Business Development Workshops

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Interactive Live and Online Workshops!

The Economic Opportunity and Development Division works with the Cambridge Community Television (CCTV), The Capital Network, Center for Women & Enterprise, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SCORE Boston, Growth with Google, and local organizations to provide business development programs and services to Cambridge residents, entrepreneurs, and businesses.  

Click here for a list of previously recorded workshops and events that are now available for viewing.

Please note - Registrations close 2 HOURS BEFORE the workshop begins (unless otherwise noted below).  Classes may be cancelled or postponed due to lack of registration. Please call the Division at 617-349-4637 to check the status of a workshop.  

All workshops are free for Cambridge busines

s owners and residents unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions about our workshops, please contact Rona Abrahams at rabrahams@cambridgema.gov or 617/349-4637. 

May

Food Waste Reduction for Businesses

  • Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023
  • Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: Online via Zoom.
  • Description:  Learn how your business can reduce food waste, comply with local regulations, and save money. Presented by Abbey Massaro of RecyclingWorks Massachusetts and Cambridge Department of Public Works.
  • Register online. Once registered, you will receive a link to the Zoom session.

Free Financial Education Course for Cambridge Businesses - Saving for Retirement

  • Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
  • Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: Online via Zoom.
  • Description:  Participants will learn about retirement options available to small business owners. Presented by Cambridge Savings Bank. 
  • Register online. Once registered, you will receive a link to the Zoom session.

ServSafe Certification Training

  • Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
  • Time: 1:00 - 8:30 p.m. note: This course includes a training, a break period, and testing session. While the room is available until 8:30 p.m., past students have required less time for the exam and completed the day in 5 hours. 
  • Location: Cambridge Public Library Main Branch, 449 Broadway, Community Room, Level L2
  • Description: This two-part workshop offers attendees the opportunity to take an in-person ServSafe training module and then a ServSafe test administered by paper and led by an experienced ServSafe trainer. This training is ideal for first-time food businesses looking to do catering or pop-up markets in Cambridge. Translation services can be made available upon request. Trainer: Berger Food Safety Consulting. 
  • Registration is required. The course is now full and no longer accepting registrants.

Green Restaurant Menu Practices: Sourcing and Waste Reduction

  • Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
  • Time: 12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
  • Location: Online via Zoom
  • Description: Ingredient selection and food cost are things all restaurant owners can control and improve. Upgrading ingredient and reducing waste go hand-in-hand to maintain and even improve profitability. In this webinar, we will discuss: 1) working with local farms and aggregators to make local sourcing convenient, reliable, and profitable 2) how to prioritize easy substitutions with year-round availability that maximize sustainability without compromising on quality and 3) strategies for reducing business waste from implementing tracking systems, to improving employee education and creating incentives for long-lasting change. Presented by Prepshift.
  • Register online. Once registered, you will receive a link to the Zoom session.

June

Social Media Strategy Workshop Series at CCTV

Location: Virtual

The Social Media Strategy Workshops Series are three workshops designed to be taken together as each one builds up on the next workshop. In this three session workshop series you'll be building your own social media strategy from the ground up, including making your own graphics with Canva, researching effective hashtags for your business, and reviewing how to post on different social media platforms. At the end of this workshop series, you'll leave with a social media plan that you can start using immediately!

 

Workshop 1 of 3

  • Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Description: Go over current social media trends and explain which platform makes most sense depending on the type of business or promotion at hand, discuss hashtagging and the frequency of posts for best results. Students will gain understanding of their audience and the most effective messaging for their business.

Workshop 2 of 3

  • Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023

  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

  • Description: Students will start using Canva (a free online graphic design tool) to create photo and video graphics for posts, Stories, and more. There will be further explanation of crossposting on several platforms and formatting for the best viewer experience and presentation.

Workshop 3 of 3

  • Date: Thursday, June 29, 2023
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Description: Students will take the graphics and concepts discussed and create a tangible plan with a calendar for reference. We will also talk about more advanced strategies and touch upon using e-commerce in the social media approach as well.

Register online. Once registered, you will receive a link to the Zoom session.

For more information, please contact Rona Abrahams at rabrahams@cambridgema.gov or 617/349-4637.