Because the Franklin County CDC promotes the public good and benefits economic conditions for low- and moderate-income people, the Commonwealth offers the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) to those who donate $1,000 or more to us. What does that mean for you? If you can give $1,000 or more to the Franklin County CDC, you can get 50% of that back in a reduced tax burden or direct payment. In effect, you can double your impact, and we can double ours as we invest in local entrepreneurship and in our food system. Want to find out more? Go to our website and donate today!

Our 43rd Annual Meeting was super fun! Thanks to all who attended and helped us celebrate entrepreneurs, and pay tribute to Amy Shapiro. Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center was festooned with more than 1,000 business cards that Amy collected over 21 years mounted on poster board—the evidence of the many entrepreneurs she has served. Around 85 people attended, and it was great to meet new folks and see familiar faces. See more photos at our Facebook page.

A recent segment on WGBY's "Connecting Point" featured the FCCDC, with a focus on our Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center. Food Entrepreneurship Program Manager Kate Minifie and Finance Director Shannon Martineau were interviewed and explained how the FCCDC and Food Processing Center work to support farms, our local food system, and businesses of all types at all stages. A special thank you to the stars at the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center crew who confidently produced pickled onions while reporter Brian Sullivan captured around 200 film clips for the program.

Watch the FCCDC on "Connecting Point."

Ben Reigle has been a tattoo artist for 16 years. "I came from a street-shop environment, walk-in tattoos, small designs, many in a day," he said in a recent telephone interview. Over the years, as he developed his skills, he kept seeking out higher quality, custom-tattoo-shop positions. "Being surrounded by positive, entrepreneurial people lit a fire under me as to what I could accomplish," he said.

With a loan and business assistance from the FCCDC he opened his own shop, Great Spirits, on Federal Street in Greenfield, in 2016. However, a health scare in 2018 motivated him to shift the course of his career once more. He and his doctors called his near-complete recovery from two strokes within nine days a "miracle." And while his cognitive and physical health has returned, he decided to add to his career in tattoo artistry, which can be hard on the hands, eyes, and back. Always a musician, he recently worked with FCCDC Business Assistance provider Jack Clemente to apply for an Empower Digital grant from Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp. Ben received $5,000 to buy a MacBook Pro to pursue a business in video and music editing and production, and for digital marketing assistance. "Ben’s reason for purchasing the MacBook Pro was to expand existing editing and production services to allow him to take on larger projects and deliver the work much more efficiently," said Jack.

Several projects lie ahead for Ben, who now works at The Black Labyrinth Tattoo Syndicate in Easthampton. He's helping Black Labyrinth build a more robust digital presence. With Black Labyrinth, he is also organizing a charitable event for 2023, possibly a block party celebrating Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary. He's also working on brand redevelopment and video production for 1357 Recording Studios in Greenfield. And he is working to on a series of OSHA-certified videos for tattoo artists explaining how to prevent blood-borne pathogens and administer first aid and CPR.  

Joe Kriesberg will be moving on to lead independent research, nonprofit journalism, and civic engagement organization Mass Inc. after 30 years at Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), the last 20 as President and CEO. Joe launched several programs at MACDC that have helped regional CDCs, including the Community Investment Tax Credit. He also created the Mel King Institute for Community Building, the GOALs Initiative, the biennial MACDC conventions and the Community Development Innovation Forum. During his tenure Joe has helped to pass many important bills through the Massachusetts Legislature, including the groundbreaking Insurance Industry Community Investment Act (1998), the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (2000), the Small Business Technical Assistance Program (2006), a comprehensive anti-foreclosure law (2007), a new law to help preserve “expiring-use” affordable rental communities (2009). Thanks and good luck with your new post!

Winter is coming, people! But staying warm while buying local is easy! Allow us to introduce Old Friends Farm's honeys and teas, perfect for the wintry days to come. Zinger Chai Herbal Tea Blend combines Old Friends Farm's ginger with whole chai spices. Simmer these herbs with your favorite black tea for classic cup of chai, or simmer them in water for a caffeine-free alternative. To sweeten, try their turmeric, elderberry turmeric, or ginger honey. You'll get all the cold-busting benefits of honey along with some time-honored immune-boosters. Find them locally at Chase Hill Farm, Amherst Farmers Market, Atlas Farm Store, River Valley Co-op, Green Fields Market, and Simple Gifts Farm Store.

Want to go in a more savory direction? Aya's Tasty AF Hot Chili Oil is a one-of-a-kind, small-batch chili oil with locally grown ingredients. This gluten-free, plant-based, nut-free, and all natural product is flavorful, and offers gentle heat–perfect for when it's snowy outside. Liven up your eggs, avocado toast, noodles, tacos, pizza, pasta, and more! Buy it locally at Simple Gifts Farm Store or on their website.

