Bringing you the latest tools to help your business.

One week to Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to the Summer Season on Cape Cod. Is your business ready? Do you need a loan to buy inventory or tackle a last minute capital improvement? Check out the CDP's microloan program, then contact Pam to see if it's a good fit for your needs.

Another great source of funds is the Mass Growth Capital Corporation Biz-M-Power grant, where applicants raise a minimum of $1,500 through crowdfunding with the help of a crowdfunding expert from Patronicity. For every dollar above $1,500, the applicant will receive a 2:1 match up to $40,000. For example, raise $2,000 and receive a grant of $4,000. Laura & Tony's Kitchen excceeded its crowdfunding goal and used this grant to design gardens to improve its "curb appeal" and expand its outdoor seating area. Block & Tackle Smokehouse & Tavern are in the middle of their crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for kitchen equipment and to improve their bar area.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian and Pacific Islanders encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific island chains of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. On May 25th, SCORE will offer How to Overcome the Unique Challenges Facing AAPI Business Owners.

May is also Small Business Month. Our friends at Love, Live, Local report that 90% of the Cape's economy is comprised of small businesses with 1-19 employees. Celebrated in May every year, Small Business Month is a recognition of the value small business owners bring to their communities. The federal government and the IRS have websites with specific resources for small business owners. We know that housing and transportation impact small business owners and employees - please complete these surveys to voice your needs.

One way to support small businesses is at your town's farmers' markets which are beginning to open (or like Orleans' are open year round!). Are you a farmer looking to turn your harvest into value-added products, but are not sure where to begin? Check out this workshop from the MA Ag Innovation Center on May 24th.

Here at the CDP, we celebrate small business owners and entrepreneurs every day. In the first five months of 2023, the CDP has worked with 184 clients on their small businesses. The CDP has also issued six loans since January, 2023 totaling over $96,000. Schedule an appointment with Pam or Tricia to see how the CDP can help your small business start, grow, and thrive.

Inside Scoop at a glance:

Artists - Workshops & Gatherings 

• 5/18 Creative Exchange May Meetup - Public Art Panel
• 6/15 Creative Exchange June Meetup - Visual Storytelling
• 6/28 Resource Mapping for Individual Artists

Food - Workshops, Opportunities, & Grants 

• 5/24 Grow Your Farm with Value-Added Food Products
• Snack Shack at Hyannis Harbor Overlook - applications are open
• Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program - Apply by May 26th

General Business Workshops and Information

• 5/23 Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - Marketing Plan
• 6/7 Artificial Intelligence Tools for Small Business
• 6/16 So You Want to Sell Online?

Important Surveys

• Cape Cod Commission Regional Housing Survey
• Regional Transportation Plan Survey

Other Resources for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

• CDP Referral Program - refer a new small business and enter to win $100
• MGCC Loan Funds Designated for Underserved Communities through 6/30/23
• MGCC Crowd Funding 
• Business Law Consults Available

CDP's Small Business Services - Regional Office Hours

• QuickBooks Help
• Do you need a microloan or professional services grant?
• Regional Office Hours:
• 5/23 Chatham Works 9-11
• 6/6 The 204 (in Harwich) 11-2
• 6/13 Provincetown Commons 9-1

To learn more about these workshops and programs, as well as other topics important to your business, please see below. As always, if there is a business topic that comes up for which you need more information or assistance, please reach out to us and we will help find resources to answer your questions.

We look forward to working with you!

Pam & Tricia

CDP Small Business Referral Program - Refer a Business

Earn a chance to win a $100 gift certificate

Each month anyone who refers an entrepreneur or business owner to the CDP will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate from a local business. We will draw a winner on the 15th of each month. Here are the details:

• Be sure the person you refer to the CDP tells Pam and Tricia that you referred them
• One entry per referral - refer 3 businesses, earn 3 entries. etc.
• Drawing will be held on the 15th of each month
• CDP Staff, Board Members and Advisory Council Members are not eligible to participate in the referral raffle program (although we welcome your referrals!)

Congratulations to the May 2023 winner: Bernadette Waystack of Bernadette C. Waystack Fine Art Studio located at The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building in Harwich who will receive a $100 gift certificate to Green Road Refill.



REFER A BUSINESS TODAY AND YOU MAY BE THE LUCKY WINNER IN JUNE!

Artist Specific Workshops and Gatherings

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod

Creative Exchange -

Public Art Panel

May 18th 4:00 - 6:00

JFK Hyannis Museum

Join Cape creatives for a relaxed and inclusive networking opportunity for Cape creatives. This month's Creative Exchange includes a discussion about public art with the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Artist of the Year, Mark Adams, Jason Weeks from Cambridge Arts, Mary-Ann Agresti an artist, architect, and educator, and Dr. Audrey Lopez, from the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod

Creative Exchange -

Visual Storytelling

June 15th 4:00 - 6:00

The Guyer Art Barn

250 South Street, Hyannis

June's Creative Exchange features Anne Tochka who will be discussing her background in visual storytelling and will take participants through a visual experience of her painting process!

