Creating opportunities for people to live, work, & thrive on the Lower Cape | |
Inside Scoop - September, 2023 | |
Bringing you the latest tools to help your business. | |
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Welcome September! There's a sense of opportunity and fresh start in the air. Here at the CDP, September brings our first workshop of the Fall, Boost Your Creative Energy for artists, creatives and makers on September 28th. We are excited to be continuing our work with the Provincetown Commons and The 204 to offer our 2nd annual workshop series on the business of art beginning in January, 2024. Stay tuned for more details!
Speaking of art, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is hosting an all-day Creative Exchange Conference on October 4th at the Cotuit Center for the Arts. The Conference will explore topics pertinent to the arts sector and explore the core themes of engaging equity, inspiring activation, embracing reinvention, celebrating optimism, and building skills. Learn more and register here.
The CDP is finalizing its Fall and Winter workshop schedule throughout the Fall and Winter on topics including E-commerce, QuickBooks Online, and the Business of Small Business. Stop by our table at the Cape Cod Young Professionals Back to Business Bash at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport on September 21st from 5-9 to say hello and learn more about all the ways the CDP is promoting the nurture, launch, and growth of small businesses on the Lower Cape.
Our friends at WECAN are busy offering a number of information sessions about their GROW program in the coming weeks, including one at the CDP office on October 18th. The GROW (Get Results with Others’ Wisdom) program empowers women entrepreneurs with the support and tools they need to be successful. To learn more and register for a GROW information session, contact WECAN.
Our friends at Love Live Local are offering their Boost your Brand Workshop Series again. The workshop is a free program with 4 sessions (one 2.5 hour session per scheduled week) open to established Cape Cod makers, artists, artisans and brands who participate or plan to participate in festivals, craft shows and other pop-up events throughout the year. Attendees of this workshop series will learn how to get the most out of popup events, connect with customers, raise brand awareness, and take their product line to the next level. Applications are due September 30th.
Our friends at Amplify POC Cape Cod have some great suggestions for observing National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, which celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Consider shopping at a Hispanic owned business, supporting Hispanic organizations, and visiting restaurants and markets. Not sure where to start? Visit the Amplify POC Cape Cod Online Business Directory to find a business to support.
Our regional office hours are expanding! We are now offering free business help at the Brewster Chamber of Commerce on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9:00-11:00 AM. Make an appointment with Pam at the Brewster Chamber of Commerce on October 17th to see how the CDP can help you start or grow your business.
One challenge many business owners and entrepreneurs face on the Lower Cape is internet connectivity. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute is holding a Cape & Islands Region Listening Session at the Barnstable Town Hall on September 28th from 3:00 - 5:00. Participants will learn more about the two Massachusetts Internet for All programs and will be asked for their input to inform the development of the statewide Broadband and Digital Equity plans.
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Inside Scoop at a glance:
Artists - Workshops & Gatherings
Food Related Workshops, Grants, and Opportunities
General Business Workshops and Information
Other Resources for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
CDP's Small Business Services - Regional Office Hours
To learn more about these workshops and programs, as well as other topics important to your business, please see below. As always, if there is a business topic that comes up for which you need more information or assistance, please reach out to us and we will help find resources to answer your questions.
We look forward to working with you!
Pam & Tricia
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CDP Small Business Referral Program - Refer a Business
Earn a chance to win a $100 gift certificate
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Each month anyone who refers an entrepreneur or business owner to the CDP will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate from a local business. We will draw a winner on the 15th of each month. Here are the details:
- Be sure the person you refer to the CDP tells Pam or Tricia that you referred them
- One entry per referral - refer 3 businesses, earn 3 entries. etc.
- Drawing will be held on the 15th of each month
- CDP Staff, Board Members and Advisory Council Members are not eligible to participate in the referral raffle program (although we welcome your referrals!)
Congratulations to the September 2023 winner: Madison Bennett of Chatham Works will receive a $100 gift certificate to ARTichoke Boutique in Eastham.
REFER A BUSINESS TODAY AND
YOU MAY BE THE LUCKY WINNER IN OCTOBER!
