If you own a business, you know how important marketing can be for your bottom line. The days of just placing an ad or creating a website (while still important) have given way to tools like creating a content strategy, blogging, using video/audio, utilizing social media and so much more.

Creating a great marketing plan and setting yourself apart from the crowd can seem ominous, but getting your business and your product out there to the world at large in the best way can help keep your business healthy and thriving.

Here are some numbers from HubSpot’s “The Ultimate List of Marketing Statistics for 2022.”

71%
Seventy-one percent of marketers say that using strategic keywords was their number one strategy for search engine optimization (SEO).

2
Website is the number 2 channel used in marketing, behind social media.

3,000
Short articles, less than 3,000 words, ranked third in the B2B content assets that generated the best results in the last 12 months.

87%
Eighty-seven percent of video marketers say that video has increased traffic to their website.

$1.07 BILLION
Of Snapchat’s $1.79 billion global revenue in 2019, $1.07 billion came from North America.

SOURCES: US BUREAU OF LABOR & STATISTICS, MASSACHUSETTS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

Around the Region
Town of Harwich
Source: census.gov, censusreporter.org
Form of Government: Open Town Meeting
Incorporated:1694
Demographics
Total population: 13,440
Female: 52%
Male: 48%
White: 11,922
Black: 350
Asian: 108
Native American: 31
Persons reporting two or more races: 751
Hispanic or Latino: 379
Total Housing Units: 10,485
Family households: 5,391
Average household size: 2.2

Median Earnings:
Median household income: $78,932
Per capita income: $42,650
Mean travel time to work: 22.3 minutes

Educational Attainment (age 25+):
High school graduate: 97.9%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 45%

A program sponsored by Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and Woods Hole Sea Grant aims to help Cape Cod small businesses develop plans to respond to and recover from disasters related to flooding and other storm events and build resilience in advance of an emergency.

This business continuity program builds on research-based frameworks, tools, and checklists created in 2021 to help Cape Cod business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and catalyze preparation and response plans for future disasters.

Twenty businesses will be selected by Barnstable County’s Cooperative Extension and Woods Hole Sea Grant to participate in the program, which provides free one-on-one technical support to build a business resiliency plan. The new deadline to apply is April 29, 2022.

To learn more about the program and to apply, visit https://seagrant. whoi.edu/bcp/

Direct questions about the program to: Greg Berman, 508-289- 3046, gberman@whoi.edu or Shannon Hulst, 508-375-6952, shannon.hulst@barnstablecounty.org

A fisherman from the Cape walked into the North American Seafood Expo and remarked, “On the water, I forget that fish are worth billions of dollars. All the slick international booths at the expo remind me otherwise.”

After a two-year, pandemic-required hiatus, the big seafood show was back in Boston for three days in March, albeit smaller than in earlier years. It’s the largest fish show in North America and attending buyers represent importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels – and then some. Exhibiting suppliers offer newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services.

There were a few great-looking Cape Cod booths, including one from Aquaculture Resource Corporation and another featuring a wealth of products, including a tasty-looking Sea Clam pie from Intershell, which has boats out of Hyannis. Attendees from the Cape, including Alex Hay of Wellfleet Shellfish Company and Jesse Rose of F/V Midnight Our, took advantage of the show to forge relationships and opportunities.

Plenus, which makes the “Small Boats, Big Taste” haddock chowder created by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance with locally caught haddock, fileted just up the pier at Great Eastern Seafood, had a popular booth doling out 10 different types of chowder and soup.

Thanks to support from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, seafood companies from around the state became neighbors on “Massachusetts Ave,” and were visited by Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Commissioner John Lebeaux.

SOURCE: CAPECODFISHERMEN.ORG

Larson Joins Faculty At Bridgewater State University

Leigh-Ann Larson, Chief Executive Officer of Elevate Counseling Services, has joined the faculty of the Department of Counselor Education at Bridgewater State University, where she will teach a graduate-level class for aspiring mental health professionals who are in internships throughout the region as a part-time instructor.

Larson will lead the class of mental health professionals in their internships and will meet with the students to discuss cases, theories and practice. Larson’s role will also include on-site visits where her students are interning. Students will intern at community mental health agencies, hospitals, and other facilities in the region.

Larson, a Bridgewater resident, earned a master’s degree in Education in Mental Health Counseling from Bridgewater State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree.

Sayers Named VP Portfolio Manager For Rockland Trust

Rockland Trust’s Investment Management Group recently appointed Michael Sayers as Vice President, Portfolio Manager.

In this role, Sayers will focus on integrating investment strategies that reflect each of his client’s objectives, financial goals, and risk tolerance. This includes creating custom asset allocations, developing long-term goal planning, as well as securities research.

Sayers has more than 10 years of experience working in the financial services industry.

Prior to joining Rockland Trust, he was a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones covering Cape Cod and Plymouth. Additionally, he spent time in Philadelphia working for Aberdeen Standard Investments, where he eventually moved to their Boston office and worked as an Investment Manager.

He received a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration and Finance from Villanova University, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Safer Places Inc. Adds COVID Testing To Service Package

Safer Places Inc., a Middleboro company providing pre-employment screening, tenant screening and security consulting, will offer COVID testing as part of its package of services for public agencies and private sector businesses.

The testing services will be offered as a stand-alone offer or bundled with Safer Places’ other background check and drug testing services.

COVID testing services will include both rapid tests and PCR testing for employees who need to be tested on a weekly basis or before visiting a client’s location. The new service can also be utilized for employees returning to work after being out with COVID. Testing will be self-administered by the employee.

Companies and organizations can order COVID test kits from Safer Places that can be implemented without the validation process. Safer Places’s COVID test offering includes a vaccination tracking system as well.