Resource Mapping for Individual Artists

with Ana Tinajero

June 28th 6-8 pm (virtual)

Oftentimes the most difficult part of being an artist is finding the skills, tools, and connections needed to make your work and share it with the public. In this workshop, participants will begin by surfacing the resources already at their disposal in their larger personal network, and will consequently outline the pathways to reach the resources not yet secured. Using a collaboratively-minded strategy for resource sharing and exchange, artists will learn how to navigate their surroundings, leverage existing connections, and build a broader community of mutual assistance that nurtures win-win relationships and shared success. Artists at all stages of their careers are welcome.

Food Related Workshops, Grants, and Opportunities

Grow Your Farm

with Value-Added Food Products

May 24th 11:00 - 12:00 (virtual)

Are you a farmer looking to turn your harvest into value-added products, but not sure where to begin? Already making a value-added product, but want to scale up your business? This info session walks agricultural producers interested in value-added food products through the food business roadmap, outlining things to consider on your journey. 

Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP)

AFSIP is a reimbursement grant program that supports produce and aquaculture operations that are looking to improve their food safety practices that work towards minimizing the risks of microbial contamination and food-borne illnesses while increasing market access.

Participants selected for funding are provided with reimbursement grants for 80% of total project costs up to $50,000.

Learn more and apply here: Learn more

Applications due: 4:00PM on Friday, May 26, 2023

General Business Workshops

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business-Marketing Plan

May 23rd 6:00-9:00 pm (virtual)

This workshop will provide you with an introduction to marketing communication methods and tools to maximize your customer reach.

Artificial Intelligence Tools for Small Businesses

June 7th 11:00 - 12:00

(virtual)

Learn how Small Businesses Can Easily leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

So You Want to Sell Online?

June 16th 12:00 - 1:00

(virtual)

There is no doubt that eCommerce is changing the way consumers and businesses shop for goods and services. This webinar will cover the Big 6 platforms of Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Facebook (Meta), and Google. SCORE will help entrepreneurs and small businesses determine which platform is best for them.

MGCC Biz-M-Power Grant

MGCC Grant Programs for Small Business Owners updated for 2023!

Schedule an appointment with Pam or Tricia today to see if your small business is eligible for this amazing opportunity.

Crowd Funding Matching Grant

For 2023, MGCC increased the matching grant from a 1:1 match to a 2:1 match. This means businesses receive $2 from MGCC for every $1 raised in crowdfunding. 

MGCC is partnering with a crowdfunding platform, Patronicity, to assist low to moderate income and underserved entrepreneurs,& small business owners with meeting capital needs of their business through matching grants. Businesses must crowdfund a minimum of $1,500 and a maximum of $20,000 to receive a 2:1 matching grant from MGCC between $3,000 and $40,000. The combination of crowdfunding dollars and 2:1 matching grant from MGCC, businesses can earn $60,000+ through this program.   

Small Business Energy Information

WE CAN Business Law Consults

Free Business Law Consults Available

Free, half-hour legal consults in business law are available each month from WE CAN legal volunteers. Learn about the best way to organize your business, things to consider in drafting partnership agreements, understand your liability exposure, advantages of registering as a women owned business entity, and more.

Contact WE CAN to schedule an appointment for a Business Law Consult.

CDP Regional Office Hours

The CDP is offering free in-person meetings at Chatham Works on

May 23rd from

9:00 - 11:00

Book an appointment for Chatham Works 

Chatham Works

323 Orleans Rd.

North Chatham

The CDP is offering free in-person meetings at the Provincetown Commons 

on June 13th from

9:00 - 1:00.

Book an appointment for Provincetown Commons

Provincetown Commons

46 Bradford Street

Provincetown

The CDP is offering free in-person meetings at The 204 on June 6th from 11:00 - 2:00

Book an appointment for The 204.

The 204

204 Sisson Road

Harwich

The CDP thanks these organizations for the  opportunity to use their space to meet with clients and for their demonstrated support of small businesses and entrepreneurs on the Lower Cape

CDP Small Business Services

How Can We Help Your Business?

Individual Business Guidance

Are you self-employed, a solopreneur or a small business owner who lives or works on the Lower Cape?

The CDP offers individual business guidance for all types of businesses, including:

*creating business plans, cash flow and other financial statements

*marketing and e-commerce

*business formation and organization

Individual Mentoring through SCORE

A resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE’s mission is to grow small businesses one business at a time. 

SCORE Cape Cod offers individual mentoring across the Cape. The CDP partners with SCORE to offer mentoring on the Lower Cape.

QuickBooks Help tailored to your needs!

Did you struggle putting your records together to give your accountant?

Do you use QuickBooks but need to learn how it can do a better job for you and provide you with the information you need when you need it?

CDP Staff offers QuickBooks help. Follow the link below and schedule an appointment to get your business on track.

Professional Services Grants Available for 2023

Many businesses are finding the need to change their business model in these turbulent times. The CDP has Grant Funds available to help business owners hire specialized consultants to quickly implement these changes whether in technology, legal or marketing.

Make an appointment to learn more and to help stabilize or grow your business.

CDP Small Business Program Funders

Mass Growth Capital Corporation

Cape Air

Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation Trust

Rockland Trust

Santander Bank

Seamen's Bank Long Point Charitable Foundation

USDA Rural Development

The CDP Has MOVED!

WE HAVE MOVED! After 30 years at our Eastham location, we have relocated to 260 Cranberry Hwy, Unit 1, Orleans, MA 02653. Our office is open by appointment only. Staff phone numbers and emails remain the same.