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Join us at Old Colony YMCA in Taunton on Thursday, August 24th for Noontime Networking! Can't make our Business After Hours? Then this event is for you. Mix and mingle during your lunch hour!
Enjoy a light lunch while networking with other Chamber members. There will also be tours of the newly renovated building. No cost for TACC Members and Prospective Members can attend 1 time for free.
Don't forget to bring your business cards to exchange and to enter for a chance to win the door prize! Register below.
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Whether you have been a member of the chamber for 5 years or 5 minutes – or if you’re just thinking about it – join us for Member Orientation on Thursday, September 7th from 9-10 a.m. at the Chamber’s office, 170 Dean St. in Taunton. See the office, meet the staff, hear about our benefits and programs, and learn how you can best maximize your investment with the TACC!
Seating is limited so please register in advance below. Free to members and prospective members.
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Kris Silva, TACC President, and Abby Vasconcellos, Chamber Ambassador, recently visited Taunton Gardens to celebrate 25 years as a member of the Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce! | |
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Join us for a lively Oktoberfest celebration on Wednesday, September 27th! Our festivities will be held at Berkley Beer Company where we will have the entire restaurant to ourselves! Come by between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. and enjoy their beautiful outdoor patio area complete with cornhole, giant Jenga and Connect Four! Fantastic entertainment once again provided by Matt Silva Music. All attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a door prize! Compete in the Stein Holding or Pretzel Toss Contests, and new this year - Team Stein Relay!
The proceeds from the raffle at the event will benefit WAGS animal rescue.
Tickets are $35 for members, $45 for non-members and includes pizza, appetizers, a pint of beer, live entertainment, games and socializing!
(Overflow parking with shuttle service by Gotta Run with be available.)
Don't miss this fun annual event!
Sponsorships:
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Event Sponsors; $2,500 - (1 available) Morton Hospital
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Entertainment Sponsors; $500 - SOLD! TMLP Online & The Arbors at Taunton
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Pint Sponsors; $500 - SOLD! General Dynamics & BayCoast Bank
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Cornhole Sponsors; $500 - SOLD! Bristol Community College & Taunton Federal Credit Union
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Steinholding Contest Sponsors; $250 (1 available) Rockland Trust & Wright Technology Group
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Stein Relay Contest Sponsors; $250 (2 available) The Refinishing Oracle
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Pretzel Toss Contest Sponsors; $250 (1 available) Rockland Trust & Crystal Springs
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Beer Garden Sponsors; $150 (available) Relaxation Works Spa, Wood Palace Kitchens, Express Employment Professionals, & A Life Worth Living, Corp.
Contact Kris for more information about sponsoring Oktoberfest. Register below to attend.
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PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN BERKLEY & DIGHTON | |
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Contact Kris to sponsor this event.
Current sponsors include: BayCoast Bank; BankFive; CO-OP; 1Connection Cannabis; Mechanics Cooperative Bank; SCORE; SERVPRO of Providence/Taunton/Mansfield; Grant's Rental; State Representatives Pat Haddad and Norm Orrall; The Arbors at Taunton; and Dighton Development & Industrial Commission.
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FY24 Budget Signing
Last week, Governor Healey signed a $56 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). The final state budget makes good on many of the investments proposed in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s House 1 blueprint that strove to make Massachusetts more affordable, competitive and equitable, including historic investments in schools, higher education affordability, climate preparedness and local aid.
The following specific investments were included in the final budget:
• $15 M for Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program
• $10.5 M cumulatively for targeted initiatives at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to support workforce, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and the innovation economy
• $5 M for Small Business Technical Assistance Grants, leveraging a robust network of nonprofits to offer technical assistance, education, and access to capital for small businesses
• $5 M in flexible funding for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
• $2.5 M for Urban Agenda Economic Development Grants
•First-time operating funding for a technical assistance program to help Community One Stop for Growth applicants:
- $600 K for the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative for municipalities looking to revitalize their downtowns
• Necessary administrative funding for priorities, such as the Director of Rural Affairs, Division of Banks, and a data initiatives role at EOED
• 5-year extension of the Brownfields Tax Credit Program
Complete details about the FY24 budget can be found here.
