Creating opportunities for people to live, work, & thrive on the Lower Cape | |
Inside Scoop - October, 2022 | |
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Bringing you the latest tools to help your business.
This month's Inside Scoop is filled with lots of treats, as well as ways to avoid getting tricked. Whether it is the Spotlight interview with the owner of Sunflower Sweets, cybersecurity tips in connection with cybersecurity awareness month, or information on workshops and programs, including the benefits of hiring Veterans, the CDP has you covered.
Inside Scoop at a glance:
CDP Workshops
Spotlight Interview
Artists - Additional Workshops & Grants
Food- Additional Workshops & Grants
General Business Workshops
Town Specific Programming
Other Resources for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
CDP's Small Business Services
To learn more about these workshops and programs, as well as other topics important to your business, please see below. As always, if there is a business topic that comes up for which you need more information or assistance, please reach out to us and we will help find resources to answer your questions.
Pam & Tricia
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Business of Small Business Roundtable
Oct. 27th 10:00-11:30
(virtual)
Being a small business owner means being responsible for making decisions across a wide variety of fields with many having long lasting consequences.
Everything from:
-how to structure your business
-the type of insurance required for the business
-how to recruit and retain staff
-mandated federal and state human resource policies.
Join human resources, insurance, legal and staffing professionals for a lively discussion about the business decisions small business owners and entrepreneurs must make.
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Improve Your Recordkeeping Practices At Any Stage Of Business
Nov. 1st 5:30-7:00
(virtual)
Whether you are a new or seasoned business owner, improving your record keeping practices allows you to improve your understanding of your business' cash flow and allows you to be in a position to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Join Pam Andersen, CDP's Director of Business & Credit programs and QuickBooks Pro Advisor to learn the steps you can take today, regardless of your stage of business, to improve your recordkeeping practices and put your business in a better position to succeed.
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Business Basics for a Thriving Creative Practice
Tuesday, November 8th 5:00 - 6:30 Provincetown Commons, 46 Bradford St.
Join the Community Development Partnership and Provincetown Commons for a "Business Basics" workshop. Pam Andersen, Director of Business & Credit Programs for the Community Development Partnership will review business basics, including:
- Creating Business Plans
- Goal Setting
- Budgeting and Cash Flow Projections
- Choosing the organizational structure that's best for you
- Obtaining a Tax Identification Number and Registering Your Business
- Things to consider when assembling your business team
- And much more!
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Why Hire Veterans?
An Employer and Veteran Forum
Wednesday, November 9th
10:00 -11:30 am (virtual)
Did you serve in the military? Have you ever wondered how to show that your skills from your military service can be applied to a civilian job?
Are you an employer and want to hire a veteran but aren’t sure if it is the right move?
Join MassHire and the Community Development Partnership for a FREE Q&A event!
• Employers - Learn about the hidden skills a veteran brings to a civilian job.
• Veterans - How do you market your military skills to civilian employers?
Join us for an informative and lively discussion.
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Building A Business Banking Relationship Workshop
Thursday, November 10th
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Eastham Public Library
Do you have a business banking relationship? What does it mean? How can your bank help improve your business practices?
Join us for this session with Chris Cataldo, Vice President and Branch Manager – Small Business Specialist of the East Harwich office of the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. Topics include:
* Access to working capital - what happens when the unexpected happens,
* Loans and Lines of Credit
Cash Management Options – ACH, wire, bill pay and more
Understanding the process and timeline of creating a business banking relationship, as well as things to consider if you are thinking about changing banks.
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Know and Reach
Your Audience:
A Marketing Round Table
Thursday, November 17th
10:00-11:30 am (virtual)
If your target audience only uses Facebook, does it make sense to be on TikTok? Do you need to create Facebook stories if your customers are looking for Instagram reels?
In this workshop presented by the Community Development Partnership and WE CAN, Erica Dunn of The Pheasant, Jennifer Kain Defoe of KainDefoe Communications, and Tracy O'Neill of Two Crows Creative will lead a lively discussion among small business owners and entrepreneurs about how best to know and reach your audience.