Higgins Named Managing Partner At Conn Cavanaugh

The Boston-based law firm Conn Kavanaugh has announced the election of Erin K. Higgins as managing partner of the firm.

Higgins graduated from Georgetown University and Boston College Law School. She joined Conn Kavanaugh in 1991 as a litigation associate. She became a partner in January 2001.

Higgins defends other lawyers in legal malpractice actions and represents lawyers in disciplinary matters. She is a seasoned trial attorney whose practice also encompasses the defense of other professionals, including insurance agents, accountants, and financial professionals and complex business litigation including insurance coverage matters.

CapeSpace Forms Partnership With MarchandCFO

A new partnership has been announced between CapeSpace and MarchandCFO.

Owned and operated by Kim Marchand of Yarmouth Port, MarchandCFO provides bookkeeping and CFO services to local small businesses and nonprofits. It is headquartered at CapeSpace, a coworking facility owned by Robbin Orbison with offices on Independence Drive in Hyannis, and Mashpee Commons.

As part of the reciprocal arrangement, MarchandCFO will offer CapeSpace members a discount on its services. Marchand will also be hosting office hours and informational sessions, allowing visitors to learn how her company can meet their business needs. MarchandCFO clients will benefit from the partnership by receiving a discount on meeting room rentals at CapeSpace.

Both CapeSpace and MarchandCFO were named to Cape & Plymouth Business Media’s Readers Choice Watch List for companies to watch in 2022.

Norcom Mortgage Opens Sandwich Office

Norcom Mortgage, a family-owned mortgage company based in Fall River, with nearly 40 locations nationwide, has announced the opening of its first Cape Cod branch located at 4 Merchant Square in Sandwich.

The Sandwich office will be led by Branch Manager Kevin James, who previously served as a loan originator in Fall River. James has nearly five years of experience in the mortgage lending industry and is licensed in California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Established in 1989, Norcom Mortgage has 260 employees and nearly 40 branch locations nationwide.

For more information about Norcom, visit www.norcommortgage.com.

Rockland Trust Appoints Golden VP, CRA Officer

Rockland Trust has named Thomas Golden Vice President, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer.

Golden will be responsible for promoting, developing, implementing and administering all aspects of the bank’s CRA program. His work includes serving as Rockland Trust’s principal point of contact for community organizations focused on the promotion of affordable housing, community investment, economic development, and the delivery of banking and financial services.

Golden brings over a decade of financial services industry experience to his new role, most recently as commissioned compliance examiner at the FDIC for over five years. Golden holds a number of credentials, including Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager from the American Bankers Association, Certified Consumer Protection Examiner from the Conference of State Banking Supervisors and Commissioned Compliance Examiner from the FDIC.

Elevate Counseling Services Names Reed, Litke To Team

Elevate Counseling Services has an-nounced two new members have joined its professional team.

Licensed social worker Stephanie Reed has joined the practice as a clinician at the practice’s Raynham location and also via telehealth. Her areas of specialization include cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma, anxiety, depression and anger management; she works with both adults and teens.

Prior to joining the Elevate team, she worked a number of years at a community mental health agency, providing both group and individual counseling. Most recently she worked for a visiting nurse agency, helping people experiencing health issues and life transitions. She also was a hospice social worker for eight years, a social worker in public school systems and has volunteered for the Samaritans.

Licensed mental health counselor Catherine Litke has been hired as a clinician for the Lakeville office as well as seeing clients via telehealth. She specializes in working with children and teenagers. Litke also has done in-home therapy for a nonprofit, the Family Service Association of Fall River.

Nickley Joins Bay Coast Mortgage

BayCoast Mortgage Company, LLC has named Michael E. Nickley of Norwood as First Vice President, Senior Loan Officer.

In this role, he is responsible for the origination of residential mortgage loans and building and fortifying lending operations.

Nickley brings more than 35 years of experience in the mortgage and banking industries to his post with BayCoast Mortgage. He most recently served as Assistant Vice President, Mortgage Loan Officer with Dedham Savings Bank.

Sievewright Joins Peak Physical Therapy

Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Performance welcomes Rose Sievewright, DPT, as a pelvic health specialist at the Braintree Clinic.

A native of Medfield, Sievewright graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and a doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has experience evaluating and treating a wide variety of orthopedic and pelvic health conditions in the adult and geriatric population. In 2020 she completed the Level Up Initiative Mentorship, a direct mentorship for physical therapists focused on growth mindset, critical thinking and communication skills in order to make a positive change in the healthcare community through personal growth, leadership and clinical practice.

Kapsambelis Joins Cutter Financial Group

Ethan Kapsambelis has joined Cutter Financial Group, LLC, as Investment Advisor Representative to the Falmouth headquarters office. Kapsambelis’ most recent experience was as a financial services professional with another fiduciary firm, headquartered in Charlestown.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from Salve Regina University.

Renowned Vein Expert Joins Vascular Care Group

Dr. Harold J. Welch recently joined The Vascular Care Group’s Hyannis location.

Recognized as one of Boston’s “Top Doctors” in Boston Magazine multiple times, Welch brings more than 30 years of surgical experience and expertise to patients seeking care for all facets of vascular surgery on Cape Cod and the Islands.

Prior to joining The Vascular Care Group, Welch worked as a vascular surgeon at Lahey Clinic in Burlington for 24 years and at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Prior to that, he worked at a number of hospitals around the globe, including U.S. Naval Hospitals in Groton, Conn., Portsmouth, Va., and Keflavik, Iceland. Welch has also authored 11 book chapters and more than 30 articles.

MMA Professor’s Book Receives Honors

“Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis” by Samantha L. Montano, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Emergency Management Department at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, has been named one of the “Best Books of 2021” by USA Today and National Public Radio’s Science Friday.

