TACC E-NEWS

March 1, 2023


Event Calendar




March 8

Quarterly Q&A w/Mayor O'Connell


HR Meeting - The Art of Teambuilding


March 14

SEED Webinar: Fundamentals of Financing a Small Business


March 16

Business After Hours at People Inc.


March 23

Comedy Night

The District Center for the Arts


E-News Sponsor
Chamber News

NEXT WEEK!

Get an update on city happenings and have your questions answered during this Q&A with Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell. This session is sponsored by TMLP Online.


Topics may include the South Coast Rail project, the sign and façade program, rent rebate program, Galleria Mall property, and more.


Submit questions in advance here. This event is FREE for TACC members. Register below to attend this virtual session.


Sponsor the Next Quarterly Q&A!

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

REGISTER

FINAL CALL TO NOMINATE A BUSINESS!

Deadline is TODAY!

The Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor local businesses that have differentiated themselves through their exemplary commitment to their customers, employees and the community. The three categories are Large Business, Small Business, and Community Impact Award.


Be sure to submit your nomination under the appropriate category. Deadline is March 1st. Honorees will be announced at our Annual Meeting to be held at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center on April 27th.


(​TACC Board Member businesses are exempt from nomination. Must be a Member for at least 1 year to qualify. A business that has previously received can award cannot be nominated again for 5 years. )

LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE AN EDUCATOR OR

SUBMIT A SCHOLARHIP APPLICATION!

Deadline is TODAY!

High School seniors residing in the area served by our chamber – Taunton, Raynham, Dighton, or Berkley – are eligible to apply for the prestigious 2023 TACC Charles E. Volkmann Future Leaders Scholarship.


Selection will be based on the student’s interest in a business and management career. Learn more and apply here.

The TACC's Educator of the Year award will honor an educator from the Greater Taunton area who has made significant contributions to their school community, demonstrated a love of learning, and has made an immeasurable impact on students. Members of the community, colleagues, students, and parents may submit nominations. We encourage you to submit your nominations online.

DEADLINE TO ADVERTISE IS FRIDAY!

We are in the process of updating the TACC Business Directory and Community Information Guide for 2023. 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

 

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

 

• All TACC Member Businesses

• Local Hotels and Conference Centers

• City and Town Halls

• At local events

• Anyone Requesting Relocation or Membership Information with the TACC

 

Contact Lisa if you would like to place an ad in the 2023 issue. Ad sizes and rates vary, starting at only $150 and spots are filling fast! Deadline is this FRIDAY!

 

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

NEXT WEEK!

Having a connected and satisfied staff is key for retention and crucial to the success of your business. Learn the Art of Teambuilding at our next HR Resource Group session on Wednesday, March 8th at 1:15 p.m. on Zoom. Our guest speaker is Ellen Gills, founder of Gillis Group. Ellen is a seasoned executive who spent her career developing talent and creating programs and processes to maximize employee potential. Prior to her work with Gillis Group, Ellen worked in Learning & Development and Human Resources with companies like RueGilt Groupe, Digitas LBI and Reebok International. All Chamber members are welcome to join HR Resource group sessions. Register below.


Cost: Included with membership for TACC members; Prospective Members can attend 1 meeting of the TACC HR Resource Group at no charge.

REGISTER

Chamber Receives Community Service Award

We are incredibly honored to be a recipient of the Deeper than Skin 2023 Community Service Award presented by Taunton Diversity Network and T.R.U.E. Diversity at the Black Excellence “Sneaker Ball” this past weekend. Thank you to these two inspirational organizations and their leaders April and Tanya for this recognition of our dedication to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Special appreciation also to State Representative Carol Doherty for presenting us with a citation from the House of Representatives ‘in recognition of your commitment to be inclusive of all businesses, big and small, and for doing an excellent job welcoming and highlighting new minority-owned businesses in the Greater Taunton Area.’ We look forward to further strengthening our community partnerships and continuing our efforts to support and showcase our small business community.

Welcome our new member T.R.U.E. Diversity!! 🎉 T.R.U.E. houses the T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. Youth Program, a therapeutic social emotional summer program for underserved youth, and R.E.A.D.Y. (Restorative Economic Advancement for Diverse Youth) a financial literacy program for youth. They are a grassroots civic and social organization dedicated to providing preventative programming, advocate for diverse resources, events and cultural exposure within our communities. They work closely with community partners to help expose systematic barriers and disparities affecting BIPOC youth and underserved families to improve life outcomes and responses to adversity. 


