You could sponsor October’s Chamber Chat for only $50! As the sponsor, your logo will be featured in the event promotion and you’ll have time on the call to promote your business. You can even provide interesting facts that we’ll use to create poll questions for the group. We’ll run the session, provide fun breakout room topics, trivia questions and prizes. In addition, as the Chamber Chat sponsor, you will select the date and time that work best for you.

To sponsor the October Chamber Chat, contact TACC President Kris Silva at kris@tauntonareachamber.org.

Taunton Federal Credit Union officially opened the doors to the new branch located at 403 Winthrop Street in Taunton on Monday, October 4th! They invited the Taunton Area and Cranberry Country Chambers to help them celebrate the grand opening. Mayor Shaunna O'Connell, State Representative Carol Doherty, and Louis Loura from Senator Pacheco's office were among those in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Mayor O’Connell recently announced the City of Taunton is utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to sponsor mental health initiatives for Taunton youth. A grant of $166,000 was awarded to the Boys and Girls Club Metro South, Taunton YMCA and Girls Inc. to fund onsite social workers who will provide mental health services to children in the afterschool programs. Read the press release.

An Act extending COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave, H.4127, was signed into law on September 29, 2021. This legislation modifies the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave program in two ways:

1. Extends the program until April 1, 2022 or the exhaustion of $75 million in program funds as determined by the Commonwealth, whichever is earlier; and

2. Effective October 1, 2021, permits employees to use Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave to care for a family member who needs to obtain or recover from a COVID-19 immunization.

During this period, employers must continue to offer Massachusetts employees leave time for qualifying reasons related to COVID-19. Further information on the updated law is available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-temporary-emergency-paid-sick-leave-program.

Disasters can take many forms and the financial cost of rebuilding after a disaster can be overwhelming. If you’re prepared for emergencies, you’ll be in a better position to recover and continue operations should disaster strike. Join SBA New England on Wednesday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m. to find out what you need to do to prepare your business for a disaster.

In this webinar you will learn:

• How to assess your risk, knowing which disasters are most likely to affect your business can help you return to operations faster.

• How to create a disaster recovery plan

• Financial assistance available after disasters

Register here.

The EIDL program was recently updated to be more favorable to small businesses, including:

- The maximum loan cap increased from $500,000 to $2M

- Use of funds was expanded to include payment and pre-payment of business non-federal debt incurred at any time (past or future) and payment of federal debt

- Extend the deferment period to 24 months from origination for all loans (existing loans with a less than 24-month deferment will be adjusted)

Read additional adjustments and program criteria here. Businesses should consider if the newly allowable use of paying or pre-paying non-federal debt could be beneficial to them.

Massachusetts employers should anticipate new costs for their employer obligations to state employment programs. The state average weekly wage is increasing from $1478.78 to $1694.50. Several state benefits are tied to the weekly wage and have been updated accordingly.

Including:

• Paid Family and Medical Leave

• Unemployment Insurance

Massachusetts employers participating in the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) plan should plan to adjust their contribution rate. Learn more here.

The Massachusetts Office of Business Development runs a program called the Massachusetts Vacant Storefronts Program that incentivizes businesses to occupy vacant ground floor storefronts in downtowns or other commercial areas where local municipalities are working to drive economic development. Cities and towns first apply to the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) to certify a downtown or commercial area as a Vacant Storefront District. Upon certification of a district, businesses can apply to the EACC for refundable tax credits for leasing and occupying a vacant storefront in that district (up to $10,000). You can learn more about this program online or by speaking with MOBD’s team of Regional Directors.

Join us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20th at GTR ProtoPlus!

We are excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Boutique at Relaxation Works Spa on Friday, October 22nd. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. The Grand Opening event is 1:00 - 7:30 p.m. and will feature sales on all merchandise, gift bags, sales on services, food and refreshments, and prizes! We hope to see you there!

La Cámara de Comercio del Área de Taunton se enorgullece de presentar la Serie de Negocios Latinos para nuestros propietarios de pequeñas empresas de habla hispana. Patrocinado por HarborOne Bank, este seminario web gratuito explicará los requisitos contables y bancarios para que su negocio se encamine.

Conozca los pasos básicos que debe seguir una pequeña empresa para encauzar su empresa:

● Abra una cuenta bancaria

● Realice un seguimiento de sus gastos

● Desarrolle un sistema de contabilidad

● Establezca un sistema de nómina

● Determine cómo le pagarán

● Establezca procedimientos de impuestos sobre las ventas si vende bienes

● Determine sus obligaciones fiscales

● Solicite financiamiento, si es necesario

● Busque un contador o CPA de alta calidad Reevalúe

● periódicamente sus procesos

Ingrid Rodríguez, VP, Oficial de Servicios Comerciales de Harbor One brindará consejos sobre cómo elegir el banco correcto y los beneficios de tener una cuenta comercial separada de una cuenta personal.

Get an update on state happenings and have your questions answered during this Q&A with State Representative Carol Doherty. Submit questions in advance here. Register below to attend this Zoom session on Tuesday, November 30th at 9:00 a.m.

You could sponsor this Quarterly Q&A for only $200! Contact Lisa for more info.

Come to the Open House to find out more about how B-P Tech can help you reach your goals! Stop by Saturday, October 16th from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Learn more here.

Liberty and Union Weekend is an annual celebration of the unique role that the City of Taunton played in our nation’s founding. The Weekend is held each fall to commemorate the events of October 1774, when Taunton became the first community in the American colonies to raise a flag – the “Liberty and Union” flag – in opposition to British rule.

Festivities begin Friday, October 15 with the Liberty Libations Pub Crawl throughout Downtown restaurants organized by the Downtown Taunton Foundation. Learn more here.

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.

Take a 60 minute spin with Marketing Veteran, Dale Shadbegian through the Pros and Cons of the most popular and effective types of Marketing. This online webinar will be held on Thursday, October 7 from 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. It 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 different Marketing types and help them get going in a particular direction if they have thoughts about Marketing and Advertising their business in 2021. Register here.

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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