A Word from Jay...

Nearly a year ago, faced with mounting cases of Coronavirus in metropolitan Boston and New York, we knew it was only a matter of time before cases would start to appear on the Cape. So the decision was made to close our offices to the public and move most staff to remote working for a few months until things “returned to normal.” Never did I imagine that a year later our offices would still be closed to the public and that half of our staff would continue to work remotely.

Our team here at the CDP has done a remarkable job helping us to meet the challenges faced by so many residents of the Lower Cape while managing extraordinary situations in their personal lives. Several members of the CDP staff have spouses who own small businesses and are struggling to keep those businesses afloat. Others are working full time and managing remote learning for their children or finding childcare options in these difficult times. And some have family members who are elderly or at extreme risk of severe cases of COVID-19.

Despite all of these pressures, I’m so thankful to all of my colleagues for their commitment to this organization and the people we serve. From embracing new technology, to adapting systems and taking on new programs, the CDP staff have gone the extra mile to enable us to help so many in our community. Thanks to their efforts, we have been able to continue to lead the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here.

From helping small businesses apply for grant and loan funds to ensuring that the residents of our affordable housing units are safe and can access programs to help them pay their rent, my colleagues have been truly remarkable. I hope you will join me in thanking them for their incredible service – they are truly a special bunch.

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmingly affected the way businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape operate. Many had to find creative ways to stay afloat, meet health and safety regulations, and keep their customers and employees safe. While many businesses experienced financial losses during this time, some businesses were able to maintain their profits over the past year, including Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters in Brewster. In fact, they recently announced their plan to open a new location in Sandwich!

Snowy Owl’s main location in Brewster has been a staple in the community since opening in 2015. Owners Manual Ainzuain and Shayna Ferullo had a goal to provide ethically sourced, freshly roasted and freshly brewed coffee to the Cape Cod community. “We are not a café,” says Manuel, “We are a coffee company with locations where people can come to taste and sample our coffee.”

For Dale and Lelibeth Cook, 2021 has gotten off to a promising start. After living at Thankful Chases Pathway for the past seven years the couple was finally able to purchase their own home.

Dale, a native of Cape Cod with family roots in Provincetown, met Lelibeth in the Philippines and after a time was able to convince her to move to Cape Cod where they were married. They had a daughter Hannah and the family of three was living in the basement of Dale’s parent’s house in East Harwich. When Lelibeth became pregnant with their second child, they knew they would need to move out to accommodate their growing family.

“One of the greatest things the CDP has done is to show that affordable housing, green space, individuality and convenience can all be part of the plan.” 

Janet Reinhart

CDP Supporter

Janet Reinhart first came to Cape Cod when she was 3 and visited Provincetown with her family. They came to spend time with her uncle who had polio. It had been recommended that the cool waters of Cape Cod would be good therapy for him. Not long after, her parents bought a vacation home in town. They made friends, fell in love with Provincetown and made it their summer escape.

When she was in her twenties Janet married a man from Wellfleet and moved to the Cape permanently. While her husband was a painter, “I did a bit of everything,” muses Janet. “I worked in a jewelry store, cleaned an inn at Captain Jack’s Wharf, then got a job with Center for Coastal Studies doing clerical jobs and as an assistant to Stormy Mayo.”

Join us as we acknowledge the organization’s achievements and recognize the recipients of our community awards.

Two members of the community will be honored with the Annual Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service and Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. In addition, new Board members and officers will be elected.

There is still time to nominate a business owner or community leader for one of our awards. You can find the criteria and nomination forms here.

Over 40 municipal leaders in affordable housing gathered on Zoom last month for the first session of the CDP 4th Annual Housing Institute. Andrea Aldana, Director of Housing Advocacy, and Jay Coburn, CEO, presented a two-hour Affordable Housing 101 session. Andrea provided a comprehensive overview of affordable housing issues on the Lower Cape.

The next session of the Housing Institute take place on March 5th when we offer a training on the RFP (Request for Proposals) Process. Laura Shufelt of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership will walk through the process of writing a strong RFP that will attract high quality development proposals.

For more information on upcoming housing training, to get involved with housing advocacy, or to stay up to date with housing news on the Lower and Outer Cape, email andrea@capecdp.org to sign up for our housing newsletter.

Funds are limited and will be distributed on first come, first serve basis. Loans can be used for rent, utilities, staffing, inventory, or costs to pivot your business due to COVID-19.

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.

Its the start of a new year and whether you need assistance preparing for tax season, QuickBooks help, or guidance on making a a business plan for 2021, the CDP is here to support you.

Director of Business and Credit Programs Pam Andersen is available for free small business help over the phone or via Zoom. Find a time that fits in to your schedule so you can get the assistance you need to prepare your business for success this year!

Click the link below to schedule a 30 or 60 minute appointment!

Attorney Melanie O'Keefe from the law firm La Tanzi, Spaulding and Landreth will be hosting free 30-minute consultations to answer questions related to small business law including:

Dates: March 9 and April 13

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Where: Via phone call

To book your FREE 30-minute consultation call or email Marina at

WE CAN - 508-430-8111 or marina@wecancenter.org

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.

Thank you for supporting the CDP's response to the