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Support the FCCDC so we can continue to help our local economy grow.
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| Upcoming Workshops | |
Free Information Sessions: Explore Going Into Business
First Weds. of each month, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC
Buzz on Biz
Mar 4, Apr 1, 8-9:30 am, FCCDC
Register online or call 413-774-7204 x100
Plan for Success: 12 Week Business Planning Class
Tuesdays, March 8 to May 31, 6-9 pm, FCCDC
Call 413-774-7204 x100
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| FCCDC Staff |
John Waite
Executive Director
Amy Shapiro
Business Assistance
Director
Alan Singer Lending Director
Larry DiLuzio
Crystal McNeill Commonwealth Corps
Megan Couture
Commonwealth Corps
Jill Fitzsimmons
Amelio
Receptionist |
FCCDC Board of Directors
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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
Roberta Wilmore
The Children's Equitation Center
Susan Worgaftik
UMass Amherst |
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Thank You, Clara Lopez and Eric Marsh
We want to thank CDC Board Members Clara Lopez and Eric Marsh for their valued and dedicated service to the FCCDC. Both have decided to move on to other activities. Clara Lopez is a local entrepreneur involved with the successful Greenfield restaurants, Hope & Olive and Magpie Pizza. Eric Marsh is Senior Vice President and CFO at Greenfield Cooperative Bank and served as the CDC Board Treasurer. We will miss them and all the experience and wisdom they have offered as board members of the CDC. In addition to their jobs, both Clara and Eric have a history of volunteering in the community so we're sure we'll be seeing them around.
Now it's your chance! The CDC is looking for new board members to join us in fostering economic development for a vibrant and prosperous Franklin County. Please contact John Waite at 413-774-7204 x102 or johnw@fccdc.org for more information. |
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 CDC Helps Manufacture Romance:
Green River Ambrosia
February and Valentine's love go hand in hand. What better way to celebrate love than with mead? Here at the CDC, Green River Ambrosia makes delicious mead. For those of you not familiar with this ambrosiac elixir, mead is honey wine. The word "honeymoon" comes from the ancient tradition of the newly married couple drinking mead for the first sweet month of their marriage, to ensure happiness and fertility.
Read More |
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Our Legislators Visit!
On yet another snowy morning in late January, FCCDC hosted four members of our state legislative delegation to update them on the CDC's activities and discuss key community development policy issues. They started out having breakfast and continued with a tour of the Western Mass Food Processing Center, which promotes economic development through entrepreneurship, provides opportunities for sustaining local agriculture and promotes best practices for food producers. We discussed issues important to small businesses and talked about strategies to pursue over the coming years.
Standing in Katalyst Kombucha's fermentation room at the Venture Center are, from left to right, John Waite, Senator Ben Downing, Representative Paul Mark, Representative Gail Cariddi, and Representative Denise Andrews. |
 USDA Grants Fundsto Freeze Local Food
FCCDC is happy to announce that we are the lead organization for a $250,000 grant from USDA Rural Development for a 6 state project aimed at getting more local foods into schools and institutions. This unique collaboration will help farmers throughout New England increase their sales of produce to schools, colleges, and other institutions. This project will help increase the capacity of the Western MA Food Processing Center to become more efficient at freezing and bottling products to provide healthy local foods outside of the harvest season.
Judy Canales, USDA Rural Development Director, toured the CDC and Food Processing Center on Monday, February 7. "I view it as seed money," said Canales. Kelly Erwin who coodinates Farm to School and works with the CDC says "I'm very hopeful we're going to have to put more acres into production to keep up with institutional demand. It is working and it's really taking off like a rocket. We need to hold onto the rocket, make sure the farmers really ride the rocket and are able to benefit from it." |
Enter to Win a Gift Basket
filled with local products made here at the
Food Processing Center!
 Wonderfully Wild Blueberry Spread, Pioneer Valley Marinara Sauce, Herrell's Chocolate Sauce, Hedgie's Hotter Salsa -- these are the delicious products made her at the CDC Food Processing Center. And you may possibly be the Lucky Winner of these basket of goodies!
Due to technical difficulties, the drawing was not done on Valentine's Day. We are giving you one more chance! The new drawing will be done on Saint Patty's Day, March 17. Come one and all and try your chance to win this enticing basket!
All you have to do is LIKE us on facebook. Go to the Events page and fill out the form.
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For Small Business Owners Seeking Space
in Stimulating Business Environment!
Venture Center a Great Place to Start a Business
The Venture Center is a small business incubator at FCCDC's 36,000 square ft. industrial building at 324 Wells Street in Greenfield. It provides light industrial and office space for start-up and growing businesses. In addition, tenants can share t  he conference room, kitchen facilities, copier and fax, and receive technical assistance from the FCCDC staff and visit with Amelio, our feline receptionist!
This is an ideal way for businesses to keep their capital costs lower during their early years of operation. Space now available! |
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Upcoming Workshops and Classes
at the FCCDC |
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 Plan for Success!