Learn more about True Diversity Inc. on their social accounts or at truediversityma.org


We are so excited to have Tanya and her amazing team in the TACC family and we look forward to a strong partnership! Welcome to the Chamber!! ✨

A big welcome to these two women business owners in the heart of downtown Taunton at Mimi's Diner! Mimi's offers delicious home cooked breakfast and lunch comfort food and they provide catering as well.


Have you ever had a Hawaiian Pancake, or Linguica & Chips Skillet? You have to stop by and treat yourself to their delightful dishes while supporting this local women-owned business; they truly make you feel right at home! Give them a follow on Facebook at Mimi’s Diner for their latest specials.


We're also excited to share that Mimi's is sponsored by WIN Waste Innovations as part of the Chamber's Business for Business program.


Welcome, Dawn & Tammy! We're so excited to officially have you in our TACC community!

We absolutely love when our Members support each other! Thanks to TMLP Online for their generous Business for Business sponsorship that allows us to continue to our partnership with our great friends Nikki and Eduardo at Los Jefes: Comida! We appreciate the bond we have with both organizations and are fortunate to have our TACC relationship continue. We truly are better together! ✨


For more information about the B4B program, contact Chamber President Kris Silva at kris@tauntonareachamber.org.

Coffee & Conversation at 1 Connection Cannabis Dispensary

Business Information

Navigating Financial Planning, Life Insurance, and Retirement Options for Small Business Owners


SEED Corporation and is partnering with Nicholas Pacheco of the Foundation for Financial Education to provide this free, virtual workshop TOMORROW from 10:00-11:00 a.m. It is aimed at providing small business owners with the tools needed to make informed decisions about financial planning, life insurance, and retirement options. In this seminar, participants will learn what programs are available and best suited for self-employed individuals, as well as where to find resources to help navigate the process. The workshop is open to anyone currently in business, starting a business, or thinking about someday owning a business, as well as business assistance professionals who would like to learn more about SEED's technical assistance programming.


Attendees will be provided with the course material following the seminar. Register here.

Creating a Business Plan for Your Success - March 9


MSBDC will be holding a webinar on Thursday, March 9th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. on Creating a Business Plan for Your Success. Join Cliff Robbins, Senior Business Advisor at the MSBDC, for this presentation that will show you why and how to write a business plan paving the way for you to build a successful business. 

 

Meet a panel of small business experts that will include:

• an attorney

• an accountant

• an insurance agent

• and lenders


This workshop will help you answer these questions and more:

• Why do I need to write a business plan?

• Is there a market for my product and service?

• Is there room in the competitive environment for my company?


Register today to get answers to these and many more questions.

Chamber Events

MARCH 14

In this virtual workshop, presented by SEED Corporation, participants will learn the fundamentals of financing a small business, what lenders/loan officers look for in a loan application, and the funding programs available to start-up and existing business owners.


Topics will include the Six C’s of Credit, traditional vs. non-traditional lending requirements, and SBA loan programs. This workshop will also touch on what to include in a business plan when looking for capital. Attendees will be provided with a business plan guide as well as financial tracking and projection templates. Register below.

REGISTER

MARCH 16

People Incorporated will be hosting a Business After Hours on Thursday, March 16, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. 


Business After Hours is an evening of fun, food, and fellowship among Chamber members and their guests, with a chance to network, make new friends, and meet potential customers.


People Incorporated was founded in 1968 by parents of people with disabilities who were seeking better quality and more diverse services for their children. Today, the organization offers employment training and job development, day habilitation, community and family support services, residential services, and children's services including early education and care, early intervention, parenting programs, and preschool. Stop by and learn more about the services they provide.


This event is FREE for TACC members. Register below.

REGISTER

The Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our first Comedy Night!


Join us on Thursday, March 23rd for a night of fun and laughs. Cocktail hour and Warm-Up Acts from 5:00 - 6:00 pm with a cash bar and complementary heavy hors d'oeuvres.


All proceeds from a raffle at the event will benefit Lights in the Dark Foundation.


Cost: $35 for Chamber Members and $45 for Non-Members. 


CONFIRMED SPONSORS:

Headliner: The Lopes Companies, Morton Hospital

Opening Act: Jenn Oldfield - loanDepot, Commonwealth Alternative Care, People Incorporated

Contributor:1 Connection Cannabis Dispensary, Rockland Trust

Warm Up Act: Engayge, CB Disco


Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Contact us for more information.


The show opens with Tauntonian Andrew Haskell at 6:00 pm and then Mike McCarthy is featured. The headliner is Jimmy Cash.


Register below to attend.

