SBA Advantage, Connections that Work - Sep 15

The Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning and Community Development, in conjunction with South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation, announces the Franklin Business Loan Program, which will be rolled out during the Small Business Administration’s workshop, ‘SBA Advantage, Connections that Work’ on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Golder Room (in the Campus Center), Franklin, MA 02038. At this seminar, the SBA and SEED will provide information on their loan programs and resources available to help business owners.

The loan programs provide financing for new and established businesses to help them start,
grow and create new jobs in Franklin by forming a partnership with SEED, which provides loans from $1,000 to $5.5 million.

http://seedcorp.com/

SEED offers three loan programs:

1) The Micro Loan Program provides loans from $1,000 up to $50,000, which can be used for working capital, inventory, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, and refinancing of business credit card debt. The term on the loans is 6 years at a 6 percent fixed interest rate with no prepayment penalty.

2) The Revolving Loan Fund provides loans up to $250,000, which can be used for the purchase of land and buildings; equipment and furnishings; working capital, or as the down payment on a larger project. The SEED portion of the project is generally 40 percent or less, although in cases where there is a larger financing gap, SEED’s portion can be greater. The term on the loan is up to 10 years at a 5 percent fixed interest rate with bank participation and 6 percent without. There is no prepayment penalty.

3) The 504 Loan Program provides up to 40 percent of the financing needed behind a
bank/credit union’s 50 percent for the acquisition and improvement of commercial and
industrial buildings; and the purchase and installation of heavy machinery and equipment.
SEED’s portion can range from $120,000 to $5 million for most businesses, and $5.5 million for manufacturing businesses. SEED’s portion offers a fixed interest rate below market for 20 years, currently at 4.1 percent, and at 3.7 percent for 10 years.

SEED is a non-profit economic development organization certified in 1982 by the U.S. Small
Business Administration with the mission to grow and create jobs throughout the region. SEED also provides business assistance and works with other economic development organizations and financing institutions in the region to ensure that individuals who are committed to owning and operating a small business are able to obtain the assistance they need to be successful.

For more information, or to register for the seminar, please contact Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning and Community Development at (508) 520-4907 or email
development@franklin.ma.us.




This was shared from the Town of Franklin website
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024A150D-000F8513

In the News: Elks place flag garden, Town Council hears about maintenance

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the American flag unfurled, it seemed, from every available space. It hung by doorways and from windows, fluttered on flag poles and vehicle antennas, was displayed on shirts and hats, and waved in the hands of those gathered at countless vigils - a symbol of solidarity, defiance, and a nation's resolve not to stand down from all for which it stands. 

So, it is fitting that the flag should figure so prominently in the Franklin Elks' tribute to those who were lost on 9/11 as the 15th anniversary of that day is marked this weekend."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160909/franklin-elks-place-flag-for-every-911-victim-on-club-lawn

"The Town Council this week heard about a program aimed at tracking maintenance efforts in school and municipal buildings. 

Council members have been critical of the town's facilities department in the past, calling for more transparency and accountability. 

The council heard from a representative of the firm SchoolDude on Sept. 7 about that company's preventive maintenance program. Two school buildings - the Davis-Thayer and Kennedy elementary schools - are piloting the program, which inventories all the equipment in the building and sets up a maintenance schedule."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160909/franklin-piloting-preventive-maintenance-program

Reminder: Bottle and Can Drive today at FHS

The Franklin High School boys hockey team is having their annual Bottle and Can Drive on Saturday, September 10th from 8:30am to 2:00pm at the high school parking lot.

If you would like to help out, please save your recyclable bottles and cans for the boys hockey program.

FHS Boys Hockey

Anniversary Fundraiser Gala - Nov 12

The Franklin Downtown Partnership will host an anniversary fundraiser gala on Saturday, November 12, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX to celebrate 15 years of service to the residents and businesses of Franklin.

Enjoy entertainment, dancing and mingling, and a chance to win auction and raffle items from local merchants as you view the new look of our downtown. Meet FDP members, learn more about the non-profit organization, and see what future plans hold for downtown Franklin.

Tickets are $100 per person and will go on sale in September. Sponsorships are welcome; contact the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if interested.

If you would like to donate auction or raffle items, or to volunteer to help with the event, please contact event organizers Beth Wierling, wierling.beth@gmail.com, or Jane Curran, janeframe@gmail.com.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is celebrating its 15th year as a non-profit, 501©3 organization made up of businesses, residents and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. The Partnership runs events such as the Strawberry Stroll, the Harvest Stroll and the Holiday Stroll, and is involved in streetscape and design efforts, greenspace and sculpture projects. New members are always welcome. 

Learn more at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.

