December 2025


Inside Scoop

Bringing You the Latest Tools to Help Your Business

Enjoy the Holiday Season, Then Get Ready for 2026

Friends,


December is here and we are all getting ready for our own holidays! As you wrap up your business year, take stock in what you have accomplished this year: what goals did you meet and which ones are outstanding? As you move into January, consider how the CDP can help you get ready for 2026. Whether you want to improve your record keeping, set business goals for your existing business, or start (or grow) your business in 2026, we have lots of ways to get you there.


Do you need a loan or line of credit for the coming year? CDP staff can help you apply for a loan from a bank or through the CDP microloan program.


Our QuickBooks Online three-part workshop is scheduled for January 15, 22, and 29, 2026. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to sharpen your skills, this series is designed to build confidence in managing your business finances.


Bringing Your Food Product to Market workshop, is open for registration! This in-person event will be held at the CDP office in Orleans, MA, on January 26 and February 2, 2026. It’s a great opportunity to learn how to take your food product from concept to market with expert guidance and peer support.


We are busy planning the 2026 Creative Development Series in collaboration with Provincetown Commons. Registration will be open soon. The first two sessions are:

  • January 27th - Navigating Galleries and Exhibitions
  • February 10th - Creative Conversations


Our individual small business assistance is available at our Orleans office, on Zoom, and during Regional Office Hours in Harwich and Provincetown. Let’s connect to explore your goals, challenges, and opportunities.


As your wrap up 2025, the CDP is standing ready to assist you in measuring the accomplishments against the goals you set earlier this year. Register for these upcoming workshops or schedule an appointment to set yourself up for success in 2026.


We look forward to working with you!


Pam

 

CDP News

Pelinda Deegan, CDP's First Time Homebuyer guru, has joined the CDP Small Business Team!


Pelinda joined the CDP in 2019 providing technical services to the towns of Harwich, Chatham and Wellfleet and supporting the Lower Cape Community housing Partnership program.. For the past four years, she has been providing technical assistance to first time homebuyers, including record keeping, personal finances, and goal setting. She will be splitting her time between the two roles.


Pelinda is originally from the Philippines and moved to the Cape in 2013 from San Francisco. She has more than 15 years non-profit experience and is passionate about building meaningful connections and making the community a little brighter.


Pelinda volunteers for the Cape Abilities, Growing Friendship Program. When not working, she is a professional dishwasher at her family-owned restaurants and chauffeuring her son to baseball and basketball games.


We are so excited for Pelinda to join the Business & Credit team!

New Family Childcare Program

Do you stay home to care for your children or know someone that does?


Is finding child care a challenge for you or someone your know?


Have you considered opening a home-based family childcare business?


Join the CDP and Clarendon Early Education Services Inc for a Virtual Information Session on January 12th at 6 pm.


Register now or learn more by contacting

Cassie DeMoraes, 978-807-2154 or cdemoraes@clarendonees.org.

Language assistance is available.

Business News To Know

MA Pay Transparency Is Here:

Are You Ready?


Do you employ 25 or more people? If so, the new Massachusetts Pay Transparency Law taking effect the end of October, could impact you!


The new law requires employers to include salary or hourly pay ranges in all job postings and to share this same information with current employees or applicants upon request, whether it’s for a new hire, a promotion, or an internal transfer. If you have 100 or more employees, you’ll also need to submit aggregate pay and demographic data to the State.


This goal of this law is to create a fair, open hiring process and make sure everyone knows the value of the work they do. Penalties for noncompliance will apply, so now’s the time to review your job postings, HR policies, and pay practices.

Small Business Assistance

The CDP is ready to support small business owners.


Thanks to grants and donations, the CDP provides free small business services including:


  • Business Plan Development
  • Financial Planning, Cash Flow Projections, and QuickBooks Assistance
  • Record Keeping
  • Marketing Strategies
  • Exit Planning - Succession Planning
  • Accountability Partner


Upcoming Regional Office Hours:


  • 12/16 Provincetown Commons-9:00-1:00
  • 12/18 The 204 in Harwich-11:00-1:00
  • 1/8 The 204 in Harwich 9:00 - 12:00
  • 1/27 Provincetown Commons 9:00 - 1:00


To schedule an appointment, visit the CDP Business Events page or book an appointment.

CDP Referral Program

Recent referral prizes include gift certificates to

Homeport Restaurant, Truro Vineyards, Abiyoyo, and Tula+.

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

 

Upcoming Workshops

Art-Related Workshops & Resources

1/6/13/20 &27/2026 Beyond Arts Grants: Creative Solutions for Project Support

1/14/2026 Art of Licensing

1/28/2026 Cultural Organizing for Artists


Food Related Workshops & Resources

1/28/2026 Marketing Tips for Selling at a Farmers Market


General Business Workshops and Information

12/15/2025 Building Excellence: QA & Improvement in Manufacturing

12/16/2025 AI Tools - Automate Tasks, Create Content & Grow Your Business

1/6/2026 Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - Basics

1/13/2026 Simple Steps - Concepts

1/14/2026 Exploring the Government Marketplace

1/20/2026 Simple Steps - Marketing

1/27/2026 Simple Steps - Financials

1/28/2026 Creating a Pricing Strategy


 

Community Partner Opportunities

WE CAN Business Legal Consults


Do you have a business legal issue that you need help with? WE CAN has local Cape attorneys who generously donate their time to offer free one-to-one business legal consults.


To schedule an appointment, call WE CAN 508-430-8111


Leading with Intention

in the Workplace

Saturday, January 10, 2026

9:00am - 12:00pm| Location: Hyannis​


Discover your unique voice and presence as a leader in your career and community. This interactive workshop blends mindfulness with practical tools to build confidence, strengthen communication, and cultivate authentic leadership presence.



To register: email kimberly@wecancenter.org or call 508-430-8111.

Cape Light Compact


As a business owner, you know the importance of reducing costs wherever possible. Cape Light Compact has an opportunity to reduce your energy costs and save you money.


Decreasing energy use through energy efficiency is a proven way to reduce costs while also enhancing the comfort and productivity of your workspace. By participating in Cape Light Compact’s energy efficiency programs (your local Mass Save® Sponsor), you have the opportunity to choose your path to energy savings. The program designed for you is determined by the amount of electricity you use each year and the type of project you are planning to undertake.

 

Additional Business Resources

~ CDP's Small Business Services ~

QuickBooks Help

Do you need a microloan?


Cape Light Compact Small Business Energy Programs

Business Law Consults

Support the CDP's Business & Credit Programs!

This year, the CDP helped small business owners access capital (5 businesses), training (437 businesses), and technical assistance (301 businesses) so they could open their doors, grow their teams, and create year-round jobs across the Lower and Outer Cape.


Behind every loan and every training session is a donor who believes that strong communities depend on strong local businesses.


Right now, every gift is being matched dollar for dollar, and leadership-level gifts of $1,000 or more may qualify for a 50% state tax credit through the Community Investment Tax Credit program.


If supporting local businesses matter to you, there has never been a better time to invest.

 

Partner Appreciation

Thank you to our partners for their incredible support of our programs.

Cape Air

Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation Trust

Cape Cod Foundation

Eastern Bank Foundation

MassDevelopment Growth Capital Division

Rockland Trust

Santander Bank

Seamen’s Bank

TD Charitable Foundation

USDA Rural Development


Workshop Sponsor

 

STAY CONNECTED

Facebook      Instagram      LinkedIn      YouTube

The CDP is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.