ADVANCING LOCAL PROSPERITY
HILLTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Small Business Programs
EMPOWERING LOCAL BUSINESSES: FREE SUPPORT AND WORKSHOPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AT EVERY STAGE
For business assistance or classes, everything starts at the Hilltown Business Hub. Please register and share some information about yourself and you business to help us get started. You will be guided through the process after that for signing up for assistance and classes.
SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES
We provide tailored support and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Our services cater to every stage of business development, fostering a vibrant community of entrepreneurs.
Business Counseling (1:1, group either in person or via Zoom)
Assistance with preparation of a business plan
Access to Money (grant and loan assistance)
Financial Literacy – accounting and bookkeeping best practices, financial projections
Formalization of Best Practices for Business
Marketing Support and Digital Readiness
Referrals to Affordable /Pro Bono Legal and Accounting Services
Educational Workshops
ONE TO ONE CONSULTING
Businesses benefit from personalized consulting where owners are matched with consultants to identify needs and create action plans through 1-2 to 10-12 sessions.
Hilltown CDC has many resources that also can be accessed through this process. Your business consultant can help with these referrals and will basically be your guide in the business process.
To get started, please complete the Intake Form. We will contact you when we receive it and setup an appointment to meet and talk over your specific business needs.
EXPERT GUIDANCE FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS
MEET OUR CONSULTANTS
JOAN GRISWOLD - Program Manager
Joan is a dedicated member of the Hilltown CDC team serving as Director of Community Programs. She is a health professional at heart with a passion for supporting the needs of the Hilltowns. Joan serves as the Program Manager for the Small Business Technical Assistance program, Transportation Manager, Advertising Director for the Hilltown Business Directory, and supports public health as Rural Health Project Manager. Joan is a certified CPR/First Aid instructor and teaches a variety of group exercise classes.
DEE DICE - PROgram COORDINATOR
Dee is an enthusiastic, engaging and creative leader and an experienced serial entrepreneur. With over 8 different businesses ranging from a cross country ski rental store to a seasonal fruit and produce market and garden center, she has personally experienced most of the issues that small business owners will encounter. As an independent business consultant for the past 5 years she is able to marry her skills and expertise with her vast experience into a casual and informative style that promotes growth and achieves goals. Her expertise in email newsletters is highlighted by her offerings in Everything Email Newsletters.
ROSEMARIE GOYETTE
Rosemarie Goyette is an Accountant with over 30 years of experience in bookkeeping, and taxation, business operations, and stream-lining accounting and best practices. She is a regular Hilltown CDC consultant and has expertise in QuickBooks desktop and also the accounting system WAVE.
PAUL STALLMAN
Paul Stallman is the Owner, Creative Director and Web Guru at Alias Solutions, a Chicopee based creative firm servicing clients throughout North America. Paul has over 25 years of hands-on experience in creative marketing, graphic design, web design and print production. Paul has developed all of his companies around the premise of providing solutions to business owners.
KATISHIA GALLASHAW
Katishia is an accounting professional with over 20 years of experience in companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100 to nonprofits and religious organizations. She is also active in community organizations, serving as a mentor and tutor in Springfield Public Schools, and participates on various Boards and Advisory Councils. She holds a B.S.B.A. and M.S. in Accounting (‘02/G’10) from Western New England University, and a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Hamilton). As CEO and Founder of KG Virtual CFO, Katishia is committed to supporting her clients in reaching their goals.
STEPHANIE STOUDENMIRE
Stephanie Stoudenmire is a distinguished Lead Developer and Digital Consultant, renowned for her expertise in transforming the digital landscapes of small to medium-sized businesses. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Codeforce.us, a digital consulting company aimed at propelling small businesses into the digital age through strategic automation and process development.
ROBYN MILLER
Robyn opened MorningBird in 2018, but her real boss is 4-year-old, Adeline! Molecular biologist turned radio host, turned NBA emcee, turned social media manager turned digital relations guru. Who says you have to choose one thing? Lover of holistic wellness, lifelong learning, boxing, aerial yoga, chocolate, and bright colors. Join Robyn’s dynamic classes to put Social media to work for your business.
BRUCE LEDERER
Bruce Lederer has been working as a freelance web designer and developer since 2013. Bruce started his career as a professional photographer before transitioning to the IT world where he spent most of his career developing systems to measure financial risks within the banking industry. He has also run a bicycling organization running casual rides in the greater Boston area, multi-day tours in Massachusetts and European tours to places like France, Italy, Germany and Croatia
CREATING COMMUNITY
Hilltown CDC prides itself on having an extensive array of business workshops. Many of these workshops are given by the business consultants in our network. For example: This means that after you go to a workshop about QuickBooks accounting system, the consultant can work with you one on one to help you achieve your specific accounting goals. Please refer to our ongoing list of business workshops and sign up early.
HILLTOWN BUSINESS DIRECTORY
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY AND START SHAPING THE FURTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS!
A guide to small businesses in the Hilltowns. From Small Repairs, To Major Home, Health And Wellness And Social Services, Everything You Need For Home, Health, Pets And Auto as well as services for your business. The Hilltown Directory also provides printed travel directories for tourism in the Fall/Winter and Summer.
The Hilltown Business Directory will focus both on online operations and topical print brochures distributed throughout the Hilltowns and surrounding areas.
