News – Page 86 – Salem Main Streets

Salem Assists With Small Business Loan

Jan 212014

Creating jobs and revitalizing the city’s downtown and eligible neighborhoods is the focal point of the City of Salem’s Small Business Loan Program. Mayor Kimberley Driscoll has recently announced that the City is now accepting applications for financial assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs through this program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

“The small business loan program has been very successful in helping new and growing businesses to thrive and continues to be an engine for job growth in Salem,” said Mayor Driscoll.

The program provides low-interest loans to qualified entrepreneurs to cover the gap between the amount of financing needed for an economic development project and the amount that conventional lenders can finance.

While there is no maximum amount, typical loans do not exceed $50,000. Applicants meet with the Economic Development staff prior to applying to determine an appropriate loan amount suitable for the program.

Funds are available for acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of real property and for financing related to the purchase of equipment, fixtures, inventory, leasehold improvements and working capital. Terms and conditions vary.

The city offers three types of loan assistance to eligible businesses and property owners—Microenterprise Assistance, Commercial Revitalization, and Special Economic Development:

Microenterprise Assistance – Microenterprise Assistance Loans benefit low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs by providing low-interest loans to foster their microenterprise business (5 or fewer full-time employees, including the owner).
Commercial Revitalization – Commercial Revitalization Loans assist eligible small business owners in Salem by providing low-interest loans for exterior improvements to their business and/or to help correct code violations.
Special Economic Development – Special Economic Development Loans assist eligible small business owners in Salem by providing low-interest loans in exchange for the creation and/or retention of jobs for low- and moderate-income persons.

Any business owner or property owner located in Salem may apply for the program. Commercial Revitalization Loans are only available to businesses located in certain areas. A business owner that is leasing space must have lease authority or obtain authorization from the building owner to make improvements to the property.

For an application and more information go to www.salem.com or pick up an application at the Department of Planning & Community Development, 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor or call (978) 619-5685.

Salem’s So Sweet – Chocolate & Wine Tasting Tickets on Sale!

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Jan 162014

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! Tickets for Salem’s So Sweet’s Chocolate & Wine Tasting are officially on sale!

Chocolate & Wine Tasting

Kick-off Event

Friday, Feb. 7

6:30 to 8:30 pm

Colonial Hall at Rockafellas

This luscious tasting event features wine and chocolate samplings from premier Salem restaurants, stores, and sweet shops.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased over the phone at 978/744-0004, online here, or in person at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street, Suite 101.

For more information about the Salem’s So Sweet Festival, please see the festival page at http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/salem-so-sweet/ or contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or 978/744-0004 x15.

Salem Provides Valentine Event To Bring Together Community And Merchants

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Jan 082014

Sweet deal coming up in Salem Ma! We don’t have to sugar coat this event. The next project that Salem Main Streets presents to the community is the Annual Salem So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival.

This decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, chocolate sampling and Valentine’s Day shopping draws crowds from near and far.

So much so that we want to invite local businesses to take advantage of opportunities to participate in the Salem So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival; offer a promotion, sponsor an ice sculpture, or showcase food/wine at the kick-off event.

It may be cold outside but chocolate warms the heart and invites customers into stores as we head into the month of February.

Wine & Chocolate Tasting Kick-off Event: Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Colonial Hall at Rockafellas
Ice Sculptures around Town: Starting Feb. 8
Shopping Promotions, Events and The Golden Ticket Raffle: Feb. 8 – Feb. 16
…and much more!

The application for participation is due Friday, Jan. 10.

For more information or to participate, contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or 978.744.0004 x15.

New Year’s Resolution: Open A Business In Salem Ma

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Jan 042014

You have been talking about launching your own business for the last year; you’ve been dreaming about it for longer than that. We are of course biased in support of the diverse Salem Ma Downtown District as your future location. So don’t take our word for it. However, Small Business Trends has mapped out the “Top 50 Small Business Shopping Destinations to Visit” and not one but six Massachusetts communities are on it— including Salem:

“… retail has become big box stores and moved to strip shopping centers and malls. But there are still communities across the United States that have thriving small business districts where local entrepreneurs abound. We’ve identified 50 of the standouts…”

While the survey may have as its purpose to give shoppers a bird’s eye view of small business friendly destinations, it is also a close-up on communities which are successful incubators for budding owners of such businesses— notably Salem Ma.

From the January 2012 report of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy:

“Small businesses continue to be incubators for innovation and employment growth during the current recovery. Small businesses continue to play a vital role in the economy of the United States. They produced 46 percent of the private nonfarm GDP in 2008…”

That could be your business.

And, according to the US Census Bureau Data (2009):

“There were 5.8 million employer firms in the U.S. Firms with less than 20 workers made up 89.7 percent of these businesses.”

Salem stands ready to support you. Salem Main Streets. The Salem Chamber of Commerce. The City of Salem. Destination Salem. We are rich in organizations to answer every question and help you along the way. We actively support and work with our businesses through festivals, events, and national activities such as Small Business Saturday.

And then there are the businesses along the Downtown District themselves. Best resources of info. Don’t take our word for it. 2014 is here. Resolve it’s time to stop thinking and time to act on your dream.

A Toast To All: Well Done!

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Jan 012014

“Anybody in Salem Ma feel like the final credits scene of Hocus Pocus as they walked out of the party dazed and exhausted? Happy New Year” —- SalemAMB at 7:27am 1/1/14 on Twitter

That fairly well describes Salem Ma this morning.

Whether you went to our LAUNCH of New Year’s Eve (thank you very much) and an event at the Hawthorne, Opus or any of a dozen other celebrations last night, we hope you brought in the New Year with old and new friends.

2013 started out as one of transition for Salem Main Streets. Our previous manager Jennifer Bell had moved on and Matthew Caruso very capably stepped up to be interim manager so the search committee could find the right person to take over. And that they did with Kylie Sullivan (and no, I did not get paid to say that.)

Merchants in the Downtown District can attest to seeing her as a whirlwind of action these past few months. And especially so, working with the City and other groups to organize and launch last night’s fun filled event on such short notice.

On behalf of the volunteers, thank you Matt, thank you Judy & Mira (Haunted Happenings Volunteer Booth co-cordinators), and most importantly—thank you Kylie. Job well done.

Now… how many days is it until Haunted Happenings 2014……???

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