Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
|
|
A Word from Jay...
It has been a long 14 months of social distancing, working from home, wearing masks, and too many Zoom marathons. The last few weeks have brought much good news as restrictions on businesses are eased just as the busy summer season begins. However, I fear it will be another very challenging summer for businesses on the Lower and Outer Cape due to the lack of staff.
All indicators are pointing to huge crowds arriving this summer -ready to patronize their favorite restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues. Owners of short-term rentals report unprecedented bookings well into the fall months. Several Provincetown restaurant owners who have been open this spring report doing August numbers on weekends.
"Help Wanted" signs are everywhere. The real estate boom has further eroded the availability of year-round and seasonal worker housing. I’ve seen scores of postings on Facebook from people who have a job but can’t find a place to rent or a room to share.
Having weathered the uncertainty of the past 14 months and adapted their business models to keep their employees and customers safe, I’m very worried about how many small businesses will get through this summer. My colleagues here at the CDP will continue to do all we can to help small businesses adapt and secure resources to meet these challenges.
And there is something we can all do to help – let us be kind. Summer traffic and crowds tend to get the best of us. So take a deep breath, be grateful to be doing so without a mask on, and focus on patience and kindness as we wait a bit longer for our dinner to be served, a drink to be poured, or to make that left turn.
|
|
Jay Coburn
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Supporting Local Business |
|
Nick Nickerson: Fisherman turned Artist |
“I’m not very computer literate, and Pam helped walk me through the process to get the application done.”
Nick Nickerson
Owner, Chatham Coastal Creations
|
|
Part of what makes the Lower and Outer Cape unique is its diverse small business community. From restaurants and retail to local artists, the Community Development Partnership is committed to helping these businesses thrive.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it disproportionately affected small businesses and many turned to the CDP for assistance, including local fisherman turned artist Nick Nickerson.
Nick spent the majority of his life working as a commercial fisherman. In 2009, he was diagnosed with cancer and had to put his career on hold while receiving treatment. Needing a new hobby to relax and pass the time while recovering, Nick thought back to his days as a scalloper. “We would shuck them at sea and just toss the shells overboard,” he recalls.
|
|
Make your Voice Heard at Town Meeting |
|
“Supporting housing at Town Meeting means recognizing and using your power as a resident to make our communities welcoming for all who live here.”
Andrea Aldana
CDP, Director of Housing Advocacy
|
|
Town meeting season is in full swing on the Lower and Outer Cape. Last month Brewster, Orleans, Harwich, and Provincetown wrapped up their Town meetings, while Eastham, Chatham, Wellfleet, and Truro take place this month.
We are fortunate to live in a region that allows citizens to participate directly in our local government’s decision-making process. “The best thing about our Town Meeting form of government on the Lower Cape is that we all have the opportunity to have a major impact on our town’s policies including how we use land and how we help people afford to live here,” says Andrea Aldana, the CDP’s Director of Housing Advocacy.
While some meetings have already taken place, there are still opportunities for residents to get out and advocate for the issues that are meaningful to them. Attending your town’s Annual Meeting for the first time can be an intimidating, and sometimes overwhelming experience, but it is critically important that your voice is heard. “When we don’t show up, speak up or vote, we let other people make these decisions for us,” Andrea says.
*Photo: Residents attend an outdoor town meeting
|
|
Apply for our Housing Rehab Program |
|
Our Housing Rehabilitation Program is available to income-qualified residents of Eastham, Truro, and Provincetown. Qualified residents can receive up to $40,000 per household to pay for critical home repairs (like roofing and siding, electrical, heating, and plumbing work), lead paint abatement, and energy efficiency upgrades to keep their properties in good condition for the long term. And with local contractors doing the work, this means money flowing back into our economy.