The 384-page book published by Park Row Books and described as “part memoir, part expert analysis” is a timely and cautionary narrative on the environmental disasters of today and those looming in the future in large part due to climate change and the disruption of ecosystems.

The book addresses lapses in prevention and preparedness during past crises, the critical role of the media, and how the approach to recovery was not designed to serve marginalized communities. A section of the book is devoted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Montano holds a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from Loyola University and a master’s degree and doctorate in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University. Her current courses at MMA include Introduction to Emergency Management and Emergency Management Policy and Procedure.

Savage Named Chair Of Executive Committee South Shore Chamber

Deirdre Savage, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, has been appointed chair for the Executive Committee for the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Savage, a Weymouth resident, is a graduate of George Washington University with a degree in Political Science and Government. She earned her JD from Northeastern School of Law. For the past 10 years she has been a board member, treasurer and chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the chamber. In addition, Savage has been a board member and chair of the Health Care Committee for the New England Council for the past seven years.

In her role at Blue Cross, Savage provides executive leadership and strategic insights on initiatives across the company as well as day-to-day management of the company’s government affairs function.

Habitat Cape Cod Launches New ‘Decon’ Program

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has launched a new program. Their highly trained and fully insured Deconstruction Team will take down and take away cabinets for homeowners or contractors remodeling kitchens.

Used cabinets are typically thrown away during a remodel, but thanks to Habitat, they can have a second life. The volunteer team will bring them back to one of Habitat’s two ReStore locations (Yarmouth and Falmouth) where they will be sold to the public. Funds raised will be used to build more affordable homes on the Cape.

To donate cabinets or any other household item to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod visit restorecapecod.org/donate or call 508-394-6400. The uninstall and removal of cabinets is a free service.

Johnson Named Executive Director of Needy Fund

Susan Johnson of Dennis has been named executive director of the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund.

Johnson has an extensive career in nonprofit management including as executive director for Cape Cod Village, Harwich Ecumenical Council of the Homeless and Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod. She recently served as co-director and director of operations at Cape Cod Museum of Art. Johnson is also a co-founder of Katelynn’s Closet, a local nonprofit providing necessities to children in need.

Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and graduate leadership certificates from Suffolk University and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. She is also a Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach and expects to complete a certification through the International Coaching Federation in 2022.

Vets Groups Establish Food Pantry

Three federally chartered veterans’ groups: Falmouth VFW Post 2569, AmVets Post 70, and the Falmouth DAV Chapter 81, have established an ongoing collaboration with the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC), to begin a twice-monthly food pantry for veterans in Falmouth. The program is a “first-of-its-kind” for the Cape and demonstrates the deep commitment these four veterans’ groups have to the men and women who have served our nation.

This food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at 366 Palmer Ave, Falmouth. It is free to all veterans who can prove their veteran status (i.e., a DD 214).

The Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center’s mobile food pantry will be delivering food kits for veterans that contain nonperishable goods, and the kits will be supplemented with fresh foods and meats that will vary each week and will be available on-site.

CDP Welcomes Four New Staff Members

The Community Development Partnership, a leader in developing and delivering innovative programs to help build a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive on the Lower and Outer Cape, has announced recent additions to its staff.

Kathleen Boyce has been named Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Boyce brings strong skills in financial reporting and financial system conversions as well as a deep understanding of the importance of affordable housing and economic development. Boyce served as CFO/COO at the Massachusetts Dental Society for 18 years and is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Provincetown resident Brad Badgley has joined the CDP’s staff as Director of Housing Advocacy. His primary focus is supporting the creation of affordable housing by managing the Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership as well as managing the CDP’s Homeownership education program. Prior to joining the CDP, Brad served as an Associate Dean in Residential Education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mallorey Yannone joined the CDP as Community Organizer, a newly created position designed to support the CDP’s Housing Advocacy Programs. In this role, she will be conducting outreach, base building, training, education, and leadership development for Lower Cape residents wanting to support affordable housing. Before joining the CDP, she worked for Citizen Action of New York advocating for Social Justice issues and initiatives including Voting Rights, Climate Justice, Parole Reform, and Housing Justice.

Vittoria Crea has been hired as Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager and is responsible for the administration and management of the CDP’s Housing Rehabilitation programs including the Community Development Block Grant loan program and the Accessory Dwelling Unit Resource Center. Before joining the Community Development Partnership, Crea worked for Cargill, Inc.

The Coop Foundation Awards Grants

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust (The Coop Foundation) has awarded $30,000 in grants to five nonprofit organizations that enhance quality of life by addressing fundamental needs and challenges in the community.

The grants were awarded to:

• $5,000 to B FREE Wellness, to help facilitate the organization’s move to a larger location in Hyannis.
• $10,000 to Cape Cod Children’s Place, which will fund Phase II of its “Creating a Culture of Resistance” initiative to support children and families impacted by trauma, especially on the Lower and Outer Cape which has been inordinately affected by the pandemic.
• $5,000 to Cape Cod Military Support Foundation Inc., to renovate the former Sandwich Police Station into a second Empowerment Center.
• $5,000 to Cape Cod Toy Library Inc., dedicated to the creation of an “Outdoor Play Oasis” at the Hyannis Public Library designed to engage families and enhance children’s play-based learning.
• $15,000/3 years to WellStrong, a fitness and wellness community for people in recovery from substance abuse disorder.

25 Nonprofits Receive Falmouth Fund Grants

The Falmouth Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation announced its 2022 grants, awarding $100,000 to 25 nonprofit organizations whose vital programs serve thousands of children, adults, and seniors — all while contributing to a healthy and vibrant town.

With the 2022 grants, The Falmouth Fund has also reached a significant milestone: the investment of more than $1 million back into the community over the past 13 years.

