Legislation sponsored by Rep. Steve Walsh (D-Lynn) has passed the Massachusetts House to allow small businesses to negotiate as a group for the purchase of health insurance.  The Senate had earlier passed a bill to allow for four pilot projects of 15,000 companies each to be created to test group negotiating.  Yesterday the members of the Health Care Cost Containment Bill Conference Committee were named to reconcile the two bills and make a final recommendation for passage.

If you have an interest in reversing the law that prohibits small businesses from aggregating into larger health insurance purchasing groups, contact the conferees identified below and please tell them that you support House Amendment No. 41, Small Business Health Plans, or more simply put, the Walsh Amendment.

Additional information:

THE BILL REFERENCE NUMBERS: Promoting cost containment, transparency and efficiency in the provision of quality health insurance for individuals and small businesses (H 4924 and S 2447)

THE HOUSE CONFEREES: Reps. Ronald Mariano, Steven Walsh, and Jay Barrows

THE SENATE CONFEREES: Sens. Mark Montigny, Harriette Chandler, and Michael Knapik

Below is a link that will provide the email addresses for the members listed above.

Sections include:

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75 Secrets to Startup Success Don’t let your startup dreams die because you’re overwhelmed or unsure of what’s really involved in getting started. Master the process with these top startup tips from business experts.

Ask Entrepreneur Whether you need to know how much to charge for your products or when to hire an outsourcing agent, our panel of small business experts is ready to answer your questions.

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Germain, the clothing and home décor shop Albert’s opened with the interior designer Elena Litteron, features a carefully edited collection of jeans, tanks and easy dresses as well as mid-century furniture, pillows made from Swiss army blankets and other vintage fabrics, and pottery and photography by local artists.

Click here to read more!

T Square Design Studio relocates from London to the Berkshires. Abby & Richard Tovell formed T Square Design in 2006 after working in both big agencies and running their own independent companies in New York and London for a combined 40 years.

The Tovells specialize in museum graphic design and web site development as well as print, branding and exhibition design. Past and current clients include the London Zoo, Channel 4, GE and the United Nations.

Abby Tovell has worked with a vast range of business clients to design, develop and deploy effective internet and e-commerce strategies and solutions since 1991 and the earliest days of the Internet. She has produced numerous web sites, identities, stationery systems and a smattering of film and television graphics. Richard has worked for renowned museums and historic sites such as the Horniman Museum and English Heritage, and his work on the permanent visitor center exhibition at Rievaulx Abbey garnered him an Interpret Britain Award from the Association for Heritage Interpretation.

Click here to learn more!

Robin Helfand says the Berkshires are a mecca for small, independent businesses to develop and thrive.

She owns Robin’s Candy Shop in Great Barrington and just opened a second retail store called You Are Here – Robin’s Finds from the Berkshires and Beyond. She also works as a consultant for startups and small businesses that want to grow.

Helfand moved her candy store from New York to the Berkshires in June 2008. She spent a long time researching possible locations before deciding on Great Barrington. “I view it as the independent cultural, culinary, and merchant center of the area,” she said. “The customer base is looking specifically to shop locally, so it’s an incubator for small startups where people can grow their business in a very supportive environment.”

Ralph Petillo agrees. He’s the director of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce, and says what he loves about doing business in the Berkshires is the number of unique artisans and small shops that thrive there.

They are supported by tourists who flock to the area three seasons of the year to take advantage of cultural and outdoor attractions. Lenox alone boasts more than a dozen art galleries and is home to Tanglewood; Shakespeare and Co.; Edith Wharton’s restored mansion, the Mount; and Ventford Hall Museum of the Gilded Age, among others.

Petillo says the plethora of cultural venues draws a steady stream of traffic from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. “People come here looking for individual products, so the Berkshires have become filled with shops run by people who produce them,” he said. “Shopping in Lenox is like strolling through a world bazaar. There is everything from European fashions to old-fashioned mom-and-pop stores to world-famous shops.”

The Berkshires also offer also a number of resources to help fledging businesses. Michael Supranowicz, president and CEO of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce in Pittsfield, says it’s not difficult to open a business in a small community. “It’s much easier to navigate the municipal regulations, and there is an abundance of people to help get businesses up and running,” he said, referring to free services offered by Berkshire Enterprises and the UMass Small Business Development Center Network’s Berkshire Regional Office.

Click here to read the full article on Businesswest.com.

The orders are beginning to come in, but they need a boost to take them to the next level. “We’re poised, ready to sell but it’s going to take money, money, money,” said Juby on Thursday. “So that’s why I came here.”

Here was the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Recovery Expo at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. It was the first time the SBA has sponsored an event in North Berkshire and it drew nearly 50 people looking for tips and funding sources to keep their businesses going and growing.

Nearly a dozen representatives from various business support groups spoke about the many funding and counseling opportunities available for businesses — from struggling mom-and-pops to startups to, yes, thriving companies.

State and federal officials say keeping small businesses operating is crucial to the economy.

