Please consider a
contribution to the FCCDC so we can continue to help our local economy grow for another 30 years! |
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Upcoming Workshops
Plan for Success: 12 week Business Planning Class starts Thursday March 25
5-8 pm FCCDC
Free Information Sessions
First Wed. of the Month 3:30-5 pm
April 7 FCCDC May 5 FCCDC
June 2 FCCDC
To reserve a spot or call 413-774-7204 x 300
Securing Business Financing
March 10 FCCDC
April 28 FCCDC
June 10 Athol To reserve a spot or call 413-774-7204 x 300
Plan for Success: 12
week Business Planning Class starts Thursday March 25 5-8 pm FCCDC
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| FCCDC Staff |
Amy Shapiro, Business Assistance Director
Alan Singer, Lending Director
John Waite, Executive Director
Jackie Spooner, Commonwealth Corps Member
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| FCCDC Board of Directors |
| Jessica Atwood
Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Chuck Bellinger Architectural Components Inc.
Denise Coyne
Greenfield Savings Bank
David Farrick
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Margaret Fitzpatrick
Ollie's Down Under
Bar & Grill
Darren Gale Innovative Design Concepts
Gary Gruber
Attorney
Mark Lattanzi
WRSI Clara Lopez Entrepreneur Eric Marsh Greenfield Cooperative Bank
Roberta Wilmore
The Children's Equitation Center
Susan Worgaftik UMass Amherst Dick Haas Director Emeritus Hillside Plastics, Inc. | |
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March 2010
Plan for Success: A Business Plan class for Serious Current or Future Business Owners
This class is for Business Owners who seek to reevaluate and rejuvenate their business, or people who are serious about developing a business idea. The class takes a step by step approach to build a foundation that will direct your thinking toward developing a strategic plan. With guidance from guest speakers and individual support from the FCCDC staff, you will have your questions answered.
This class is for the serious business owner who wants to do the work, participate in discussions, and has the time to attend the 12 classes and 2 individual consulting meetings. The FCCDC has been running this class in the Spring and Fall since 2001. Hundreds of participants have developed business plans that encouraged them to open a business, showed them an idea was not feasible, or presented new options that redirected them to new markets and collaborative opportunities.
To register, sign up here or call 413-774-7204 ext 107 or email instructor Amy Shapiro, Business Assistance Director.
First class Thursday March 25 5-8pm at the FCCDC, 324 Wells St Greenfield. Cost is $250, there is a sliding scale. |
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Are you ready?
As of March 1st, all businesses that have access to personal information on MA residents must comply with the new laws designed to prevent identity theft. If you receive payments by check or credit card, keep social security or drivers license numbers, you will need to not only ensure that those records are maintained in a secure fashion but also that you have a comprehensive Written Information Security Program in place and designated employees to implement and enforce it. There are very specific security measures for computer systems, even including those handy flash drives, that will need to be encypted and password protected.
 To help you understand what you will need to do to comply, the FCCDC is hosting a seminar on April 27 from 9 - 11 am with Amy Royal of Royal and Klumczik, LLC at the FCCDC in Greenfield. The seminar costs $10 and refreshments will be served. |
Brick and Mortar Surfs The Web
SFABA, GBA, and MBA are offering a workshop series for business owners to emphasize the importance of social media and cutting edge web technology to help promote local business.
All events will be on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Cost for Members of the Greenfield Business Association, Shelburne Falls Area Business Association, and Montague Business Association is $10.00, for non-members $20.00. Click on links to register or call Becky George 413-774-2791. The workshops may be repeated at a later date as they are filling up quickly. Contact Becky today!
