Monday, January 23, 2012

Something new just happened! - Monthly News for January 2012


Monthly News for January 2012

Keeping You Updated and Informed.
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Greetings,
 
Something just happened to the Center! As the New Year unfolds, the Center is looking forward to a bright 2012 as we have had much success to build on from last year. 2011 meant results that made a difference in the communities of the Merrimack Valley! … And we look forward to continuing that success, but with a new name. As of today, the Lowell Small Business Assistance Center will officially be known as the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center.
 
We are very excited about our results and the new opportunities created. In 2011, the Center provided services to 235 clients. We provided:
  • One-on-one counseling sessions to 127 entrepreneurs;
  • Gave 25 workshops to 148 participants;
  • Gave the Right Start Entrepreneurship Training to 68 budding entrepreneurs;
  • Assisted 11 new business starts, creating 15 jobs.
View our 2011 Annual Report on our website. And speaking of websites….. We have more exciting news! We have a new website to go with our new name - Merrimack Valley Small Business Center. Please go to: www.merrimackvalleysmallbusiness.com or click here - Let us know what you think. Have any ideas on what additional resources we should have listed? Have some thoughts on what blog postings we should do? Would you like to be a guest blogger? Let us know, we love sharing ideas and would be honored to have a client writing stories too.
 
This name change reflects the Center’s growing impact in the Merrimack Valley. In addition to providing small business technical assistance, the Center has built the infrastructure for a microloan fund and as of July 2011, officially launched the Merrimack Valley Microloan Fund (MVMF) program. This exciting program provides microloans to entrepreneurs in the Merrimack Valley who lack access to conventional credit but have the capacity for success. This fund bridges the credit gap, helping businesses expand and grow, and get on a path to conventional bankability. So far the MVMF has made two loans that have helped sustain two businesses in Lowell. The Center expects to start making more loans throughout the Merrimack Valley as more partnerships emerge.
 
One such significant partnership started this last December with a grant from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. Thorough this opportunity, the Center is working in partnership with Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC), to provide technical assistance to small businesses at GLCAC. This partnership makes it more convenient for Lawrence and Greater Lawrence business owners to receive assistance from the Center. Because of this partnership, we’ve also been able to grow our staff. We are pleased to introduce our new Business Advisor, Kristin Wallace. Kristin hails from Maryland but spent many years in the Merrimack Valley before heading down to New Orleans for graduate study in business and Latin American studies. She brings years of experience working in microfinance and business to the Center. Kristin will be working 2 days a week out of GLCAC, where we will be providing technical assistance to Lawrence small businesses at 305 Essex St. on the 2nd Floor, Lawrence, MA 01840; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – 6 pm.  
  
Lastly, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of stakeholders in our community and current and past clients. Please consider making a donation to the Center so that we can continue to provide technical assistance to small businesses, helping them strengthen, expand and grow in the Merrimack Valley. Click here for our donation page. 
 
Be sure to check out all the wonderful workshops coming up in the New Year or check out our new calendar feature on the website!
 
Best,

Stacie Hargis
Director, Merrimack Valley Small Business Center
 

 
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SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS CALENDAR 
 
Please RSVP for all workshops and trainings. Fees may apply and will be due at time of class. A fee waiver may be requested, please inquire when signing up. The Center reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a workshop or class due to insufficient enrollment or weather.
 
********************
Right Start Entrepreneurial Training
6-class series runs every Wednesday night from 6:00 – 9:00 pm
NEW SERIES Starts February 22nd
The Right Start Entrepreneurship Training Program provides a solid educational foundation on which to build a small business. Practical, flexible, and taught by small business professionals, this six-class series will help you learn the difference between success and failure. Starting August 31st, this series runs continuously throughout the year so that you can either take all six classes in a row or once a month, as needed to fit your schedule. Training provides a firm foundation of practical knowledge to build your business and covers these topics: Intro to Business, Marketing, Sales, Bookkeeping and Taxes, Financing, and Business Law. Get the tools you need for success!
 
