This year's keynote speaker is Dave Wedge, a New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and communications consultant based in Boston. He has written six non-fiction books, including “Boston Strong: A City's Triumph Over Tragedy,” a drama about the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings which was adapted for the 2017 movie “Patriots Day”; “Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss”; and “The Last Days of John Lennon,” written with co-author Casey Sherman and James Patterson. His next book, “Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang,” comes out March 15 via William Morrow/Harper Collins.

Dave was an award-winning investigative journalist for the Boston Herald for 14 years and has written for VICE, Esquire, Newsweek and Boston magazine. He and Sherman host the true crime podcast, "Saints Sinners & Serial Killers." He has also worked as a communications consultant with a diverse roster of clients in politics, business, nonprofit, hospitality, health care, sports and more.

The Annual Meeting will include the presentation of the Annual Business Awards, and new this year, an Educator of the Year award and recognition of the Charles E. Volkmann Scholarship recipients. Register here to attend the Taunton Area Chamber's 105th Annual Meeting.

The Chamber is proud to announce that nominations are now being accepted for our annual awards honoring TACC member businesses that have differentiated themselves through their exemplary commitment to their customers, employees and the community.

Fill out the nomination form online.

Honorees will be announced at the Annual Meeting & Awards event to be held virtually on Wednesday, April 27th. Register for the Annual Meeting here.

High School Seniors residing in Taunton, Raynham, Berkley or Dighton, who are pursuing a career in business or a related industry may be eligible to apply for the Charles E. Volkmann Scholarship. Students must apply online.

Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Recipients will be recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards event on Wednesday, April 27th at Noon on Zoom. Register for the Annual Meeting here.

Hosting a Business After Hours is a great way to introduce other Chamber Members to your business. It's also a great opportunity to network and meet prospective clients, as well as build relationships with business professionals in and around the greater Taunton area.

If you’d like to host in April, or want more information, email Lisa.

Join our TACC Team! 🎉

We have a part-time Membership Coordinator role to fill who will work closely with our President & CEO in implementing a strategy to increase memberships, sponsorships, and programs. The position is 20 hours per week, and has a base + commission pay module.

For full position description and application details, visit our website.

Space is still available in the TACC's 2022 Business Directory & Information Guide! This is a great way to advertise your business. This guide is distributed to:

• All TACC Member Businesses

• Local Hotels and Conference Centers

• City and Town Halls

• Anyone Requesting Relocation or Membership Information with the TACC

Contact Lisa for ad rates and sizes. Deadline is March 4th!

This National Entrepreneurship Week, February 12-19, 2022, take advantage of SBA's programs and services to help you start, grow, expand or continue to recover from the pandemic. The SBA business guide offers a variety of resources whether you are just starting your business or are looking to expand. Learn more.

Join SBA for a special program in commemoration of Black History Month! Honorable Senator Ed Markey will share remarks, along with SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich,

on Tuesday, February 22nd from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Register now and receive a reminder to join the virtual event next Tuesday morning.

Are you a current or aspiring inventor or entrepreneur? Would you like to learn from successful innovators and subject matter experts about keys to success and how to use your creativity to reach your full potential? If so, be sure to attend the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) free, online 2022 Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship program on February 17 and 24. Don’t miss these great opportunities to be inspired and informed.

This program is presented by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact BlackInnovation@uspto.gov.

The USPTO offers many informative presentations, panels, and chats throughout the year. For more information, visit www.uspto.gov.

The Mayor's Office is planning a Black History Month celebration on Friday, February 25th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. They are inviting local groups and organizations to join them by setting up tables with information, exhibits, games, etc. relating to Black History Month.

If you are interested in participating, contact Ligia Madeira at the Mayor's Office at lmadeira@taunton-ma.gov.

Low-income workers who were on the job during the COVID-19 state of emergency in 2020 and 2021 are eligible for $500 checks under a Baker Administration plan announced today to distribute $250 million in bonus payments to 500,000 essential workers. Learn more here.

A U.S. appeals court has declined for now to allow President Joe Biden's administration to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees. Read more.

There’s no other business quite like yours because no other business has your unique vision, identity and spirit. Ten years ago, the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest was created to put the spotlight on small businesses just like yours. One of a kind and exceptionally different.

In celebration of the contest’s 10th anniversary, they are giving you even more chances to win big by awarding more than $360,000 in prizes.

The entry period is now open, so be sure to enter before the February 28th deadline. You could win big and empower your business to do more of the things you do best. Learn more.

Massasoit Community College invites employers in southeastern Massachusetts to register for its upcoming virtual career fairs, being held on March 9 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and on March 10 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Employers in the fields of business, hospitality, culinary arts, and information technology are encouraged to participate; employers are welcome to participate on one of or both of the career fair dates. Learn more here.

This morning, the headline inflation is at a 40-year high hit me before my coffee did. If you’re like me, and millions of other businesses, you’re probably caught between the idea of raising your prices to cover the increase in your own costs and providing your loyal customers with good value.

It’s difficult these days. I see many business owners apologizing for raising prices, but it can’t be helped. You need to make a profit to remain in business, yet your customers are likely struggling too. That’s why now, more than ever, you need to communicate the value behind your products and services. Read more.

