Atty. Wendy Hansen provided valuable insight into the new Paid Family Medical Leave program to the Chamber’s HR Resource Group. The presentation can be viewed here. If you would be interested in a Q&A session with Atty. Hansen on this topic, please let us know. If there is sufficient interest, we will schedule a session. 

If you’re interested in the Q&A session and/or joining the HR Resource Group, email [email protected].

We are so excited to welcome our newest member Engayge! Recently launched, Engayge is an LGBTQ+ Social Networking Platform that provides a safe space for community members to 'engayge' with like-minded individuals both locally and when away from home. In addition, the platform gives users the ability to share and recommend LGBTQ+ friendly businesses, organizations, service providers, support groups, and events, through ratings and reviews that utilize their proprietary rating algorithm.

We’ve got some beautiful new office space FOR LEASE at the TACC HQ! What you’ll get: two offices (350 total sq ft), access to a shared kitchen, conference room, bathroom, and separate entrance for just $750/mo. Located just off the bustling Rt. 44 corridor and close to Rt. 24 at 170 Dean Street in Taunton. BONUS: the friendliest office neighbors you could ask for! Have questions or want to check it out? Reach out to [email protected] or call 508.824.4068.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but it can be challenging to get one off the ground or grow it.

Small business owners often rely on local investors to gain the capital they need to grow. Not only can investors help small business owners pursue their dreams, but they can also use small business investments as a way to grow and diversify their portfolios.

If you haven’t yet considered investing in a small business, read on to learn how to get started and the key factors to consider when choosing which company to invest in.

This online program includes free personalized content, coaching, networking and more, and all the online tools are in one place, so it’s easy to use.

Here’s how it works:

• You’ll answer a series of questions about your business and your specific needs and interests. Based on your answers, Verizon and its partners will personalize a learning dashboard with content to match those needs.

• You’ll have access to short online “learning modules,” created by actual small business owners that are targeted to the topics most important to your business right now.

The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program is part of Verizon’s commitment to provide support for 1 million small businesses over the next decade. Your business deserves to be one of them!

The MassINC Polling Group and Mass Growth Capital Corporation are conducting an important statewide survey on issues impacting small businesses in Massachusetts.

This survey is for small businesses with 500 employees or less. It’s available in several languages. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will be analyzed together with other responses and will never be used to identify you personally. The survey will run through July 28, 2022.

Thanks to Harvard Catalyst, they are raffling gift cards in amounts of $250, $500, and $1,000 for respondents that provide an email and phone number.

English: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6905954/2022-Small-Business-Survey 

Spanish: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6905954/Spanish 

Portuguese:https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6905954/Portuguese 

Chinese: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6905954/Mandarin 

Haitian Creole: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6905954/Haitian-Creole

Thank you very much for participating in this important initiative.

Dear Friends of the Tourism Industry,

The MA Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) recently launched the "Your Massachusetts" campaign. This out-of-state marketing effort aims to increase visitation and tourism spending, featuring authentic imagery and highlighting exciting summer experiences across the Commonwealth.

You and your friends are invited to get involved in this campaign through developing your own custom social media tiles and stories spotlighting tourism gems from your region. These Campaign Social Media Templates are customizable and easy to use in PowerPoint or Photoshop on your social media channels. (Please note that these are best viewed and customized via your laptop or desktop rather than your mobile device.) Your support is invaluable as MOTT shares their message around our exceptional Massachusetts tourism offerings.

Additionally, MOTT will be hosting two virtual Campaign Social Media Workshops to review these templates and share some social media best practices. This will be followed by a Q&A. Review these templates ahead of the workshops and prepare any questions.

This virtual workshop will be offered on Thursday, 7/21, from 10-11am, and Monday, 7/25, from 3-4pm, with the same programming offered on both dates. Please register at these links:

Whether you choose expansion of audience or marketing, you need reviews and you need them everywhere. There are a few ways you can motivate your audience to help. Read more here.

81% of customers visit your website before doing business with you. It doesn’t matter what goods or services you offer -- a website is an important part of your business’ visibility. You don’t have to have an intricate, professionally designed website for it to work for your business. Join us to learn how to create an informative, search-friendly website or spruce up your existing one to make it more accessible to customers.

Join Bryan Caplan, your Dedicated Trainer for Grow with Google, on August 1st at 10:00 a.m. as he walks you through the ins and outs of getting your website on Google in this value-packed virtual class. Seats are limited, so register today!

The Jockey Club will be hosting a Summer Spectacular Networking on Tuesday, August 9th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This is a joint event with Cranberry Country Chamber. Join us in the tent for some apps and drinks! 

The Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering once again with the Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce to present the 20th Annual Diamonds in the Rough Ladies' Golf Outing on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. It will be held at Hillside Country Club, 82 Hillside Avenue in Rehoboth.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. We will be playing 9 holes and the course will be played in a scramble format, with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $80 per player or $300 per foursome and includes green fees, ½ cart, breakfast, lunch, and a gift bag. You can sign up as a single, twosome, threesome, or foursome. There will be prizes on various holes and also raffle drawings.

Princess-Cut Sponsors: Bristol County Savings Bank, G. Lopes Construction and Morton Hospital

14 Cart Sponsors: BankFive, Pet Recess, Taunton Federal Credit Union, T.M. Ryder Insurance Agency

Beverage Cart Sponsor: Jaime Barnes, Ameriprise Financial

If you choose not to golf, you can also contribute by sponsoring a hole ($100), donating a prize item or gift certificate, or providing items for the players' goody bags. You can attend the lunch only for $30.

Register below.

Pitch Your Big Idea to Win $10,000! If you are a small business owner looking to launch a new product or service, or expand an existing product or service, you are invited to participate in HarborOne’s 7th Annual Small Business Pitch Contest. Application is open July 15 - August 31. Learn more.

People Incorporated is looking forward to seeing everyone return for another great Jack Rua Invitational in September. Attached is the sponsor and registration brochure for the tournament. Between playing, sponsoring, advertising, or all of the above, there are many ways to be a part of it! If you have questions or need further info, please reach out to Peter Daley at 774-488-5333 or [email protected].

Mayor Shaunna O’Connell recently announced the City of Taunton is renewing an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant to continue to advance mental health initiatives for Taunton youth. A grant of $175,000 was awarded to the Boys and Girls Club Metro South, Old Colony YMCA and Girls Inc. to continue to fund onsite social workers who provide mental health services to children in the afterschool programs. Read the press release.

Raynham Community Day 2022 (formerly known as Community Pride Day) to be held on Sunday, September 18th, with a rain date of Sunday, September 25th. Anyone who is interested in helping or who wants more information about participating in the event is welcome to attend the planning meeting on Monday, July 18th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Donald McKinnon Municipal Meeting Room at Raynham Veterans Memorial Town Hall located at 558 South Main Street. More details are available by emailing [email protected]. Read 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.

TOMORROW, Jul 21| 1:00 PM 

As cyber threats and scams increased rapidly in the past 12 months, Trend Micro and Scamadviser experts team up to provide important updates about today's digital technology landscape and how to keep your business protected.

Join this webinar to hear Mitchel Chang, Jon Clay and Jorij Abraham go into detail about:

Brought to you by: Trend Micro

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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