The 2022 Capacity Building Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• Calmer Choice, $10,000 • Community Health Center, $5,000
• Farming Falmouth, $10,000 • Falmouth Jazz, Inc., $3,000
• Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools, $2,500
• WellStrong, Inc., $7,000 The 2022 Program Grants were awarded to:
• AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, $2,000
• Belonging to Each Other, Inc., $10,000
• Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod, Inc., $5,000
• Buzzards Bay Coalition, $2,500
• College Light Opera Company, $2,000
• Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands, Inc., $3,000
• Falmouth Art Center, $2,500 • Falmouth Chamber Players Orchestra, $2,000
• Falmouth Chorale, $2,000
• Falmouth Historical Society and Museums on the Green, $3,000
• Falmouth Housing Trust, $5,000
• Falmouth Theatre Guild, $2,124
• Falmouth Water Stewards, $2,500
• Highfield Hall & Gardens, $2,000
• Joe Q Veteran Coffee Break Inc., $2,500
• Marine Biological Laboratory, $2,000
• Oyster Pond Environmental Trust, $3,500
• WE CAN Corporation, $4,100
• Wings For Falmouth Families, $5,000

To support The Falmouth Fund, donate online at falmouthfund.org, or mail a check, payable to The Falmouth Fund, to: The Cape Cod Foundation, 261 Whites Path, Unit 2, South Yarmouth, MA, 02664.

CARE for the Cape & Islands
P.O. Box 638, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
508-760-8187
https://careforthecapeandislands.org
info@careforthecapeandislands.org/hac@haconcapecod.org

Stats
Total number of employees: 1 full time (2 part time)
Annual revenues: $100k
Year established: 2012

Mission
CARE (Creating A Responsible Environment) for the Cape &
Islands’ mission is to inspire stewardship to preserve and protect
the natural environment, cultural and historical treasures
of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Geographic Area
Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket

Funding
60.5% Donations
35% Foundations/Grants
2.5% Merchandise Sales
2% Special Events

Leadership

Community Connections
261 Whites Path, Suite 1
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
508-362-1140
communityconnectionsinc.org

Mission
Our mission is to provide life-enriching services that promote optimal independence for people with disabilities.

Services
Employment Services, Social Recreation, Supported Living Services, Day Habilitation, Life Skills, Transportation Services

Stats
Year Established: 1985
Individuals Served: Over 800
Total number of employees: 300
Annual revenue (FT21): $16,416,161

Geographic Area
Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts

Leadership

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has launched a new quarterly “Advocacy in Action” program, aimed at educating business owners and community members about current issues impacting their business.

At the forum, seven speakers will discuss the state of early childhood education from a federal, state, and local policy perspective. Featured speakers will include: Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children; Tom Weber, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education; Sandy Faiman-Silva, Chapter Coordinator, Cape & Islands Common Start Coalition; Jacqueline Beebe, Town Administrator, Town of Eastham; Gail Briere, Chair, Orleans School Committee; Patricia DeBoer, Superintendent, Mashpee Public Schools; and Kristy Senatori, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission.

The first event in the series will be held on Thursday, April 28th from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cape Cod Community College Tilden Arts Center, addressing the topic of Early Childhood Education. The event is free and open to the public. Registration can be found online at capecodchamber.org/members/events/.

The Massachusetts Com-mission on the Status of Women Initiative will be holding its 2022 Girls Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (GELI) in April.

GELI seeks to empower girl-identified youth ages 14-22 living in Massachusetts to advocate for themselves and their communities through a series of virtual workshops. The MCSW developed the Girls Initiative in 2020, “with the intention of the Commission to respond, give a voice to our girls, and offer well-informed recommendations as programs and policies are being developed to meet the needs of the girls of Massachusetts.”

This year’s initiative will be empowerment and leadership forward. Virtual workshops have been organized by geographic location and will focus on topics including: Mental Wellness, STEM, Confidence/Leadership Building, Menstrual Hygiene, Financial Literacy, Interactive Communication (Networking), Healthy relationships – key indicators of unhealthy relationships, Social Media – safety and engagement, and more.

The Southeastern/Cape and Islands’ virtual session will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 27.

We’re committed to helping our communities flourish

Giving back to the community is at the heart of everything we do. That’s a privilege and a responsibility that we take seriously. We celebrated our 100th anniversary by donating $100,000 to 37 local nonprofit organizations! We are proud to support the missions of these hard-working organizations.■

■ Amplify POC Cape Cod
■ B Free Coaching & Wellness
■ Belonging to Each Other, Inc.
■ Big Brothers Big Sisters of
■ Cape Cod and the Islands
■ Calmer Choice
■ Cape Abilities
■ Cape Cod Children’s Place
■ Cape Cod Family Table Collaborative
■ Cape Cod Pride Inc.
■ Cape Cod Resilience Fund
■ Cape Kid Meals
■ Champ Homes
■ Community Development Partnership
■ Community Health Center of Cape Cod
■ Duffy Health Center
■ FAIR Project
■ Falmouth Housing Trust
■ Falmouth VIPS
■ Good Grief Cape Cod
■ Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod
■ Harbor Community Health Center
■ Harwich Ecumenical Council
for the Homeless
■ Health Imperatives Inc.
■ Homeless Not Hopeless
■ Homeless Prevention Council
■ Housing Assistance Corporation
■ HOW-Helping Our Women
■ Independence House
■ Lower Cape Leadership Forum
■ MLK Action Team
■ NAMI Cape Cod
■ No Place For Hate
■ Outer Cape Health Services Inc.
■ THRIVE!
■ WE CAN
■ WellStrong
■ YMCA Cape Cod

The inventory of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on Cape Cod is growing. Drivers can find EV charging stations on Cape Cod at shopping centers, grocery stores, recreation centers, restaurants, hotels, and resorts. While some charging stations are accessible to the public for free or for a small fee, others are considered private for use by patrons of a business, such as hotel guests.

