Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
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A Word from Jay...
Nearly a year ago, faced with mounting cases of Coronavirus in metropolitan Boston and New York, we knew it was only a matter of time before cases would start to appear on the Cape. So the decision was made to close our offices to the public and move most staff to remote working for a few months until things “returned to normal.” Never did I imagine that a year later our offices would still be closed to the public and that half of our staff would continue to work remotely.
Our team here at the CDP has done a remarkable job helping us to meet the challenges faced by so many residents of the Lower Cape while managing extraordinary situations in their personal lives. Several members of the CDP staff have spouses who own small businesses and are struggling to keep those businesses afloat. Others are working full time and managing remote learning for their children or finding childcare options in these difficult times. And some have family members who are elderly or at extreme risk of severe cases of COVID-19.
Despite all of these pressures, I’m so thankful to all of my colleagues for their commitment to this organization and the people we serve. From embracing new technology, to adapting systems and taking on new programs, the CDP staff have gone the extra mile to enable us to help so many in our community. Thanks to their efforts, we have been able to continue to lead the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here.
From helping small businesses apply for grant and loan funds to ensuring that the residents of our affordable housing units are safe and can access programs to help them pay their rent, my colleagues have been truly remarkable. I hope you will join me in thanking them for their incredible service – they are truly a special bunch.
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Jay Coburn
Chief Executive Officer
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Supporting Local Business
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Snowy Owl: Overcoming the odds to find success
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“We stay open year-round partly to provide stable employment opportunities.”
Manuel Ainzuain
Owner, Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters
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The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmingly affected the way businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape operate. Many had to find creative ways to stay afloat, meet health and safety regulations, and keep their customers and employees safe. While many businesses experienced financial losses during this time, some businesses were able to maintain their profits over the past year, including Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters in Brewster. In fact, they recently announced their plan to open a new location in Sandwich!
Snowy Owl’s main location in Brewster has been a staple in the community since opening in 2015. Owners Manual Ainzuain and Shayna Ferullo had a goal to provide ethically sourced, freshly roasted and freshly brewed coffee to the Cape Cod community. “We are not a café,” says Manuel, “We are a coffee company with locations where people can come to taste and sample our coffee.”
*Photo: Owners Shayna Ferullo and Manuel Ainzuain
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From Thankful Chases to first time home owners
“Thankful Chases made it possible for us to save the money.”
Lelibeth Cook
Former Resident, Harbor Hill
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For Dale and Lelibeth Cook, 2021 has gotten off to a promising start. After living at Thankful Chases Pathway for the past seven years the couple was finally able to purchase their own home.
Dale, a native of Cape Cod with family roots in Provincetown, met Lelibeth in the Philippines and after a time was able to convince her to move to Cape Cod where they were married. They had a daughter Hannah and the family of three was living in the basement of Dale’s parent’s house in East Harwich. When Lelibeth became pregnant with their second child, they knew they would need to move out to accommodate their growing family.
*Photo: The Cook Family on their new front steps
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Supporter Spotlight: Janet Reinhart
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“One of the greatest things the CDP has done is to show that affordable housing, green space, individuality and convenience can all be part of the plan.”
Janet Reinhart
CDP Supporter
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Janet Reinhart first came to Cape Cod when she was 3 and visited Provincetown with her family. They came to spend time with her uncle who had polio. It had been recommended that the cool waters of Cape Cod would be good therapy for him. Not long after, her parents bought a vacation home in town. They made friends, fell in love with Provincetown and made it their summer escape.
When she was in her twenties Janet married a man from Wellfleet and moved to the Cape permanently. While her husband was a painter, “I did a bit of everything,” muses Janet. “I worked in a jewelry store, cleaned an inn at Captain Jack’s Wharf, then got a job with Center for Coastal Studies doing clerical jobs and as an assistant to Stormy Mayo.”
*Photo: Janet, her son Jerome (left) and husband Tom (right)
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Save the date: Join us for the CDP's
29th Annual Meeting
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Join us as we acknowledge the organization’s achievements and recognize the recipients of our community awards.
