We can't say it enough - These ARE trying times for all of us and especially small business owners. I hear it daily: "What am I going to do?", "I am not sure I can stay in business." "How do I work with my landlord?"
We are all confronting major changes with no concrete answers ahead and we need support.
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Please reach out to our Small Business Director, Dee Dice and make an appointment.
Valley Community Development's Small Business program offers all business services at no cost. Email her at dd@valleycdc.com or call and leave a message 413.586.5855 x230
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How to Keep Yourself & Your Business Together in Challenging Times |
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Wednesday, August 5, 2020
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Join the New England Veterans Chamber of Commerce and guest speakers: Jim Wong, President,California Veterans Chamber of Commerce COO & Dr. Shauna Springer, Author, Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us. Integrating the business and personal perspectives in addressing small business owners' needs.
Brought to you by the New England Veterans Chamber of Commerce & Western Mass Business Technical Assistance Collaboration: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County CDC, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, SCORE of Western Mass, and Valley Community Development.
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Concursos Lanza Tu Idea - EparaTodos Holyoke
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Fecha límite para presentar una solicitud:
10 de agosto de 2020 a las 5 pm
Eventos de la comunidad vertiginosos y divertidos que permiten a los emprendedores en las etapas iniciales obtener exposición valiosa y comentarios sobre una idea de negocios sin costo alguno. Excelente oportunidad para crear una red y validar una idea de negocios con posibilidad de ganar un premio en efectivo del EparaTodos Concurso Lanza Tu Idea.
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Citizens Minority Small Business Grants |
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MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A $15,000.00 GRANT
Small businesses are the backbone to our economy, and diverse small business ownership is critical to the growth and success of our local communities. In recognition, Citizens will award 100 minority-owned businesses with grants of $15,000 each, a total of $1.5 million overall.
To apply, a business must be:
· At least 51% minority owned, operated and controlled by an Asian American, Black American, Hispanic American or Native American
· Either a Citizens Bank Business Banking account holder or, if not a Citizens customer, based within our 11-state footprint
· In business for at least one year, with annual revenue of no more than $1 million
Eligible businesses can submit a statement (up to 150 words) describing how they would use the grant to strengthen and sustain both their business and their community.
Hurry—the entry deadline is Aug. 7, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET.
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Small Grants For People With Disabilities |
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Contact Stavros at 413.256.0743 ext. 201 for more information |
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Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice Grants
Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice (CISJ) Grants support teams of artists, creatives, culture bearers, cultural organizers, and/or community-based collaborators in Massachusetts to do the important work of imagining public art that fosters and contributes to more just futures for our public spaces and public culture. Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice Grants range from $2,000-$5,000. Three monthly deadlines beginning August 24.
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Public Art for Spatial Justice Grants
Public Art for Spatial Justice (PASJ) Grants support Massachusetts artists and artistic collaborations to create public art in Massachusetts that fosters public imagination and contributes to more just futures for our public spaces and public culture. These grants may or may not be a result of the imagining work that was supported by a Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice grant. Public Art for Spatial Justice Grants range from $5,000-$10,000. Three monthly deadlines beginning August 24.
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New Work New England
New Work New England provides grants directly to New England artists in dance, film, interdisciplinary work, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling, and theater to support creating and producing new work that has potential to engage multiple New England communities. New Work New England Grants range from $7,500-$15,000. The deadline to apply is September 3.
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MassInc Poll of Small Businesses |
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Poll: Only one-in-three Massachusetts small businesses are fully open; most say income dropped 25% or more in first half of year
Financial results for the first half of the year show the scale of the challenge, with 64% of small businesses reporting drops in gross revenue of 25% or more for the first half of 2020. Nearly half (46%) of small businesses say they have laid off or furloughed employees, including 77% of restaurants. Businesses owned by women and people of color have been hit particularly hard and report greater financial losses.
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The Western Mass Technical
Assistance Collaborative
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MSBDC provides free and confidential one-to-one business advice to prospective and existing small businesses. They provide a wide variety of business training programs.
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Franklin County CDC is a resource to help start or grow your business at any stage. Counsel, Capital and Connections is their motto. They offer a free monthly 1.5 hr workshop on the first Wednesday of each month.ly" or "only 7 remaining!" |
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Common Capital offers small business technical assistance for their borrowers.Their online workshops and Facebook live trainings are open to the public.
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For over 50 years, SCORE has served as America’s premier source of free business mentoring and education.
As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and educational resources since 1964.
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The Center for Women & Enterprise is a nationally known nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people start and grow their businesses. CWE has worked with more than 46,000 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont entrepreneurs since 1995. CWE also operates the Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England (VBOC of NE) that focuses on assisting veterans, active duty service members and their families with starting and growing their business.
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