A state grant program will help to increase charging station inventory. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing more than $13 million in grants to install more than 300 electric-vehicle fast-charging stations at 150 locations around the state. The state has awarded grants to 54 government and private entities under the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. The grants cover 100 percent of the eligible cost to acquire and install publicly accessible charging stations at government-owned properties and 80 percent at all other locations, up to $50,000 per charging port. One government-owned property in Falmouth is receiving a grant, along with private entities in Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham and Falmouth.

The Cape Cod Commission’s Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inventory and Siting Analysis, completed in 2021, provides information to support the increased adoption of electric vehicles and the infrastructure necessary for their use. In addition to mapping existing stations, the analysis identifies areas likely to see increased demand for charging stations, such as activity centers, community activity sites, areas of business density, and large parking lots.

SOURCE: CAPECODCOMMISSION.ORG

By Marc Goldberg

Leaders make the difference in how inclusive their organizational culture is by employing behaviors that foster engagement and belonging. They promote sharing of ideas – no idea is not worthy of consideration. They establish Key Performance Indicators and clear measures of success.

The first step in bringing DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) to your organization is for leadership to create an organizational culture that focuses on inclusion.

According to work by Dillon and Burke at Deloitte, there are six characteristics of leaders that create inclusive environments.

1. Commitment – They treat everyone with fairness and respect by understanding the uniqueness of each person. Leadership takes actions to assure that team members are connected to other members and the organization as a whole. They treat DEI as an organizational priority and take personal responsibility for the outcome(s) of internal initiatives.
2. Courage – Leaders have the courage to make change. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo and get the feedback that is needed to assess the current DEI climate. They also challenge others to recognize behaviors that impact the values of the organization.
3. Cognizance of bias – They assess themselves adequately enough to determine their personal biases. From an organizational standpoint they create processes and procedures that prevent negative influences on decision-making. They employ transparent, consistent and informed decision-making processes.
4. Curiosity – Leaders are life-long learners and seek perspectives from others who may have differing opinions. They are active and attentive listeners.
5. Cultural intelligence – They are actively interested and are proactive in learning about others’ cultures. To do that, they seek out opportunities to learn about other cultures and diverse environments. Culturally inclusive leaders find ways to work with others from diverse backgrounds.
6. Collaboration – They assemble teams of individuals with diversity in thinking. They create safe environments where team members feel comfortable speaking up even though their thinking may not be mainstream.
   When leadership creates a culture of inclusion, employees feel engaged with the organization. They also come to understand that their daily actions result in diversity being appreciated and that equality among team members is a key to organizational effectiveness

Marc L. Goldberg is a Certified Mentor at SCORE Cape Cod and the Islands. For free and confidential mentoring, contact SCORE Cape Cod and the Islands, www.capecod.score.org, capecodscore@verizon.net, 508/775-4884. 123RTF.COM/VARIJA

By Sheldon Stewart

The first Saturday of the month, I spend the afternoon over at the WXTK talk radio studio with Larry Egan, who hosts Handyman Hotline. I was approached by Larry to be on the show as the painting professional.

Handyman Hotline was set up for homeowners to have a place to go to get information and have their problems solved. The first time I was on Handyman Hotline, in January 2006, it was a very nerve-wracking experience.

I didn’t know what to expect. Would callers challenge me? Would anyone want to even call in? I wasn’t sure I could describe over the radio how to do a project. It became very challenging…. but it also became very rewarding because every Saturday I had the opportunity to show homeowners skills they thought they couldn’t do themselves.

I didn’t think about the marketing aspect at the time, as I just wanted to give back to the community. It’s part of our mission. I didn’t want Handyman Hotline to be an info-mercial for Stewart Painting. I invented ways to tell people how to pressure treat their house, stain a deck, how to remove wallpaper, etc., without saying “Give us at call at Stewart Painting!”

Our market is do-it-yourselfers. Often, other professionals in the industry call in to agree or comment. It’s a great place to share.

As businesses, making money guides our decisions. When you just think about making money, you make decisions based upon trying to make money. When decisions are made on company culture, you’re going to make better decisions and it leads to your success.

By Mark DiMichael

The world economy is at an inflection point where knowledgeable investors, companies, and professionals cannot ignore Bitcoin, crypto assets, and Blockchain technology. This article will discuss the various legal, business, accounting, and tax issues that you need to understand to stay competitive in the modern world.

Business Issues

Since Bitcoin operates on Blockchain technology and public/private key cryptography, the loss of cryptocurrency keys (“private keys” effectively act as a password for spending one’s crypto assets) means a total loss of one’s investment. As many companies are beginning to use and invest in digital assets, companies need to take steps to make sure that their investments and transactions are secure, legal, and fully integrated into their accounting, record keeping and internal control systems.

As companies begin to transact in digital assets and use Blockchain technologies, additional legal questions and challenges will begin to arise for those companies and their advisors. If a company receives as payment a Bitcoin that represents proceeds from a criminal activity, what is that company’s responsibility to investigate the source of their customer funds? When transactions are conducted using cash, there is no way to determine how many times a particular $20 bill was used to purchase heroin. A Bitcoin’s history, however, can be readily viewed by anyone with an internet connection.

There are many other legal and regulatory issues that companies may need to consider, including:

• Whether a company’s cryptocurrency holdings are appropriately covered under its insurance policies;
• Exchanges and other financial institutions may need to comply with state-by-state “Money Service Business” statutes;
• The Commodities Futures Trading Commission has declared Bitcoin to be a commodity, and therefore the CFTC regulates the Bitcoin Futures market;
• Financial services entities may need to consider how their usage of cryptocurrency fits into their requirement under the Bank Secrecy Act;
• Some states have passed their own laws related to cryptocurrency, such as New York State’s “Bit-License.”

