Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
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A Word from Jay...
I do not know of a soul who has not been counting down the days to January 1, 2021. It has been a year of extraordinary challenges, for me and my colleagues here at the CDP and the entire Lower Cape community. And while we have been tested in ways none of us could have imagined, we have been blessed with great opportunities to meet the urgent needs we confront and transform the way we work.
Just twelve months ago, we were wrapping up a strategic planning process and poised to focus on four strategic priorities. Much of that work was put on hold in March as we shifted to working remotely, stepped up our programs to support small businesses through this economic crisis and supported the residents of our affordable housing units -- ensuring they were healthy and had access to rental assistance as well as other support programs.
One of the silver linings of this dark cloud has been that many of us have embraced new technologies and tools that have fundamentally changed the way we work. Several CDP staff members no longer spend 90 minutes a day getting to the office and back as they are now working from home. Thanks to the use of video conferencing we have had many more opportunities to collaborate with new partners, meet with clients more conveniently and network with our colleagues doing similar work throughout the Commonwealth and the Country.
What has been most inspiring is the incredible support we have received from our donors and the expressions of tremendous gratitude from the people we serve. I’m confident that over the coming months, we will emerge from this crisis, smarter, inspired and more committed than ever to lead the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here.
Our best wishes for a better New Year,
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Jay Coburn
Chief Executive Officer
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Supporting Local Business |
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Karol Richardson: Asking for assistance in a time of need |
“I’ve been touched to be able to receive financial assistance. I’ve always been very independent and not used to asking for help.”
Karol McDonald
Owner and designer, Karol Richardson
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While the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for most small businesses, seasonal businesses, have been particularly hard hit. Many were forced to severely limit their hours and reduce capacity to comply with health and safety guidelines. Some moved their businesses online while others chose not to open at all. Although the federal government provided direct aid in the form of the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan, many businesses did not qualify and for others the aid was simply not enough.
In July the Community Development Partnership was selected to administer $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding awarded to the town of Truro by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the federal CARES Act. This money provides up to $10,000 in forgivable loans to small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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*Photo: Karol's Wellfleet storefront |
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The Lower Cape Housing Institute Reimagined |
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“We were really the only ones to convene a regional task force to deal with the effects of the virus”
Andrea Aldana
Director of Housing Advocacy, CDP
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For the past four years the Lower Cape Housing Institute (LCHI) has been one of the spotlight programs in the Community Development Partnership’s housing advocacy efforts. As one of three strategies utilized as part of the Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership, the Institute has been an important component of promoting safe and stable affordable housing for our region.
In previous years, the Housing Institute was structured as an intensive six-week workshop series designed to give town elected officials, committee members, and local leaders a comprehensive understanding of housing issues on the Lower and Outer Cape. Topics covered include financing, zoning to preserve open space, and best practices for development.
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*Photo: An Outer Cape peer group meeting prior to the Covid-19 pandemic |
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Lower Cape Leadership Forum |
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Collaboration will better serve the community |
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"By working together, they strengthen their individual organizations, provide a stronger network of support for their clients and the community and serve as a model for how to increase impact through collaboration.”
Kristen O'Malley
President and CEO, Cape Cod Foundation
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As many of us know, the Lower and Outer Cape region is distinct from the rest of Cape Cod. Rural and geographically spread out, it is more acutely dependent on a tourist-based economy, with a greater reliance on lower paying, seasonal jobs. In addition, the Lower Cape has high rates of second home ownership creating unique pressures on housing affordability. Add to this a long history of the region being underserved by public and private health, mental health and social service agencies, it is not difficult to understand why so many families struggle to thrive here.
To address these needs, in the fall of 2019 the Community Development Partnership entered into a collaborative alliance with Cape Cod Children's Place, The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, Helping Our Women, Homeless Prevention Council, Lower Cape Outreach Council, and WE CAN. The group named itself the Lower Cape Leadership Forum (LCLF) and has focused on deepening collaboration and expanding services and programs of each organization to better serve low-to moderate income (LMI) residents of the region. Together, these organizations serve more than 20,000 clients annually.
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Business & Credit Workshops |
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Update on Business & Credit Workshops |
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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 |
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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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Legal Consultations for Small Business |
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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 orginizational format for your business
- Partnership agreements
- Liability issues
Dates: January 12 and February 9
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
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 our efforts to support the Lower Cape community during this crisis.
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