A nail salon, a high-end retail clothing consignment business, a pressure-washing venture, a clean-out and moving service: these are just some of the business ideas residents in the Franklin County Jail refined during an entrepreneurship class through the Franklin County CDC in March.

Consultant Jack Clemente worked with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to provide 11 people incarcerated in the jail with skills to start a business. While people with criminal records can have a difficult time gaining employment, owning a business can be a productive way to earn a living for those reentering society.

The nine-week program, which is funded in part by a state Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program grant, is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with practical business skills, strategic insight, and a supportive network. Through a combination of interactive workshops and guided assignments, these participants learned how to:

• Develop a business plan
• Understand markets
• Leverage marketing tools, including artificial intelligence
• Navigate legal and financial considerations
• Craft and deliver an effective business pitch

Impactful work also happened during one-on-one sessions, which provided space for participants to receive tailored support and deepen their understanding. Seven out of 11 participants said they were either somewhat or very confident that they would apply what they learned in the class.

During a high-energy evening of pitching and networking, six entrepreneurs took to the stage on April 17 to share their business ideas with a packed house at the Greenspace CoWork space in Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield. Those pitching were:

• Dana Mengwasser: Same Page Family, a service helping parents with strategies for a more harmonious family life
• Cody Wilson: Gaudium Galaxy, a space for recreation, gathering, and learning
• Colleen Backman: Film 413 Co-op, a group of movie industry pros that would create infrastructure for the film industry in western Massachusetts
• Bram Moreinis: Resilient Greenfield and the platform, Give Pulse, that connects volunteers with those who need help
• Richard Creque: HBD Skate Shop, a mobile retailer of skateboarding equipment and concessions for skaters
• Stephanie Stoudenmire: CodeForce.us, a firm that helps small businesses with marketing and other digital consulting

After a five-minute pitch, a panel of judges gave comments and asked questions. Thanks to judges Hannah Rechtschaffen, Greenfield Business Association Director; entrepreneur Jack Clemente; and Ian Vukovich, Greenfield Savings Bank Commercial Portfolio Manager, VP.

Three participants will progress to the finale: Dana, Richard, and Stephanie. They will compete to win investments in their businesses. Pitch participants had access to mentorship from program leader and FCCDC Board Member Max Fripp. Those interested in pitching for the next round in Orange can register here.

Our next Take the Floor events are:

Thursday, May 15, LaunchSpace, Orange

Thursday, June 5, Greenspace CoWork, Greenfield

Thursday, June 26, Final, location TBD

Thanks to our lead sponsor, Franklin First Federal Credit Union, and to Greenfield Savings Bank for their financial support!

Looking to use your skills to create a strong local economy and support small business owners? The Franklin County CDC is hiring! To apply, please follow the instructions in the full job description. Please feel free to share our Careers page, which contains both listings, with your networks.

Community Lending Associate

We are seeking a Community Lending Associate with an interest in financial analysis and small business lending. This is a great opportunity for someone interested in supporting small businesses and community lending. See the full job description.

Finance Specialist

We’re looking for a detail-oriented Finance Specialist to join our dynamic team. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to grow their skills in finance, administration, and nonprofit operations while making a positive impact in the community. See the full job description.

The Franklin County CDC's many programs often get all the attention, but the Venture Center is a huge part of the work we do to help incubate small businesses. Home to the Franklin County CDC offices, the Western MA Food Processing Center, and six tenants of varying sizes, the Venture Center is about to get some major upgrades!

But first, here are some Venture Center facts:

• Purchased and renovated in 1989
• 36,000 square feet of light industrial and office space
• One 535 square foot space is available for rent right now!
• Tenants include HPBC Inc, Cellu-spray, Franklin County Community Meals Program, Massive Bookshop, Pioneer Co-op of Franklin County, and Silver Screen Design

The Venture Center has served its purpose nobly for 36 years and is in need of some upgrades. We are gathering quotes now for work to redo the roof and install solar panels, which will save the organization roughly $50,000 a year in electricity costs. We are also planning to repave the parking lot.

In the Western MA Food Processing Center, big changes are afoot, including installing new epoxy floors, building out a new shared kitchen space for very early stage entrepreneurs, and installing a blast freezer to enhance our services to food businesses. We also want to thank Dean's Beans for selling us a new commercial dishwasher at a deep discount. We'll keep you posted on the changes! You can support this work by making a donation to the Franklin County CDC.

The new green monster! The floor of the Western MA Food Processing Center is no longer brick red

but a charming shade of Kelly green.

As tariffs and funding cuts and freezes for federal agriculture programs leave producers uncertain about the future and threaten the stability of our food system, a local investment fund is seeking new community investments to meet the growing demand for capital from farm and food businesses.

Since 2015, the Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund (PVGrows) has been there for farmers and local food businesses, providing accessible financing for expenses like equipment upgrades, expansions into retail operations, and emergency weather responses.

Investments are different from philanthropic funds, as the money is paid back by borrowers and lent to new businesses. Therefore, while the fund currently has a balance of $2.7 million, more than $6 million has been lent to borrowers to date, meaning investors’ capital has gone twice as far. Meanwhile, demand from farmers has been outstripping the availability of funds, and the goal of this new investor drive is to reach the $5 million mark.

“Having a $5 million fund to invest in local agriculture creates stability and community control,” said Hannah Sobel, Program Manager of PVGrows. “We think of alternative investments as a form of resistance to the rise of unchecked global corporations, which are now entering our political sphere in an unprecedented way. Grassroots community investment is proactive and empowers local business owners; this is more important now than it ever has been. Despite these challenges, it’s heartening to see community members stepping up and making investments, which shows they’re sticking with farms through thick and thin.”