Business Planning Class
for New and Established
Entrepreneurs
This twelve week (36 hour) class is an opportunity for people serious about their business to complete a business plan for starting and sustaining a business. Participants say that this experience provided an opportunity to evaluate a business idea in a supportive way. Individual assistance is provided. Guest speakers complement the material.Topics include:
- Exploring your business idea
- Developing a mission statement
- Understanding legal structures
- Finding market research tools & resources
- Creating income & expense projections
- financing alternatives and supporting documents. Individual assistance is provided.
Date: Tuesdays, March 8 to May 31
Time: 6-9 pm
Place: FCCDC, 324 Wells Street, Greenfield
Cost: $250 (Payment plans are available.)
Register today to save your place!
To register for this course, please contact Amy Shapiro at 413-774-7204 x107 or at amys@fccdc.org. |
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 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, March 2, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC
Wednesday, April 6, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC
Register online or contact info@fccdc.org or 413-774-7204 x100 |
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Buzz on Biz
Start your day with other business owners for an invigorating discussion on timely topics and network with fellow professionals. Light refreshments and hot drinks provided. Afterward there will be time to network with other business professionals.
March 4, 8 - 9:30 am
Getting Your Chaos under Control: What Can You Do?
Being organized is as important to the success of your business as having a great product or service. Disorganization can hamper your ability to give good service to your customers and undermine your credibility in the market place. It takes a toll on your clarity of thinking, creates daily crises that waste energy, and makes time management nearly impossible.
Read More
April 1, 8 - 9:30 am
Managing Debt: Strategies that Work to Get Debt Free
Managing debt does not have to be a hardship but rather a management plan which is completely flexible to accommodate future changes. Learn how people have managed their debt, available resources and budgeting strategies that build good credit, long-term financial resiliency, and attain total financial fitness.
Presented by Dr. Frances Rahaim of Powerdown Debt (www.powerdowndebt.com).
First Friday of Each Month, 8-9:30 am, FCCDC
Register online or contact info@fccdc.org or 413-774-7204 x100. RSVP recommended, walk-ins welcome. Free! |
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Local Food: Building a Delicious Future
The Pioneer Valley Institute (PVI) is partnering with the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee to explore how we can recapture the abundance and excitement of what the rich soils of the Pioneer Valley and Yankee ingenuity can offer to our future well being.
Join Franklin County CDC's own executive director John Waite on a journey into the world and business of food. He will engage you in a dialogue with local farmers, food processors, schools, and businesses to explore the richness of our soils and the vision and creativity of farmers and business people.
Wednesday, April 6, 7 - 10 pm, Second Congregational Church, Greenfield. For more information you can call 413-775-1671 or email PVI at pvi@gcc.mass.edu |
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 Creative Economy Summit 2
Are you a friend of Art?
The Fostering Art and Culture Project, an organization made up of partners throughout Franklin County is hosting the 2nd Creative Economy Summit, a conference for artists and their friends.
Two days, bursting at the seams, of valuable sessions; both dreamy and practical. Two important panels, one at the beginning of each day; the first with important supporters of the arts on the regional and statewide stage on the topic of finding money and on day two, a morning with our local hero experts who offer sage advice and resources, both in a panel format and also in intimate small group sessions designed to discover what makes your art click. After the panels there are 4 session choices before lunch and 4 afternoon sessions.
The cost is $25 for both days to accommodate all income levels. Registration deadline is Monday, March 8. Full program details, general information and online registration form available at www.fosteringartandculture.org or by calling 413-441-6164.
Friday, March 18, to Saturday, March 19
8 am to 6 pm in downtown Shelburne Falls |
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Upcoming Locally Sponsored Events
Hearing the Fruit Call
 Join Double Edge on February 26 for the opening of a new installation and dialogue with visual artist Hayley Wood.
Double Edge's summer explorations led to discover a new love for the Visual Arts and the way they interact with the Performing Arts. Hearing the Fruit Call is their first foray into that dialogue.
Hearing the Fruit Call is an installation of literary dolls and puppets by Hayley Wood, in collaboration with the artists of Double Edge Theatre and contributing artists Mark Roessler, Chelynn Tetreault, and Dan Frank.
Opening Reception Saturday February 26, 5-7 pm
Installation Visiting Hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 5-7 pm, February 26-March 13. There will be tea and music during Visiting Hours.
Valley CDC First Time Homebuyer Workshop
Here are some reasons to come to the 4-part series offered by the Valley CDC:
1) Incredible Loans!
2) Access to Down Payment and Closing Cost $$$.
3) Education- informed consumers are most likely to make smart choices.
Participants hear presentations from attorneys, loan officers, realtors, home inspectors, insurance agents, credit experts and more. Free pizza and beverages! $40 per household for workshop series
March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 6 - 8:30 pm, PeoplesBank, 56 Amity St., Amherst. For more information contact Fern Selesnick at fs@valleycdc.org or 413-586-5855 x16.
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 towww.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.
" The most useful training I have ever attended!" March 11, 19, 25 & April 2, 9 am - 5:30 pm
For more information call Susan Hackney at 413-475-1505 or email
mediation@communityaction.us.
Young Entrepreneurs in Franklin Cty. and No. 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 |
Other Local Business Classes
Valley CDC offers classes for business owners, artists, and first-time homebuyers.
Hilltown CDC has computer classes and classes for business owners.
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