Small Businesses Invited to help 'Put Valley on the Map'

Shelton - The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and Pepperland Marketing, a Google Partner agency, have teamed up to help small businesses in the Lower Naugatuck Valley region grow their presence online by hosting a Let’s Put Our Valley on the Map workshop, featuring two interactive sessions: “How To Reach A Local Audience Through Google Search and Google Maps” and “An Introduction To Inbound Marketing.”  The free workshop will be held on on Thursday, November 19^th at the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce office, 10 Progress Drive, Shelton, CT, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am.

 

Register here: http://go.pepperlandmarketing.com/lets-put-the-valley-on-the-map-free-event 

 

Let’s Put Our Valley on the Map is part of Google’s Get Your Business Online program and aims to bring community members, business owners and civic leaders together to help small businesses succeed on the web.

 

“4 out of 5 consumers use search engines to find local information nearby, yet only 37% of businesses have claimed their listing on a search engine,” says Soo Young Kim, Head of Small Business Engagement at Google. “Small businesses are the engine of local economies and when they flourish, their communities do as well.”

 

“Closing this gap presents a huge opportunity to boost the local economy,” said Bill Purcell, President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. “This is a chance for Valley area businesses to collectively expand their online presence and further promote the region as the premier destination for business and leisure.”

Anyone interested in reaching a local audience online to grow their business is encouraged to attend, regardless of their company size or industry.  Attendees will be treated to coffee and light refreshments.Advanced registration is required.

“Consumers now begin their holiday shopping online as early as August. If you can’t be found on Google, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity,” says Sean Henri, founder of Pepperland Marketing. “In partnering with Google for this workshop, we hope to give Valley businesses a competitive advantage as we approach the busy holiday shopping season.”

Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map is a program designed to empower communities to support their local businesses and encourage them to get on the map. Local businesses keep our communities strong; when we help them succeed on the web, they make our communities even stronger. The Let’s Put Our Valley on the Map workshop is a Google presentation hosted by Pepperland Marketing and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.gybo.com to learn more about the program and get involved.
(this is a press release from Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce)

Crisco hails Senate OK for small business funding

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, vice-chair of the legislature’s Commerce Committee,  voted Wednesday with a majority of his senate colleagues to approve additional support for the state’s Small Business Express Program.  
Crisco said this important economic development initiative has had proven, positive results and has earned supplemental funding.

The Small Business Express Program, created in 2011, provides matching grants and deferrable or forgivable loans under a streamlined application process to eligible Connecticut-based businesses with fewer than 100 employees. 

Grant and loan amounts range from $10,000 to $300,000; recipients can use the funds for machinery and equipment, to construct facilities or improve them, cover moving expenses, or meet working capital needs.

“Connecticut’s small businesses have always been an integral part of our state’s economic engine so it’s important to support the innovation and job creation that occurs in small businesses with this supplemental funding,” Crisco said. “The bill we approved today re-authorizes bonding originally meant for another program to this one, increasing the pool of available funding for small businesses by 60 percent.”

More specifically, the bill moves bonding previously authorized for Connecticut’s Manufacturing Assistance Act program, which provides financing to small and large businesses, nonprofit corporations, municipalities and regional planning organizations for a range of projects, and transfers it to the Small Business Express Program.

“With limited state funds available we have to be creative and nimble to invest wisely where we can realize the greatest return – this particular example of economic development funding has shown itself to be a terrific stimulant for participating small businesses,” Crisco said. “I am pleased by today’s bipartisan support for what amounts to a transfer of state resources because this type of collaboration will perpetuate rebound and recovery in our state’s economy.”

As of Jan. 25, 2013, the Small Business Express Program had distributed $29.2 million to Connecticut companies to create or retain 7,011 jobs in the state, including jobs in manufacturing and retail, the financial services sector, the hospitality and tourism industry, and in construction and healthcare companies.

This information is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.

Crisco to co-host business conference at Ansonia Armory

Jobs Bill highlights will be presented

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, will co-host – along with the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the state Department of Labor – the Greater Valley STEP UP Conference Wednesday. More than 100 area businesses are already registered for the series of presentations and meetings to help companies in the region better understand the Connecticut Jobs Bill and its STEP UP program.

The conference is scheduled from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Ansonia Armory, 5 State St. Highlights of the Jobs Bill enacted last fall and expanded economic development programs enacted in June will be spelled out in presentations and exhibits.

“It’s been gratifying to see widespread acceptance of the provisions of our jobs bill, with businesses from throughout Connecticut taking advantage of the direct assistance available to them,” Crisco said. “This conference is aimed at small businesses and manufacturers in our backyard to make sure they’re completely familiar with the jobs-generating, inventory expansion, and marketing assistance programs available to them as well as our newly expanded eligibility for these programs.”

Crisco said the state’s Small Business Express program is now available to companies with up to 100 employees with grants to launch new products or expand inventory, and the STEP UP job training program has new payroll incentives for employers to help them cover the costs associated with hiring and training new employees, including post-9/11 veterans.

“Area business owners could be eligible for wage reimbursement programs, job training grants, tax credits, and other direct assistance to help them expand their business and enhance their company profile,” Crisco said. “We’re very excited that so many business owners have pre-registered and hope more of them turn out for this important event Wednesday morning.”

“One of the presentations offers specifics about the payroll assistance available to those who hire post-9/11 veterans of the Armed Forces, who often need a helping hand while integrating back into civilian life,”Crisco added. “This is particularly appropriate, given the sacrifices made by these veterans in service to our nation, and the timing is serendipitous, given this week’s anniversary of those deadly attacks.” 

This was taken from a release from Crisco's office.

Conference in Ansonia to aid small businesses

    ANSONIA - A free conference for small businesses and manufacturers will be held Sept. 12 at the Ansonia Armory, 5 State St.
    The Greater Valley Step Up Conference begins at 7:30 a.m. with registration and light refreshments. Presentations and information booth visits are scheduled from 8-10:30 a.m.
    Attendees will learn about opportunities to grow their business.
    Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman is scheduled to attend, as are local and state legislators, municipal officials and area agencies.
    For information call Dolores Ryan, 203-455-2602. To RSVP, register before Sept. 10 at www.ctworkSSw,org /STEPUP.