge Grill)

Join us Thursday, July 26 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm at the brand new luxury waterfront condos in Easton! Water Pointe offers a luxurious, active lifestyle in a quiet village retreat overlooking a secluded freshwater pond. With 60 units on the shore of Morse Pond in Queset Commons, this budding, contemporary village in historic Easton is some 25 miles from downtown Boston. Visit waterpointehome.com for more information. 

Enjoy appetizers catered by Maguire's Bar & Grill and craft beer provided by the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year, Shovel Town Brewery. Also take advantage of an opportunity to win a pair of Red Sox tickets, as well as two gift cards to Stoneforge! 


Don't forget your business cards! Tickets to this event are complimentary, but please RSVP in advance. Register online at  www.metrosouthchamber.com/calendar-registration  or by e-mailing your RSVP with your full name and company name to Erin Lawrence, [email protected], (508) 586-0500 x 231.  

*Wednesday, August 15
Summer Sizzler at Stonehill After Hours
Donahue Hall, Stonehill College
320 Washington Street, North Easton


Join the Chamber alongside Crescent Credit Union on Wednesday, August 15 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm, for a complimentary, elegant Business After Hours networking event at Donahue Hall, at Stonehill College, located at 320 Washington Street in North Easton. 

Founded in 1919, Crescent Credit Union today serves over 48,000 members who look to them as their financial partner. Crescent seeks to provide a better in-branch experience for both personal and business clientele. For more information, visit crescentcredit.org



Don't forget your business cards! Tickets to this event are complimentary, but please RSVP in advance. Register online at  www.metrosouthchamber.com/calendar-registration  or by e-mailing your RSVP with your full name and company name to Erin Lawrence, [email protected], (508) 586-0500 x 231.

UPDATES  
we want you to know..
 
* Chamber Welcomes Erin Lawrence, Director of Programs and Events

The Metro South Chamber is pleased to announce the addition of Erin Lawrence to its staff as the Director of Programs and Events. In her new role, Erin will be responsible for all Chamber programs and events. This includes the monthly Business After Hours and Good Morning Metro South breakfasts as well as the Taste of Metro South, Legislative Luncheon, Small Business Awards, ATHENA Program, and the Chamber's Annual Meeting and Business Expo.

Erin holds a bachelors degree in psychology from Bridgewater State University, as well as a Master of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Her past experience includes customer experience and membership representative roles, as well as graduate teaching assistance and volunteer work. Feel free to contact Erin to welcome her to the Metro South Chamber, or for information on any of the Chamber's programs and events at (508) 586-0500 x 231 or via e-mail [email protected]
 
Advertise in the Best Book for Business Around.

The 2019 Book for Business is in the works! Secure your ad space and be sure your listing is up to date! Renew your ad space from last year!

For more information on the Book for Business, contact Emma Stratton at (508) 586-0500 x 222.

* Master Your Card Featured Video of the Month:
Choosing the Right Card Processor
 


Accepting your customers' EMV chip cards pays off in business growth and security. Giving yourself and your customers every possible security benefit builds loyalty and protects hard earned gains. This video from Master Your Card will help small business owners better understand the why EMV chip technology is right for your business.

For more information, please click here.

NEWS  
stay up-to-date
 
"Grand Bargain" Passed by MA Senate & House

Massachusetts workers will be seeing a lot of changes in the next few years. Commonly referred to as the "Grand Bargain", H4640 was passed by the MA Senate & House on June 20, 2018. 

The "Grand Bargain" bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker will ultimately raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, implement a guaranteed paid family and medical leave program, and establish a permanent sales tax holiday. It also includes a new payroll tax. 

Minimum wage: the law incrementally raises the current $11-an-hour minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023. By that time, Massachusetts will be tied with New York, California, and Washington D.C. for having the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. The increase will being in 2019, with state minimum wage going up to $12 an hour. 

Tipped minimum wage: the law also includes an increase for the tipped minimum wage. The current tipped minimum wage in Massachusetts is $3.75, which will increase by 60-cent increments every year until it reaches $6.75 in the year 2023. 

Sunday pay: In something of a compromise to employers, the law gets rid of the requirement that retailers pay an overtime wage to Sunday and holiday workers. However, it maintains that employees cannot be required to work on Sundays or holidays, or be punished for refusing to work on those days. 

Paid leave: Beginning in 2021, employees (even self-employed) will be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave, with the guarantee that they can return to their previous job or an "equivalent position" with the same pay, status, and benefits. 

Payroll tax increase: The new paid leave program will be paid for by a payroll tax increase estimated to bring in $750-$800 million each year, a 0.63% increase. This is set to take effect July 1, 2019. 