Fraud And Criminal Activity

Until recently, Bitcoin and other digital assets have had trouble shaking their bad reputation. Physical currencies such as the US dollar have had significant problems with fraud and money laundering, and Bitcoin is no different. Any crime that can be committed using dollars can also be committed using cryptocurrency. As such, cryptocurrency fraud criminal activity has reached all areas, ranging from ransomware to tax fraud and terrorist financing.

Cryptocurrencies have been of particular interest to criminals because of its semi-anonymous nature. Individuals can hold and transact in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without the use of third-party banks or financial institutions, allowing for an increased level of secrecy. Although Bitcoin is sometimes said to be “untraceable,” that is far from accurate since forensic accountants can use many techniques to gather information from the publicly available Blockchain data and other sources.

Taxation

In 2014, the IRS released IRS Notice 2014-21 announcing that cryptocurrency is to be treated as property for income tax purposes. Since then, the IRS issued subsequent guidance through Revenue Ruling 2019-24 and answers to some frequently asked questions. The IRS has stated that they intend to pursue additional enforcement efforts against individuals who have not reported their cryptocurrency transactions.

More recently, the IRS added the question, “At any time during 2019, did you receive, sell, send, exchange, or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?” to Schedule #1 of the 1040 tax return. In 2020, the IRS moved the question front and center on the first page of all individual income tax returns, right above the section where the taxpayer lists dependents.

Cryptocurrency owners should know that hiding their transactions will open them up to potential criminal action by the IRS. However, with the right tax advice and proper planning, there are legal ways to reduce one’s taxes. For example, Bitcoin is not a stock or security, so it is not subject to “wash sale” rules. In addition, there is a substantial tax break for donating appreciated assets to charity.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency has become a hot topic in litigation. Many companies have used Blockchain technology to create new crypto assets known as “tokens,” which the companies have sold to investors to raise capital. This process is referred to as an Initial Coin Offering (“ICO”). Since companies sold these tokens to investors, many of the ICOs fall under the purview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC and securities attorneys are currently grappling with the applicability of securities laws to digital assets.

The Road Ahead

Bitcoin has progressively evolved from a tech nerd hobby to a favored currency for illegal drugs, to a fringe investment asset class, to a mainstream investment. As more and more individuals and entities start to transact in digital assets, professionals in the legal and accounting field will need to evolve to understand and address new issues and challenges.

By Bill O’Neill

In the early ’90s, the American Booksellers Association had more than 5,000 members. Three decades later, the count was down to 1,700. But despite the challenges facing modern booksellers, there are always people brave enough to try opening a new bookstore. Here’s what two of them, who both opened stores on Cape Cod a year ago, have to say.

When did you open?

We opened our physical doors April 24, 2021. It was also Independent Bookstore Day, so it was a great time to start.

What sets your store apart?

My bookstore is one of four Black-owned bookstores in the state and the only one on the south coast of Massachusetts. My bookstore specifically caters to the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community. The majority of the books on my shelves are written by BIPOC authors with stories representing the BIPOC community. My mission is to create a safe, inviting space for the BIPOC community, where they can see themselves on my shelves. Representation matters, and from the positive response I have received from the community, this was much needed in this area.

What made you want to do this?

I was laid off as a restaurant manager during the pandemic. There were no restaurant jobs available due to the shutdown, so I decided to follow my 20-year-old dream of opening my own business. With the murder of George Floyd happening at the same time, and the intense amount of racism both the country and my kids were experiencing, I knew it was time to open my bookstore for the community. I wanted to amplify the BIPOC community’s voices and provide a space where they could see themselves on the shelves and where the stories represent them.

Did you face any unexpected challenges?

I did. After working on my business plan for a few months and submitting it to the Small Business Administration for a small business loan, I was told due to the pandemic and the current state of the economy, I would not be able to receive a loan. That was a severe hindrance to my plans. After taking a few days to get over that news, I decided to still move forward, using my personal funds.

Why are independent bookstores important?

Independent bookstores are an essential part of the community. They are not just retail stores, they’re about the importance of relationships and community connection. Eventually, we will have in-person events for book readings for both adults and children, which will bring the community together and for folks to get to know their neighbors. Indie booksellers provide personal recommendations for books while also connecting with the customers. I have regular customers who I greet by name. I know their kids’ and grandkids’ names and the types of books they like. This personal touch is important to customers.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?

Fiction: “The Love Songs of W.E. B. Dubois” by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers! By far, hands down, an absolutely amazing book! Nonfiction: “Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City” by Andrea Elliott.

What’s a book you’re eager to recommend?

Nonfiction: “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander (will blow your mind). Fiction: “No Light to Land On” by Yara Zgheib.

When did you open?

We opened on Sunday, May 30, 2021 of Memorial Day weekend.

What sets your store apart?

We’re a very small store in a high foot-traffic area, so we have to be especially thoughtful about our inventory. We work hard to keep our selection fresh, so customers can always find new titles on our shelves, and we strive to have something for all interests. We try especially hard to make sure kids of all backgrounds can find characters they identify with in our children’s section. Another thing that makes us unique is our physical space. My husband, who’s a builder, crafted all of our furniture and shelving by hand, using wood he reclaimed during the renovation of our 19th century Harwich Port home, where we live just down the street from the shop. It gives the store a really warm, inviting feel, with a little touch of Harwich Port history.

What made you want to do this?

I’d always thought that opening a bookstore would be a dream, but never gave it serious consideration until COVID hit. I had left my full time job just before the start of the pandemic and ended up staying at home with my two young daughters for the rest of 2020, while they were homeschooling. It gave me a chance to really think about what I wanted to do next. Harwich Port has been building a name for itself as a fun, vibrant destination, with so many new shops and restaurants opening just within the past few years. I just love the energy here and saw a new bookstore as a way to contribute to that. There was a small space available in a fantastic location, so I talked about it with my husband, and we made the leap.

