Divisions & Programs

• Department Home Page
• Community Planning
• Economic Development
• Environmental and
  Transportation Planning
• Housing
• Community Development Block Grant
• Lead-Safe Cambridge

Top Links

• About the Department
• Popular Services
• Community Calendar
• Contact Us
• Demographics
• Forms
• Housing Services
• Maps
• Parks and Open Space
• Planning Board Agenda
• Publications
• Zoning Ordinance and Map
• Site Map
• About This Web Site

Use the Site Map to navigate
the site

Business Development Workshops, Trainings, and Consulting

The Economic Development Division partners with the Center for Women & Enterprise to provide financial literacy and business development programs and services to Cambridge residents, entrepreneurs, and businesses. The Division also hires retail specialists to work with Cambridge retailers and restaurant owners to improve their establishments ’ interiors and marketing strategies.

For Residents

Making Your Money Work – a Financial Literacy Training Program

This 6-week program helps residents get their personal finances in shape to reach their personal goals including planning for retirement, saving for a college education, buying a home and starting a business. Discussion topics include how to set financial goals, establish budgets, improve spending and saving habits, understand and repair credit, and reduce debt.

Read the article about the class "Making Your Money Work – a Financial Literacy Program" For this Mother Daughter Pair, Finances are All in the Family.

Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

For Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups

Exploring Entrepreneurship Information Session

This free session presents resources available to assist entrepreneurs through a partnership between the City of Cambridge and the Center for Women & Enterprise. Find out if you meet the eligibility guidelines for free business development programs and services.

Upcoming Information Sessions (call to confirm dates and times):

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Power Up!

A thirteen week comprehensive course for new entrepreneurs who are starting or growing a business. Participants learn how to write a business plan, find and access capital, develop revenue projections and manage cash flow. Marketing, promoting products and services are also covered in detail. Program is limited to 15 participants only.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Steps to Starting Your Own Business Workshop

This workshop explores the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship and discusses industry trends, market research, business operations, and much more. Participants receive worksheets, tips, and tools to help them get started in business.

Upcoming Workshops (call to confirm dates and times):

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

For Established Businesses and Start-Ups

Best Retail Practices Program - Part I Workshop

This workshop is offered free of charge for all Cambridge retailers and restaurant owners . Participants learn about consumer and retail trends, strengths and opportunities in Cambridge, and best practices in store/restaurant design and marketing to help their businesses look their best and improve their marketing strategy. This 2½-hour workshop is delivered by expert retail consultants NELSON and Clair/Stone Communications and is usually held in the spring and fall of the year. Pre-registration is required.

Next Workshop (call to confirm dates and times):

Pre-registration is required. Contact Elaine Madden at 617/349-4618, emadden@cambridgema.gov.

Read more about the Best Retail Practices Program, which offers Part II in-store consultations and Part III grants to eligible businesses.

Return to Top

Business Management for Economic Downturn

In today’s economy, the primary goal of any business owner is to survive during the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient business strategy. Workshop topics include: how to grow your business during an economic downturn, how to conserve cash, protect assets & reduce costs; and how to improve efficiencies and grow your customer base.

Return to Top

Direct Mail Strategies - a Best Retail Practices Workshop

Innovative Direct Mail Strategies To Grow Your Business - Enhance your overall advertising campaign and help grow your business. Learn about the current media landscape, recent trends in media, industry projections and new innovations in direct mail. Recommended tips will help you make sound business decisions when you use direct mail as part of your multi-channel marketing mix. The workshop will conclude with a "hands-on" review of online support available from the U. S. Postal Service.

Return to Top

E-Marketing Workshop Series

Over the course of three sessions led by expert consultants, business owners will learn how to better identify their customers, reach them and keep them. There will be extensive discussion of new web-based technologies and participants will also explore ways to measure the effectiveness of their marketing strategies.

Three Week Workshop Series:

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Financing For Your Business Information Session

This free information session discusses finance basics and ways to access financing. Participants can get answers to questions about credit reports, tax returns, and financial statements with a loan specialist. Participants will also receive information on free business workshops and consulting provided by the City of Cambridge to eligible Cambridge participants.

Upcoming Information Sessions (call to confirm dates and times):

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Pricing Strategies Workshop

This new workshop provides information on ways to improve your overall business profitability. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different pricing strategies and explore different pricing scenarios. Discuss how to analyze your cash flows and conduct break even analysis.

Next Workshop:

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Record Keeping for Small Business Workshop

Record Keeping for Small Business Workshop - Participants will learn what records should be kept, accounting definitions, understanding accounting methods and bookkeeping systems and which are best for their business, how to set up a bookkeeping system, how to read the basics of financial statements, and how to choose an accountant/CPA.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

Sell It on eBay

Have you shopped on eBay, and now you would like to sell and ship? This class will teach you how to start your own home based on-line business or diversify your existing storefront business by selling and shipping items online using eBay and the United States Postal Service.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance Information Session

A free SOMWBA Certification Information Session will be held by the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance and sponsored by the Community Development Department. This info Session will present the requirements for state certification of minority (MBE) and the woman business enterprises (WBE) program.

State agencies purchase millions of dollars worth of products and services from MBE and WBE-certified businesses. If your business has a product or service which state agencies purchase, you could benefit from this certification.

Next Class (call to confirm dates and times):

Pre-registration required. For more information and registration call Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

For more information see the SOMBWA workshop page.

Return to Top

One-on-One Business Consulting Sessions

In this new service, eligible Cambridge participants may schedule appointments to address their specific business concerns with experienced consultants through the Center for Women & Enterprise. Consultants are available with expertise in legal and financial issues, loan counseling, general strategy, marketing, public relations, business planning, information technology, e-commerce, and much more.

Appointments for one-on-one consulting sessions will be scheduled September 2007-May 2008. Contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637, rholmes@cambridgema.gov.

Return to Top

For More Information

For more information, please contact Rona Holmes, rholmes@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4637. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

 

Return to Small Business Assistance

Return to Economic Development Division Home

Return to Community Development Department home