Business Planning: A Strong Foundation for Success

Writing a business plan helps you to understand every component of your business from communicating your ideas and building a framework for decision-making and management. It serves as a reminder of your goals and for tracking the business’s performance. The plan is a tool to articulate investment needs, capital assets, business partnerships, and customer loyalty. If you take the time and energy to create a comprehensive business plan then you will be on the road to minimizing your risks while directed toward success.
Click Here to access our Business Planning toolkit.

Our Training Opportunities

Choose ONE or BOTH of the FREE information sessions below. Register today!

Grow Your Business (all business)

FREE  Information Session Register here

Find out how our programs can help you with Counseling, Capital and Connections to GROW YOUR BUSINESS.
Learn about available resources and walk out knowing your next step.

FIRST Wednesday of the Month    3:30 – 5:00 pm
FCCDC 324 Wells Street, Greenfield

Grow Your FOOD Business

FREE Information Session Register here

Food Producers looking to make their products or have their products co-packed at the Western MA Food Center access the FCCDC’s expertise at a food-focused information session with a tour.  Please be sure to follow the dress requirements in the confirmation email.

Third Tuesday of the Month    10:00 – 11:30 am
WMA FPC, 324 Wells Street Greenfield

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Other Training Opportunities

Business Training is available from a variety of other organizations and consultants:

Valley CDC, Northampton MA
Business Assistance and Workshops

Hilltown CDC, Chesterfield, MA
Business Assistance

Quaboag Valley CDC, Ware MA
Workshop and Class Schedule

MA Small Business Development Network
Workshop and Class Schedule

SCORE Western MA
SCORE workshops

Greenfield Community College
Business classes and workshops are offered year round

Business associations provide another opportunity for networking and marketing:

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce
Shelburne Falls Area Business Association
Greenfield Business Association
Montague Business Association

Our 1:1 Business Counseling Services

After attending an Information Session, one hour of free individual counseling is available to those who are starting or growing a business. You’ll receive business planning instruction that includes marketing, budget projections and business plan critique.

Fee-based counseling will guide you through developing a mission statement, goals and objectives, marketing plan, operations plan, and budget projection. This is structured for people who prefer individual counseling. Individual sessions by appointment.

Interested?

• Attend the next free information session Sign up here
• After attending the info session Apply for Counseling
• Call for an appointment 413-774-7204 ext 107

Apply here for Counseling

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Other Free Business Counseling Services

Hilltown CDC, Chesterfield, MA

Valley CDC, Northampton MA

Quaboag Valley CDC, Ware MA

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network  – to make an appointment with an MSBDC counselor in:

• Franklin County, contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at 413-773-5463
• Berkshire County, contact MSBDC Berkshire Regional Office at 413-499-0933
• Hampden County, contact MSBDC Western MA Regional Office at 413-577-1768
• Hampshire County, contact Northampton Chamber of Commerce at 413-584-1900

SCORE
To make an appointment with a SCORE counselor, contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at 413-773-5463, or Western MA SCORE at 413-785-0314

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Other Fee-based Business Counseling Services

are available from business consultants, accountants, lawyers, CPAs. To locate an industry expert that best fits your need:

• Ask several people you respect for a referral – obtain at least 2-3 choices
• Set up informational interviews to determine compatibility and if expertise fits your need
• Once you have selected the industry expert:
  • Make a plan for the project
  • Determine what you can do to prepare for your meetings (being prepared will lower your cost)
  • Agree to a fee for service and time needed to complete the work.

Flexible Financing

The FCCDC finances both start-up and existing small businesses for a wide range of purposes, and has been successfully doing so for 40 years.

We support entrepreneurs in a variety of industries with an emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs who are committed to creating jobs in their communities. Since 1979, we have provided more than $10 million in financing to local businesses and more than 300 loans. FCCDC borrowers have created and/or retained over thousands of local jobs!

Click here to learn more about our flexible Business Financing

Apply here for Counseling

PVGrows Investment Fund

Since 2008,  the PVGrows Investment Fund has been harnessing the collective power of the Pioneer Valley to support food and farm businesses. PVGrows Investment Fund is Administered by the FCCDC.

Click here to learn more about PV Grows

Free Information Sessions

If you are new to the FCCDC and would like to find out about our Lending, Technical Assistance, or training programs or to learn how to use the Western MA Food Processing Center, we invite you to come to one of our FREE information sessions.

Register online or call 413-774-7204 x 100

Information Session Presentations

We supply printed copies of our information session presentations on-site. If you’d like to review it before or after you can view or download the presentations below:

Grow Your Business Info Session

Grow Your FOOD Business/ FPC Info Session

Other Questions?

Contact us or call us at 413-774-7204

Or if you prefer, you may fill out our Application Form online to let us know how we can assist you with your business.