Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
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A Word from Jay...
A more populous and diverse Lower Cape
In September, town-specific population data from the 2020 US Census was released and I’m pleased to report that the population of our Lower Cape communities has grown, and people of color are fueling much of the population growth. The population of the eight Lower Cape Towns grew by 11% or 5,376 new residents. More than half (2,785 individuals) live in the four Outer Cape towns which experienced growth ranging from 16% to 29.7%.
Our communities are more racially and ethnically diverse, with over 15% of the population of Provincetown being people of color. An article in The Provincetown Independent earlier this summer shared the story of a number of new small businesses that have been started by members of the Outer Cape’s Jamaican immigrant community.
Over the past 18 months, we at the CDP have been working on several initiatives to improve our services to immigrants and BIPOC residents of the Lower Cape.
- We created a DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Task Force at both the Board and Staff level to explore and adopt new policies and strategies that will make our organization more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
- Our Board and staff have participated in a DEI training program in partnership with five other non-profit agencies serving low- to moderate-income residents in our communities.
- We have hired a new Small Business Program Manager who will lead our efforts to bring our small business technical assistance program to communities of color on the Lower Cape.
While we have much more work to do, I’m proud of these first steps and confident they will help us build a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here.
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Jay Coburn
President & Chief Executive Officer
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Supporting Local Business |
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The Importance of Collaboration
Supporting small businesses take creativity and a passion for solving problems
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Any business owner seeking assistance from the Community Development Partnership (CDP) has likely met with Pam Andersen, the Director of Business & Credit Programs. For over a decade, Pam has provided her expertise in helping new and established businesses thrive on the Lower and Outer Cape. So, it’s of no surprise that when other organizations across the Commonwealth were facing challenges with their business and credit programs this summer, they reached out to Pam for assistance.
In 2020, when Governor Baker mandated business shutdowns in response to COVID-19, the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) convened a working group of organizations across the State that provide small businesses with technical assistance and support services. The goal of the working group was to share resources and ideas on how to best support small businesses through the economic and public health challenges created by the pandemic.
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*Photo: Pam Andersen, Director of Business and Credit Programs |
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One Lucky Resident Finds Affordable Housing
Through the Wellfleet Buy-Down Program
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"I couldn’t believe it, I felt very grateful to the organizers,
and realized I made the right choice picking Cape Cod as the place to live.”
–Valeriy Yadrov, Wellfleet Buy-Down Winner
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It is no secret that finding housing for working families on the Lower and Outer Cape has become a challenge. While housing prices continue to soar, workers’ wages have largely stagnated, creating a gap between housing costs and what workers are able to afford. In 2017, the Cape Cod Commission performed a Regional Housing Market Analysis and found a gap between what a person earning the median income in Wellfleet can afford, and the actual median home prices. In 2017, this gap was $200,000, and without any action, this gap is predicted to grow in the coming years.
One tactic the Town of Wellfleet has used to bridge the affordability gap is a subsidy program for low-to-moderate-income first-time home buyers. Program participants can receive up to $175,000 in aid to purchase a home. The home then becomes a deed-restricted affordable home which limits the re-sale amount and assures it remains as part of the town’s affordable housing stock.
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*Photo: Valeriy and the CDP's Ann Robinson at the lottery drawing
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Supporter Spotlight: Tom and Liz Coleman |
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“There is a true entrepreneurial spirit here that
we may not have tapped into as visitors. Now that we are residents,
our connection to the community has intensified.”
–Tom Coleman, CDP Supporter
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Tom and Liz Coleman were first introduced to the work of the Community Development Partnership after a neighbor had asked them to support a walk-a-thon in 2016. This August, they attended the CDP’s Summer Evening on the Farm. “Listening to the presentation tonight was high-impact for us,” Tom stated. “And we are excited to learn more about the Community Development Partnership.”
Tom, who first learned about the Cape in the 1960’s from his grandmothers, continued to visit well into adulthood. Tom, Liz, and their children frequently vacationed on the Cape and in 2013, decided to purchase a home in Orleans. They, (like so many others who have spent the last year working remotely on the Cape), now feel the Cape is their primary home and their house in Newton, MA is their secondary home. “I never realized there is such a network here on the Cape and that is so important. There is a true entrepreneurial spirit here that we may not have tapped into as visitors. Now that we are residents, our connection to the community has intensified.”
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Watch our Latest Community Conversation! |
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On September 30th, the CDP and our partners at Preservation Of Affordable
Housing (POAH) and Studio G Architects hosted our latest Community Conversation to discuss our proposal to build 46 units of affordable housing at the Lawrence Road site in Wellfleet. If you were unable to join us, you can watch the full conversation below!
