Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce - eCapeChamber
Cape Cod Center for Business

The Business Toolkit

FEDERAL RESOURCES

Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center A-Z Index for Business
Find it Fast! Know what you're looking for and want to find it fast? Select business topics using our A-Z listing, or by business type such as sole proprietor, corporation, etc. We also provide links to major business subjects, such as Business Expenses, which provides a gateway to all related information on that subject.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
Programs and services to help you start, grow and succeed including micro loan programs, Veterans’ programs. 8A minority loans and ARC loans and 90% loan guarantees. SBA uses local partners such as Coastal Community Capital (see regional resources) and SEED to deliver loan services and other programs. 


STATE RESOURCES

Massachusetts It's All Here
This partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Business Development, MassEcon, MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts International Trade Council is committed to promoting Massachusetts as a globally competitive, innovative, dynamic and diverse state. This innovative effort is a critical piece of establishing the identity of Massachusetts, supporting common goals and maximizing awareness of the state’s global strengths. It’s All Here is a constantly growing network of those committed to establishing Massachusetts as the destination of choice for every business, young mind and new idea contemplating a home in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Business Resource Team (BRT)
Andre Porter, Executive Director
1-877-BIZTEAM (249-8326)
Massachusetts has a strong network of organizations ready to help you create or refine a business plan, receive technical assistance or access financing. These resources are spread throughout the Commonwealth and offer small businesses solutions for the wide spectrum of their business needs.

Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Buddy Rocha, Southeast Regional Director
508-730-1438 or buddy.rocha@state.ma.us 
The Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) is committed to helping companies create and retain jobs, as well as promote private investment in our state. They facilitate simplified, timely access to a host of governmental and non-governmental resources and incentive programs that will help businesses grow faster and stronger in Massachusetts.

International Trade Assistance
The Massachusetts Export Center offers a wide range of targeted, customized services to Massachusetts businesses at any stage in the export process. These services include: export counseling and technical assistance, international market research and assessment, international business development assistance, export training programs and export publications. An international trade counselor specialist is housed in New Bedford.

MassDevelopment
Larry Cameron
160 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110
(800) 445-8030
MassDevelopment works with businesses, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal officials, offering a wide range of finance programs and real estate development services. MassDevelopment supports economic growth, development, and investment across all sectors of the Massachusetts economy: public and private; commercial, industrial, and residential; and nonprofit, including educational, cultural, and human service providers. Staff works in collaboration with private- and public-sector developers, businesses, and banks to identify investors and leverage public and private funds to support economic growth.

Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE)
24 School St. Suite 700, Boston, MA
617-536-0700 or info@cweonline.org
CWE is a not-for-profit educational organization providing comprehensive business assistance, networking opportunities and resources to women starting and/or growing their businesses.

Commonwealth Corporation 
Schrafft Center, 529 Main St. Suite 1M8, Boston, MA 02129
617-727-8158 or info@commcorp.org
CommCorp is a quasi-public organization responsible for administering and delivering a wide range of public and privately-funded initiatives designed to meet the labor needs of businesses; improve current and emerging workers’ skills; foster career success through lifelong learning; and retain, sustain, improve and create job-generating businesses. They work with regional partners like Coastal Community Capital and the Cape Cod Chamber and the Cape & Islands Workforce Investment Board. CommCorp administers the Economic Stabilizaiton Trust Fund which lends working capital to small and medium sized value-added businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By providing loans where traditional financing is not available or where credit is no longer extended, companies are able to implement restructuring plans to create a stable financial future for the company and its employees. The Trust's experienced staff also works hand-in-hand with management to assist in the turn-around of businesses.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Procurement Access & Solicitation System 
Comm-PASS allows businesses easy access to all of the information necessary to bid on many state contracts.

SOMWBA - State Office of Minority & Women Business Assistance Certification
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3740, Boston, MA 02116
617-973-8692 or wsomwba@state.ma.us
SOMWBA certification is a marketing tool used to enhance a firm's ability to do business in public markets. Although certification does not guarantee that a business will be successful every time it bids, it may add a competitive edge to a bid. The SOMWBA website also has links to other business resources and referrals.

Mass Housing Finance Agency
One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-3110
617-854-1000 or webinfo@masshousing.com
MassHousing is a self-supporting not-for-profit public agency that has provided more than $10.4 billion in financing for homebuyers and homeowners, and for developers and owners of affordable rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars, but sells bonds to fund its programs. 

Mass Save
Mass Save® is an initiative sponsored by Massachusetts’ gas and electric utilities and energy efficiency service providers. They provide a wide range of services, incentives, trainings, and information promoting energy efficiency that help residents and businesses manage energy use and related costs. 
For Your Business: Mass Save provides expert engineering, commissioning, support services, and reference materials to help large and small businesses build new facilities, add manufacturing capacity, or complete major renovations. We also offer incentives towards energy-efficient lighting and controls, HVAC systems, motors, variable speed drives, and compressed air equipment.  
For Industry Professionals:  Mass Save offers training, incentives, and educational resources to contractors, building managers, and facilities teams so you can recommend, install, and maintain the latest generation of energy-efficient equipment—and help your customers achieve their energy goals. 
For Gas Customers:
National Grid
MassSave Information: 1-800-632-8300
Gas Energy Efficiency Program and Rebate Information: 1-800-843-3636
Multi-Family Program Information: 1-800-292-2032 
For Electric Customers:
Cape Light Compact
MassSave Information: 1-800-797-6699