Franklin Downtown Partnership celebrates 15 years

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 9/9/16 - THU 9/15/16

FRIDAY 9/9/16
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ The Town Common
6:30pm   Yoga @ La Cantina Winery

SATURDAY 9/10/16
8:30am-2pm   Bottle and Can Drive @ FHS (supports FHS Hockey)
8pm   Garnet Rogers with Shawna Caspi @ FUSF

SUNDAY 9/11/16
9am-10am   Barn Babies Traveling Petting Zoo @ 118 Main Street Parking Lot

MONDAY 9/12/16
10am   Fall Social Franklin MOMs Club @ Franklin YMCA, open to all prospective members
10:30am   Tea and Tangles @ Franklin Art Center

TUESDAY 9/13/16
7pm   Yankee Quilters Guild Meeting - New members welcome! @ St. John Episcopal Church
7pm   High School Fair @ BFCCPS, free event open to public
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee monthly meeting @ Franklin YMCA. Open to public.

WEDNESDAY 9/14/16
6:30pm   Creative Writing Group @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Franklin Newcomers Club Social meting for anyone interested @ “3” Restaurant

THURSDAY 9/15/16
8:30am   Franklin Downtown Partnership Meeting @ Dean College
3pm   Memory Cafe for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones - each month different theme, please register @ Franklin Senior Center
6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked @ Franklin Art Center

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

Community Garden Committee Annual Report For FY 2016

"The mission of the Community Garden is to provide Franklin residents with a place to meet, learn, and grow, by providing a healthy space in which we can share the joy of growing organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

In partnership with the Town of Franklin, the Recreation Department, and the nonprofit Friends of Franklin Community Gardens,

Your Community Garden Committee:

• Identifies appropriate locations
• Coordinates design and construction of new gardens
• Develops and enforces rules and regulations for the gardens
• Oversees the plot lottery, gardener registration and plot distribution

We pledge to continue:

• Supporting our community in growing local food
• Providing locally harvested food to those in need
• Promoting increased social interaction through gardening within our community
• Developing an educational garden for all ages

The King Street Community Garden continues to thrive in its fifth season! This year we have 52 beds available for planting, all of which are currently leased to community members and local non-profits, including St. Vincent De Paul, HMEA, and the Franklin Food Pantry. Our annual May plant sale was a success as always, and last October’s garlic planting demonstration was well-attended. The Community Garden welcomes interested gardeners of all skill levels.

Over the past fiscal year, the Community Garden Committee has focused on two areas in addition to our typical tasks. First of all, we undertook a review and rewrite of our bylaws, rules, and regulations, in order to incorporate the best practices and experience we have gained over the last five seasons at King Street. This updated “gardener’s handbook” has been made available to all gardeners electronically via Google Docs.

We have also made a concerted effort to recruit new gardeners and new members for the Committee. With the departure of former Chair, Christopher Clay, the Community Garden Committee is in great need of additional Committee members to help us efficiently run the King Street Garden and plan educational programming for the community. Our Chair, Bonnie Kaiden, sent a letter to all of our current gardeners seeking new Committee members, and we are awaiting responses. We have not yet succeeded in finding additional Committee members, but we are continuing our efforts in that direction and hope to have new members soon.

We look forward to many more harvests to come! If you would like to join us for the 2017 season, please visit the Franklin Recreation Department in person or online. For more information about the Community Garden, contact us at franklincommunitygardens@gmail.com or visit our website at www.franklincommunitygardens.com.

The Community Garden Committee meets the First Monday of the month at Town Hall. Check the Town of Franklin Meeting Calendar for details.

If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact any committee member or visit the Town Clerk’s office."

• Bonnie Kaiden, Chair 
• Kiernan Reed, Secretary 
• Amy Acevedo, Member 
• Rich Clauser, Member

Respectfully submitted,
Kiernan Reed Secretary

fresh growth at the Community Garden in August 2016

This was shared from the official Town of Franklin page
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024A19CA-000F8513

Other related posts on the Community Garden

• 2016

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/franklin-community-garden-seedling-sale.html

• 2013

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/community-gardens-photo-essay.html

• 2012

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-community-garden-diatomaceous.html

FHS field hockey posts first win over North Attleboro

From Hockomock Sports we share the results of Thursday's action for the FHS teams.

Field Hockey

North Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – 

The Panthers had nine corners, 24 shots on goal and didn’t allow a single shot on goal defensive in the win over North. Caroline Lounsbury gave Franklin the lead midway through the first half on a cross from Brayden Downing, sophomore Annie Walsh doubled the lead with an unassisted goal and sophomore Cassi Ronan capped the scoring off a corner from Walsh.

FHS Panthers

Golf

Franklin, 163 @ Oliver Ames, 147 – Final – 

Oliver Ames’ Ryan McGarry and Nick Lombardi were co-medalists for the match, each shooting a round-low 36 for the Tigers. Brady Allbritton added a 37 for OA. Franklin’s Matt Deo shut a team-best 37 for the Panthers.

For the complete results around the Hockomock League on Thursday
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-090816/