The BPDA and the City of Boston invite members of the development community and arts community to a networking event for potential respondents to the two RFPs released as part of the implementation of the Upham's Corner Arts & Innovation District.

• 555-559 Columbia Road and the Strand Theatre in the Upham's Corner neighborhood of Dorchester, released by the BPDA
• 0-18 Hamlet Street, released by the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development

A key aim of the 555-559 Columbia Road RFP is the opportunity for synergy between the proposed development and the Strand Theatre operator. This event will provide opportunities for arts organizations and developers to connect about potential partnerships.

Firms of all sizes - developers, GC’s, architects, sub-contractors, and more - as well as arts organizations who are looking for partnerships to respond to the RFPs

A Q&A about the RFP opportunities, a pitch session for arts and culture organizations to introduce themselves to all attendees, and a free-form session to connect with potential partners.

Mayor Janey and the City of Boston are sponsoring a collection of free virtual programming in partnership with Innovation Studio. With an equitable recovery in mind, the City of Boston and Innovation Studio are committed to supporting Boston’s diverse business community and making innovation resources available to all.



In this session for new users and anyone else who wants to review the basics, you will learn how to set up your own Instagram account and get up and running - for professional or personal reasons - on this popular, visual content-sharing social media channel. We will cover everything from signing up for a new account to using it to build and entertain an audience. You'll learn how to take pictures and record videos that are Instagram-worthy, earning you likes, comments and even business. Step-by-step, you'll see what it takes to establish a solid presence on this channel and what principles you need to follow in order to succeed there.

Mayor Janey and the City of Boston are sponsoring a collection of free virtual programming in partnership with Innovation Studio. With an equitable recovery in mind, the City of Boston and Innovation Studio are committed to supporting Boston’s diverse business community and making innovation resources available to all.



High-level basics of digital marketing channels (Google, social media, and email) Help small business owners determine which channel is right for them

Outline key demographics, where they live online, and what to reach them with

Discuss out-of-the-box ideas to really wow a potential customer

Best practices for using each social media platform.

Driving Engagement

Mayor Janey and the City of Boston are sponsoring a collection of free virtual programming in partnership with Innovation Studio. With an equitable recovery in mind, the City of Boston and Innovation Studio are committed to supporting Boston’s diverse business community and making innovation resources available to all.



What would it mean if you could make your client or prospect comfortable with you within seconds? What would it mean to you, if after a few moments the person you are with felt like they’ve known you for years, even if they just met you?



This is all very possible and much more when you learn Instant Rapport. Learn the basics of communication - face to face, on the phone, and even in email or text to make sure that you are not only creating rapport but also staying in it.



These methods for Instant Rapport that you will be learning are based on research and studies on both communications and psychology.

Learn:

• How to make strangers comfortable with you, almost instantly
• How to ‘disarm’ irate Customers easily and turn them back around
• The key traits of successful communicators
• How to pace and lead a conversation
• How to listen with more than just your ears

This training will arm you with the strategies you need to dramatically increase your odds of bringing on new clients, winning deals, making new friends easily and effortlessly.

Mayor Janey and the City of Boston are sponsoring a collection of free virtual programming in partnership with Innovation Studio. With an equitable recovery in mind, the City of Boston and Innovation Studio are committed to supporting Boston’s diverse business community and making innovation resources available to all.



Grants: SBIR, STTR

Loans: Lender match, 7 (a), 504, Micro and Small Loans, Fast Track Loans

Investment Capital: SBICs

Surety Bonds: Contract vs. commercial

Disaster Assistance: Disaster loans

Join us for a free webinar with Alyssa Lee from Mei Mei restaurant to learn what elements of digital marketing you should prioritize ahead of Facebook and Instagram.

Alyssa has a MBA from Babson and has spent the last three years helping Mei Mei increase its sales and improve its online presence. She will explain why a strong website and online ordering are the foundation to any digital strategy. If you're tired of focusing on Instagram, this webinar is for you!

At this event, you'll learn about the common legal mistakes entrepreneurs and small business owners can make in a post-pandemic economy.

The meeting included an update on the Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District process, proposed library, and RFPs. Interpretation services were

This meeting was jointly hosted by the City, our community partners DSNI/DNI, and the Upham's Corner Working Advisory Group (WAG).

Join us to learn more about Commercial Leasing: Working with Your Landlord, Current Challenges and Avoiding Pitfalls

Topics covered include:

• Questions to ask yourself before adopting a new tool
• Creating systems and standard operating procedures
• Best practices and tools for task management and collaboration
• How to use tools to improve your marketing
• Categories of tools to discuss (social media, email marketing, Customer relationship management (CRM), productivity, integration, communication)