Congratulations to Greening Greenfield!

More than 900 homes have signed up for the 10% Challenge Campaign.

The Campaign, started in April 2009, began as a response to former Mayor Forgey's long-term goal of reducing energy use in Greenfield by 80% by 2050. The citizen group Greening Greenfield Energy Committee, works with the town government to develop a firm commitment to sustainable living practices for the future of Greenfield.

The orginal goal of reaching 800 households, who would commit to sustainable lifestyle practices in order to reduce energy consumption, was happily exceeded this month. "This month we celebrate all 900!" says Becca King, co-chair of the campaign, "because every single change each of us makes creates a larger change when we add them all up together".

YES Inc. developing "BizLoft" for Young Entrepreneurs

Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES) held a fourth annual work bee Monday as part of the North Quabbin region's MLK Day celebration. Twelve people volunteered a morning at YES' headquarters in downtown Orange. Some painted the rear hallway floor. Others formed a human chain and cleared out over a ton of old electronics and computers from the third floor to make way for a future "BizLoft" or youth business incubator space, for YES members.

Volunteers included the VetNet group of veterans studying at GCC (Jeremy Birchall, Kevin Leszczynski, Michael Lewis, and Jeanette Tombley); GCC's Academic Advising Coordinator, Diane O'Hearn; Representative Denise Andrews; Hands Across North Quabbin Coordinator, Mark Shoul; Orange residents, Will Johnson and John Hume; YES President, Amber Ortiz Houghton; and YES Executive Director and Founder, Tim Cohen-Mitchell. Photos of the work bee may be viewed on YES' Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/yes.inc and clicking the "Photos" tab.

Independent Contractors: An Endangered Species in Massachusetts?

With the amendment to the Massachusetts Independent Contractor statute in 2004, it became difficult if not impossible for employers to hire independent contractors.  According to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, misclassification deprives individuals of the many benefits, both public and private, that are enjoyed by employees. 

The Attorney General's office has made enforcement of the Independent Contractor law a top priority, and misclassification has also caught the attention of the Department of Labor, which has a new initiative designed to ensure that workers are properly classified. 

This presentation will cover the amendment to the Independent Contractor law, how that amendment applies to individuals in your workforce, and what steps you need to take to be sure that you are in compliance. If time permits, you will also have the opportunity to ask other questions about compliance with wage and hour law.

Thursday January 20, 6-9 pm, FCCDC

$10 payable by check or cash at the door. Register online or call 413-774-7204 x100

Plan for Success!

12 Week Business Planning Course 

Explore Going Into Business and Business Resources

Start your business the right way! This free 1 1/2 hour session is offered on the first Wednesday of the month for people interested in going into business, or taking a hobby to the next level. If you are also interested in using the Food Processing Center, this is your first step!

Topics include:

• Business resources available
• The importance of developing a business plan
• Tour of the Food Processing Center
• Is business ownership right for you?
• Information about starting a food business

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, February 2, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC

Wednesday, March 2, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC

Register online or contact info@fccdc.org or 413-774-7204 x100

Buzz on Biz

Start your day with other business owners for an invigorating discussion on timely topics and network with fellow professionals.

On Feb 4 photographer Beth Reynolds will present: "When bad design happens to good people." Your business image is everything. You have one chance to make a good impression. If your marketing material and website have poor quality photographs and bad design, people may not be attracted to your business. If your images are not inviting and beautiful then people will not want your product or service.

Discover the difference between inferior work and attractive well-designed websites and how they use great photography to help them win and maintain customers. Hot drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

Upcoming Dates (the first Friday of each month):

February 4, March 4, April 1, 8-9:30 am, FCCDC

Register online or contact info@fccdc.org or 413-774-7204 x100. RSVP recommended, walk-ins welcome.

