A Word from Jay...

For those of us who live on the Lower and Outer Cape year-round, September and October are treasured months when we slow down a bit, enjoy the beautiful weather and express gratitude for another successful summer season that will help us get through the lean winter months.

This September, however has been very different as residents and small business owners attempt to plan for a winter filled with uncertainty and with fewer financial resources. At the CDP, we are hard at work to support our year-round community through this winter.

I am pleased that the CDP was selected by the Town of Truro to administer over $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for small business relief. Forgivable loans of up to $10,000 are available to small businesses owned by low- to moderate-income residents of the Lower Cape with five or fewer employees. We are now accepting applications and you can learn more about this program below.

This past spring, we facilitated a working group of representatives of all Lower Cape towns to develop emergency rental assistance programs that can fill some of the gaps in RAFT – the State’s rental assistance program. Municipal funds will help families earning above 80% of Area Median Income and we are pleased that the Hyannis-based Housing Assistance Corporation who administers the RAFT program, will now have staff based in Orleans who can be more responsive to Lower Cape residents.

Through the winter we will continue to keep in close contact with the 100 families living in the affordable and community housing units we manage. Through our partnership with Homeless Prevention Council we will help our residents connect with rental assistance, fuel assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance and other programs for families in financial distress.

These are just two of the ways that the CDP is building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive on the Lower and Outer Cape. Your support of our efforts has never been more critical.

Never much of a beer drinker, Rob Brosofsky got hooked on hard cider while travelling through Europe for work. He noticed that the traditional style of cider he had abroad was much dryer than the major brands in the United States. He soon started making dry cider in the basement of his home as a hobby. As his skill for small scale production increased, the idea came to him to turn his hobby into a business.

In 2016, having worked for other people for nearly 30 years, Rob decided it was time to become his own boss. “My corporate job just wasn’t fulfilling anymore,” says Rob, “I was finally in a position financially where I was able to walk away.” He left his lucrative corporate job at a Fortune 200 company, pursued his personal passion and founded Shoal Hope Ciderworks.

*Photo: Rob conducting a tasting at a liquor store before the outbreak of coronavirus

The Community Development Partnership’s Housing Rehab program provides forgivable loans to year-round low to moderate income homeowners on the Lower Cape whose homes need critical repairs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the program to change its operations, but it hasn't stopped us from providing this critical service to Lower and Outer Cape residents.

Monica Montoya-Quintero lives in Eastham with her husband and their two children and received a housing rehab loan this summer. Monica and her husband relocated to our community seven years ago just before having their first child. “We decided to move when we were starting our family,” Monica recalls. Like many young parents, they wanted to raise their kids in the safety of a small town. They also wanted to move closer to Outer Cape where Javier was working in construction. He now works for Peter’s Property Management, a local business in Provincetown.

Paul Ruchinskas

CDP Board

Paul Ruchinskas, a long time CDP supporter and Board Member, has been a staunch advocate for affordable housing for much of his career. 

In response to the evolving impacts of the Coronavirus, the CDP has shifted all trainings, workshops, technical assistance sessions, and appointments to a virtual platform until further notice. The status of in-person events may be changed in accordance with guidance from state and local officials.

We remain committed to serving our business clients and our community. Staff is now working remotely and will continue our existing programs and services while also responding to the evolving challenges that this pandemic presents.

Across the Lower Cape businesses have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in varying levels of hardship. While businesses have adapted their business models, purchased additional supplies to protect patrons and staff, and applied for financial assistance through federal programs, for many there is a lingering concern that these efforts will not be enough to sustain them until next season. Many businesses are at the point where they need to assess and develop a Plan B.

The Community Development Partnership and SCORE Cape Cod and the Islands are joining together to host a workshop that will explore the elements of a Plan B. This will cover two principal concepts:

Date: October 8

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Where: Remote via Zoom

Cost: FREE

Time: 5:00 - 6:30 PM on specified date

Where: Remote via Zoom

Cost: $25 for three sessions

In the age of coronavirus, many businesses have pivoted some or all of their business online. With so many different options out there it can be difficult to know what is best for you. The CDP has partnered with Narrow Land to help give you the resources you need!

The three session workshop series includes:

Time: 5:00 - 6:15 PM on specified date

Where: Remote via Zoom

Cost: $10 per session, $25 for all three, scholarships available

We partner with the Cape Light Compact to share their expertise about how to reduce energy consumption. The workshop will also layout steps to take to become Cape & Islands Green verified. 

Date: November 12

Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Where: Remote via Zoom

Cost: $75 for businesses with 10 or fewer employees

Attorney Melanie O'Keefe from the law firm La Tanzi, Spaulding and Landreth will be hosting free 30-minute consultations to answer questions related to small business law including:

Dates: October 13 and November 10

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Where: Via phone call

To book your FREE 30-minute consultation call or email Marina at WE CAN - 508-430-8111 or marina@wecancenter.org

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving weekly updates from our Business and Credit Program that are targeted to small businesses, please sign up for our Inside Scoop.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to support the Lower Cape community during this crisis.