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FREE Legal Clinic
Friday, August 18, 2023
Thank You Atty. Christopher Cassara
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are eligible to meet with Attorney Cassara one-time, one-on-one for 30 minutes. Register here.
All services are provided by Partridge Snow & Hahn (PSH) which is not acting as an agent or representative of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). By meeting with PSH you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the MSBDC from any and all claims and liability arising from your session with PSH.
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Understanding Business Fundamentals - SESSION 1
Tuesday, August 22 | 10:00 am - Noon
In this free, virtual workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of owning a business. Topics will include putting together a business plan, getting business financing, and marketing. The workshop will also provide information on the many business assistance resources that are available to entrepreneurs locally and regionally. Register here.
Understanding Business Financials - SESSION 2
Thursday, August 24 | 10:00 am - Noon
In this free, virtual workshop, participants will learn how to read and create a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, and keep on top of their business finances. The workshop will also explain how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate the business more efficiently. Register here.
All workshop attendees will be provided with SEED’s business plan booklet, power point presentation, and supplemental material that will be discussed during the workshop session. Thank you to Eastern Bank for their generous sponsorship, which allows all attendees to take one or both of the classes free of charge. Call (508) 822-1020 x318 or email jmello@seedcorp.com for questions or registration requests.
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First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation offers Personal Investment Grants to its Community
The First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation aspires to strengthen the communities they serve by investing in individuals that contribute to the economic and social well-being of their communities. They have been able to do so for many years through nonprofit contributions and a generous scholarship program. And now, the Foundation will be offering Personal Investment Grants to individuals pursuing a better future. This grant will help community members seeking to start a business, learn a new skill or make a career change. Beginning September 1st, the First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation will award up to $3,000 in grants each application period. Learn more.
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Economic Development Planning Public Comment
The Executive Office of Economic Development continues its work developing the Commonwealth’s economic development plan. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is appreciative of the more than 1,300 residents that have engaged in this process so far. They encourage you, your partners, and members of the public to continue providing feedback, ideas, and suggestions for the state's economic development plan through the online feedback form.
More information on the Economic Development Planning Process can be found on the EOED Webpage.
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HarborOne Small Business Pitch Contest
Deadline to apply is August 31st.
Attention small business owners! HarborOne Bank will be hosting its 8th Annual Small Business Pitch Contest on September 28th!
It’s an amazing opportunity to showcase your business, and of course pick up a check for $10,000 to help your business grow. HarborOne recognizes the important contribution small business owners make in our community, and our Pitch Contest is one way we can support the businesses in the communities we serve.
Criteria and eligibility to enter can be found here. Applicants do not have to be a customer of HarborOne Bank to participate.
To help complete your application, make full use of the comprehensive range of business planning tools, templates and help in the Voyage Business Hub. If you have any questions, please email info@harboroneu.com.
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Getting Ready for 2024
We’re quickly approaching the fourth quarter and it’s the ideal time to think about letting go of the old, stagnant aspects of your life and make room for the novel, the inspiring, and the rejuvenating so you can embrace 2024 with a new energy. If you’re feeling anxious and overburdened in your professional life, it might be time for a change. Read more.
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August Events at the Old Colony History Museum
All are invited to join the Old Colony History Museum for family-friendly events, both in person and virtually this month. Highlight tours with the Curator take place daily at noon, and our regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Summer Fri-Yays!
Each Friday in July and August, you can cool off from your adventures through history with a free frozen treat, thanks to Trucchi’s from 10-4! Remember, Museum admission is always free for OCHM members and kids 12 & under! Add some local history to your summer plans, and make it a Fri-Yay!
Passport to History June 1 – September 1
Do you have your passport yet? 18 historic sites. Curated day trips. Local history available throughout the Old Colony now through September 1st. Learn more here.
Blue Star Museum Through Labor Day
We are proud to, once again, be participating in the Blue Star Museum program. Now through Labor Day, the OCHM and hundreds of other museums across the United States offer free admission for active-duty military personnel and their families.