Record Retention: What to Keep, What to Shred

Too often employers lose valuable space by retaining documents longer than they need to. In this presenation,

Upcoming Locally Sponsored Events 

• Free Legal Seminar for Nonprofits: Practical Advice on Fundraising and Development

Offered by Lawyers Clearinghouse with Barry Chait, Esq., and Cindy Rowe, Esq. This event will take place on Thursday, January 20th, 9:30-11:30 am (9 am coffee and networking) at Doyle Center at The Trustees of Reservations, 464 Abbott Avenue, Leominster

 RSVP with subject line of "RSVP JAN 20 Leominster" to msanohewitt@lawyersclearinghouse.org

• Workshops for Farmers and Forest Product Businesses

These workshops are sponsored by the MA Woodlands Institute, Berkshire-Pioneer Resource Conservation and Development Area, Patriot RC&D, Pilgrim RC&D, and the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program. Learn about financial incentives available for energy efficiency, renewable energy and technical assistance.   The January 19th event will be held in Lanesboro, and the January 25th event will be in Carver.

To register for a workshop, please contact Emily Boss, Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, at 413-397-8800 or emily@masswoodlands.coop.

For more information about the workshops or MFEP services, please contact Ann Gibson at agibson@berkshirepioneerrcd.org or 413-256-1607.  Additional MFEP information can be found at http://www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org/mfep/

• Massachusetts Maple Producers Association

On January 22, 9 am-5 pm at the Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland, the 65th annual meeting of Massachuestts Maple Producers Association will feature exhibits and workshops focused on quality control of maple production and grading. For more information, visit www.massmaple.org.

• Agricultural Business Training Program MDAR

Courses for 2011 will begin in January-March in three formats for different stages of farm development:

- Exploring your small farm dream

- Planning for Startup

- Tilling the Soil

For information contact Rick Chandler at rick.chandler@state.ma.us.
Additional information can be found at http://www.mass.gov/agr/programs/abtp/index.htm.

• First Time Homebuyer Workshops

This is a certified class which makes participants eligible to apply for special loan programs. Participants learn about loans with below-market interest rates as well as loans with 0% down or 3% down with no PMI, receive the most up-to-date information on grants for down payments and closing costs, and learn from attorneys, loan officers, realtors, home inspectors, insurance agents, and credit experts. Free refreshments included! Two workshops to choose from:

Thursdays, Feb 3, 10, 17, 24, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Easthampton Savings Bank, Easthampton. For more information contact Fern Selesnick at fs@valleycdc.com or 413-586-5855 x16.

Saturdays, Jan 22, 29 and Feb 5, 9am-noon, Hilltown CDC, 387 Main Road, Chesterfield. For more information contact Bea at beavh@hilltowncdc.org or 413-296-4536 x115.

• Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show: The Expanding New England Farm Enterprise: Reaping More From What We Sow

This unique marketing conference targets New England farmers interested in learning new marketing ideas as well as fine-tuning strategies for business success. Five themed tracks with over 25 workshops will be offered covering a wide range of marketing and business planning topics, including using social media, funding, customer relations, value added, agri-tourism, and more. A full trade show of nearly 100 vendors will provide information on the latest products and services for the agricultural community. For the latest conference updates and to register online, go to www.harvestnewengland.org. March 1-3, Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge

• Basic Mediation Training

Offered through The Mediation & Training Collaborative in Greenfield. This highly interactive and practice-based training is open to individuals who wish to increase their ability to help others deal with conflict, whether as mediators or in their current work settings. TMTC is a Massachusetts Bar Association-approved mediation training provider.

March 11, 19, 25 & April 2, 9am-5:30pm each day. Early preregistration postmarked by Feb 17 is $595. Fee after Feb 17 is $625. For more information call 413-475-1505 email mediation@communityaction.us.

• Young  Entrepreneurs in Franklin County and North Quabbin

Business idea and business plan contest for youth, ages 13-22, December 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011. For more information check out www.bizventure.org.

• Franklin County Home Show and Green Fair

Encouraging innovation today for a greener and more prosperous tomorrow.  April 16 & 17, Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield