Small Business Technical Assistance

North Shore CDC’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program provides free one-on-one consulting and technical assistance services, with a focus on immigrant-, women- and minority-owned businesses. We offer technical assistance on marketing, financial analysis, customer analysis, digitization, funding resources, time management, and much more. These services also include industry-specific workshops, trainings, and focus groups.

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If you are interested in turning your e-commerce business into a brick and mortar space, there is an opportunity to test it out short-term at our Pop Up Shop located at 104 Lafayette Street in Salem.

For more information or to take your business to the next level, contact Nikki Schafer, Economic Development Coordinator, at nikki@northshorecdc.org.

A special thanks to our funders: Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, and the City of Salem.

WHAT WE OFFER

POP-UP SHOP

The Pop-Up Shop, located at 104 Lafayette Street in Salem and in close proximity to North Shore CDC offices, was created to help e-commerce businesses and start-ups to test out a physical retail space by providing a free, short-term lease. Through this partnership, small businesses receive support from the entire small business team on marketing, product placement, financial management, technology, and more.

In 2019, Aasma’s Dream became our first small business partner to occupy the Pop-Up shop. Through this partnership, Aasma’s Dream thrived and now has two locations at the North Shore Mall in Peabody and Creative Spaces in Danvers. Other occupants of the Pop-Up shop include WOVEN ROYAL, Simple Essence Beauty, and YouthBuild North Shore.

North Shore CDC’s Pop-Up Shop is currently taking small business and start-up applications for 2023. Please contact Nikki Schafer at nikki@northshorecdc.org for more information.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The Small Business team provides one-on-one consultation to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups and caters our support to your business on branding/marketing, financial management, applying for government assistance, and related topics.

We are focused on helping these businesses through the COVID-19 crisis until they can reopen, while also helping them with their re-opening plans and through the various stages of re-opening.

To become a program partner or learn more, contact Nikki Schafer at nikki@northshorecdc.org.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE POP-UP SHOP
  • Tax Identification Number
  • Located on or service the North Shore
  • Commit to job creation of retaining current jobs to promote economic development for the community.
  • Commit to working with NSCDC for 5 TA Hours and attend 1 SBTA workshop
HOW IT WORKS
  • Attend an information session
  • Introduction to SBTA program
  • Intake
  • Needs Assessment
  • Connect with Team Member for One-on-One Consultation
  • Develop business goals
  • Weekly Check-ins
AVAILABLE SERVICES
  • One-on-One Consultation
  • Business + Services Planning
  • Marketing Support + Planning
  • Technology Assessment
  • Financial Analysis
  • Customer Analysis
  • E-commerce to Physical Space Assessment
  • Testing the feasibility of a new business or direction
  • Assistance with applying for loans, grants, special financial assistance programs
  • Small Business Spotlight
  • Industry Specific Workshops, Focus Groups + Community Outreach
  • Resources for Employees