“Small businesses have created 65 percent of new jobs over the last 15 years and over half the people in the United States work for or own a small business,” said Robert Nelson, the district director of the Massachusetts SBA office. “Small businesses drive competitiveness, innovation and they’re creating 21st-century jobs.”

In Massachusetts alone, businesses with 20 employees or fewer account from some 86 percent of all businesses, said Andre M. Porter, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

“We have an economy that’s dependent on small business,” he said, adding that the state office funds local nonprofits that provide local assistance, workshops, and “anything we feel will help people improve their business.”

Click here to read the full article at iberkshires.com!

For $300, Brilliant Graphics will:

* Capture your original artwork with a High Definition, 3D Scanner.
* Color correct the digital capture to your original.
* Archive the capture and color correction on a cd for you to retain.
* Produce 3 Giclée prints, with archival inks on your choice of German etching paper or canvas up to 24” x 24” finished size. Larger prints are available for an additional fee.

The regular cost for this package is $450 and will be offered until June 30, 2010.

Brilliant Graphics is promoting this special to introduce their exceptional scanning capabilities and superior printing to the local art community.

The technology behind the system reduces the overall light exposure so it can provide even illumination across the entire surface of the object being scanned, maximizing sharpness and image depth. This means that reproductions will show all the fine details, brush strokes and details of the original. When artwork is scanned, it captures it at a 1:1 ratio and can produce files up to 2 gigabytes.

The 48” x 72” scanning bed can accommodate large pieces, weighing up to 500 lbs. It is also a contactless scanning system, which is ideal for scanning dimensional and delicate pieces.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Rob Kestyn at 413-442-4043 x44 or rkestyn@sampco.com.

Brilliant Graphics Group is a large format digital graphics company that specializes in graphic design, 3D high resolution scanning, direct to media printing, Fine Art Reproductions, photo laser imaging, digital die cutting, UV coating and film lamination. The company was started in 2008 as a subsidiary of Sampco Companies.

SPARKettes are an opportunity for colleagues in an industry cluster to meet and connect at a scaled down, focused networking event. Whether you are part of one of the clusters, seeking services from them, or are just interested in learning more about a particular group, SPARKettes are here to help you ignite that connection!

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SPARKettes are held once a month, February-November 2010, with a different industry cluster addressed each month!

5:30-7:00pm

Upstairs at Jae’s Spice, North Street, Pittsfield, MA

FREE

Cash Bar

Hors D’ouevres and venue generously provided by Jae’s Spice!

Click here to RSVP to the SPARKettes of your choice!

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MONTH//INDUSTRY

UPCOMING…

JULY//ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS
JULY 13th, 2010
Small Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Sole Proprietors, Freelance Professionals

AUGUST//YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
AUG. 10th, 2010
Young Professionals working in the creative economy

SEPTEMBER//MUSIC/PERFORMING ARTS
SEPT. 14, 2010
Musicians (beginners, teachers, and professionals), Actors, Theatres, Festivals, Venues, Managers

OCTOBER// EDUCATION
OCT. 12th, 2010
Museum Educators, Public and Private School Teachers, School Administrators

NOVEMBER// HOUSING SUPPORT
NOV. 9th, 2010
Interior Design, Landscape Architects, Architects, Builders, Home Product Designers/Makers, Real Estate Agents

PAST…

FEBRUARY// VISUAL MEDIA
FEB. 9th, 2010
Publishers, Printers, Writers, Photographers, Graphic Designers, Web Designers, Publicists, Marketers

MARCH//CULTURE AND HERITAGE
MAR. 23rd, 2010
Museums, Theatres, Theatre Companies, Garden Museums, Historic Homes, Libraries, Heritage Preservation

APRIL//VISUAL ARTS
APR. 13th, 2010
Artists, Artisans, Galleries, Arts Agents, Collectors, Museums, Art Venues, Crafters, Curators

MAY//COMMUNICATIONS
MAY 11th, 2010
Magazines, Newspapers, Radio, Television, Journalists, Bloggers, Publicists, Marketers

JUNE// FILM AND MEDIA ARTS
JUNE 8th, 2010
Film, Animation, New Media, and Supporting Industries

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SPECIAL THANKS TO SPARK! LEAD SPONSOR

GREYLOCK FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

If you live or work in the Berkshires, you are cordially invited to join Greylock Federal Credit Union.

AND

SPARKette SPONSOR

Wednesday, January 27, 9:00- 12:00 pm

Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, 75 North Street, Suite 360 in Pittsfield, MA

Registration fee: $25. Register online at www.clickbasics.com/workshop, email paulc@clickbasics.com, or call 413-637-2459

ClickBasics, an internet marketing and web analytics company, will present the workshop, “Get Found in Social Media.” Geared for a non-technical business audience, the workshop will be presented by Paul Carter, founder of ClickBasics Internet Marketing, Lenox, MA. Participants will learn basic concepts and receive practical guidance helping business owners and internet marketers tie social media to the bottom line. Seating is limited.

Berkshire Enterprises’ February Business Breakfast Forum: What was your greatest success and what was your greatest mistake?