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Spotlight: Bridget Kennedy Badams, Owner Sunflower Sweets | |
Follow Bridget on Facebook and Instagram @sunflowersweetscapecod. To place a custom order, contact her at sflowersweets@gmail.com
Call or text her at 774-722-7704.
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Inside Scoop Spotlight:
Bridget Kennedy Badams of Sunflower Sweets
Spotlight returns from its summer hiatus with an interview of Sunflower Sweets owner, Bridget Kennedy Badams. Bridget describes herself as “Owner of Sunflower Sweets, cake artist and baker extraordinaire.” We wholeheartedly agree.
Bridget is a Wellfleet resident who, in starting and growing Sunflower Sweets, availed herself of small business programs offered by non-profits with whom the CDP has successful collaborations, specifically Homeless Prevention Council’s REACH Project (resiliency, empowerment, achievement, community, and hope) and WE CAN’s GROW (Get Results with Other's Wisdom) program. This year she took the CDP’s food-based workshops, including “Tools for Starting Your Food Business” and “Food Safety Manager Training”, both offered in conjunction with the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension. She also worked with Pam on record keeping. Next up, Bridget is working with the CDP to apply for MGCC’s Crowdfunding Grant, Biz-M-Power.
If you missed Bridget and her delicious treats this summer at the Wellfleet Farmers Market, fear not. She will be at the Wellfleet Preservation Hall market on November 20th. You can also find her products at the Wellfleet Marketplace.
Read the full article here.
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Artist Specific Workshops and Grants | |
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Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's latest round of funding is now open!
The application, which is due by Friday, October 28, starts with a Letter of Intent (LOI). Applicants that meet the AFCC’s eligibility for funding will move to the next stage and be asked to submit a full application, which will be due at the end of November. A final decision on grants will be made by mid-December.
AFCC grants are for arts-related projects and programs, and available to individuals who live and work in Barnstable County and nonprofits and educational institutions based in Barnstable County.
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Basics of Building a Grant
November 15, 22 & 29th
2:00-4:00 pm (virtual)
Grants and other written proposals can feel daunting without a plan. In this three-part workshop, participants will learn about:
* developing an appropriate project for the appropriate funder
* where and how to search for opportunities
* the basic building blocks that make up a proposal
* how to get organized
* what the review process looks like from the inside
* how to persevere through rejection
* how to build a proposal budget that addresses a project’s monetary and non-monetary needs.
This workshop will be recorded! If you're unable to attend the live session, you can still register via Zoom and, if approved, you will receive a link to access the recording after the workshop is complete.
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Artist Contracts and
Clarity in Partnerships
November 17th
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (virtual)
Contracts are a critical, but often avoided aspect of any artist's project-based life. A well-written contract can be more than a legal document; it’s a way for artists to set expectations with collaborators, organizational hosts, or funders, to protect their time, funds, and intellectual property, and to ensure everyone understands what’s anticipated of them for any partnership. This workshop will provide different examples of contracts for various artists' needs and explore how artists can use contracts to generate their ideal conditions for a creative project or partnership. Participants will design the framework of their own contract and learn how to revise proposed terms that might be unfavorable or exploitative in an initial contract draft.
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Food Related Workshops and Grants | |
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Tracking Marketing to Drive Sales
Wednesday, October 26th
5:30 - 6:30 pm (virtual)
Learn the best practices related to tracking marketing efforts for food businesses to boost sales, including
- How will marketing help your food business?
- How can tracking your marketing results help increase your food business sales and revenue?
- Which marketing platforms are best for broadening your target market?
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Apply for a MassDEP Commercial Refrigeration Grant
This program provides financial incentives for retail food businesses, food banks, and nonprofit organizations to install more climate-friendly commercial refrigeration equipment and permanent refrigerant leak detection systems.
Program funding is available to new or existing retail food locations, food banks, and nonprofit institutions in Massachusetts that are installing refrigeration systems containing ultra-low-GWP (<10) refrigerants.
Grants are also available for retrofits and leak detection systems at existing facilities with refrigeration systems that use more than 50 pounds of high-GWP (>3900) refrigerant.
See the Program Requirements document below to learn more.
