Contact Kris for more information about sponsoring a breakout room at the start of the TACC Annual Meeting on April 27th.

We continue to update the Chamber's database for the 2022 Business Directory & Community Information Guide. Please view your listing on our website for accuracy and notify us of anything that needs to be updated by Friday, March 11th.

Email Lisa with the changes that need to be made. Also, please let us know if the main contact has changed.

Join our TACC Team! 🎉

We have a part-time Membership Coordinator role to fill who will work closely with our President & CEO in implementing a strategy to increase memberships, sponsorships, and programs. The position is 20 hours per week, and has a base + commission pay module.

For full position description and application details, visit our website.

Did you know that in 2021, 1.1 million of all businesses were owned by women? In celebration of Women's History Month, learn about counseling, training, contracting assistance, and other services and programs available to help women start, grow, expand, and recover their businesses. Learn more.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, join the SBA's Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for the virtual Women’s Business Summit on March 29-30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business. Click here to learn more and to register.

The Massachusetts COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Paid Sick Leave requirement is set to expire on March 15th. Employers will have until April 29, 2022 to submit an application for reimbursement from the state for qualifying leave costs incurred. Businesses are advised to notify their employees of the upcoming end date of the program and to submit all outstanding reimbursement requests through MassTaxConnect in a timely manner. For more information regarding the program, including how to submit an application for reimbursement, please click here to visit the state’s website.

A great workshop is coming tomorrow, March 10th at 11:00am put on by the SBA about microloans. Are you in need of capital to help start or grow your small business? Please join both the SBA's Massachusetts and Minnesota District Offices as they team up to explore SBA's Microloan Program. During this session you will learn about benefits of the program, eligibility requirements, terms of the program, as well as hearing from SBA microlenders and small business owners who have utilized this loan program. 

The SBA's Microloan Program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. SBA provides funds to specially designated intermediary lenders, which are nonprofit community-based organizations with experience in lending as well as management and technical assistance. These intermediaries administer the Microloan program for eligible borrowers. Learn more here. Register for the workshop here.

The $75 million will be focused on small businesses that employ between two and 50 people, with $25 million directed toward businesses that did not qualify for previous MGCC grants because of a lack of revenue loss in 2020; and $50 million directed to businesses that reach underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups, or are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses, or are owned by individuals with disabilities or who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Applications for each grant program will be accepted now through Monday, April 4, 2022 and will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000.

Eligible uses of these funds include the following:

• Employee payroll benefits costs

• Interest on other debt obligations incurred after March 3, 2021

• Cost to pivot company due to COVID-19 pandemic

• Business mortgage or rent and utilities

Sole proprietors without any employees or 1099 workers are not eligible. If you are a sole proprietor and you have employees or 1099 workers and you meet all other criteria, you might be eligible.

For more information about each grant program, visit the links below:

Supporting businesses negatively impacted by COVID that have not previously received financial relief from MGCC’s COVID-19 Relief Grant Programs.

Supporting business negatively affected by COVID that are also socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented, underserved markets, and businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals, or those that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Site Readiness Program application is now available through the Massachusetts Community One Stop for Growth portal. Applications must be submitted for consideration between May 2 — June 3, 2022.

The Site Readiness Program funds site preparation, predevelopment, and permitting activities that enhance a site’s readiness for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development. Administered by MassDevelopment, the program aims to increase the state's inventory of large, well-located, project-ready sites; to accelerate private-sector investment in industrial and commercial projects; and to support the conversion of abandoned sites and obsolete facilities into clean, actively used, tax-generating properties. Grants typically range from $50,000 - $1 million.

Eligible applicants include Massachusetts cities and towns, municipal agencies or authorities, economic development and industrial corporations, economic development authorities, and nonprofit entities.

Interested parties should submit an application through the Community One Stop for Growth, the state's single application portal and collaborative review process for grant programs offered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Department of Housing and Community Development, and MassDevelopment.

• To receive guidance on a potential project you may submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the One Stop until March 18, 2022.

• To learn more about the Site Readiness Program and eligible activities, please review the program guidelines.

• For assistance, please contact MassDevelopment's VP of Real Estate Services Amanda Gregoire at agregoire@massdevelopment.com.

Join us for the next session of our Chamber Chat virtual networking series! Meet other members in this fun and informal setting with trivia and prizes! This session is Tuesday, March 22nd at noon and is sponsored by Bristol Community College.

Register below for this event.