March 23 Facebook, Mocha Maya's, Shelburne Falls March 30 Google, FCCDC April 6 Cloud Computing and Web 2.0, The Rendezvous, Turners Falls 413-863-2866 April 13, LinkedIn, Mocha Maya's, Shelburne Falls April 20 Twitter, The Rendezvous, Turners Falls 413-863-2866 |
Still some space at the Venture Center
The success of our tenants at the Venture Center has created opportunities for others. Light Industrial and Office space is now available for rent at the Venture Center, 324 Wells Street, Greenfield MA. Our Business Incubator provides needed infrastructure and technical assistance to new or growing businesses. Please contact John Waite at 413-774-7204 ext. 102 | |
Welcome Jackie Spooner, our New Commonwealth Corps Member
As a lifelong resident of the North Quabbin area, I remember the days when there were plenty of businesses and manufacturers. I am glad to be given a chance to help facilitate the FCCDC's relationships with new and established businesses. After being laid off as a bookkeeper at a small business, I realized it was a perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge of the businesses world.
I knew of the FCCDC through my past employer so the internship through Commonwealth Corps seemed a good chance to learn more about the many challenges of small businesses in today's economy.
Welcome Jackie! |
New Board Member - Roberta Wilmore
Roberta Wilmore is our newest board member and we are all very excited to have her join the Franklin County CDC. She is the President and Founder of the Children's Equitation Center as well as the President of R. Wilmore Management Consultant/Coaching.
A current resident of Ashfield, on her 60 acre Lee Ella Farm, Roberta has been involved in the equestrian world for more than forty years and has managed horse facilities in Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Her experiences have given her the ability to see many different perspectives and to find success in many different areas of her life.
The Children's Equitation Center is dedicated to supporting a multicultural, multiethnic environment to stimulate, support, and encourage the involvement of children of color and other under-served urban children in the equestrian world. The Center provides an opportunity for children to find success, learn the skills and responsibilities it takes to become an effective leader through their connections with the animals.
Roberta's work as a Management consultant involves dealing with workplace challenges that have a direct affect on business reputation including controversy, leading change, leveraging diversity, tolerance, investigations, employee counseling and coaching, reconciliation, and competition. She also has 25 years of experience in the world of Real Estate Management.
We are very pleased to have Roberta join the Board! |
Raising the Standard for Small Business Technical Assistance
The Mel King Institute for Community Building is offering an advanced training program for Business Technical Assistance providers in Massachusetts. Alan Singer, Business Lending Director and Amy Shapiro, Business Assistance Director are attending this 6 session training program to learn about best practices to be used at the FCCDC along with strengthening the field in Massachusetts. Nationally recognized presenters enhance program which is held at Babson College.
The first two sessions were held on March 1st & 2nd covering data tracking and client qualifications. |
Hey all you North Quabbin young entrepreneurs!
The Young Entrepreneurs Society in Orange is launching BizVenture, an online business idea contest with cash prizes. North Quabbin youth ages 13-22 are invited to take the Biz Quiz and then write your Biz Idea. You can also get help, advice and ideas from workshops, events and presentations during Bright Idea's 2010 BizTour. |
PVGrows is seeking Food System Enterprises
Are you handling, processing, marketing, or distributing local agricultural products?
Does your business activity improve sales for farm-related businesses?
Are you looking for financing? Pioneer Valley Grows, a collaboration the FCCDC is working with, is offering new loan options and creative financing opportunities for enterprises that help bring more local food to markets and address food system infrastructure gaps in the Pioneer Valley. Find more information and get connected. |
OTA Contest for Students
The Organic Trade Association is offering students a chance to win a fully stocked organic vending machine or an organically grown garden for their schools in an effort to encourage greater access to organic foods. The OTA is a membership-based business association and represents over 1,400 organic food and product companies in North America. |
Saturday, March 20 10 am - 5 pm
for businesses of the North Quabbin area and beyond to showcase their products and services to residents and homeowners of the North Quabbin region
April 17 & 18 Encouraging Innovation Today For a Greener and More Prosperous Tomorrow Call Becky George at 413-774-2791
Saturday March 27 8 am - 4 pm at the Worcester Tech High School, Worcester MA
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