29th Annual Meeting
April 22nd, 5:30 PM
Virtual via Zoom
Two members of the community will be honored with the Annual Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service and Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. In addition, new Board members and officers will be elected.
There is still time to nominate a business owner or community leader for one of our awards. You can find the criteria and nomination forms here.
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The Lower Cape Housing Institute kicks off workshop series
with Housing 101 training
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Over 40 municipal leaders in affordable housing gathered on Zoom last month for the first session of the CDP 4th Annual Housing Institute. Andrea Aldana, Director of Housing Advocacy, and Jay Coburn, CEO, presented a two-hour Affordable Housing 101 session. Andrea provided a comprehensive overview of affordable housing issues on the Lower Cape.
The next session of the Housing Institute take place on March 5th when we offer a training on the RFP (Request for Proposals) Process. Laura Shufelt of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership will walk through the process of writing a strong RFP that will attract high quality development proposals.
For more information on upcoming housing training, to get involved with housing advocacy, or to stay up to date with housing news on the Lower and Outer Cape, email andrea@capecdp.org to sign up for our housing newsletter.
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Additional Funds Released for Small Business
If your business meets the following criteria, you could be eligible for additional funding.
- Your business is located on the Lower and Outer Cape
- Your business was established prior to 10/1/2019
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Your business currently has 5 or fewer employees
- You make less than 80% of the area median income
- You are able to show your business had a decrease in sales or net income from 2019 to 2020
Funds are limited and will be distributed on first come, first serve basis. Loans can be used for rent, utilities, staffing, inventory, or costs to pivot your business due to COVID-19.
This regional grant to the Town of Truro is funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) funds administered by the Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Community Development.
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Cape Cod Foundation approves $30,000
grant for the CDP
The Cape Cod Foundation has approved a $30,000 grant from The Cape Cod Foundation Strategic Emergency Response Fund. This grant is to support our continued work responding to increased needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and advocating for the production of more affordable housing on the Lower and Outer Cape.
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Business & Credit Workshops
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Update on Business & Credit Workshops
The CDP continues to offer all trainings, workshops, technical assistance sessions, and appointments virtually.
We remain committed to serving our business clients and our community. Staff is working both remotely and from the office. While we are not taking in-person meetings at this time, we will continue to meet with clients via phone or zoom.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Pam Andersen at pam@capecdp.org or 508-240-7873 x18.
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Get Free Small Business Assistance
Its the start of a new year and whether you need assistance preparing for tax season, QuickBooks help, or guidance on making a a business plan for 2021, the CDP is here to support you.
Director of Business and Credit Programs Pam Andersen is available for free small business help over the phone or via Zoom. Find a time that fits in to your schedule so you can get the assistance you need to prepare your business for success this year!
Click the link below to schedule a 30 or 60 minute appointment!
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Webinar: Navigating the Alphabet Soup of Food Safety
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Join the CDP and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Food Safety Educators for a FREE 1-hour webinar as an introduction to farm food safety.
Confused about farm and food safety lingo? Curious about value added products or marketing Grandma’s pickle recipe with your farm grown cukes? Have you tried to sell at a retail store and get ‘you’re not certified’? Been Selling direct to consumer and gearing up for the ‘scale up’? Join us and learn the next steps for your business.
When: March 8, 10:00 - 11:00 PM
Where: Remote via Zoom
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Legal Consultations for Small Business
Attorney Melanie O'Keefe from the law firm La Tanzi, Spaulding and Landreth will be hosting free 30-minute consultations to answer questions related to small business law including:
- Best organizational format for your business
- Partnership agreements
- Liability issues
Dates: March 9 and April 13
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Where: Via phone call
To book your FREE 30-minute consultation call or email Marina at
WE CAN - 508-430-8111 or marina@wecancenter.org
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Additional COVID-19 Resources for Businesses
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We have created a separate page on our website that is a compilation of resources for local businesses, including various SBA, unemployment and other federal programs.
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If you or someone you know is interested in receiving weekly updates from our Business and Credit Program that are targeted to small businesses, please sign up for our Inside Scoop.
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Thank you for supporting the CDP's response to the
COVID-19 ecomomic crisis.
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