Liberty & Union Downtown Walking Tour Saturday, August 19, 11 a.m.
In person, FREE
Come walk the Liberty and Union Downtown Walking Tour! Join us for a free, one-hour guided tour of Historic Downtown Taunton. Our one-mile walking tour highlights some of the important architectural, cultural, and commercial sites between Church Green and Taunton Green. A great way to learn about the city, from its earliest days through the present, these tours are the third Saturday of every month, August through October, rain or shine.
Beer with Bronson Friday, August 25, 5:15 p.m.
In person, Tickets Required (Free for OCHM members)
Grab a pour and take a tour with Curator of Collections, Bronson Michaud. Hear about the untold stories from our collection and take a peek at objects on display just for you. Plus, you’ll receive a Beer with Bronson koozie to keep your beer (or root beer) cold and hands warm!
Admission is free for Old Colony History Museum members, non-members are $5. You can reserve tickets ahead of time on Eventbrite or pay at the door!
Cemetery Tour Saturday, August 26, 11 a.m.
In person, FREE
Explore even more history of the Old Colony with a visit to a different cemetery each month where we will discuss various topics in the history of our region and residents from the past! In August we’ll explore Neck o’ Land Cemetery. Please note that we will be walking on unpaved ground and uneven terrain. We suggest sneakers, hats, and water! For more details and to RSVP please visit our website or Eventbrite page!
Introduction to Genealogy Workshop Saturday, August 26, 12:30 - 2 p.m.
In person at the OCHM; Tickets required.
This 90-minute genealogy session is intended for beginners, and will focus on the basic elements and starting points for genealogy research. We will discuss reasons for the surging interest in genealogy, talk about goals, and discuss first steps. Tickets are $20 for OCHM members and $30 for non-members.
You can register and purchase tickets on our Eventbrite page, stop by the museum, or give us a call to sign up at 508-822-1622.
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BCSB Appoints Morin Operations Officer
Bristol County Savings Bank (BCSB) recently announced the appointment of James Morin to the position of Operations Officer. In this capacity, Morin is responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of the Wire Transfer Department, including support efforts to the branches and business lines, sourcing new talent, training, implementing new products and ensuring that proper controls are adhered to for all domestic and international wire transfers. Read the press release.
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Mayor O'Connell Announces Opening of New Weir Riverfront Splash Pad
Last week, Mayor Shaunna O’Connell joined Parks & Recreation Commissioner AJ Marshall in announcing the opening of the new Weir Riverfront Splash Pad on East Water Street in Taunton. The new splash pad is another step in the O’Connell Administration’s comprehensive plan to provide children and families with beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy and have fun. Read the press release.
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Arts Collaborative of Taunton Events in August
View the Arts Collaborative of Taunton (ACT) August events here.
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Help For Your Small Business
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.
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Safety and Risk Management - Protect Your Business and People
Thurs. Aug. 24 | 1:00 PM
In this interactive workshop, attendees will gain an introduction to risk management and recognizing hazards, resources to protect their interests and mitigate risk and ideas to kick-start their risk management program.
Register here.
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SCORE for Black Entrepreneurs
Visit the hub to see all of SCORE's best content specifically for Black business owners in one place. You'll find success stories, webinars, and other resources you can use for your business. Learn more.
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FREE Excel Workshops
SCORE holds Excel workshops that are LIVE via ZOOM and FREE, and happen just about every week! SCORE also holds workshops in multiple languages. Please check out this link that lists all of the workshops that SCORE conducts for Excel in the coming months.
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SCORE’s Small Business Resilience program
This year, during an unprecedented national health crisis, small businesses needed help more than ever before. In order to support these business owners when they needed it most, the SCORE Foundation provided funding for SCORE’s Small Business Resilience program. This platform allowed SCORE to pivot their mentoring and educational services onto virtual platforms, where clients could easily access the pandemic-related information, guidance and resources they needed to survive and thrive. Learn more here. | |
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Volunteer At SCORE
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!
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