In this issue...

• Tickets on Sale Now: 495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference

• Water Resources Committee Meeting November 25th

• MassDevelopment SSBCI Loans and Guarantees

• 495/MetroWest Community One Stop for Growth Grant Awards

• MassCEO Webinar on Employee Ownership

• The 495/MetroWest Partnership Business Resource Guide

Tickets on Sale Now:

495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference 

The 495/MetroWest Partnership will host its Annual Conference this year on Friday, December 12th from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at the Hilton Garden Inn Boston/ Marlborough! Join us as we convene over 125 top decision-makers in business, government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector from across the region to tackle the infrastructure challenges shaping our future. 

This year’s policy theme is Infrastructure to Support Growth, focusing on the region’s water, sewer, and energy needs in the context of meeting state housing production goals and supporting economic activity. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, VHB!

Click Here to purchase tickets. Those who wish to purchase tickets via check should email Jason@495Partnership.org to request an invoice.

Water Resources Committee Meeting November 25th

The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will meet virtually on Tuesday, November 25th at 9:00 AM. The Partnership has been engaging our stakeholders in the process of developing a Vision and Priorities statement for the organization on the topic of water resources. Click here to access the draft water resources Vision and Priorities statement for the 495/MetroWest Partnership, developed by organization staff and first presented to the Water Resources Committee on October 16th. During the committee meeting on the 25th, an updated draft will be presented reflecting feedback received thus far. Comments are still being accepted through the end of November. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom; click here to register. 

MassDevelopment SSBCI Loans and Guarantees

MassDevelopment is offering loans and guarantees to small business, funded through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The program provides loans of up to $10 million for real estate acquisition, construction, and renovation, up to $2 million for real estate improvements, term-working capital, and leasehold improvements, and up to $3 million for equipment. Loans are offered to companies with majority (51%) ownership by Socially or Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI), who have had their access to credit on reasonable terms diminished as compared to others in comparable economic circumstances. Projects must also have a loan from a private sponsor that is equal to or greater than the loan provided by SSBCI. Click here for more information.

495/MetroWest Community One Stop for Growth Grant Awards

Over $14 million in investments in the 495/MetroWest region are included in this year's Community One Stop for Growth grant awards! Congratulations to the Partnership communities of Acton, Bellingham, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Millis, Natick, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton, Westborough, and Westford! Click here for more information and to view the full list of grant awardees.

MassCEO Webinar on Employee Ownership

The Mass. Center for Employee Ownership will host an "ABC's of Employee Ownership" Webinar on Wednesday, November 19th, at 10:00 AM. This will be first in a series of webinars to support employee ownership in the Commonwealth. The webinar will feature a presentation from Steve Storkan, the Executive Director of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX), who will share some of the benefits of employee ownership and will provide an overview of three popular employee-ownership models that businesses may consider: Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Worker Cooperatives (Co-ops), and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Following the presentation, MassCEO Interim Director Kevin Kuros will facilitate a question & answer session. Click here to register.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership

Business Resource Guide

For business owners searching for assistance, funding, information, or other resources, the world of business support programs can be overwhelming. A vast array of programs by both government and the nonprofit sector are available, albeit with different organizing entities, eligibility requirements, timelines, and processes.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership has created a Business Resource Guide, an extensive list of resources available to you and your business. Resources include financial assistance programing through grants, loans, and tax credits; assistance for businesses pursuing government contracting opportunities; hiring and workplace education programs; and technical assistance. This guide contains resources for both prospective and active businessowners, as well as resources expressly for Minority-owned, Women-owned, Disabled-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQIA+-owned businesses.

Click here to access the 495/MetroWest Partnership Business Resource Guide. This guide is tailored for businesses and business owners in the 495/MetroWest region of Massachusetts, but features both federal and state level resources.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership intends for this guide to be a living document, regularly refreshed and updated to add new programs or remove those which have ended. The document is maintained online as opposed to being in a fixed or printed form. Suggestions of new programs to include or concerns regarding any listed program are welcomed and encouraged; contact Executive Director Jason Palitsch at Jason@495Partnership.org with your comments.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if the 495/MetroWest Partnership can be of any assistance to you:

Jason Palitsch, Executive Director

(774) 760-0495

Jason@495Partnership.org

Thank you for your continued commitment to strengthening our region.