REGISTER
Member News

Community News

Dighton Launches "Shop Local" Campaign


Dighton has launched a “Shop Local” campaign complete with a local business directory on the town’s

website to “put the spotlight on our locally owned businesses and all the amazing products, services, food, and experiences that they have to offer.” Dighton Development & Industrial Commission Chairman Daniel Higgins said the business directory was recently placed on the website to urge support for local businesses owned by residents or based in Dighton. Read the entire article.


If you are interested in listing your business on the Town Local Business Directory, or have any questions, please contact the Dighton Development & Industrial Commission.

SCORE Business Resources
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.

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.

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.  

How to Choose The Right Business Structure For Your Business

Mar. 7 | 1:00 PM

 

Of the steps you need to take to start a business, one of the big ones is figuring out what business structure is right for you. But what are the different types of business entities and how do you know which is the right structure for your business?


In this session, CorpNet.com CEO Nellie Akalp will teach you the different types of business structures, the benefits of each structure and how to register your business.


You’ll learn:


  • The different types of business structures
  • The advantages and disadvantages of each business structure
  • The steps needed to register a business formally
  • What a business structure conversion is and when it’s necessary


Live attendees will receive free business resources, a copy of the slide deck, and a link to this webinar recording.


Register here.

How to Improve Your Business Website to Turn Visitors Into Sales

Mar. 16 | 1:00 PM

 

You’re leaving money on the table if you don’t have a website strategy to convert online shoppers into leads and sales. It’s time to improve your small business website.


In this webinar, our expert presenter will show you how to improve your website with the fundamentals of website building, the best ways to get leads for you and how to measure the success of your website strategy.


You will learn:

  • The elements of a successful website
  • How to turn website visitors into leads and sales
  • How to measure and improve your website performance


Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.


Register here.

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.
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!

SCORE's Partners In Success Newsletters


·    What Consumers Want to See on Your Website

·    Conversion Copywriting Tips to Grow Revenue

·    Conversion Optimization Tools

·    Creating Powerful Ads on Facebook

·    Facebook is Redesigning its News Feed: What Marketers Need to Know

·    Nonprofit Marketing Trends 2022

·    How Consumers Learn About Products in 2022

·    Consumer Behavior Stats for 2022

·    2022 Top Marketing Challenges

·    Blogging Tips

·    New Rules of Marketing in 2020

·    Digital Marketing Rules

·    Cash Management

A1 Pizza Taunton

$5 off orders of $50 or more


Anchor Barre

20% off your first month membership or class package. Email Melynda for more info


Andi's Aesthetics

Offering Chamber members 10% off regular priced services.


Back Bay Staffing Group

10% off first week temporary services.

Email Joni for more info.


CB Disco

10% discount to members on first order over $250 or 5-10 free lapel pins. Contact Andrew for more info.


Distinguished Details, LLC

15% off contracted services.

Email Camille for more info.


Engayge, Inc.

Claim 50% off the LGBTQ+ Competency Audit for TACC Members Only using code: TACCENGAYGE. Email for more info: info@engayge.us.


The Exodus Experience

10% off photobooth experience for Chamber Members


Growth Arise Consulting LLC

20% off DISC assessment with debriefing for Chamber members. Contact Patricia for more info. 


Hometown's Tacos Locos

10% off for Chamber members

(discount applies to individual orders for members, not catering events)


Junkluggers of Southeastern MA & RI

$25 off 1/4 truck or more! Please redeem at time of booking. Limit one per household. Cannot be combined with other offers. Learn more here


MacDonald Moving Services

free estimates for all moves and 10% off the first month of storage for Chamber members. Contact Pauline for more info.


MALIS

10% off for Chamber Members


MBL Land Development & Permitting, Corp.

10% off most services. Contact Kerry for more info.


Plymouth Rock & Correira Insurance

5% off your auto insurance. Contact Luke for details.


Quesos with Love

10% off for Chamber Members. Email Nery for details.


R&D Cleaning Co.

10% off cleaning services

Contact Renay for more info.


Relaxation Works Spa

TACC members receive $10 off $95 or more when scheduling a facial or whole health massage. Use code TACC when scheduling online or mention the code at check out.


The Star Drive-In

10% off any purchase


Staples

10% off regular price items on the sales floor, and 20% off print and marketing orders over $50.00. Chamber Members must access through the Members Only section of the TACC website. Email Lisa for assistance.


Sullivan Tire

10% all parts, labor on applicable services. Email Ken Rubino for more information.


Kundalini Pearls-Yoni Steaming Spa

25% off for Chamber members.

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Ask us how you can participate in the Member to Member Discount Program!

Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce, 170 Dean Street, Taunton, MA 02780
(508) 824-4068
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