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Addiitonal General Business Workshops | |
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Medicare 101 for You, Your Business, and Your Employees
Tuesday, October 25th
1:00-2:00 (virtual)
As employees are living and working longer many more will be eligible to make this transition during their working lives. Employers need to be able to provide their employees with the resources and information they need to make an informed decision.
During this session, you’ll learn the following:
- Overview of what Medicare is and what it means for your business
- How to talk to your employees about Medicare
- What resources and organizations to share with your employees
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Small Business Legal Clinic
Wednesday, October 26th
(virtual)
Lawyers for Civil Rights provides free legal support to qualifying entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Massachusetts.
On October 26th, join Lawyers for Civil Rights virtually to speak with an attorney one-on-one via Zoom or by phone and get answers to legal issues unique to your small business.
If you have any questions, please contact Lawyers for Civil Rights at BizGrow@Lawyersforcivilrights.org or 857-301-7171.
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Basics of Email Marketing, Part 2
Tuesday, November 2nd
9:00-10:00 (virtual)
Join SCORE mentor Matt Stephens for the second part of a two-part webinar providing a comprehensive guide to the foundation of successful email marketing, including building or uploading lists,
list segmentation and platforms and tools that will enhance your efforts.
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Introducing Eastham's NEW Exterior Improvement Program
Apply by October 21st
The Exterior Improvement Program aims to address the need for capital investment and upgrades to commercial space in Eastham, while providing a needed boost to local businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers a combination of grant awards and a streamlined project review process, with an emphasis on projects that improve the visual appearance of business properties, provide clear community and/or economic benefits, and increase voluntary compliance with local and state regulations.
Applications due October 21st
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Truro Expanded Childcare Voucher Program
Apply by October 31st
The Town of Truro is pleased to announce the expansion of the Childcare Voucher Program, which is NOW for Birth through 4-Year-Olds (only if they are unable to be accommodated at the Truro Central School) enrolled in a state-licensed childcare program, or a licensed pre-school or pre-k program that is not the Truro Central School Pre-School Program.
The program is available for children of Truro Residents, Town of Truro Staff, and children of employees and business owners employed for more than 20 hours per week by a business with a physical location in the town of Truro, provided that the Truro location is the primary location of the employee’s work for each month for which tuition assistance is provided.
Applications due October 31st
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Surveys - Responses Requested | |
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Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Solar Siting Survey
DOER is seeking your input to help determine where solar projects should and should not be developed, based on your experience and perspectives. Your feedback will help MassDOER understand priorities and concerns about solar siting and will be used to develop suitability criteria for the spatial analysis portion of the study.
More information on the Technical Potential of Solar Study, including opportunities to participate in a series of public meetings, can be found on DOER’s Website.
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Cape Cod Employer Needs Assessment
Workforce and labor shortages threaten the stability of our regional economy. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, along with our partners at the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, are creating a strategy to scale workforce training and support on-going employee training programs across the region. Your input will directly inform our strategic plan for workforce development and help us address future needs across our region.
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MGCC Empower Digital and Biz-M-Power Grants | |
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MGCC Grant Programs for Small Business Owners extended into 2023!
Schedule an appointment with Pam or Tricia today to see if your small business is eligible for these amazing opportunities.
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Crowd Funding Matching Grant
MGCC is partnering with a crowdfunding platform, Patronicity, to assist low to moderate-income and underserved entrepreneurs, and small business owners with meeting capital needs of their business through matching grants. The objective of the is to provide entrepreneurs with new knowledge and skills for growing their business and advancing toward innovative approaches to obtaining capital through the earned support of local residents, neighborhoods, community members, and stakeholders alike by raising funding to match the amount requested in their grant application.
Eligible MA-based small businesses that have been nominated by MGCC’s SBTA providers may be funded up to $20,000.
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Digital Capacity Building Grant
MGCC's Empower Digital Grant provides funding (up to $5k) for tools and services to develop digital capabilities for your small business. MGCC will make these funds available for eligible businesses until funding is fully disbursed.
MGCC will now pay the Business Owner the grant funds upon submission of the Project Completion Certification Form. MGCC will cover up to $5,000 without requiring a contribution from the business owner.
Eligible MA-based small businesses must be sponsored by MGCC's SBTA providers.