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Free Small Business Legal Assistance
294 Washington St. Suite 443, Boston, MA 02108
617-482-1145
For those who own a small business, thinking of starting a business or trying to take a business to the next level. FREE small business legal assistance. This organization works under the law of the Boston Bar Association and partners with many of Boston’s most prestigious law firms and community organizations to provide these high quality service to you at no charge such as workshops, clinics, and individual representation.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Clifford Robbins, Ph.D., Senior Business Advisor, Southeast Regional Office 
508-673-9783 or crobbins@msbdc.umass.edu
The MSBDC provides FREE and confidential business advisory services to existing or prospective small business people. Dr. Robbins meets with Cape Cod clients at the EntreCenter in Centerville, MA.
Call 508-673-9783 - Schedule appointments through Tammi at Ext. 104. The MSBDC conducts low-cost seminars, workshops, courses and conferences addressing a wide range of concerns for both start-up and existing businesses. Many of these programs are co-sponsored with local chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, community development organizations, banks and trade associations. For a listing of statewide MSBDC seminars, visit www.msbdc.org/training.

Procurement Technical Assistance
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center can guide you through the government procurement process and provide you with information on how to become more competitive in the government marketplace. A procurement specialist is housed at the SBDC office in Fall River.


LOCAL & REGIONAL RESOURCES

Coastal Community Capital & The EntreCenter
Jeannine Marshall, Executive Director
5 Shootflying Hill Road, Centerville MA 02632
508-790-2921 or jmarshall@coastalcommunitycapital.org
Provides business loans to Massachusetts businesses to create jobs and grow revenues. Coastal Community Capital is a division of Cape & Islands Community Development, Inc, a non-profit community development lender serving Massachusetts businesses since 1995 with our commercial lending expertise. We are certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution and by the US Small Business Administration as a Certified Development Corporation. Through the EntreCenter, offers programs in group training, FREE one to one technical assistance, and development of a business plan and financial projections. Visit the EntreCenter co-located at 5 Shootflying Hill Road, Centerville, MA at the Cape Cod Chamber and Coastal Community Capital office building.

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Wendy Northcross, CCE, Chief Executive Officer
5 Shootflying Hill Road, Centerville, MA
508-362-3225
The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce offers direct business referrals, marketing of your business, statistics and data on the region, networking events, workshops, seminars and conferences on topics such as understanding the second homeowner and the changing demographics of the region, Entrepreneurs’ Weekend and more. Programs are offered in collaboration with a variety of private and non-profit partners. A regular e-newsletter is issued with weekly updates and information to assist business.

Community Development Partnership
Elizabeth Bridgewater, Executive Director
3 Main St. Unit 7, Eastham, MA
508-240-7873 orcontact@capecdp.org
CDP has a Lower Cape focus and relationships with the Comm. of MA Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship. CDP offers: affordable housing programs; small business development such as education, seminars, workshops; 1:1 technical assistance by staff and consultants; micro loan program; CC Hook Fisherman’s Trust Fund.

Cape Cod Commission
Paul Niedzwiecki, Executive Director
3225 Main Street, Barnstable Village, MA 02630
508-362-3828
In addition to guiding businesses through the Commission's regulatory review process, its Economic Development Program compiles and interprets demographic and economic information about Cape Cod. Through resulting publications and studies, the Commission supports business development and other planning needs. The Commission also encourages industries that maximize economic gains while minimizing environmental impacts and favors the rehabilitation and reuse of existing sites.

Cape Cod Economic Development Council 
508-362-3828
The Cape Cod Economic Development Council administers a grant program that disburses proceeds from the sale of Cape and Islands license plates. One hundred percent is dedicated to regional economic development on Cape Cod. Their website has links to other business resources including a list of local chambers of commerce.

Cape Cod SCORE – Chapter 225
270 Communications Way, Suite 5-B, Hyannis, MA 02601
508-775-4884 or capecodscore@verizon.net
On Martha’s Vineyard, contact 508-696-9687 or mvscore@verizon.net
35 Volunteer Business Professionals from the Cape Cod Chapter of SCORE serve businesses on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Southeastern Massachusetts. Offers FREE confidential counseling, mentoring, advisory boards and business workshops and other tools.

Cape Cod Young Professionals
P.O. Box 1302, South Dennis, MA 02660 
info@capecodyoungprofessionals.org
A diverse group of community minded individuals who call Cape Cod home and have a vested interest in the future of the region. You will receive regular updates on CCYP happenings and celebrations, and will be a part of an organization which is working to make Cape Cod a better place to live and work. The relationships you will develop will extend well beyond the events we offer and will help you create a more full life here on Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Technology Council
PO Box 579, Barnstable, MA 02630
info@cctechcouncil.org
A membership based non-profit organization promoting technology and business on the Cape, Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts. CCTC is equal parts economic development, business networking, and STEM (that's science, technology, engineering, and math!) education. Some of the projects we are involved with include the Unwired Village public broadband access initiative, the Open Cape data transport network, JRTECH workshops, and First Friday breakfasts.

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod
3 Shoot Flying Hill Road, Centerville, MA 02632
508-362-0066 or info@artsfoundation.org
The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is the regional arts agency for Barnstable County, committed to strengthening and promoting Cape Cod's arts and cultural industry throughout the year. They serve individual artists, cultural organizations, fine and performing arts groups and businesses, and cultural and historical establishments with grants, workshops, technical assistance and networking.

Town Chambers of Commerce on Cape Cod
Follow this link to a master list of the chamber of commerce in each community on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island. Each organization offers a variety of business service programs throughout the year.