We are in the process of updating the TACC Business Directory and Community Information Guide for 2022. This guide, published annually, includes:

• Complete Directory of TACC Member Businesses – Listed Alphabetically and by Industry

• Business Resources

• Community Profiles of Taunton, Raynham, Dighton and Berkley

• Directory of Government Officials

• Education and Recreation Information

• Business Holiday Calendar

The TACC Business Directory and Community Information Guide is Distributed to:

• All TACC Member Businesses

• Local Hotels and Conference Centers

• City and Town Halls

• Anyone Requesting Relocation or Membership Information with the TACC

Contact Lisa if you would like to place an ad in the 2022 issue. Ad sizes and rates vary, starting at only $150! Click here to view last year's directory.

Please review your listing on our website for accuracy and notify us of any information that needs to be updated.

Chris Helms, Reporter with the Taunton Daily Gazette, recently wrote an article about the local labor market and interviewed Kris Silva, the Chamber President & CEO. Read the article here. Do you have a job posting you would like to share? Email Lisa for details.

Let’s give a warm Chamber welcome to our newest member 1 Connection LLC! Opening soon in Dighton, 1 Connection aims to provide the best quality Recreational & Medical cannabis, cannabis extracts, and infused products available. Stay tuned for grand opening details!

The City of Taunton, through the American Rescue Plan Act, has established the STEP-UP Grant Program to assist City of Taunton small businesses through a combination of technological, web, and media enhancements that serve the dual purpose of mitigating the effects of Covid-19 and providing long term solutions to help their businesses thrive. Grants will vary based on individual needs and available funds.

​These grants will assist a small business with:

Learn more here. Attend our webinar to get help with your application.

RAM (Retailers Association of Massachusetts) urges members to ask their Members of Congress to reauthorize, expand and fund restoration grant programs aimed at all in-person, consumer serving small businesses—including restaurants, stores, venues, dry cleaners, cobblers, barbers, gyms, etc. The Taunton Area Chamber supports this initiative and Kris Silva, the Chamber President & CEO, has contacted our local legislators to request help for small retailers in rebuilding their businesses and replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and expanding eligibility to small retailers to receive RRF grant funding. Learn more here.

As cyberattacks continue to evolve in scope and scale and bad actors target new industries compliance is no longer a matter limited to highly regulated industries. Cyber insurance has become an increasingly important part of cybersecurity programs for every business and organization.

Join Braver Technology for the first of their 2022 quarterly cybersecurity trainings focusing on cyber insurance and providing an overview of today's compliance requests. Don't miss the chance to ask any questions you may have to help you ace your next cyber insurance audit. REGISTER HERE.

Commonwealth Places supports creative placemaking in communities throughout Massachusetts. The program funds place-based, community-driven projects that revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, such as outdoor dining spaces, pop-up parks and beer gardens, sidewalk retail infrastructure, and more.

Nonprofits and community groups can apply for:

• Seed grants: Between $2,500 and $15,000 to fund inclusive community engagement, visioning, and local capacity building that will support future placemaking efforts.

• Implementation grants: Between $5,000 and $50,000 to execute a placemaking project.

Expressions of interest are accepted on a rolling basis as funds allow. Projects that meet program requirements will then be invited to submit a full application. Register to attend an informational webinar about the program on January 31, 2022.

Have a question? Email TDI District Partnership Officer Nick Giaquinto.

Last week, the high court blocked the vaccine-or-test requirement for large private companies but granted the Biden administration’s request to enforce a vaccine mandate for health care workers. Read more here.

The results of a recent survey commissioned by GoDaddy and conducted by OnePoll of 2,000 Americans and what they want from small business going forward, shouldn’t surprise business owners. But if you’ve been thinking that some of the things you did for safety purposes can be phased out once we start beating the numbers on this virus, you may be in for a rude awakening. Read more.

Are you interested in government contracting? Join the U.S. General Services Administration for a free webinar on January 20 at 2:00 p.m. about suspension and debarment in federal contracting.

During this webinar, you will learn:

• Why businesses and individuals are suspended and debarred

• The impact of suspension and debarment on small businesses

• How small businesses can avoid suspension and debarment

Register for this webinar here.

