Creating opportunities for people to live, work, & thrive on the Lower Cape | |
Inside Scoop - June, 2023 | |
Bringing you the latest tools to help your business. | |
|
June is Pride Month, a time to honor and acknowledge the valuable contributions that LGBTQ+ individuals make in our community. LGBTQ+ businesses in the United States contribute an estimated $1.7 trillion to America's economy, creating thousands of new jobs each year. The CDP is proud to support LGBTQ+ businesses with our small business technical assistance and microloan programs.
| |
|
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 2021 arts and cultural production in Massachusetts accounted for:
* $27.2 billion economic impact
* 135,181 jobs
* 4.2% of the state’s economy
The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) tracks the annual economic value of arts and cultural production from 35 industries—including both commercial and nonprofit entities. In 2021, Massachusetts ranked 10th among all states in ACPSA employment and 13th among all states in ACPSA employment growth. Since 2020, ACPSA employment has grown 6.45 percent in Massachusetts, compared with an increase of 4.96 percent for the nation. Although the data was not further broken down by region, we certainly know the important role the Arts and Cultural Production play on Cape Cod.
| |
Calling all local makers and growers! Our friends at Amplify POC and Love Live Local are busy getting ready for their summer vendor events.
Amplify POC (People of Color) Cape Cod promotes racial equity for POC-owned businesses by providing resources that enhance visibility, increase patronage, and highlight successes and contributions made by people of color in our communities. Join Amplify POC Cape Cod for its Summer Vendor Market & Festival on July 9th at the Hyannis Village Green from 12-4. Apply here to be a vendor at the Amplify POC Cape Cod July 9th event.
Love Live Local’s Love Local Fests are events where people gather and to show their support for the local business community. The July 30th event at Aselton Park from 11-5 is free and open to the public and features the work of 75-120 Cape Cod makers, artisans, artists, farmers and local businesses, along with local entertainment and opportunities to connect with the community. Apply here to be a vendor at the Love Local Fest.
| |
Seafood lovers needed!
Our friends at the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance are busy planning a new series of Meet the Fleet educational videos to increase knowledge of local seafood and fisheries. These include cooking demonstrations, seafood preparation tips and tricks, recipes, and discussions with commercial fishermen and chefs. To measure the effectiveness of their local seafood promotion and education activities, they launched a survey to collect current seafood consumption trends.
Take the Seafood Survey today.
| |
Inside Scoop at a glance:
Artists - Workshops & Gatherings
Food - Workshops, Opportunities, & Grants
General Business Workshops and Information
Important Surveys
Other Resources for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
-
CDP Referral Program - refer a new small business and enter to win $100
-
MGCC Loan Funds Designated for Underserved Communities through 6/30/23
-
MGCC Crowd Funding
-
Business Law Consults Available
CDP's Small Business Services - Regional Office Hours
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.
We look forward to working with you!
Pam & Tricia
| |
|
CDP Small Business Referral Program - Refer a Business
Earn a chance to win a $100 gift certificate
| |
|
Each month anyone who refers an entrepreneur or business owner to the CDP will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate from a local business. We will draw a winner on the 15th of each month. Here are the details:
- Be sure the person you refer to the CDP tells Pam and Tricia that you referred them
- One entry per referral - refer 3 businesses, earn 3 entries. etc.
- Drawing will be held on the 15th of each month
- CDP Staff, Board Members and Advisory Council Members are not eligible to participate in the referral raffle program (although we welcome your referrals!)
Congratulations to the June 2023 winner: Danielle Sargent, founder of Honeybee Bouquets in Wellfleet. Danielle will receive a $100 gift certificate to Chatham Perk.
REFER A BUSINESS TODAY AND YOU MAY BE THE LUCKY WINNER IN JULY!
| |
Artist Specific Workshops and Gatherings | |
|
Resource Mapping for Individual Artists
with Ana Tinajero
June 28th 6-8 pm (virtual)
Oftentimes the most difficult part of being an artist is finding the skills, tools, and connections needed to make your work and share it with the public. In this workshop, participants will begin by surfacing the resources already at their disposal in their larger personal network, and will consequently outline the pathways to reach the resources not yet secured. Using a collaboratively-minded strategy for resource sharing and exchange, artists will learn how to navigate their surroundings, leverage existing connections, and build a broader community of mutual assistance that nurtures win-win relationships and shared success. Artists at all stages of their careers are welcome.
| |
|
Planning with your Whole Self in your Art Practice
with John Vo
July 13, 20 & 27th 6-8 pm (virtual)
Many artists, particularly those that exist within historically marginalized communities, hold several identities at once, yet often feel the pressure to choose one over the other when planning for a career in the arts. This incongruity can often lead to anxiety and feelings of imposter syndrome when trying to figure out how to position and further one's work. In this intimate, highly interactive 3-part series, artist John Vo introduces structures for achieving one’s creative goals without compromising the many additional roles and identities each artist holds. Participants will come away with the components of a personal and creative plan unique to their creative identity.
| |
|
Crowdfunding for
Artist Projects
August 8th 2-4 pm
(virtual)
Learn tips and tricks to help crowdfund your art project. In this workshop, Laura Christensen will guide participants through the process of preparing and running a successful crowdfunding campaign, from setting funding targets, to identifying potential backers, to sharing your campaign with the world. Participants will take away best practices for running a short-term campaign to fund a particular project on any crowdfunding platform. Laura Christensen is a visual artist who paints on recovered vintage portraits. In 2019 she ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund her book project THEN AGAIN. Since then she has helped many creatives and businesses run successful campaigns of their own.