Sales tax holiday: no changes were made to the statewide sales tax, however Massachusetts residents will get a two-day weekend each August in which they do not have to pay sales tax.

Read more about this bill here.

Chamber Member & Community Events  
join in! 
 
Want to see your workshops and events here? Add your events to the Chamber website at: metrosouthchamber.com/community/calendar


Tuesday, July 17 Good Samaritan Medical Center: Heart Health Community Talk @ Library
Tuesday, July 17 - July 20 Fuller Craft Museum: SummerSPARK workshops for kids ages 5-11 Week 2
Wednesday, July 18 American Red Cross Blood Drive: 10:00am-3:00pm @ Lynch & Lynch, Red Cross Bloodmobile, 45 Bristol Dr., Easton
Thursday, July 19
PROVA! Brockton, Opening Night!
Thursday, July 19 Brockton Summer Concert Series @ Heights Crossing on Christy's Place: Soul Intensity, 6-8PM
Friday, July 20 Disney's The Little Mermaid @ Family Performing Arts Center at BSU
Friday, July 20
PROVA! Brockton, Day After Opening Night!
Friday, July 20 Disney's The Little Mermaid @ Family Performing Arts Center at BSU
Saturday, July 21 American Red Cross Blood Drive: 1:00-6:00pm @ Good Samaritan Medical Center, 234 North Pearl St., Brockton
Sunday, July 22 Disney's The Little Mermaid @ Family Performing Arts Center at BSU
Monday, July 23 The Children's Museum in Easton July Highlights: Touch Tanks
Tuesday, July 24 Brockton Public Library: Frederick Douglass Exhibit Opening
Tuesday, July 24 The Children's Museum in Easton July Highlights: Princess Pajama Party
Tuesday, July 24 - July 27
Thursday, July 26
Monday, July 30 American Red Cross Blood Drive: 2:00-7:00pm @ Monponsett Inn, 330 Monponsett St., Halifax
Monday, July 30 The Children's Museum in Easton July Highlights: Bacteria Detectives
Tuesday, July 31 - August 3 Fuller Craft Museum: SummerSPARK workshops for kids age 9-11 Week 4
Tuesday August 7 - 10 Fuller Craft Museum: SummerSPARK Teens workshop for ages 12-16
Saturday, August 11
Wednesday, September 26
Save the Date : Bridgewater State University Internship & Job Fair
Through October 7
Saturday, October 13
2018 Teen Challenge Brockton: Annual Banquet @ Teen Challenge
Ongoing Fuller Craft Museum Current Exhibitions
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Food Network - casting Holiday & Halloween Baking Championship
Ongoing
 

July 16, 2018
 
IN THIS ISSUE
digital_envelope_hand.jpg




Action Report
 

  


Achieve with us.
  


Always You  
 


At your service, whatever
your business needs

HOW TO SAVE AN EVENT TO YOUR CALENDAR

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Upcoming 
Chamber Events:  

July 26
Business After Hours 
@ Water Pointe

August 15
Summer Sizzler at Stonehill After Hours @ Donahue Hall

September 13
Business After Hours
@ D'Agostino insurance
 

Check out the Latest Event Photos on Flickr 
 


Business After Hours & Ribbon Cutting @ Connemara Senior Living Campello


Connect With Us! 
 

   
   
   
  
       

WANT TO STAND OUT?
Advertise with the Chamber!

* Book for Business
For more information, contact Emma Stratton, Communications Coordinator (508) 586-0500 x222


NEED BUSINESS ADVICE?
Check out our resource partners who offer free confidential appointments!

* SCORE
* SBA
* MSBDC



 

Live Webinar Series



Today, 4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find information about local businesses. Local online marketing is getting more and more competitive, and the first page of Google search results is getting smaller and smaller.  Standing out is a challenge, but it is possible if you work at it.



Are you exhausted by wearing too many hats as a small business owner? Managing marketing and PR, to bookkeeping and sales, can prevent you from running your business.  Robin Blakely, CEO of Creative Center of America, will demonstrate an easy-to-implement strategy to stop common hat-juggling chaos, and establish a sense of professional calm.



In the world of sports, the greatest coaches say the best defense is a good offense. When it comes to business financing, the same rule applies. A proactive approach to business financing can help support innovation and prevent missed opportunities for growth.
Join this webinar to learn how to apply the principles of proactive financing to take your business to the next level.

When Metro South is Home, Everything is Within Reach

Metro South Chamber of Commerce
60 School Street, Brockton, MA 02301 
P: (508) 586-0500  *  F: (508) 587-1340
metrosouthchamber.com * [email protected]