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Small Business Energy Assessments by Cape Light Compact | |
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Save Energy & Get Incentives to Upgrade
Cape Light Compact is an award-winning energy services organization serving the energy interests of customers on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Start with a no-cost business energy assessment! A business energy assessment, available to building tenants and owners, will provide insight into areas for potential cost and energy savings for your business. Plus, you’ll get access to incentives of up to 80% off recommended efficiency upgrades. Questions? Contact Lindsay Henderson.
Schedule an Assessment Now
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month | |
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Cyberattacks are a concern for small businesses. Learn about cybersecurity threats and how to protect yourself.
Cyberattacks cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars a year, and pose a threat for individuals and organizations. Small businesses are especially attractive targets because they have information that cybercriminals (bad actors, foreign governments, etc.) want, and they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses to adequately protect their digital systems for storing, accessing, and disseminating data and information.
Surveys have shown that a majority of small business owners feel their businesses are vulnerable to a cyberattack. Yet many small businesses cannot afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity, and don’t know where to begin.
Start by learning about common cybersecurity best practices, understanding common threats, and dedicating resources to address and improve your cybersecurity!
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SBA Cyber SUMMIT
Wednesday, October 26
12:00 - 5:00 pm (virtual)
Learn how to adequately protect your digital systems for storing, accessing, and disseminating data and information.
AGENDA (all times EDT and tentative)
12:15 PM - Small Business Roundtable
12:35 PM - SBA Administrator and Microsoft President Executive Exchange
12:55 PM - Small Business Development Center Directors
1:20 PM - Cyber Attack! What Now?
1:50 PM - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2:20 PM - State Government Champions
2:50 PM - SBA Digital Alliance technologist panel
3:20 PM - Regional Cyber Hub profile: Georgia Cyber Center
3:40 PM - Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Updates
3:50 PM - National Cybersecurity Priorities
4:05 PM - SBA Leadership Roundtable
4:45 PM - Resource Sharing and Closing Session
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WE CAN Business Law Consults | |
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Free Business Law Consults Available
Free, half-hour legal consults in business law are available each month from WE CAN legal volunteers. Learn about the best way to organize your business, things to consider in drafting partnership agreements, understand your liability exposure, advantages of registering as a women owned business entity, and more.
Contact WE CAN to schedule an appointment for a Business Law Consult.
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CDP Regional Office Hours | |
The CDP thanks these organizations for the opportunity to use their space to meet with clients and for their demonstrated support of small businesses and entrepreneurs on the Lower Cape | |
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CDP Small Business Services
How Can We Help Your Business?
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Individual Business Guidance
Are you self-employed, a solopreneur or a small business owner who lives or works on the Lower Cape?
The CDP offers individual business guidance for all types of businesses, including:
*creating business plans, cash flow and other financial statements
*marketing and e-commerce
*business formation and organization
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Individual Mentoring through SCORE
A resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE’s mission is to grow small businesses one business at a time.
SCORE Cape Cod offers individual mentoring across the Cape. The CDP partners with SCORE to offer mentoring on the Lower Cape.
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QuickBooks Help tailored to your needs!
Did you struggle putting your records together to give your accountant?
Do you use QuickBooks but need to learn how it can do a better job for you and provide you with the information you need when you need it?
CDP Staff offers QuickBooks help. Follow the link below and schedule an appointment to get your business on track.
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Need a microloan?
The CDP has microloans up to $50,000 for small businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape. Visit our website for complete program details and eligibility requirements.
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Professional Services Grants Available for 2022.
Many businesses are finding the need to change their business model in these turbulent times. The CDP has Grant Funds available to help business owners hire specialized consultants to quickly implement these changes whether in technology, legal or marketing.
Make an appointment to learn more and to help stabilize or grow your business.
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CDP Small Business Program Funders | |
The CDP's small business and technical assistance programs are made possible by the following funders: | |
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Mass Growth Capital Corporation
Cape Air
Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation Trust
Santander Bank
Seamen's Bank Long Point Charitable Foundation
USDA Rural Development
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Follow the CDP on Social Media! | |
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. | | | | | |