The program is designed to preserve existing homes for year-round residents at or below 80% of the median area income. Owner-occupied landlord and investor-owned properties with income-qualified renters are eligible too.
|
|
"We Can't Afford to Lose the People Who Can't Afford to Live Here"
CDP launches Phase II of Housing Media Campaign
|
|
This month we launch Phase II of our public media campaign on the housing crisis. To learn more about how housing affects residents here on the Lower and Outer Cape, check out our media campaign!
|
|
Supporter Spotlight: Jill Stauffer |
|
“I see myself as a connector, and I enjoy that role the most…the ability to connect, for example, one business with the tech support needed and offered by another small business is really satisfying.”
Jill Stauffer
Executive Director, Provincetown Commons
|
|
Jill Stauffer loves connecting people. After a 30-year career in management, working first for UPS then Comcast, Jill left Boston and the corporate scene in 2019 to lead the Provincetown Commons – a collaborative workspace for artists and small businesses housed in the Town’s former Community Center
A native of Syracuse, NY, and graduate of Arizona State University, Jill moved to Provincetown during the summers of 1985-87. She had first visited Provincetown after high school graduation. “I always knew it would be a welcoming place for LGBTQIA,” reflects Jill, and knew she would return.
During those summers, Jill earned her living as a waitress at local favorites such as Gabriel’s, The Boat Slip, Snug Harbor, and the Lobster Pot. In the off-season, Jill returned to Tempe, AZ where she worked as a driver for UPS. Jill fondly recalls “People treated me so nicely in those summers when I first moved to Provincetown. I felt so welcome.”
|
|
Save the Date!
Summer Evening (Back!) on the Farm
|
|
August 25, 2021
Halcyon Farm, Brewster MA
|
|
The Community Development Partnership is pleased to announce our 7th Annual Summer Evening on the Farm! We are excited to be back in person at Halcyon Farm this year and hope to see all of you there.
Early Bird tickets will be available for $75 until August 1st when tickets will be $100.
We are closely monitoring guidance from state and local health officials and will implement necessary health and safety measures if needed.
|
|
Join Team CDP for the GASP |
|
Ride Week Dates: September 5th-10th
Rider Entry Fee: $25
Fundraising Minimum: $250
|
|
This year the CDP is excited to participate in the GASP annual bike ride! The ride will be virtual, and participants will have the option to "do it their way!" Don't want to complete all 62 miles in one day? You can break it down into smaller sessions throughout the week.
Don't like to bike? You can walk, run, or row to reach your goal. The aim is for participants to get outside, get moving, and have fun! If you are interested in joining Team CDP or learning more about the event contact Britt@capecdp.org!
|
|
Watch our Latest Community Conversation:
Affordable Housing
|
|
Every Month the CDP hosts a virtual chat to keep supporters and community members up to date with our work. Last month CEO Jay Coburn was joined by guests Rashida Jamieson and Marin Reinhardt to discuss phase two of our affordable housing media campaign.
You can watch the full discussion below:
|
|
Our next Community Conversation featuring Chatham 365 will take place on June 16th at 5:00 PM. You can register here.
|
|
Sarah has been a part of the CDP family as an educator for over a decade. She has trained hundreds of Lower Cape residents and small business owners through our First Time Home Buyer Education Program and Quickbooks training. In the past, she provided professional services to small business owners. Her sense of humor has entertained and informed clients and made them feel at ease. We appreciate her dedication to our agency and mission and the value that she has brought to our programming. |
|
Business & Credit Offerings |
|
Free Small Business Assistance
It's the start of a new year and whether you need assistance preparing for tax season, QuickBooks help, or guidance on making a business plan for 2021, the CDP is here to support you.
Pam Andersen, Director of Business and Credit Programs is available for free small business help over the phone or via Zoom. Find a time that fits into 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!
|
|
Legal Consultations for Small Business
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:
- Best organizational format for your business
- Partnership agreements
- Liability issues
Dates: May 11 and June 8
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
|
|
Additional COVID-19 Resources for Businesses |
|
We have created a separate page on our website that is a compilation of resources for local businesses, including various SBA, unemployment and other federal programs. |
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Update on Business & Credit Workshops
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.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Pam Andersen at pam@capecdp.org or 508-240-7873 x18.
|
|
Thank you for supporting the CDP's response to the
COVID-19 ecomomic crisis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
