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
Free Information Sessions
First Wed. of the Month 3:30-5 pm
June 2 7 FCCDC
Financing Strategies
May 20 9-noon FCCDC
reserve a spot
Securing Business Financing
June 10 3-5pm Athol
June 17, 8-10am Turners Falls
Marketing Strategies
an Internet Plan
June 16 6-9pm FCCDC reserve a spot
reserve a spot
or call 413-774-7204 ext 300 |
| 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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May 2010
Join us today at the Greenfield Grille TODAY!
Come Enjoy
 Good food and Good drinks with Good friends for a Good cause!
10% of all of the proceeds go to the FCCDC
Join us from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
for a fun TRIVIA GAME and win FANTASTIC prizes! Bring your smarts, your family and friends to the Greenfield Grille TODAY!
Enter to win one of 5 gift baskets of FPC products by letting us know what is YOUR connection to the FCCDC?
Become our fan on Facebook!
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Katalyst Kombucha
 Katalyst Kombucha has been a part of the Franklin County CDC's Incubator for about five years. They have grown steadily and are now hatching into a larger space within the Venture Center. With a lot of hard work, Will Savitri, Jeff Canter and company have created a drinking phenomenon called Katalyst Kombucha. Kombucha is, "a living symbiotic colony of beneficial yeast and bacteria." The cultures float atop an infusion of tea and sugar, and through the natural process of fermentation converts the sugar into organic acids and carbon dioxide. Will's background in Sustainable Agriculture, holistic health, as well as his experiences working in a bakery and the kitchen at the Sirius Community all helped him test his ideas for the naturally fermented drink, although he says "This is by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life." After finding out about the Western Mass Food Processing Center, he spent about six months writing a business plan, doing product testing and design, marketing, financial projections and much more. Katalyst Kombucha can be found locally at various co-ops and natural food stores including Green Field's Market, Leverett Co-op, River Valley Market, Siren Café, Lady Killagrew and Whole Foods. The business is expanding rapidly. As Will spoke of his business he said, "I en joy it but it's a lot of work, the business aspect is very challenging. A normal day for me is 12 hours 6-7 days a week." Because of his long hours but also his affinity for co-operatives he is looking into making Katalyst Kombucha into a worker co-operative which will put the company into the hands of the people doing the work. In Franklin County and across the U.S. there is a strong worker co-op movement and it is the direction the Katalyst hopes to be taking soon.
Will's big goal, besides retiring at 35, is to create a regional brewing model that can help establish other small breweries in other regions of the U.S.. He also hopes that if the worker co-operative takes off he will be able to back away from the production aspect of his business and move into the more agricultural lifestyle of growing herbs, fruits and honey. |
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Business Plan Class Participants Request Your Help
The Spring 2010 Plan for Success Class participants are working on market research for their business plans. Several participants have developed online surveys to collect information that will help shape their business. We invite you to complete the surveys by clicking on the following links. Our class participants appreciate your time and effort which will have a direct impact.
Surveys Ready to be Completed:
Mountain Cat Trees
Homstead Pottery
Surveys Ready to be completed by Friday May 21:
Valley Farm Tours
Lynch's Doggie Cuisine Thanks! |
NMH Students brighten up the Venture Center!
 On Earth Day, students from Northfield Mount Hermon school do community service work. We were fortunate to have some enthusiastic NMH students come to the Venture Center for some Spring clean up.
They stuffed envelopes, assembled office equipment and brightened up the front of the VC with new mulch and weeding.
Thank you Amanda Lawrence, Kimberley Gray, Lichen Pan, Sravani Lanka and Yabei Chen for your great work and sunny smiles! |
Upcoming Financing Workshops
Financing Strategies
A panel of local lenders will talk about lending options, current trends, federal programs for small businesses. Free
May 20 9:30 - noon FCCDC
Sign up
Securing Business Financing
Free 1 1/2 hours sessions to inform people about developing a plan for obtaining financing
June 10 3 5 pm Athol
Sign up
or call 413-774-7204 ext 300 for more information |
Marketing Strategies: Incorporating an Internet Plan
Learn how and actually set up a Google account, Facebook, and LinkedIn profile. Find out why businesses are using these tools. Explore further how the internet can be part of a business marketing strategy. This workshop will be taught by Darren Gale, FCCDC Board member and owner of Innovative Design Concepts. The cost is $10 payable at the door
June 16 6-9pm, FCCDC
Sign up
or call 413-774-7204 ext 300 for more information |
Upcoming Events!
Don't miss Co-op Power's 6th Annual Sustainable Energy Summit Nuestras Raices in Holyoke (Jones Ferry Road) on
Saturday, June 19 from 10 am to 7 pm.
Contact Diane Crowe, Summit Coordinator 413-772-8898 summit@cooppower.coop
 Please join with other Co-op Power members and friends to show support for the Northeast Biodiesel plant on June 10th at 7 pm at the Greenfield Police Department meeting room, 321 High Street Greenfield. Co-op Power needs to show that the plant is owned by people in our community and that we are interested in having the plant permit approved at this meeting.
We're hoping to break ground in October and build on our land in the Greenfield Industrial Park. As you know, Co-op Power is the majority owner of the biodiesel plant. It's a key part of our strategic plan to work for sustainability and justice in our region. Please come make it happen!
Congratulations to The Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE) on 35 years www.coopfund.coopCFNE has resources to lend to help your co-op or community organization grow. For more information, please call 1-800-818-7833 or visit www.coopfund.coop. The Fund is responsive, flexible, offers competitive rates and is committed to your success.
Get your tickets for the Green River Festival July 17 and 18
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