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WECAN GROW Information Sessions | |
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GROW, Getting Resources from Other's Wisdom,
supports women entrepreneurs with business development.
WECAN is offering its GROW Program for women entrepreneurs for a seventh year.
At the program's core are the women business owners who form a strong cohort and share information and ideas with one another. GROW participants also benefit from a mentor who facilitates each meeting and provides additional insight and instructions from her own business expertise. This model empowers women with the support and tools they need to be successful in growing their business as a pathway to self-sufficiency. Come to an information session and learn more.
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Artist Specific Workshops and Gatherings | |
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Boost Your Creative Energy
September 28th 9:30-12:00
(coffee & networking start at 9:00)
The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building
Harwich
Join expert panelists, Paula Curran of Rock Harbor Design, Erika Nickerson of Beach Cottage Living, Janna Powell of High Point Vintage, along with Pam Andersen from the CDP, Kara Mewhinney, Director of The 204 and fellow artists, creatives, and makers to:
* build your community - who are your people?
* review your year to date - did your sales and revenue meet your expectations?
* increase sales and clear out inventory by the end of the year - what are your plans?
* position your business for success in 2024 - how are you using the slow months?
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The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Creative Exchange Conference 2023
October 4th from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cotuit Center for the Arts
Featuring prominent speakers and panelists from on and off Cape, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Creative Exchange Conference will explore topics pertinent to the arts sector: The Possibility of Public Art; How Artists Can Use Rejection to Strengthen Their Work; Strategic Planning; How Artists Build Equitable Empathetic Communities; and more.
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Staying Authentic While
Marketing Your Work
Daniel Callahan
Recorded Webinar
Offered by Assets for Artists, learn strategies and apply practical knowhow to promote yourself and your services with excellence and authenticity in both in-person and online spaces. Leave the workshop with a fuller understanding of yourself and some tried-and-true methods for presenting and pitching your art and your practice. This is an introductory level marketing course best suited for visual and media artists.
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Grants for Creative Individuals
Application Opens: October 2023
Application Deadline: December 2023
Mass Cultural Council is finalizing a new program to equitably support creative expression with $5,000 grants to individuals throughout the Commonwealth. It expects to award $1.8 million to artists, culture bearers, and creative individuals in all artistic/creative disciplines through this new program. More information coming soon.
Sign up for Artist News to receive updates about this and other opportunities.
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Food Related Workshops, Grants, and Opportunities | |
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Introduction to Ropeless Fishing
September 26th 6:00 -9:00 pm (virtual)
This course from the Center for Corporate and Professional Education at the Cape Cod Community College provides an introduction to working subsea with Ropeless Fishing. Learn about acoustic sound propagation, the effects of temperature and salinity, acoustic triggering, and positioning using range and bearing. Understanding the physics and fundamentals will make using the technology viable to operators.
Course includes virtual introduction on 9/26 and then an in-person, hands-on equipment training on one of 3 days in October.
Expected students include fishers in the lobstering industry, regulators, and those interested in participating in the Blue Economy.
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Farm Business Planning Course
Begins October 3rd 6:00-8:30
8 consecutive weeks (virtual)
In this course from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, you will learn how to create a written plan to start or expand your farm, including how to:
* Create a mission and vision for your business
* Develop a budget and a plan to fund your business
* Create a marketing plan for your business
* Set goals and create a timeline for your farm business to grow
* Weave those elements together into a cohesive business plan
Graduates of the course can apply to join the Incubator Farm Program offered by New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.
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Start a Food Biz Workshop
November 8th 5-7 pm (virtual)
CommonWealth Kitchen's Start a Food Biz workshop is perfect for aspiring food business entrepreneurs in the idea-stage and the about-to-launch phase of food business growth. The workshop will cover:
* Regulatory requirements for different types of food businesses
* Considerations for starting a food truck, catering company, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) company
* Best practices and resources for food safety, packaging, branding and more
* Business Plan Overview
* Case studies of strong food companies - what to do, what not to do!