Join us for the next session of our Chamber Chat virtual networking series! Meet other members in this fun and informal setting with trivia and prizes! This session is Thursday, February 17th at noon and is sponsored by Bluestone Bank.

Register below for this event.

You could sponsor a future session for just $50! Email Kris for sponsorship details.

Ten chambers from the Southeastern Massachusetts area have banded together for a fun and exciting virtual Mega Mixer!

Business people from any one of those chambers can join us on Thursday, February 24th from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. This event is designed to help you meet new people, get the word out about your business and have a great time all from the comfort of your home or office.

There will be representatives from Cape Cod Canal Region, Cranberry Country, Martha's Vineyard, Metro South, Nantucket, One SouthCoast, Plymouth, Taunton, Tri-Town and United Regional Chambers all gathered together!

There will be games and prizes. Register below.

Join us on Tuesday, March 1st at 9:00 a.m. for this popular annual event! The Legislative Update will feature Senator Marc Pacheco and State Representatives Carol Doherty, Patricia Haddad and Norman Orrall, with welcoming remarks from Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell. Hear what’s happening on the hill during this informative session. Legislators make themselves available at forums like this to hear your concerns and answer your questions. We encourage you to submit a question prior to the event to info@tauntonareachamber.org.

Register below.

Commonwealth Corporation's Express Program provides employers fast, simple access to grant-funded training, helping businesses in Massachusetts respond to emerging needs. Join an informational session to learn more.

The last date to skate at Camp Riverside is February 27th! Only three more weeks left to join in on the fun! Call 508-824-3311 for more information or reserve your skating time here.

The City of Taunton will host a live Telephone Town Hall meeting on Thursday, February 24th at 6:00 p.m. to provide information to City residents on the proposed Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School construction project. A special referendum will be held on March 5, 2022 for member communities to vote on whether to approve the proposed project. Learn more.

February 16 @ 7:30 p.m. – Register for the Event on Facebook; or online here.

If you’re unable to attend one of these virtual sessions, a feedback survey will open the evening of the 14^th and will remain open for several weeks on the site. You may also provide feedback directly to Lizeth Gonzalez, Senior Comprehensive Planner, at lgonzalez@srpedd.org.

The Raynham Master Plan site is a great source of background information and provides updates on the progress of the plan to-date.

Let SCORE business advisors help you navigate the SBA Debt Relief Programs or the start-up and growth of your small business. All services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are an existing SCORE client, please send an email to your SCORE counselor to schedule a phone call or Zoom conference. If you are new to SCORE, please complete the Request a Mentor form and someone from SCORE will contact you via email to schedule an appointment with an advisor. Sign up for SCORE webinars here. View upcoming webinars here.

Your business is growing, but as a small business owner, can you scale to keep up with the outreach? You can with MailChimp and it's FREE!

Newsletters are still a critical component of sales and customer outreach. MailChimp's free plan provides a robust, quick, and free way to communicate with existing customers, and even potential customers.

This online webinar is designed to be a high level look - 45 minutes with 30 minutes Q&A for specific questions. This webinar will allow business owners to have better exposure to MailChimp.

Get your hands dirty with us as Dale covers:

• account setup

• sending your first email

• growing your audience

• evaluating results

Register here .

Ready for a new website? Whether you're building it yourself or you decide to work with a pro, getting organized is the key to your website's success!

• Define your audience.

• Set your website's goals.

• Determine key functionality and features.

• Plan your website content.

• Get your accounts and logins in order.

After this webinar, you'll have a comprehensive plan in place for your business's website. Attendees may also request the free workbook upon completion of the webinar.

Register here .

This is an overview of Schedule C tax return preparation basics. Good practices including record retention policies will be covered. We will walk through the sections on the Schedule C (Profit and Loss From Business) and how it relates to the rest of the tax return. Expenses will be explained and a few specific expenses – auto use, home office and meals - will be described in detail. Deductions of benefit to self-employed people will be addressed. Lastly, there will be discussion of estimates.

Join SEMA SCORE for Tax Preparation for the Self-Employed. Key takeaways you can expect:

• How to prepare throughout the year for tax time so you are not in a crunch

• How you are taxed as a Self-Employed person

• Knowledge of the options for writing off expenses

• An understanding of what deductions are available

Register here .

This year, during an unprecedented national health crisis, small businesses needed help more than ever before. In order to support these business owners when they needed it most, the SCORE Foundation provided funding for SCORE’s Small Business Resilience program. This platform allowed SCORE to pivot their mentoring and educational services onto virtual platforms, where clients could easily access the pandemic-related information, guidance and resources they needed to survive and thrive. Learn more here.

Veterans make up an important part of the small business community. They make up 8% of the population, but own 9.2% of all American businesses. Check out these resources specifically for veteran entrepreneurs. SCORE is here to help!

Are you looking for ways to help your small business community? Would you like to grow your network or develop professionally? As a SCORE volunteer, you get it all!

Join the SCORE network of 10,000 volunteers. SCORE relies on volunteers to help small business around the country thrive.

Interested? Visit the volunteer web page to find about the many benefits of volunteering and the right opportunity for you!

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