| |
Food Related Workshops, Grants, and Opportunities | |
|
MDAR Announces Local Food Purchase Assistance Plus Grant Program (LFPA Plus) - Information Sessions on
June 22nd 6-7:30 pm - register here
July 11th 12-1:30 pm - register here
The goal of the LFPA Plus program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency through the purchase of domestic food from local and regional producers, by targeting purchases from Socially Disadvantaged farmers/producers and distribution to underserved communities. LFPA Plus grants ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000 will be awarded solely for food and food storage purchases. MDAR’s LFPA Plus Program is now open. Deadline to submit an application is Friday August 4, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Complete details of LFPA and the LFPA Plus Programs here.
| |
|
Start a Food Biz Workshop
August 30th 5-7 pm (virtual)
CommonWealth Kitchen's Start a Food Biz workshop is perfect for aspiring food business entrepreneurs in the idea-stage and the about-to-launch phase of food business growth. The workshop will cover:
1. Regulatory requirements for different types of food businesses;
2. Considerations for starting a food truck, catering company, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) company;
3. Best practices and resources for food safety, packaging, branding and more;
4. Business Plan Overview; and
5. Case studies of strong food companies
| |
General Business Workshops | |
|
Coast to Coast: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Businesses
June 21st 1 - 2:30 EDT
Join the Massachusetts District Office and the San Francisco District Office of the Small Business Administration to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. You'll hear from business mentors, business owners, and other resource providers who can help you start, grow, and expand your business.
Hear from:
* Grace Moreno of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce
* Sarah Scala, CEO of Scala Consulting and the 2023 MA Microenterprise of the year
* Mayrena Guerrero, Founder and CEO of Colorful Resilience
* April Starlight, CEO of Tangerine Search
* Helen Russell, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Equator Coffees
* The Center for Women and Enterprise in Massachusetts and
* Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center in San Francisco!
| |
|
Positioning Your Company to Sell
June 22nd 2-3 pm (virtual)
There's a gigantic wave of baby boomer business owners retiring and needing to sell their companies. Business brokers call it the "Silver Tsunami." The problem is that there are many more sellers than buyers and many of these companies won't sell and will be shut down.
Is there a way for these companies to sell?
Join the MA Small Business Development Center, New Bedford Economic Development Council, and Mass Growth Capital Corporation to learn a methodology for selling your company during these trying times as Tom Gledhill, author of Xitpro System and The Big Transfer explains a way to not only sell your company but for it also to remain in the Community.
| |
|
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Business Owners
June 29th 2 -3 pm (virtual)
As a small business owner you are at a disadvantage with cybersecurity. John Danahey, co-owner of Digital Tech Partners, is passionate about helping small businesses protect themselves in our internet connected world. During this interactive session you will learn how ransomware works, why cybersecurity is so important, reasonable methods of protecting your business, and how to avoid being overcharged.
Digital Tech Partners, Inc. is a VA certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), that specializes in identifying and mitigating risks for businesses with a strong focus on technology management. Digital Tech Partners brings to bear over sixty years of large scale Information Technology experience.
| |
|
Health Connector for Business: Affordable, Flexible Health Insurance
July 12th 12-1 (virtual)
Health Connector for Business offers quality, affordable health insurance options to help small businesses (with 1-50 full-time employees) save on their premium costs.
This information session will focus on health insurance options available to small employers and their employees through Health Connector for Business. It will also review available options for sole proprietors and owner-only groups who do not yet have the employees to qualify for a small group plan through the Health Connector for Business. Learn:
* Exclusive cost-saving benefits through the Health Connector for Business, such as the ConnectWell rebate program and the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
* Health insurance options for sole proprietors and owner-only groups not eligible for small-group coverage
| |
|
MGCC Grant Programs for Small Business Owners updated for 2023!
Schedule an appointment with Pam or Tricia today to see if your small business is eligible for this amazing opportunity.
| |
|
Crowd Funding Matching Grant
For 2023, MGCC increased the matching grant from a 1:1 match to a 2:1 match. This means businesses receive $2 from MGCC for every $1 raised in crowdfunding.
MGCC is partnering with a crowdfunding platform, Patronicity, to assist low to moderate income and underserved entrepreneurs,& small business owners with meeting capital needs of their business through matching grants. Businesses must crowdfund a minimum of $1,500 and a maximum of $20,000 to receive a 2:1 matching grant from MGCC between $3,000 and $40,000. The combination of crowdfunding dollars and 2:1 matching grant from MGCC, businesses can earn $60,000+ through this program.
| |
|
Help drive customers to local businesses
and support our local economy!
| |
Small Business Energy Information | |
|
Cape Light Compact
Energy Efficiency for Your Business - Start saving now
As a business owner, you know the importance of reducing costs whenever possible. Decreasing energy use through energy efficiency is a proven way to reduce costs while also enhancing the comfort and productivity of your workspace.
By participating in Cape Light Compact's energy efficiency programs (your local Mass Save® Sponsor), you have the opportunity to choose your path to energy savings. The program designed for you is determined by the amount of electricity you use each year and the type of project you are planning to undertake.
Not sure which path to take, or have questions? Contact Cape Light Compact at efficiency@capelightcompact.org or 1-800-797-6699 to discuss your project.
| |
WE CAN Business Law Consults | |
|
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.
| |
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 | |
|
CDP Small Business Services
How Can We Help Your Business?
| |
|
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
| |
|
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
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.
Wild Water Collective, 56 Main St., Unit D, Orleans
| | |
|
Professional Services Grants Available for 2023
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.
| |
CDP Small Business Program Funders | |
The CDP's small business and technical assistance programs are made possible by the following funders: | |
|
Mass Growth Capital Corporation
Cape Air
Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation Trust
Rockland Trust
Santander Bank
Seamen's Bank Long Point Charitable Foundation
USDA Rural Development
| |
Follow the CDP on Social Media! | |
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. | | | | |