Friday, February 5, 2010, 7:30-9:00 AM

3rd Floor Board Room, One Fenn Street, Pittsfield, MA

Free. Email Steve Fogel at sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com or call 413-441-3688 to RSVP .

Space is limited and reservations are required.

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Success depends on learning from experience including our mistakes. To err is human but to continue to err without analyzing what is going on and changing leads to failure. This forum will be a discussion of how participants have used their successes and failures to improve their businesses and their lives. The forum will be lead by Steve Fogel, Program Director of Berkshire Enterprises. Berkshire Enterprises Business Breakfast Forums have been held since 2001. The Forums are made possible through the generous support from Greylock Federal Credit Union, Legacy Banks, Berkshire Bank, TD Banknorth, and the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank in space provided by CompuWorks. The forums include an active discussion of techniques that work and can be implemented easily. A light breakfast is included. Berkshire Enterprises is a program of the Office for Workforce Development at Berkshire Community College.

Berkshire Community College Professional Development Non-Credit Courses

Strong Boards Make Non-Profits Work

Designed for board members and executive staff. Topics include the structure, purposes and duties of the board of directors/trustees, fundraising roles, fiscal oversight, strategic palnning, hiring and dismissal of the chief executive and the role of volunteers and advisory boards.

WKS-1028-E1

2 Meetings, Mon. & Thurs., 3/8 &3/11, 9-11am

Location: Intermodal Education Center, Room 3, $75

Instructor: Gene Wenner, Non-Profit Consultant

Financial Management Skills

Learn to understand the procedures and processes needed to accommodate and meet the growing demands of federal/state regulations. Explore the easy use of available computer accounting programs that accommodate nonprofit practices, as well as successful means for relating donor information to the accounting system.

WKS-11152-E1

4 Meetings, Weds., 2/24-3/24, 6:30-8:30pm (no class 3/17)

Location: Melville Hall, Room 116, $80

Instructor: Gene Wenner, Non-Profit Consultant

Programming and Marketing Skills

Explore a strategic planning process to develop, implement and evaluate programs that meet a nonprofit organization’s mission. Learn to develop materials for marketing to specific audiences for fundraising or program purposes. Study public relations procedures and the means of communicating with the general public.

WKS-11153-E1

4 Meetings, Weds., 3/31-4/21, 6:30-8:30pm (no class 3/17)

Location: Melville Hall, Room 116, $80

Instructor: Gene Wenner, Non-Profit Consultant

To register, contact the Office of LifeLong Learning/Workforce Development  at 413-499-4660 or 800-816-1233 ext. 2123 or 2122

Bi-annual Taste of Philanthropy Conference

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA

Click here  to register for the conference!

The Taste of Philanthropy 2010 conference is expected to bring together over 300 nonprofit leaders, consultants and foundations. Morning workshops on all aspects of fundraising –from planned giving/major gifts, to corporate/foundation giving, marketing and stewardship — will be available. In the afternoon, after hearing Sheryl WuDunn’s inspirational talk, we’ll all come together to focus on building our skills for making the all important ASK!

Do you have an item you would like to share about the creative economy? Suggest a Post to Berkshire Creative!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, 75 North Street, Suite 360 in Pittsfield, MA

$20 for Berkshire Chamber members; $30 nonmembers

Pre-registration is required. Visit www.berkshirechamber.com to register.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence and the Nonprofit Business Council of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce are partnering to offer a workshop to provide nonprofit leaders with advice and guidance on management issues. On January 20, Barbara Krasne, of KrasnePlows consulting firm, will give a seminar entitled “Collaborations to Strategic Alliances:  Strategies to Sustain Nonprofits.” Workshop topics will include: alliances—what they can and cannot do; organizational diagnostics; considerations for any strategic alliance; and case examples regarding how to proceed. In the event of inclement weather, a snow date is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2010 2:30 – 5:00 pm  Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Get Found in Social Media”

Wednesday, January 27, 9 am to 12:00 pm

Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, 75 North Street, Suite 360 in Pittsfield, MA

Registration fee: $25. Register online at www.clickbasics.com/workshop, email paulc@clickbasics.com, or call 413-637-2459

ClickBasics, an internet marketing and web analytics company, will present the workshop, “Get Found in Social Media.” Geared for a non-technical business audience, the workshop will be presented by Paul Carter, founder of ClickBasics Internet Marketing, Lenox, MA. Participants will learn basic concepts and receive practical guidance helping business owners and internet marketers tie social media to the bottom line. Seating is limited.

Bi-annual Taste of Philanthropy Conference

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA

Click here  to register for the conference!

The Taste of Philanthropy 2010 conference is expected to bring together over 300 nonprofit leaders, consultants and foundations. Morning workshops on all aspects of fundraising –from planned giving/major gifts, to corporate/foundation giving, marketing and stewardship — will be available. In the afternoon, after hearing Sheryl WuDunn’s inspirational talk, we’ll all come together to focus on building our skills for making the all important ASK!

Do you have an item you would like to share about the creative economy? Suggest a Post to Berkshire Creative!