Issue #32 | Thursday, March 3, 2022

What is the North Adams Artist Census?
This 10-minute, anonymous, online survey helps us better understand the North Adams creative community and to assess its strengths and needs.

Who should take the North Adams Artist Census?
If you are a self-described artist who (1) lives in North Adams or (2) works in North Adams or (3) makes creative work in North Adams or (4) regularly attends or participates in the arts in North Adams, we want you! Our goal is for at least 300 area artists to participate. We know we can do it!

Western MA ArtsHub is Live

Artists and arts sector workers are building a central online resource to help the region’s creatives in business thrive and connect with patrons, audiences, and cultural leaders across all fields. Share your info and get found!

Installation Space | March Madness

Opening Reception: FIRST Friday, March 4 from 4 - 8:00 pm! 
49 Eagle Street, North Adams, MA

The INSTALLATION SPACE is excited to announce its first-ever celebration of MARCH MADNESS!  The gallery will host a different pop-up installation by local North Adams artists every weekend for the month of March!

Local Food Trade Show of New England

March 29th from 8 am-2 pm

The Western MA Food Processing Center is thrilled to be a sponsor of this year's Local Food Trade Show of New England, hosted by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts. The trade show is a dynamic virtual space for local food producers and buyers from across our region to connect. This year's event offers the following opportunities to strengthen business relationships and together strengthen our regional food system:

·  1-on-1 Consultations (8am): (Producers only) Schedule a meeting with area experts in marketing, sales, finance, and legal issues

·  Emerging Value-added Products Panel (9am): (Buyers only) See the region's most promising new products resulting from SBN's market-demand feasibility study.

·  Keynote Speakers (10am): Hear from the leaders of New England Local Food Industry.

·  Networking Mixer (10:15am): Casually connect in targeted small group conversations.

·  Trade Floor (11am): Producers showcase their products for buyers to browse, visit their virtual booth, and make new sales connections.

·  Working Lunch (12:15pm): Eat on your own or join our virtual lunch space to engage in casual conversation with colleagues.

·  Matchmaking Meetings (12:45pm): SBN will schedule focused meetings between producers and buyers that best fit each other's needs.

Free admission is offered for sponsoring businesses, scholarships for BIPOC or women-owned businesses, and discounted rates for SBN Members. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits we offer for financial or in-kind sponsorships, or SBN Membership, please email Greg Nicaise at greg@sbnmass.org 617-395-0250.

Grant Opportunities

New Applicant Grant Program
$25 million available

• Available to support small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 that have not previously received financial relief from MGCC’s COVID-19 Relief Grant Programs. Businesses that have received MGCC Empower Digital or Biz M Power grants are still eligible for this program.

• Sole proprietors without any employees or 1099 workers are not eligible. If you are a sole proprietor and you have employees or 1099 workers and you meet all other criteria, you might be eligible. If you have questions, please let us know!

• Grants will be between $10,000 - $75,000 and will be the equivalent to 3 months of annualized operating expenses, as evidenced by 2020 Federal Tax Returns.

• The business must currently have between 2-50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, one of which is the owner. Sole proprietors without any employees or 1099 workers are not eligible.

• The business must have a minimum of $40,000 in operating expenses based on 2020 Federal Business Tax Returns.

• Business revenues must be between $40,000 to $2,500,000 based on 2020 Federal Business Tax Returns.

• Business must have been established prior to 09/30/2020 and be currently in operation.

• While all businesses meeting the program's criteria are eligible, priority will be given to businesses that were established after 06/30/2019 and have not received relief aid from Federal, State, or local programs.

>> APPLY HERE <<

Inclusive Grant Program
$50 million available

• Targets businesses that focus on reaching markets predominantly made up of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups, underserved markets, and those owned by minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals, or those that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

• Grants will be between $10,000 - $75,000 and will be the equivalent to 3 months of annualized operating expenses, as evidenced by 2020 Federal Tax Returns.

• The business must currently have between 2-50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, one of which is the owner. Sole proprietors without any employees or 1099 workers are not eligible.

• The business must have a minimum of $40,000 in operating expenses based on 2020 Federal Business Tax Returns.

• Business revenues must be between $40,000 to $2,500,000 based on 2020 Federal Business Tax Returns.

• Business must have been established prior to 09/30/2020 and be currently in operation.

• While all businesses meeting the program's criteria are eligible, priority will be given to businesses that are located in a Gateway City and have not received relief aid from Federal, State, or local programs.

>> APPLY HERE <<

If you are eligible for both grants, you are encouraged to apply to both programs but if your application is approved, you will only receive one grant.

Plan for Success Program

Do you have an established business? Does your business need a reset?

Survey

Workshops & Webinars

Spring 2022 Workshops
Artist Impact Coalition

Presented by the Artist Impact Coalition and Assets for Artists

To support the artists who live and/or work in North Adams, the new North Adams Project provides grant funds, community networking, in-kind support, and this workshop series for North Adams artists, by North Adams artists. And to share the love with creatives throughout the region, these workshops are open to Western MA artists as space permits.

All workshops are FREE and held via Zoom, with pre-registration required to keep the cohorts at a size that maximizes participation and peer support. 

REGISTRATION PRIORITIES: These workshops are open to artists in Western Massachusetts. First priority will be given to artists who live or have studio space in North Adams, with second priority given to artists in northern Berkshire County, and final priority given to artists in southern Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. In general, space is limited, and your registration is not guaranteed to be approved. (Can't attend in person, but still interested? We'll have recordings available for most of these workshops, so sign up anyway! See full details at the end of this post.)

NAC Business Development Team

Marketing: Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
Business: Nico Dery

Need help with your books, business proposal, or assistance with loan applications? Can’t quite wrap your head around social media? The North Adams Chamber of Commerce Business Development team can help! Email for a 1-1 free consultation at our NEW office on 85 Main Street. Virtual or in-person consultations available.

Contact: businessdevelopment@nachamber.org