The prevention of occupational injury and illness is in everyone's best interest. The goal of this highly successful program is to promote safe and healthy conditions in the workplace through training, education, and other preventative programs. The deadline has been extended to January 31, 2022. Learn more here.

Register below.

Join Bryan Caplan, Speaker for Grow with Google, as he walks you through how to sell your products online.

He will walk through listing your products for free with Google My Business and Merchant Center and will show you one way to sell on your website, using an E-Commerce store built with Shopify. Plus, learn about more helpful tools to stand out online, such as Local Opportunity Finder and Grow My Store.

In this workshop, he will:

• Discuss the Products tab in Google My Business

• Introduce Google Merchant Center and the basics of creating a free account and a product feed

• Show you set up an E-Commerce website using Shopify

Register below.

Join us as we celebrate our newest TACC member, Society Coffee Bar, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, February 3rd at 3:30 p.m.! Society offers specialty coffees and lattes, along with teas and pastries in a bright, modern café. Welcome to The Society! While there, we will also celebrate the opening of Milestone Realty, located in the same building and also owned by Keith and Debra Viveiros. Congratulations to you both!

Don't miss this opportunity to learn first-hand about the City of Taunton's new Small Business STEP UP Grant from TJ Torres, Grant Coordinator with Taunton’s Office of Economic and Community Development. Grants will vary based on individual needs and available funds and will assist a small business impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with:

Peter Daley, professional grant writer and Director of Public Relations at People Incorporated, will also be on hand to discuss how to best prepare and write a strong application for any grant funding opportunity. We are here to help you!

This session is included with your TACC member benefits and is being offered complimentary to non-members as well to help support our small business community. Register below.

Get an update on city happenings and have your questions answered during this Q&A with Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and Economic Development Director Bill Roth. This session is sponsored by The Lopes Companies. Submit questions in advance here. Register below to attend this virtual meeting.

You could sponsor the next Quarterly Q&A for only $200! Contact Lisa for more info.

Morton Hospital will host a virtual hiring event on Tuesday, January 25th from 12 – 4 pm and Wednesday, January 26th from 9 am – 12 pm.

The hospital is currently seeking candidates for a number of both clinical and non-clinical career opportunities, including: Registered Nurses (for behavioral health unit, intensive care unit, emergency department, operating room and general medical/surgical floors), Nursing Assistants, Patient Safety Sitters, Mental Health Associates, Environmental Service Aides and Security Guards. Learn more.

Commonwealth Corporation's Express Program provides employers fast, simple access to grant-funded training, helping businesses in Massachusetts respond to emerging needs. Join informational sessions here to learn more.

Camp Riverside is a summer day camp for ages 5 to 15. Register by March 4th to lock in 2021 camp rates and receive a free camp t-shirt! Learn more here.

Bristol County Savings Bank (BCSB) has recently appointed Mark Pitts to Vice President/Senior Credit Officer and promoted Nancy Cabral to Assistant Vice President/Small Business Loan Officer at the Bank’s Small Business Lending Center (SBLC). Read the press release.

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.

Looking for a business mentor? During National Mentoring Month, connect with a business mentor through SCORE, an SBA resource partner. SCORE, a nonprofit organization, is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow. Find your mentor for 2022 today.

Ready for a new website? Whether you're building it yourself or you decide to work with a pro, getting organized is the key to your website's success!

• Define your audience.

• Set your website's goals.

• Determine key functionality and features.

• Plan your website content.

• Get your accounts and logins in order.

After this webinar, you'll have a comprehensive plan in place for your business's website. Attendees may also request the free workbook upon completion of the webinar.

Register here .

Instagram is a free worldwide social network focusing on photo and video content. Instagram is quickly becoming the “go to” social media network for ages 44 and younger. This demographic largely performs research in their own organization or the employers they work for which makes Instagram a must use network for small businesses.

Join veteran marketer Dale Shadbegian to learn more about this fast growing and effective marketing tool. Learn about:

1.  Account creation

2.  The difference between business and personal accounts

3.  Optimizing your profile

4.  How to socialize and build a community

Requirements: Although Facebook Creative Studio can be used to create content, some of the Instagram post options require a mobile device.

Register here .

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.

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!

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

·    New Rules of Marketing in 2020

·    Digital Marketing Rules

·    Cash Management

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