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Join us for a Housing Rehab Information Session |
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Join the CDP and the Provincetown Council on Aging on Wednesday, October 13th at 10 AM for a Housing Rehab virtual information session via video chat. Come meet with Terri Barron, CDP's Director of the Housing Rehabilitation Programs, and see if the program is the right fit for you! To register call 508-487-7080.
Our Housing Rehabilitation Program is available to income-qualified residents of Eastham, Truro, and Provincetown. Qualified residents can receive up to $40,000 per household to pay for critical home repairs (like roofing and siding, electrical, heating, and plumbing work), lead paint abatement, and energy efficiency upgrades to keep their properties in good condition for the long term. And with local contractors doing the work, this means money flowing back into our economy.
The program is designed to preserve existing homes for year-round residents at or below 80% of the median area income.
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The CDP is Growing!
Welcome Tricia and Latoya
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Last month, the CDP welcomed two new staff members to our growing team. Tricia Murray joins us as our new Manager of Business & Credit Programs, and Latoya Taffe-Taylor joins us as our new Property Management Administrator.
Tricia earned an Accounting degree from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. After many years practicing law, she joined the List Visual Arts Center, MIT’s contemporary art gallery as a Visitor Services Representative. She moved to the Lower Cape in 2018 and worked for two years with Winstead Inn & Beach Resort, as the interim general manager.
Tricia brings her strong advocacy, communication, and customer relations skills to her role as Manager of Business & Credit Programs coordinating the planning, administration, and implementation of CDP business initiatives and lending programs. When not working, she enjoys taking advantage of Cape Cod’s natural beauty by hiking, biking, and paddleboarding. Tricia is also a legal services volunteer with
WE CAN.
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Latoya hails from the beautiful island of Jamaica, where she was raised in an extended family. Upon completing high school, she received a BS in Human Resource Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
In 2018, Latoya migrated to the US in 2018 to join her husband on the Cape, where they now raise their two young children.
Latoya is excited about her position as the Property Management Administrator supporting her colleagues in the Property Management Department.
In her spare time, Latoya enjoys crafting, trying new recipes, and visiting new places.
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Join the CDP for a Housing 101 Workshop |
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This Housing 101 training is designed to address barriers to housing production on the Lower Cape by providing effective strategies to increase housing in your town. We will discuss the basics of who needs housing, why housing is so hard to build, and what you can do to increase housing production in your town.
We'll also share best practices to discuss housing so you can be an effective agent of change in your town. You will leave this training with the knowledge and language to support housing initiatives as well as a firm understanding of what must be done to solve your town’s housing issues.
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Thank you to our sponsors and supporters who made this year's GASP possible! |
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Thank you to our Sponsors! |
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Grand Course Sponsor ($2,500) |
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Business & Credit Offerings |
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Free Small Business Assistance
It is the start of the offseason, and now is the time to prepare your business for success. If you have questions about managing your business or need assistance with programs like QuickBooks, the CDP is here to help!
Pam Andersen, Director of Business and Credit Programs is available for free small business help over the phone or via video conference. Find a time that fits into your schedule so you can get the assistance you need to prepare your business for success!
Click the link below to schedule a 30 or 60-minute appointment!
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Check Out Our Business & Credit Workshops |
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QuickBooks for Desktop
QuickBooks is the most widely used financial software for small businesses and these workshops will give you the skills to implement for your business!
The first two sessions will teach the basics and the third will move into intermediate-level topics. If you already use QuickBooks this is a good refresher and an opportunity to learn some new tips and tricks!
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October 27, 2021
November 3, 2021
November 10, 2021
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All workshops are from 10:00 - 11:30 AM and are free to attend.
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Challenges of COVID in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a number of new and unique challenges for small business owners.
The CDP has partnered Karyn Rhodes, Vice President at Complete Payroll Solutions, to get you the information you need to manage your business
Some potential topics include:
- How to handle Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Employees
- Hybrid Workplace Approaches
- Employee Mental Well-being
- The federal government's new COVID Mandate
November 2, 2021 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
This workshop is free but registration is required.
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The CDP continues to offer all trainings, workshops, technical assistance sessions, and appointments virtually.
We remain committed to serving our business clients and our community. Staff is working both remotely and from the office. While we are not taking in-person meetings at this time, we will continue to meet with clients via phone or zoom.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Pam Andersen at pam@capecdp.org or 508-240-7873 x18.
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Additional Resources for Businesses |
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We have created a separate page on our website that is a compilation of resources for local businesses, including various SBA, unemployment, and other federal programs. |
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If you or someone you know is interested in receiving weekly updates from our Business and Credit Program that are targeted to small businesses, please sign up for our Inside Scoop.
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