Training and Workshop Opportunities

Essential Business Tools for Artists
The New Bedford Economic Development Council Creative Economy Development Office presents a fall series of workshops for artists. The series is offered to artists, students and creative entrepreneurs to provide them with the basic tools needed to succeed as small businesses. The workshops will include basic yet crucial information on business planning, accounting and taxes and marketing. The “Survive and Thrive” fall workshop schedule includes:
The Business of Art-Planning for Success
October 29, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts, 715 Purchase Street (1st Floor lecture Room) New Bedford, MA. Speaker:  Melinda Ailes, Regional Director for Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Tax Tips for Artists
October 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts, 715 Purchase Street (1st Floor lecture Room) New Bedford, MA Presented with the assistance of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Speaker: Shelley D. Coelho, Esquire (LL.M Taxation) Perry, Hicks, Crotty & Deshaies, LLP
Doing Business with the Commonwealth
The Operational Services Division, State Office of Woman and Minority Owned Business Assistance, Affirmative Market Program are offering a FREE workshop “Connecting your Business to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts” designed for businesses who are interested in learning how to do business with the State. The workshop will be held November 4 at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Registration required. Details on the Connecting Your Business to the Commonwealth Workshop are located on the OSD training web page: http://www.mass.gov/osd For more information email osdtraining@state.ma.us
The workshop includes:   Where to find bidding opportunities; Bidding process for Statewide Contracts; Where to find ARRA – federal stimulus procurement & grant opportunities; Comm-PASS Overview; Marketing to public entities; How to become SOMWBA Certified; How the Affirmative Market Program supports SOMWBA Certified businesses; and more.
Social Media: What is it? And, How Can Your Company Benefit?
On Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 4:00 – 6:00 p.m The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) in conjunction with the Quest Center and the ATMC, will be sponsoring “Social Media: What is it? And, How Can Your Company Benefit?”
As part of the Your Success Is Our Business” series, the free workshop is for local companies to learn how to use social media to improve their business performance. Should you Twitter? Link-In? Blog? Facebook? What’s best for your type of business? Come learn from a panel of experts and businesses who are working successfully with social media.
The workshop will be held at the Quest Center, 1213 Purchase Street, 3rd Floor, New Bedford. Pre-registration is required by October 22
The SouthCoast Business Expo
Marking its 21st year, the Business Expo is Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at White’s Regional Hospitality Center in Westport. Event organizers expect more than 100 exhibitors from throughout the Greater New Bedford and Fall River areas. In addition, free seminars will be offered throughout the day, on topics including “Business Tactics in a Troubled Economy” presented by the Small Business Development Center, and “How your Business Can Save Money on Energy Costs” by Risk Service Group.
A “Business After Hours” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and all exhibitors and other features will remain on the floor during that time to accommodate local residents just ending their work day. Lafrance Hospitality Company will offer complimentary hors d’oeuvres during that time.
The Expo is co-sponsored by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Entrance to the Expo is free and open to the public. Chamber members interested in exhibiting should call (508) 999-5231 Ext. 26 or e-mail events@newbedfordchamber.com