Did you face any unexpected challenges?

Our biggest challenge was our opening day, which fell on an extremely busy Memorial Weekend. I had been up until midnight all week putting books on the shelves and getting the store ready, then we had a major technical issue with our point-of-sale system, which was resolved literally as our first customers were walking through the door. On top of that, our very first day ended up being one of our highest volume days for the entire year. I’d never worked in retail before doing this, so it really was a learn-as-you-go, trial-by-fire experience. Overall, it was a stressful, exhilarating, wonderful day.

What did you do before?

I’ve done a little bit of several things, all having to do with language and storytelling. After graduating from college, I worked for a few years as a middle and high school English teacher, then found my way into communications and eventually journalism, most recently working as a staff writer for the Cape Cod Times before opening Below the Brine.

Why are independent bookstores important?

Locally-owned businesses of any kind are so important for maintaining the character and vitality of a community. In addition to keeping local money circulating within a community, local businesses donate to local causes. In our case, we haven’t been open for a full year, and already we’ve participated along with other local bookstores in two book drives to benefit children in our community, with a third drive on the horizon. We’ve also donated to local housing, social justice and food-bank related non-profits. Independent bookstores help to promote the work of local authors. We’re lucky to have many talented writers here on the Cape. You can walk into any independent bookstore on Cape Cod and find wonderful books that you’d never find in a big chain store, or that you might not stumble upon by browsing the web.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?

I’m going to say “Finding the Mother Tree” by Suzanne Simard, which is the fascinating story of Simard’s forest ecology research in British Columbia, Canada. Her experiments proved that trees actually communicate and trade resources through complex root systems and fungal networks, which of course, as Simard iterates throughout the book, is something Indigenous communities have understood for centuries, but that western forestry practices have been slow to come around to. Simard intertwines her own life story with the story of her research, ultimately showing us that humans and trees both thrive and are healthiest when we’re connected into a web of family and community. It might sound odd to describe a non-fiction book about trees as a compelling tearjerker, but this book definitely hit that mark.

What’s a book you’re eager to recommend?

A book I frequently find myself recommending is “From the Farther Shore: Discovering Cape Cod & the Islands Through Poetry,” which is printed through an organization affiliated with the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Many of the poets featured in the book are local, and the anthology does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the Cape’s varied landscapes. It’s a great book for visitors and locals alike. It really captures the soul of this place we all love.

By Chris Boyd

Thinking it’s time to retire? Take the time to prepare, before it’s time to retire. Start your preparations with the support of experienced financial advisors and prepare for the life you might imagine. Here are 10 ways to be better prepared for retirement:

1. Start by reviewing the financial plan. Readying for retirement is the ideal time to start a financial plan. Shop for a qualified professional, one who acts as a fiduciary, is a good personality fit, and whose area of practice is focused on your needs.

2. Review the appropriate level of risk in your investments. It is common for investors to seek to maximize pre-retirement investing by taking significant market risk. As retirement nears, it may be time to consider scaling back some risk as preservation of capital becomes more important.

3. Review when to access Social Security and/or pensions. Depending on life expectancy, it may be better to draw from other resources while Social Security amounts grow prior to initiating benefits. For example, Social Security benefits grow by 8 percent per year from full retirement age until age 70. For someone whose full retirement age is 67, that means an additional 24 percent benefit if started at age 70 … along with compounded inflation increases. For the higher breadwinner, it will last as long as your lifespan, but if you are married, it will be the longer of either spouse. Around age 80, the accumulated higher monthly benefits may overcome the three years of not receiving benefits. If you expect one will live past 80, starting at 70 may be best. Work with a professional to examine the timing of pensions and Social Security.

4. Seek to consolidate and simplify the number of accounts. Develop a process of how investments will be structured, accessed, and invested. Planning where to hold what kinds of investments and approaching a portfolio as a purposeful design is the challenge now. While you have full faculties, start building the team of professionals who will help you and a prospective surviving spouse or family in the event your abilities diminish or at your untimely passing.

5. Be realistic in planning for expenses and projections for cash flows and inflation. Some expenses may diminish or end in retirement – career expenses, paying off the mortgage, etc. Other expenses will increase –travel, health care. Replicate your current spending levels while backing out current investment and savings. Tally up what flowed out of your bank account(s) over a 12-month period. Some extraordinary expenses are likely every year. Financial planners have sophisticated software that can plan for wide ranging scenarios of expenses, goals, work income, and different inflation considerations.

6. Re-evaluate the need and purpose of old life insurance. Once wealth is created and you’re prepared to make work optional, existing life insurance, for most families, may become optional.

7. Consider the potentially high costs of long-term care (LTC) late in life. Insurance can be worthy of consideration for long-term care. LTC insurance is costly, so it is a challenge to plan the ideal mix of coverage and risk. There are several means of managing risk with traditional LTC insurance policies, life insurance hybrid policies, and annuity hybrids. Evaluate the best plan for your family’s health and resources.

“For those with wealth, perhaps the more preferable approach is a revocable living trust which helps you manage financial concerns for incapacity, testamentary disposition, probate avoidance, and potentially creditor protection for heirs.”

8. Evaluate whether your current home meets your retirement desires and needs.

Retirement is often a time to relocate to warmer climates. Some seek to be near family. Many consider where their final home may be to allow a longer period of staying in place as their needs change. Single floor living and simplified maintenance can be key for aging. Downsizing can come with benefits of lower costs for taxes, utilities and maintenance.