You could sponsor a future session for just $50! Email Kris for sponsorship details.

Ladies! Get ready for a great night by supporting #womenownedbusinesses and a few TACC members at Berkley Beer Company’s Painted Laydezes Night on March 23rd! $15 entrance ticket includes a flight of 4 Painted Laydezes brewed teas. A Special 3-Course Menu will be available for $35 and you’ll get to meet business owners from: The Luxury Booth, Anchor Barre, Honest Books, and KatieJodly!

Tickets for each seating (5-7p.m. and 7-9p.m.) are available at Berkley Beer Company during business hours.

There is a Google tool for just about everything. Whether it’s creating and sharing lists, collaborating on documents or drafting meeting agendas, Google has got you covered. Join us to learn more about the different tools available and how you can use them to boost productivity and create a more efficient and organized life.

Join Bryan Caplan, your Dedicated Trainer for Grow with Google, as he walks you through the ins and outs of Google Workspace in this value-packed virtual class. Seats are limited, so register today!

This year's keynote speaker is Dave Wedge, a New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and communications consultant based in Boston. He has written six non-fiction books, including “Boston Strong: A City's Triumph Over Tragedy,” a drama about the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings which was adapted for the 2017 movie “Patriots Day”; “Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss”; and “The Last Days of John Lennon,” written with co-author Casey Sherman and James Patterson. His next book, “Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang,” comes out March 15 via William Morrow/Harper Collins.

Dave was an award-winning investigative journalist for the Boston Herald for 14 years and has written for VICE, Esquire, Newsweek and Boston magazine. He and Sherman host the true crime podcast, "Saints Sinners & Serial Killers." He has also worked as a communications consultant with a diverse roster of clients in politics, business, nonprofit, hospitality, health care, sports and more.

The Annual Meeting will include the presentation of the Annual Business Awards, and new this year, an Educator of the Year award and recognition of the Charles E. Volkmann Scholarship recipients. Register below to attend this virtual meeting.

ICS, a leading provider of IT Managed Services and Cybersecurity Solutions in the Northeast, announced today it has acquired Unified Networking Solutions, a provider of IT services in the Southeastern MA market. ICS and Unified join forces to expand their Northeast footprint strategically. Read the press release.

Bristol Community College (BCC) is offering the community free webinars focused on professional and technical skill development for job seekers, educators, employers and employees. These short webinars will increase proficiency in current work and learning environments as well as provide individuals critical workforce skills.

For 8 weeks starting March 7th to April 25th, Bristol will offer virtual courses that focus on three areas: Career Exploration & Personal Branding, Upskilling Opportunities, and Professional and Organizational Training. Register today!

Teamwork, Conflict & Feedback - March 14th, 6 - 9 p.m.

Time Management, Efficiency & Productivity - March 21st, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Understanding a Business and Essential Business Applications: Microsoft Suite and Business Writing - March 28th, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

In Their Shoes Walkathon will be held Sunday, April 10, 2022, from 9:30am – 11:30am. All school shoes collected will benefit the Taunton High School students who walk to school. For questions or to volunteer, please contact Carmen Maldonado at 508-738-0289 or email her at cmaldonado@tauntonschools.org. Click here for flyer.

Mayor O’Connell is reminding City residents that the City of Taunton is hosting an Open Space meeting at City Hall tonight, March 9th at 6:00pm and public input and participation is invited and encouraged. Read the press release.

Chief Robert MacDonald is pleased to announce that the Dighton Police Department received $20,000 in federal grant funds allocated by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research (OGR). Read more.

Downtown Taunton Foundation (DTF) and Trescott Street Gallery (TSG) invite the public to join us for several free and fun events in beautiful and historic downtown Taunton this month. Learn more.

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.

Pricing your product or service correctly is a key element to profitability. This webinar will walk you through the math and the marketing of pricing for a small business. This webinar is presented by Gloria Spence, SCORE Boston Mentor. Register here .

How do you set your website up to win over customers? Your website has to attract and engage visitors, educate them about your products and services, and convert them into customers. Success begins with a plan!

This webinar, presented by Co-Founder of Cardsetter Jessica Baldwin, will show you the key elements your website needs to succeed.

After the session, you’ll have a better understanding of:

• The critical role your website plays in your online marketing strategy

• The features and tools you'll need to execute your plan

• How to get everything working together to achieve your goals

• How to set your website up to attract, engage, and convert your ideal customers

Attendees will receive a free website planning workbook. 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.

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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