April 2025

Inside Scoop

Bringing You the Latest Tools to Help Your Business

April is National Volunteer Month—an ideal time to celebrate and recognize the incredible individuals who generously give their time and talent to support our small but mighty Business & Credit team. Your contributions help us expand our reach and impact through regional office hours, educational workshops, technical training and certifications, and access to microloans.

In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, we:

Delivered 20 workshops featuring 35 volunteer presenters
Held monthly regional office hours in Brewster, Chatham, Provincetown, and Harwich, serving over 40 small business owners—thanks to the generous support of our community partners: the Brewster Chamber of Commerce, Chatham Works, Provincetown Commons, and The 204
Benefited from the expertise of six Lending Committee members and seven Economic Development Committee members, who devoted their time to reviewing loan applications and shaping our strategic direction

To all of our dedicated volunteers: thank you for helping us build a vibrant, inclusive, year-round community where people can live, work, and thrive.

Interested in volunteering for a CDP Committee or as a workshop presenter? Please reach out to Pam Andersen or Tricia Murray.

Join us for our 33rd Annual Meeting to celebrate our collective achievements, our shared mission, and be the first to preview the preliminary findings of our new six-year strategic plan.

Wednesday, May 7th

5-7:30 pm

Wellfleet Preservation Hall

335 Main Street

Special thanks to Seamen's Bank and Kerry Insurance Agency for sponsoring the 33rd Annual Meeting.

Please RSVP for the Annual Meeting by April 30th

CDP Referral Program

Recent referral prizes include gift certificates to

Abroad Restaurant, Farm Gallery, and Salty Market.

REFER A BUSINESS TODAY! YOU MAY BE MAY'S LUCKY WINNER!

Upcoming Office Hours

To schedule an appointment, visit the CDP Business Events page or email Pam or Tricia

Thank you to our community partners for the opportunity to use their space to meet with clients and for their support of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

MAKE an appointment for Free Small Business Assistance

Community Partners' Opportunities

Amplify POC Community DEI Pledge

Standing Together for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We invite you to take a pledge created by our friends and community partners at Amplify POC, Inc. Together, we can build a future where everyone—regardless of race or background—has equal access to opportunities and resources. By uniting our voices and sharing this message, we amplify our collective impact and foster a more just and equitable community for all.

The CDP stands in solidarity with Amplify POC, Inc., along with all community partners and businesses dedicated to practicing and promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Join us in making a difference!

Take the Amplify POC Community DEI Pledge

Pathmakers Program - Opportunities for Mentors and Participants

Pathways is a free, nine month, in-person peer mentoring program focused on empowering women to achieve lasting, positive change in their lives. WE CAN hosts monthly group meetings that include guest speakers and time to connect with one another. Everyone makes lasting connections to supportive women in our community

ARE YOU READY TO BE A MENTOR?

Do you have good listening skills and want to support a woman as she travels on her individual path? Can you provide honest reflection and feedback in a supportive way?

ARE YOU READY TO BE A PATHMAKER?

Are you going through a transition or major life change? Would you like another woman to walk beside you in your journey?

Information Sessions for both PathMakers and Mentors:

May 7th 12-1 via Zoom

May 19th 5-6 in Harwich

May 27th 9-10 via Zoom

May 29th 4-5 Hyannis

Contact Kimberly Hamblin at 508. 430.811 or email kimberly@wecancenter.org for more information.

LEARN MORE and APPLY Today

Upcoming Workshops

Art-Related Workshops

4/30 Creative Sector Day at the State House

5/7, 14, 21 & 28 Understanding an Artist's Personal Finances

Resources for Teaching Artists

Food and Farm Related Workshops, Grants, and Opportunities

4/23 AAPI Restaurant Business Workshop - Customer Engagement

4/24 Selling Local Flowers to Florists

5/3 Cape Cod Culinary Incubator Maker's Market

5/5 Application Deadline - Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program

Hyannis Snack Shack Application Now Open

Calling Farmer Creatives: Are you a farmer who loves to write? Are you an artist/farmer? A farmer/artist? We know there are many creatives out there who blend the natural creativity required to be a farmer across multiple mediums. If this is something you would be interested in, please send an email to bfesmire@semaponline.org.

General Business Workshops and Information

4/18 Understanding Your Rights as an Employer of Work-Authorized Immigrants

4/23 and 4/30 Search Engine Optimization - Part 1 & Search Engine Optimization - Part 2

4/29 & 4/30 Big Blue Conference

5/1 Effective Marketing Plan for Business Growth

5/9 Feedback that Works

5/13, 20 & 27 Boost Your Brand Workshop - Leve l up your Marketing

Advertise in Love Live Local Guide - Deadline is 5/2

MassHi re Resource Guide for Businesses

Important Updates Regarding I-9 Verifications

and SBA Loans

✓Last year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version on the I-9 form along with updated regulations for completing it. Some changes include allowing remote document verification but only if additional regulations are met. Make sure you are complying with these regulations and using the correct form. You can attend this recorded webinar if you have questions, Complying with the NEW I-9 and E-Verify Regulations.

✓The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) highlighted several new verification measures within its loan application process to strengthen protections against fraud and ensure its programs only benefit eligible American small business owners.

Key changes to the SBA’s loan programs include:

Citizenship Verification: All SBA loan applications now include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants can access SBA programs.
Date of Birth Verification: All SBA loan applications now include a process to verify applicant age and date of birth.
Automatic Fraud Alerts: SBA’s date of birth verification process will automatically flag any applicant claiming to be younger than 18 or older than 115 years of age.

Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Employer

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is providing timely and free legal advice for employers and immigrants facing imminent threats related to immigration enforcement, such as immigration raids or mass deportations.

As an employer, you have certain responsibilities to ensure that your employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. Federal agencies have different ways of enforcing the laws that require legal authorization to work. LCR has created a resource guide outlining the basic rights and responsibilities that you have as an employer.

In addition, LCR's hotline, 617-988-0606, will be staffed with attorneys from LCR’s staff and pro bono network. Callers who leave a message will receive a same-day response to questions about immigration enforcement and reports of immigration raids. You can also reach the hotline via email: hotline@lawyersforcivilrights.org.

LCR also created resource guides for Immigrant Interactions with ICE and Immigrant Families to Plan for Children in Case of Deportation.

The League of Women Voters of Cape Cod and Nauset Interfaith Assembly created this Know Your Rights material - Family Preparedness Tool Kit QR code in multiple languages.

Additional Business Resources