Interested in learning more? Attend one of our virtual information sessions this spring!

Fields at PVGrows client Bardwell Farm in Hatfield

Franklin County CDC Executive Director John Waite, with Yari DeJesus, Director of Economic Development from the Massachusetts Association of CDCs (MACDC), joined staff from Community Development Corporations across the Commonwealth during Lobby Day April 10. The event, organized by MACDC, brought staff face-to-face with legislators and their staffers in the Statehouse in Boston to advocate for policies beneficial to their constituents.

This year's Preserve the Valley Program, which helps farms turn their produce into high-quality products like pickles, sauces, pesto, and jam, is up and running. Our schedule for processing is filling up so sign up soon! Here's how:

Click here to see a full list of products, including the main produce item needed for each product, minimum and maximum pounds required, price per unit, and estimated yield based on minimum pounds.

Click here to fill out the form to request products to take the steps to booking drop off dates.

If you have any questions about the program or the process, feel free to contact Food Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator Toni Hall at ToniH@FCCDC.org.

As we plan to upgrade our physical space here, our overriding goal is to better serve the low- to moderate-income business owners in our area. We know that in unpredictable, even dangerous times, we must be able to rely on community. Are you with us?

Our building needs some TLC, and we need to match the $300,000 we've already raised in grants to achieve the improvements to our kitchen that will provide relevant services to businesses. You can be a part of the solution as we innovate to best meet the needs of the part-time caterer, the new food truck owner, the chef with the great idea who needs a place to try out her recipe. Our professionals help these small business owners achieve success.

If you feel moved to donate to show your support for small business development, you can do so here or, to avoid fees, send an old fashioned check to the Franklin County CDC, 324 Wells Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.

Our Grow Your Business session welcomes businesses of all types at any stage. Zoom with an expert who has worked with hundreds of businesses over the years and can answer questions and offer resources. This is a great way to get started with the Franklin County CDC. Join us on the first Monday of the month at 11 a.m. Sign up. Upcoming session is on May 5.

Are you dreaming of launching a packaged food product? Are you a farmer looking to turn your harvest into a value-added food product, but not sure where to begin? We can help! Zoom with a food product expert from the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center to begin a conversation about your food product idea. Discussion topics will include product development, shelf life, packaging, labeling, food safety, regulatory compliance, manufacturing, and distribution. Additionally, we have flexible financing available for farm and food entrepreneurs using locally grown ingredients. Join us on the third Tuesday of the month at 10am to learn more! Sign up here. Upcoming session is on May 20.

Learn how some common words and expressions in use today have origins in slavery and racism. We'll talk about how to recognize these words and what to do when you hear them said by others. By understanding the resonance and eliminating these phrases, we can work toward environments where everyone feels welcome.

Join us quarterly on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. to learn more. Sign up here. Upcoming session is on June 18.

Job Postings

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council is growing—and they're looking for two passionate, community-minded professionals to join their small but mighty team!

• Downtown District Coordinator

This brand-new position is part of our Rural Downtown Revitalization Pilot Project, focused on Northfield, Turners Falls, and Shelburne Falls. The Downtown District Coordinator will work closely with local stakeholders, business owners, and municipal leaders to boost economic vitality, enhance downtown experiences, and pilot a regional model for rural district management. If you’re a connector, creative problem-solver, and community champion, we want to hear from you! View the full job description.

• Member Engagement Manager

The Member Engagement Manager will lead the Chamber's membership growth, retention, and outreach efforts. This highly visible role is perfect for someone who loves building relationships, supporting local businesses, and helping members get the most out of their Chamber experience. View the full job description.

Resources

Massachusetts Treasury

Finance tools for individuals and business owners are available on this site.

Classes and Workshops

Lawyers for Civil Rights

• The BizGrow conference is back, July 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. Limited virtual appointments with a lawyer are available for business owners, with preference given to those outside Boston. Learn more here.
• Register for an Intellectual Property webinar through Lawyers for Civil Rights' BizGrow program.

Local Food Marketplace

Are you looking to sell more meat online? Local Food Marketplace has a

handy guide with tips from farmers designed to help you increase sales from an online storefront. "A Meat Vendor's Guide to Selling Online" covers strategies for selling all cuts (not just steaks and roasts), how to handle

bulk buys and deposits, ideas for encouraging larger orders, tips for

managing logistics for efficient packaging and inventory management, and

more.

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

Join Berkshire Agricultural Ventures for a free, two-part Live Animal Carcass Evaluation Workshop:

• May 9, 1-4:30 p.m.: Blue Moon Farm, Harwinton, CT 
• May 30, 1-4:30 p.m.: Plymouth Meats, Terryville, CT 

The workshop will be led by Dr. Joe Emeneheiser and hosted by Katie Adkins, owner operator of Blue Moon Farm and Plymouth Meats. 

To register, email Jake Levin and include your name, the name of the farm or organization you are affiliated with, and its location.

MassHire Western Mass Construction Day

Western Mass Construction Day on May 1 is a regional career fair for high school students. At this event, students meet with representatives from companies in the building trades, trade unions, municipalities and utilities, financial institutions and other related occupations. This is an annual event, presented by the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board. Students come from Franklin and Hampshire counties, North Quabbin, and parts of Berkshire and Hampden counties. Interested in a table? Email for more info or register here.

Seeds of Solidarity Workshop Series

Workshops including no-till gardening and farming, a reconnect retreat, and making a garden alter. See their events page and sign up for their newsletter for more information.

Thanks for reading!

Franklin County CDC | 324 Wells Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 | 413-774-7204