COST: $90 for all 6 classes
LOCATION: Community Teamwork Inc., 155 Merrimack St., (Bon March Building) 3rdFloor, Lowell, MA 01852 
RSVP: kwallace@comteam.org, 978-322-8400
 
********************
Social Media
Monday, February 13, 2012 / 1:00 -3:00 pm
This workshop is offered in partnership with the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and Lowell Telecommunications Corporation.“The Times, They Are A-Changin”, and we know that social media marketing now plays a vital role in the success of businesses and organizations. This seminar provides an overview of various online marketing tools including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. If you are a beginner or intermediate user, you will benefit from this workshop taught by Danielle Bergeron, President and CEO of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, who has years of experience promoting her own business through social media.
 
COST: no fee
LOCATION:  Lowell Telecommunications Corporation (LTC) studios, 246 Market Street, Lowell, MA 01852 
RSVP: kwallace@comteam.org, 978-322-8400
 
********************
Unlocking Profitability with Accounting
Comprehensive 2-night Workshop
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 & Thursday, February 9 / 6:00 -9:00 pm 
There are some basic business metrics that every business person should know by heart when discussing their business. Here's a list:
·        What are my sales? 
·        What are my goals and budgets?
·        What are my fixed costs?
·        What are my variable costs?
·        What is my breakeven point?
·        What is the ageing of my receivables?
·        What is the cost of goods sold percentage?
·        What are my top 10 best sellers?
·        How much do I have tied up in inventory?
·        What does my cash flow look like for the next three months?
Don’t know these numbers? Then this 2-night workshop will help you transform from running a business to managing a business and getting the most profit out of it. In this workshop, you will learn how to:
·        Increase profitability by monitoring and managing your cost of goods sold;
·        Increase sales and profits through effective inventory management;
·        How to reduce inventory while increasing customer satisfaction and sales;
·        How to make your business more resilient in challenging economies;
·        How to survive and, perhaps,  even prosper in difficult times;
·        Learn how to get ready to borrow.
 
COST: $20 for both nights
LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 
RSVP: kwallace@comteam.org, 978-322-8400
 
********************
Building a Successful Business by Defining, Executing & Measuring Performance
Comprehensive 2-night Workshop
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 & Thursday, February 23 / 6:00 – 8:00 pm
The first night of this workshop will emphasize understanding your market and how to target specific product and services to solve their problems. This workshop also addresses the importance of integrating functions within the business to insure productivity and profitability. The second night will emphasize the need to develop an operating plan that is aligned to achieve defined strategies within the business.  In addition, it will help you to define how you measure performance.
 
This workshop is taught by Michael Salach, a results-oriented executive who has a unique blend of entrepreneurial business development skills. Michael founded The Bay State Consulting Group, Inc., which provides an array of management, coaching and business consulting services. Michael is also an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Northern Essex Community College where he teaches marketing and sales, strategic & business planning, organizational design & franchising and a variety of entrepreneurial seminars.
 
COST: $20 for both nights
LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2ndFloor, Lowell, MA 01852 
RSVP: kwallace@comteam.org, 978-322-8400
 
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

TAX PREPARATION
 
Community Teamwork, Inc will be providing free tax preparation services starting in February.

The dates and times are as follows:
 
February 8th through April 14th
Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-7:00 PM
Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
 
You must make an appointment. Please call:
Gail Fortes at 978-654-5676.
 
Also available at Greater Lawrence Community Action Council.
The days and times are as follows:
 
February 7th through April 12th
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-7:00
 
MORE INFO:
Appointments are also required.
Please call Gail Fortes at 978-654-5676 for more information.
 
 
The mission of the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center is to provide entrepreneurs from ethnically and economically diverse groups with the education, tools and resources needed to create, sustain or expand viable small businesses.

Location: 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Downtown Lowell, 01852

Phone: 978-322-8400

 
 

The Merrimack Valley Small Business Center is a program of Community Teamwork, Inc. in collaboration with Middlesex Community College, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the City of Lowell - Division of Planning & Development.









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Small Business Assistance Center / Community Teamwork Inc. · 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor · Lowell, Ma 01852
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