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General Business Workshops and Information | |
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Demystifying AI: Empowering Small Business Sales and Marketing
September 26th 12:00 - 1:00 (virtual)
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, small businesses face unique challenges in staying competitive and effectively reaching their target audience. Join SCORE mentors, serial entrepreneur Stacey Coombs and higher education executive Karen Baldeschwieler to discover how AI is reshaping the digital landscape and gain insights into leveraging AI for small business sales and marketing success.
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Mass Broadband Institute Listening Session at Barnstable Town Hall
September 28th 3:00 - 5:00
This Listening Session is an opportunity for the residents of Cape Cod to share their experiences, ideas, and vision for a connected Commonwealth. Participants will learn more about the two Massachusetts Internet for All programs and will be asked for their input to inform the development of the statewide Broadband and Digital Equity plans. Registrants will receive an email prior to the event including an agenda and other important details.
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12 Low or No-Cost Programs for Business Growth
You've likely heard that more than half of new small businesses don't make it past the first five years. It's a startling truth for many entrepreneurs, but it doesn't have to be your reality.
Sustaining a small business means keeping certain priorities top of mind, like cash flow, your target market’s wants and needs, expanding your team, and having a realistic growth strategy.
SCORE's mission is to foster vibrant small business communities, and they want to make sure every business owner has the support they need to be successful. SCORE has complied a list of 12 Low or No-Cost Programs for Business Growth.
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On-Demand Webinars from the Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business organization that empowers America's diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy. Small Business Majority serves all entrepreneurs but focuses on reaching under-resourced entrepreneurs, including women, people of color, immigrants and those in rural communities.
Venturize.org is a free online resource hub for small business owners like you who need help accessing tools and resources to grow their businesses. Watch on-demand webinars on your own time to learn about access to capital, healthcare, retirement and employer resources, plus much more.
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Small Business Energy Information | |
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Cape Light Compact
Energy Efficiency for Your Business - Start saving now
As a business owner, you know the importance of reducing costs whenever possible. 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.
Not sure which path to take, or have questions? Contact Cape Light Compact at efficiency@capelightcompact.org or 1-800-797-6699 to discuss your project.
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WE CAN Business Law Consults | |
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Free Business Law Consults Available
Free, half-hour legal consults in business law are available each month from WE CAN legal volunteers. Learn about the best way to organize your business, things to consider in drafting partnership agreements, understand your liability exposure, advantages of registering as a women owned business entity, and more.
Contact WE CAN to schedule an appointment for a Business Law Consult.
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CDP Regional Office Hours | |
The CDP thanks these organizations for the opportunity to use their space to meet with clients and for their demonstrated support of small businesses and entrepreneurs on the Lower Cape | |
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CDP Small Business Services
How Can We Help Your Business?
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Individual Business Guidance
Are you self-employed, a solopreneur or a small business owner who lives or works on the Lower Cape?
The CDP offers individual business guidance for all types of businesses, including:
*creating business plans, cash flow and other financial statements
*marketing and e-commerce
*business formation and organization
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Individual Mentoring through SCORE
A resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE’s mission is to grow small businesses one business at a time.
SCORE Cape Cod offers individual mentoring across the Cape. The CDP partners with SCORE to offer mentoring on the Lower Cape.
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QuickBooks Help tailored to your needs!
Did you struggle putting your records together to give your accountant?
Do you use QuickBooks but need to learn how it can do a better job for you and provide you with the information you need when you need it?
CDP Staff offers QuickBooks help. Follow the link below and schedule an appointment to get your business on track.
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Need a microloan?
The CDP has microloans up to $50,000 for small businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape. Visit our website for complete program details and eligibility requirements.
Visit On the Trail E-Bike Rentals, 2624 Main St., Brewster
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THANK YOU to Our Small Business Program Supporters | |
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Mass Growth Capital Corporation
Cape Air
Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation Trust
Rockland Trust
Santander Bank
Seamen's Bank Long Point Charitable Foundation
USDA Rural Development
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Follow the CDP on Social Media! | |
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. | | | | |
