Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business (Massachusetts)

On Friday, the Joint Committee on Small Business and Community Development participated in a listening tour, in Duxbury and Pembroke, to gain valuable insight on how we can continue to facilitate small business growth in Massachusetts.

To begin our day, Debra Odier, owner of French Memories Café, offered us a tour of her bakery in the Snug Harbor section of Duxbury. For those of you who do not know, French Memories in Duxbury prepares their croissants by hand on the premises!

Next, we received a guided tour of Island Creek Oysters, in Duxbury, at their Oyster Farm location. We heard from local shell fishermen and learned how oysters are grown and harvested.

Our last stop on the tour was in Pembroke at Tiny & Sons Auto Glass. Peter Brown and his father “Tiny” gave us a quick tour of their repair shop and their fantastic antique car collection.

We wrapped the day with an informative roundtable discussion with a handful of local business leaders from the South Shore. The Committee is always eager to hear how we can continue to support small businesses here in Massachusetts. Overall, the day was very educational, exciting, and fun!

Thank you to all for lettings us get an inside look at your daily business operations! We always appreciate the opportunity to visit and experience hidden jewels across the Commonwealth.

To support local businesses this holiday season, committee member Rep. Josh Cutler and his wife Leslie, hosted an evening shopping benefit in Pembroke and invited more than a dozen local artists and artisans to market their unique, hand-made offerings. The event attracted more than 200 local shoppers who also brought donations for the local food pantry. A good time was had by all!

With all the excitement surrounding Black Friday, do not forget to support Small Business Saturday on November 30, 2013! There is no better way to support independent businesses than shopping at local and small businesses in your community. You may even find the perfect holiday gift!

Stay tuned for updates featuring your State Representatives and Senators as they tour local businesses in your community! In the meantime, feel free to share your Small Business Saturday experiences with us!

At Cape Cod Beer Company. Pictured from left: Sen. Dan Wolf, Rep. Jon Zlotnik, Rep. Josh S. Cutler, Committee Chair Sen. Donoghue, Cape Cod Beer Brewmaster and President Todd Marcus, Cape Cod Beer CEO Beth Marcus, and Committee Vice Chair Rep. Tackey Chan.

This morning, Community Development & Small Business Committee Senate Chair Eileen Donoghue and House Vice Chair Tackey Chan were on hand to celebrate as Governor Deval Patrick declared October 15th through November 15th as Immigrant Entrepreneurship Month!

Here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, immigrant entrepreneurs continue to make significant contributions to the economic growth in Massachusetts; 18% of businesses in MA are owned by foreign-born residents and they generate $2.8 billion income annually (14% of state’s total).

Small businesses are the driving force behind our economy and immigrants are twice as likely as native-born residents to start a business. Our immigrant entrepreneurs are a key component to our state’s economic growth and success!

If you are a Massachusetts employer, please see the attached flyer for important information regarding changes in health care benefits and coverage starting January 1, 2014. The Massachusetts Health Connector, together with Associated Industries of Massachusetts, will be hosting a series of information sessions to give employers an opportunity to hear about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, as well as the ongoing integration of state and national health reform laws. Please refer to the flyer for upcoming events in your area.

This month, please join the Joint Committee on Community Development & Small Business to recognize National Small Business Week!

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, National Small Business Week is an annual countrywide event recognizing the vital role our nation’s nearly 28 million entrepreneurs and local businesses play in the economy. Started by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, this year’s Small Business Week will be held starting June 17th through June 21st.

Stay tuned for updates featuring your State Representatives and Senators as they tour local businesses in your community!

The Joint committee is proud to release the Statewide Community Development Listening Tour Report of the 2011-2012 session. http://bit.ly/YNOTGa

Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business Holds First Hearing of New Session | Lin Rep. Forry and Senate Co-Chairs Review Successes of ‘11-’12 Session Former co-Chair Senator DiDomenico, and Co-Chairs Senator Donoghue and

This was a big year for the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business! Key legislative accomplishments included updates to the Community Preservation Act (CPA), adjustments to the "fair-share" health care contribution rate for small businesses, the passage of the Community Development Partnership Act tax credit program, and the creation of an official “one-stop shop” web portal for Massachusetts entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking information on state resources. For more information, check out the Joint Committee’s 2011-2012 End of Session Report at the following link: https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/CDSB%202011-2012%20End%20of%20Session%20Report.pdf?w=483a17bb

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this a productive and successful year!

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/CDSB%202011-2012%20End%20of%20Session%20Report.pdf?w=483a17bb

To check out this week's edition of the Committee's news clips, please click the following link:https://www.dropbox.com/s/kzf5kn09hy244qy/8.21%20-%208.27%20-%20JtCDSBNewsClips.pdf

8.21 - 8.27 - JtCDSBNewsClips.pdf - Dropbox

For this week's top newsclips, visit the link below.

Committee's Top Ten Newsclips