June News from Franklin County CDC

Meals on Wheels has been working out of the CDC's Food Processing Center (FPC) since July of 2009. They deliver hot meals Monday through Friday to 300 seniors a day in Franklin County. On Fridays two frozen meals with milk, dessert and bread are also delivered for participants to eat over the weekend.

Susan Tidlund, Rethermalization Manager for Meals on Wheels, says that working out of the FPC has allowed them to expand their operations. They used to prepare meals out of individual senior centers but the program got too big. They anticipate even more growth as baby boomers turn 60.

The availability of the FPC's high-volume commercial equipment has well suited their needs. The commitment to good sanitation at the FPC gives people peace of mind.

The FPC is located near the intersection of routes 2 and 91 allowing ease of access to clients' homes. The Meals on Wheels program appreciates the in-depth knowledge of food production and sanitation that Larry Diluzio, FPC Manager, has. Tidlund said that the staff at the CDC are easy to work with and very helpful.

For more information about this amazing program, click here. The Meals on Wheels program is open to people who are 60 years old and older and are unable to prepare meals at home or are homebound. To apply contact Franklin County Home Care or call 413-773-5555.

Computer Maintenance and Troubleshooting

June's Buzz on Biz was presented by Veronica Phaneuf and

Brian Faldasz of About-Face Computer Solutions in Turners Falls. They spoke on computer maintenance and troubleshooting for small business owners.

First off they stressed the importance of physically cleaning your computer every 3 to 6 months because lots of dust builds up on the inside of computers which slows it down. This can be done with compressed air, a small brush, and a vacuum cleaner. First step is to shut down your computer. Before disconnecting the wires from the back of the computer take a photograph of it so you know where to put the wires back, or label them and make a diagram. Note that most of the cords have differently shaped plugs so that can help you figure out how to put things back.

To continue reading about computer maintenance, and to learn about some free things you can do to protect your computer and your private information, click here. You can also find out more by checking out the About-Face Computer Solutions website.

FPC Seeks Seasonal Production Assistant

The Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center is gearing up to process a high volume of locally grown vegetables this summer and fall and is looking for seasonal staff to help make this a success. Click here for a detailed job description.

Upcoming Workshops and Classes

at the FCCDC

Buzz on Biz: Friday, July 1

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.

On Friday, July 1, Amy Shapiro will demonstrate a new financial tool being used by the FCCDC. Alan Singer and Amy Shapiro participated in a class through the Mel King Institute at Babson College where this financial tool was developed. "This tool will allow us to input 3 years of balance sheets and profit and loss statements to compare and analyze your business. Using financial ratios and other evaluative models we can assist you with strategic planning decisions," says Amy Shapiro. "This will add to the assistance that the FCCDC is already providing to small business owners." Find out how using this tool could help you make better decisions for YOUR business. Please join us!

First Friday of Each Month, 8-9:30 am, FCCDC

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, July 6, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC

Wednesday, August 3, 3:30-5 pm, FCCDC

Plan for Success!

Business Planning Class

for New and Established

Entrepreneurs

This 12 week class is for people serious about their business to complete a business plan for starting and sustaining a business. Participants say 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:

Developing a mission statement
Understanding legal structures
Finding market research tools & resources
Creating income & expense projections
Financing alternatives and supporting documents

Tuesdays, Fall 2011, 6-9 pm, FCCDC

The class is a $500 value; thanks to grants and donations, we are able to offer it for $250 (payment plans available).

To register for this course contact Amy Shapiro at 413-774-7204 x107.

Photo by Anja Schutz

Brick + Mortar International Video Art Festival

The 3rd annual Brick + Mortar International Video Art Festival will turn Greenfield into a dynamic arts district, presenting cutting edge video art works from around the world on October 14-15, 2011. Downtown historic buildings will be transformed into art installations, including the CDC's First National Bank building on Bank Row, which is one of the main attractions of the festival. Philosopher, critic, and curator Christoph Cox has been chosen to lead the festival. He currently works as a professor of philosophy at Hampshire College.

For more information on the festival see www.greenfieldvideofest.org.

Upcoming Locally Sponsored Events

First Time Homebuyer Program

Sponsored by the Valley CDC. This is a certified class and participants are eligible to apply for special loan programs. Participants get access to grants for downpayments and closing costs. Participants hear presentations from attorneys, loan officers, realtors, home inspectors, insurance agents, credit experts, and more. Informed consumers are most likely to make smart choices!

Free pizza, beverages, and snacks included. $40 per household for a class that can save you thousands.

Thursdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 6-8:30 pm.

Bangs Community Center, Lower Meeting Room, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. To register contact Fern Selesnick at fs@valleycdc.com or 413-586-5855 x16.

Common Good Festival

Created by the Common Good Bank. Amherst Town Common, Sunday, July 10, 11am - 7pm. Free.

SolarFest

SolarFest, Inc. continues to produce the Northeast's premier renewable energy and arts festival-a three-day, family-friendly festival that combines world-class entertainment with not-to-be-missed workshops in renewable energy, sustainability and community engagement. SolarFest blends art, education, and outreach to inspire conservation, promote renewable energy, and support sustainable communities.

CDC tenant Co-op Power will be one of the many exhibitors. July 15-17, Tinmouth, Vermont.

Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit

Stay tuned for more information! September 23-24 at Greenfield Community College

Calling All Artists to Enter the "My Business Composts!" Logo Design Contest

The Shelburne Falls-Buckland central business district began a composting program in 2010. Compostable materials are collected and then hauled to Martin's Farm in Greenfield for reuse in local farms and gardens. The compost helps to create a "closed loop system" through its use at local farms that, in turn, serve downtown restaurants and enrich the soils on the Bridge of Flowers.

The Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (SFABA) received a grant toward creating a logo design for this successful program. It will be prominently displayed in business entrances and storefront windows as well as in printed and web-based promotional media, including restaurants menus.

The design criteria for the Shelburne Falls Composting Initiative is to communicate composting and be something unique to West County. Illustrating in some fashion the closed loop system formed by the composting process will be considered desirable. The one condition is to NOT use a Bridge of Flowers image.

Submission deadline is Wednesday, June 22, at 5:00 pm.

For more information, contact Mary Vilbon at info@shelburnefalls.com or call 413-625-2526.

Job Openings

at Co-op Power

Co-op Power is a network of local communities working for justice and sustainability. Co-op Power provides energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services along with a toolkit of resources for communities across Massachusetts and southern VT.

Co-op Power is looking for upbeat, organized, team players with good people skills to become Energy Coaches. Energy Coaches are community entrepreneurs who volunteer to build a strong base in their community and receive a share of the revenues they bring into Co-op Power. As an Energy Coach, you would work 20 to 40 hour a week:
-coordinating community outreach & education
-helping people get energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems for their homes and businesses
-supporting community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Co-op Power is now accepting applicants for the position of Energy Efficiency Senior Crew Leader. The insulation crew leader will oversee a crew of 3-4 people to insulate homes and small businesses across western Massachusetts, based out of the Hatfield shop.

For more information, see www.cooppower.coop. To apply, send cover letter and resume to diane@cooppower.coop.

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.

Franklin Hampshire Career Center offers computer classes and job skills classes.

You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are in our contacts database. Please feel free to to others who you think might be interested. If you'd rather not receive emails from us, please use the link at the bottom to remove yourself from our list. Our e-newsletters are now archived on our website. Check out our website at www.fccdc.org to learn more about the CDC and our work, including an updated calendar of classes and workshops. The Franklin County Community Development Corporation is an equal opportunity provider, lender and employer.