Trying to find that perfect gift for the hardest person on your list? Don't want to pay shipping? Looking for something unique and wonderful? Our Chamber members have you covered! We'll be sharing some of our favorites throughout the day on Small Business Saturday so get your list, and appetite, ready! Read the Small Business Season Checklist .

Get in the holiday spirit by donating to the Holiday Cheer Campaign! Again this year, all donations will be matched by our campaign sponsor Morton Hospital. Proceeds will support Cooperative Production, Inc. (CO-OP), New Hope, Inc. and Girls Incorporated of Taunton. Last year, thanks to the generosity of our TACC members and the Morton Hospital match, we were able to present three local organization with $1,000 each. Let’s make it happen again for these deserving organizations!

Click on the button below to donate.

Thank you to these generous donors:

Join us for the TACC Holiday Cocktail Party on Wednesday, December 15^th from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Home Plate Bay Street Grill! Learn more here!

The TACC is pleased to host Jay Pateakos, VP of Business Development for MassDevelopment, in our offices for monthly drop-in hours! No appointment necessary!

Stop by the Chamber office at 6 Pleasant Street, Taunton, on Monday, November 29th from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., and chat with Jay to see how MassDevelopment may be able to assist your business! Contact Jay directly at jpateakos@massdevelopment.com if you're unable to make it that day.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. Their bond financing programs offer a cost-effective w ay for companies to finance capital projects, new equipment purchases, and facility expansions. They also provide loans and guarantees to help grow your operations, and development assistance for early-stage projects.

The City of Taunton is requesting sample quotes and supporting documents from qualified website designers who will be contracted directly by the City to provide new or redesigned websites for recipient businesses of the Sales Technology and Efficiency Professional Upgrade Program (STEP UP). Learn more here.

On November 19th, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced updated guidance for COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program applicants to better serve small business owners in need, while funding remains available. Since its inception, the COVID EIDL program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support our small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels, has approved nearly $300 billion in relief aid. Click here to learn more about the updated guidance being provided.

Join the SBA at 1:00 p.m. on November 30, 2021 for an online panel discussion with Native American business owners who will share their small business stories, how they pivoted during the pandemic, and the SBA resources they used to start and grow their businesses. Register here.

The SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute have teamed up to provide small business owners with a series of webinars that will cover resources to help small businesses grow and thrive. Join them for the next session on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. : Resources and Relief for Your Small Business - Access to Capital.

During this webinar, you will:

• Learn more about COVID EIDL and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021

• Discover tools and resources you can use to start and grow your business

• Have your questions answered by SBA leadership and small business experts

• Learn how you can become a vaccine leader in your community

• Get an update regarding programs and recent policy announcements made by the Biden-Harris Administration

Register here.

1. Measures Allowing for Remote Proceedings of Public Corporations and Charitable and Non-Profit Corporations (where not prohibited by internal bylaws). This provision allows Annual and Special Shareholder Meetings to be conducted entirely by means of remote communication. For Charitable and Non-Profit Corporations it relaxes requirements for notice and procedures for appointment of directors and conduct of meetings of boards of directors. In particular, it allows for conducting meetings by remote means and permitting remote participation and voting by board members.

2. Virtual Notarization. Allows notarization to be conducted by means of remote communication.

Throughout the pandemic, the American entrepreneurial spirit has helped propel our nation forward. America’s small businesses are helping build back the U.S. economy and SBA would like to honor these individuals for their resiliency and achievements during SBA’s 2022 National Small Business Week.

If you or someone you know has an inspiring small business success story to tell, submit a nomination for the SBA’s National Small Business Week Awards. All nominations must be submitted electronically no later than 3:00 p.m. on January 11, 2022. Winners will be announced during National Small Business Week in May 2022. Click here for more information.

How effective is your business website? SEED Corp. is offering a free, virtual workshop on Thursday, December 2nd from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Participants will learn about designing and building a successful website for their small businesses. The workshop will be instructed by Robin Clapp of Web Design by Robin and will cover the seven key elements of web design essential to the success of every small business with an online presence. All workshop attendees will be provided with the presentation to keep as a reference, as well as additional resources. Register here.

Get an update on state happenings and have your questions answered during this Q&A with State Representative Carol Doherty, sponsored by The Lopes Companies.

Topics may include ARPA, Infrastructure, the Build Back Better bill, the UI Trust Fund, the teacher diversity commission, and if FY 22 will be able to provide funding resources to businesses and non- profits to continue to bounce back from the pandemic.

Submit topics or questions in advance here. Register below to attend this Zoom session on Tuesday, November 30th at 9:00 a.m.

Join us for the next session of our Chamber Chat virtual networking series! Meet other members in this fun and informal setting with trivia and prizes! This session is Thursday, December 9th at noon and is sponsored by one our new members KS Dance Studio. Register below for this event.

You could sponsor a future session for just $50! Email Lisa for sponsorship details.

Tis the season! Join us for the TACC Holiday Cocktail Party on Wednesday, December 15^th from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Home Plate Bay Street Grill! Tickets are $20 for TACC members, $25 for non-members. Please bring an item to donate to the Taunton Animal Shelter and you’ll be entered into a raffle. View the Wish List.

Sponsor the Holiday Cocktail Party for $500! Contact Lisa for more information.

Space is limited so get your tickets today! We can’t wait to see you! REGISTER BELOW.

Get in the holiday spirit by donating to the Holiday Cheer Campaign! Learn more here!

Mayor Shaunna O’Connell recently shared information regarding upcoming Christmas events in Taunton, including the annual Lights on Festival and Christmas Parade. Learn more here.

HarborOne Bank’s Harvest for Hunger program raises awareness, provides financial support and generates non-perishable food donations for community based organizations addressing the issue of food insecurity. In its 7th year, Harvest for Hunger has invested over $200,000, collected 32,000 non-perishable food items and provided hundreds of volunteer hours in support of food programs and pantries serving our local neighborhoods. Click here for a list of community partners.

Let SCORE business advisors help you navigate the SBA Debt Relief Programs or the start-up and growth of your small business. All services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are an existing SCORE client, please send an email to your SCORE counselor to schedule a phone call or Zoom conference. If you are new to SCORE, please complete the Request a Mentor form and someone from SCORE will contact you via email to schedule an appointment with an advisor. Sign up for SCORE webinars here. View upcoming webinars here.

Veterans make up an important part of the small business community. They make up 8% of the population, but own 9.2% of all American businesses. Check out these resources specifically for veteran entrepreneurs. SCORE is here to help!

Do you have a good overall business model and manage it well, but cringe when it comes to financial reporting? Then this webinar is for you!

Unravel the mystery of financial reporting:

• What financial reports are most important

• What financial reports reveal about your business

• How you can utilize financial reports to help you better manage your business.

Speaker: Nicole Hruban

Register here.

Social Media can be a powerful tool for winning new customers and clients, as well as continuing a relationship with existing ones, but it can also become very time consuming and expensive. We will help keep you focused and get you moving forward.

This webinar addresses the key questions every small business owner has to answer when they embark on an online marketing effort to support their business:

• What do I need to start?

• What Social Media should I use?

• How does it work?

• What does it cost?

Presented by Frank Camacho, SCORE mentor.

Register here.

Are you looking for ways to help your small business community? Would you like to grow your network or develop professionally? As a SCORE volunteer, you get it all!

Join the SCORE network of 10,000 volunteers. SCORE relies on volunteers to help small business around the country thrive.

Interested? Visit the volunteer web page to find about the many benefits of volunteering and the right opportunity for you!

·    Blogging Tips

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·    Digital Marketing Rules

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