The WMFPC crew made more than 400 gallons of real (and really delicious) hot cocoa with ingredients donated by local businesses for this year's Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage on December 4. A team of seven FCCDC employees raised more than $800 for the cause. Thanks to all who participated, donated, and woke up early (3:30 a.m.!) to make the hot chocolate! It was truly a community effort. More photos are on our Instagram feed.

The Franklin County CDC is one of several partners taking entrepreneurship to the next level in the Take The Floor (TTF) pitch contest. Working with Greenfield Community College and others through our Local Food Promotion Program grant (see November's newsletter and this Greenfield Recorder article), we are participating in a series of business pitch competitions that culminate in a final pitch competition where three winners will receive up to $3,000 each ($10,000 total) to advance their ideas. The events will be held January 19, March 23, and May 18, with winners from each event coming together for the final pitch on June 29. Entrepreneurs will be in three tracks: Creative Entrepreneurship; Food, Beverage, and Agricultural Entrepreneurship; and Small Business Entrepreneurship. The Food, Beverage, and Agricultural Entrepreneurship category winner will work with our Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center to develop a food product idea. Interested in making a pitch? Know someone who should enter? Go to GCC's website.

Are you an experienced business advisor or entrepreneur with a passion for food and farms who wants to use their skills to support sustainable, equitable, and robust regional food systems? The Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) is looking for a Food and Farm Business Finance Specialist to join our team. See the posting and full job description on our website and please share with your network!

Attention farmers and food entrepreneurs! Do you want to showcase your business—and fine-tune your approach to marketing and distribution? Sign up to be an exhibitor for the Local Food Trade Show, hosted by the Sustainable Business Network on March 1. Register by February 12! When you register, you can sign up for some great virtual workshops leading up to the event, including Speed Trading, a wholesale matchmaking event on January 17, one-on-one consultations on February 28, and a Wholesale Marketing Workshop on February 21. Register online.

The Cornell Master of Public Health program announced three Transforming Food Systems Fellowships for the incoming cohort. Transforming Food Systems Fellows aim to create equitable, sustainable, and health-promoting food systems. The two-year fellowships will provide support towards tuition, fees, and stipend ($44,000 in tuition scholarships and a $37,000 stipend) for students from underrepresented/underserved backgrounds. For priority consideration, submit applications to Cornell’s MPH Program via SOPHAS by February 1, and the supplementary Transforming Food Systems Fellowship Application by February 15.

Make your plans now: Starting January 1, applications for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's Local Farmer Awards are open and they stay open until January 31! If you are a farmer with a need for an infrastructure improvement, up to $2,500, you are encouraged to apply. The team of funders has given 474 awards and invested over $1 million in local farms.

January Small Business Fundamentals

January 4, noon, on Zoom

Excel Functions--Power Tools for Your Formulas

January 11, 10 a.m.

Business Planning the Easier Way

January 12, noon

How's Your Social IQ?

January 13, noon

If you don't have a succession plan for your farm, it's worth the drive to sort it out! Land For Good's Farm Succession School program helps senior generation farmers make a plan for their farm. Thursdays January 26, March 2, and March 30, 2023, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Fiske Public Library in Wrentham, Mass. With funding from Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Register online until January 6. The fee, subsidized by MDAR, is $100 per farm.

The following two upcoming classes are listed on the Agricultural Business Training Program website, where you can find more details and registration information:

January 12–February 9, Thursday evenings, 6–9 p.m., Southborough, MA.

5-session course, typically offered on weekday evenings, using curriculum and workbook developed by the New England Small Farm Institute. For those who are thinking about or in the planning stages of a starting their own farm, including those who are expanding a hobby to an income-generating scale. This course offers guidance and resources to help make informed decisions about what’s involved with owning your own farm so you can decide whether or not to take the plunge - and how to proceed in the first stages. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, $100.

January 17–March 14, 2023, Tuesday evenings 5:30–8:30 p.m., Southborough, MA

A hands-on course to help established farmers develop a business plan and financial projections for their farm business. This course covers topics including resource assessment, marketing strategy, financial management, risk management, quality of life, and goal setting. The course is taught by a professional business planner with years of experience working with Massachusetts farms and guest speakers on topics such as succession planning and online marketing. Enrollment is open to farmers who have been operating a farm business in Massachusetts for at least the two prior years. Eight weekly classes will be held in person in Southborough on Tuesday evenings starting January 17th and ending March 14th, (no class February 21st). The course fee, subsidized by MDAR, is $150 per farm. The Growing Your Farm business planning course has been approved as a certified USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrower training for financial management.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is seeking public input and comments on a Draft Environmental Justice Strategy. See details. There will be virtual and in-person public comment listening sessions hosted during the public comment period running through January 27, 2023.

CITC Credits help us maximize your gifts, while you get 50% back in state tax credits! Email John for details.

Upcoming virtual session is on January 4.

Second Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

Upcoming virtual sessions is on January 11.

Upcoming virtual session is on December 20.