9. Get serious about estate planning. Most retirees will wantto have documents like a healthcare proxy or a living will anda power of attorney. Medicaid planning focuses on protectingassets from the concerns of spending down to become eligiblefor Medicaid but limits your access to your own wealth by giving funds away or placing them into an irrevocable trust whereprincipal is not accessible. For those with wealth, perhaps themore preferable approach is a revocable living trust which helps you manage financial concerns for incapacity, testamentary disposition, probate avoidance, and potentially creditor protectionfor heirs.

10.Reimagine your life’s purpose. Start planning for howyou’ll spend your time. Retirement marks not only an ending but also a new beginning. It is an opportunity to reimagine what will give your life meaning and focus for the next phase. The imagination, and one’s financial resources after competent planning,are your only limits.

By Karyn Rhodes

Nine out of 10 remote workers want to maintain some telecommuting post-pandemic. That means employers need to continue to accommodate these workers – or risk losing talent if their flexibility is taken away. A central factor in managing a remote workforce and ensuring their satisfaction is compensation. With everything from different wages based on where employees are located to payroll taxes, there’s a lot to consider when understanding how to pay remote workers appropriately.

Location

The most common approach to setting compensation is what’s known as geography-based pay. With this approach, businesses base salaries on the location of the company office employees work from, which can cause salaries across the U.S. to fluctuate up to 23 percent based on where the job is located. So what about remote workers who don’t work out of a corporate office?

Under the same model, these employees would, in theory, be paid based on where they work from. In some cases, that could mean earning more than they would at an office, for example, if your company is based in a rural area but the employee works in a city where the cost of living is higher. Other times, if an employee works from a location where salaries for their position are less competitive, that could mean a pay decrease.

Some companies have opted to avoid changing the pay of remote workers by moving away from geography as the basis and instead having a national rate. Zillow is one example of a company who pays all workers the same based on their job rather than location.

Equipment And Technology

When an employee works from home, they may need several pieces of equipment and technology to be able to operate effectively.

Most businesses provide employees with the hardware and software employees use from home and many cover a portion of internet expenses, although typically not in full since most workers also use it for personal reasons.

When it comes to furniture, if your employee needs an ergonomic chair or stand-up desk, you may need to provide it under the OSHA General Duty Clause that mandates you keep workstations free from all hazards, including ergonomic ones.

Policies vary for cell phones but if your worker needs one to carry out their duties, then you’ll likely want to provide a company device or stipend for them to “bring your own device (BYOD).”

If you decide to reimburse employees for work-related expenses, be sure to set guidelines about things like which expenses are eligible, recordkeeping and submitting receipts. Or consider offering a stipend. Companies like Twitter and Facebook offered a $1,000 remote work stipend to enhance the ability of workers to work from home.

Federal, State Guidelines

Under the FLSA, there’s no requirement that employers reimburse employees for expenses incurred when working remotely; however, you’ll need to be aware that you can’t ask employees to pay for these costs if it would cause their pay to fall below the minimum wage for hourly employees or salary threshold for exempt employees.

Several states that have laws requiring employers to reimburse employees for certain remote work expenses.

Pay Requirements

If you have remote workers in a different state than where your office is located, you’ll need to make sure you’re paying them according to applicable state laws that govern several payroll topics, including paystubs, pay frequency and pay methods such as remote deposit.

Laws Governing Payroll Taxes

While all employers need to withhold federal income tax and the employee portion of payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), you’ll also need to worry about state tax withholding for remote employees. Typically, you’ll need to withhold unemployment (SUI) and state taxes and deposit them based on where employees perform work.

In that case, you’ll also need to register with your employee’s state tax agency since you’ll be withholding income taxes there. Depending on the laws, you may also need to register with a local tax agency.

Moreover, the employee’s home state may also require that you withhold additional money for things like state disability insurance if your employee works in one of the five states that have this type of withholding. In addition, you’ll need to determine if you have to contribute to a state paid family medical leave program.

By Kevin Hennessey

In the wake of the pandemic, the world’s view on work has evolved, to say the least. Workers demand far more than a paycheck. They want strong compensation, flexibility and a voice. To attract and retain top talent leaders must double down on culture. At Brabo there are a few things that we ask of our leaders that our team seems to appreciate.

Core Values

Too often they are mentioned in an email or a handbook and forgotten about thereafter. Consider getting a peer-to-peer recognition system that allows you to enter your core values. Some companies name each of their office rooms or locations after a core value. We feel that four to five core values are plenty, as companies with more, often cannot name them without looking them up.

Peer Leadership

Lead from the middle. Consider vacating your office for a desk on the floor with your team. It is important to stay close to the process by handling some of the work of the people that report for a few reasons. One is esprit de corps by showing that you are not above the work. Another reason would be to ensure the process you ask to be followed is efficient and palatable. Hopping in and rolling up your sleeves sends a message to everyone around you and ensures that you have a pulse on the process.

Feedback

Provide regular feedback. Let good feedback stay good by avoiding pairing it with an area that could be better whenever possible. An example would be “You had a great week this week; now if we could get the other weeks to improve you would really be great.” This is a backhanded compliment that takes away from the compliment. The more frequently you give feedback the less threatening constructive feedback can be for good team members.

Learn And Grow

Finally, the last big secret of leadership is learning. Depending on the size of your organization you may not have other leaders to look to or learn from. You must seek out growth opportunities through other channels like books, classes, podcasts, etc. The number one area we have learned from has been reaching out to leaders in other organizations to get their best practices and thoughts on challenges we may be addressing.

By incorporating the above principles, you will see a positive change in your team and organization.

Kevin Hennessey is Chief Executive Officer of Brabo Payroll located at 65 Cordage Park Circle in Plymouth. For more information, visit https://plymouthpayroll.com, email service@brabopayroll.com or call 508-356-8266.