Small Business Newsletter - Entrepreneur's Edge
Info For Reopening Your Business
The State has n ewly-released sector-specific
protocols and best practices.


This is a preview of the mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for restaurants. Restaurants may not provide any service beyond carry-out or delivery until specifically authorized to do so in Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Workplace Re-Opening Plan.

This is a preview of the mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for operators of lodgings. Hotel, motels, and other Lodging businesses may not expand their operations until specifically authorized to do so in Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Workplace Re-Opening Plan and by the withdrawal of the DPH Lodging Guidance.
This is a preview of the mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for retail businesses. These workplace safety standards and the expanded opportunity they provide for in-store browsing and transactions will not be effective until Phase 2 of the Re-Opening Plan commences.
Round 2 of the Downtown Amherst Foundation Relief & Resiliency Grant!
Survey for Easthampton Grant Project
Microenterprise Grant Program using COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds


The City of Easthampton, with assistance from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, is working on a competitive grant application to support economic and community development efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a regional grant application that includes the towns (and businesses) of Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Southampton, South Hadley, and Westhampton.

They are using this survey to collect information that shows the level of interest/need for Microenterprise Assistance grant funds and to establish a wait list of potential local businesses that would be interested in grant funding. Submitting this information does not guarantee that you or the City will receive grant funding. If grant funding is received by the City, grants of up to $10,000 will then be made available for eligible microenterprise businesses. Eligibility requirements are determined by the MA Department of Housing and Community Development and are posted here: https://easthamptonma.gov/index.php/planning .
GRANTS



Visit our website for a continually-updated list of grants, both local and national, for small businesses.
Partners Who Pivot
Torey Littlefield, of Never Enough Books in Easthampton, has pivoted his business to assist restaurants and other small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Torey takes many years of skill building from his Never Enough Books business and has pivoted them into offering both
E-Commerce assistance and website development specific to COVID-19. He has been a small business owner for years and certainly is familiar with the peaks and valleys they all face.

He now offers restaurant website development including setting up restaurant online ordering platforms. Quite a great example of a pivot and one that many small businesses could use right now.
Free Legal Consultations
FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
The BizGrow Conference: a free day of business legal support for your minority, immigrant, or women-owned small business.
Thursday July 16, 2020
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT

Ask for Help - We are here for you
Valley Community Development's Small Business program offers all business services at no cost. Simply reach out to Dee Dice our Small Business Coordinator to set up an appointment or ask a few questions. Email her at dd@valleycdc.com or call and leave a message 413.586.5855 x230
Worth Referencing
MSBDC provides free and confidential one-to-one business advice to prospective and existing small businesses. They provide a wide variety of business training programs.
Franklin County CDC is a resource to help start or grow your business at any stage. Counsel, Capital and Connections is their motto. They offer a free monthly 1.5 hr workshop on the first Wednesday of each month.
Common Capital offers small business technical assistance for their borrowers.Their online workshops and Facebook live trainings are open to the public.
Hi lltown Community Development assists Hilltown residents by addressing economic, housing, educational, social and community needs while preserving rural character.
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