Welcome to the Franklin County CDC! Do you have a business idea? Are you looking for financing? Need some guidance on growing your venture? You’re in the right place!
Let’s connect! Get started on your business journey by attending our virtual information sessions (more on that below) and submitting our Interest Form. Once you have submitted it, our team will contact you within two weeks with recommended next steps.
Ready for action! Got your business advisor connection? It’s time to fill in the Client Application. We have to ask a some demographic questions in order to provide free business help. Please know that we collect this data in aggregate only and that we do not share specific information about any individual business or person. Your answers to these questions help us make sure we are meeting our goals to provide services to people with low and moderate incomes, and to those impacted by racism and other types of discrimination.
In need of business financing? Go to our lending page to learn your next steps.
Information Sessions
The Franklin County Community Development Corporation offers free virtual monthly information sessions for those looking to start or grow their businesses. Explore the links below to find the session that will help with your business. Not sure which session is right for you? Contact us to learn more.
We welcome businesses of all types at any stage. Zoom with an expert who has worked with hundreds of businesses over the years and can answer questions and offer resources. This is a great way to get started with the Franklin County CDC. Join us on the first Wednesday of the month, at 2 p.m. Sign up!
Got a dream food product? We can help! Zoom with the food product experts from the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center to begin a conversation about your product. We can help with food safety, packaging, recipe development, distribution, sourcing, financing, and marketing. We also have resources we can point you to. Join us on the third Tuesday of the month, 10 a.m. Sign up!
Farm and food-business owners: Get guidance and learn about the PVGrows Investment Fund and the Massachusetts Food Trust Program! We’ve got resources for farmers, locally-grown food producers, and those who are working to bring healthy food retail business to low-grocery areas. Zoom with us on the second Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m. Sign up!
Are you a farmer looking to turn your harvest into value-added products, but not sure where to begin? Already making a value-added product, but want to scale up your business? This info session walks agricultural producers interested in value-added food products through the food business roadmap, outlining things to consider on your journey. (Note this info session focuses on food products; those interested in other value-added products should complete the Interest form to set up a one-on-one counseling session.) Info sessions are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m. Sign up!
Did you know the words you choose can harm others? Ignorance and innocence are no excuse for using expressions, idioms, and words that evolved to keep dominant cultures powerful and to diminish subordinate cultures. Learn how to notice these phrases and to remove them from your vocabulary, helping to increase equity in our culture and communicating in a neutral tone. Join our Zoom session on the third Wednesdays of the month at 2 p.m. Sign up!