The City of Boston, Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Downtown Crossing Partnership is hosting “New Formulas for Success in Today’s Economy” business seminar and workshop on Tuesday, March 31st 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt in Downtown Crossing. The 2-hour workshop will include presentations on Marketing Today, Lease Negotiations and Boston Buyer Power, the City initiative that allows small businesses and non-profits to purchase electricity and natural gas at a bulk rate. Following the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to meet with the City of Boston’s business resource departments. Whether looking for information on how to apply for tax credits in the empowerment zone to design services, the City of Boston has extensive resources to assist business needs.

“I’m committed to helping businesses through these tough economic times,” Mayor Menino said. “This seminar offers businesses free access to experts that can better position their business in this economy. What’s more, our City agencies offer a host of resources that can help businesses grow and save money.”

The Marketing Today presentation will focus on helping businesses harness free internet tools to grow their customer base and will be led by Nick Goggans, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Analytics at Conversions Associates. Mr. Goggans has led Conversion Associates marketing analytics consulting and design departments since 2006. The Lease Negotiations presentation will be led by Marc LaCasse, Partner at McCormack Firm, LLC, and will help businesses with techniques for long-term success. Mr. LaCasse has a diverse practice which includes civil litigation and appeals; condominium association law; real estate development and transactions; insurance and reinsurance coverage; and small business general counsel services. The Boston Buying Power presentation will be led by Steve Rumpler, Senior Manager at the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development, and will highlight the City program that can offer businesses a way to save as much as 25% on their utility expenses.

“In this economic climate it is important for businesses to better understand how their marketing can be an investment in their business. There are a growing number of tools that are helping to make businesses more profitable by creating efficiencies within many basic business operations,” said Nick Goggans, Executive Vice President Strategy and Analytics, Conversion Associates. “We are in the middle of the digitization of our economy, and there are many reasons to be hopeful right now, and the companies that can adapt quickly will prove that it is still possible to be a successful, profitable business.”

About Office of Business Development

The Office of Business Development (OBD) resides within the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development and is a one-stop shop for small business assistance. ReStore Boston is an OBD program that helps neighborhood business and property owners with storefront improvements. Since its inception, ReStore Boston has provided professional design services to over 300 businesses and completed 80 storefront improvement projects. The program provides matching grants up to $7,500 per storefront. A separate signage component ($2,500 grants) provides assistance on a non-matching basis for signage improvements. In addition to funding, ReStore Boston provides professional architectural design services at no cost to the business to ensure improvements are well planned and of the highest quality. As a condition of the funding requirements, all projects are required to remove solid, roll-down security grates or, at a minimum, convert them to the interior open-mesh type. For more information, please visit OBD.

About Boston Buying Power

Boston Buying Power was created to provide local businesses with products and services to actively manage one of the largest budget items in any company — utility costs. Boston Buying Power combines the purchasing efficiency of Boston businesses and provides incredible benefits such as long term rate stability and budget planning. The only enrollment requirement is to have an existing NSTAR or National Grid commercial account in good standing. For more information, visit Boston Buying Power.

About Boston Local Development Corporation (BLDC)

Staffed by the BRA, the BLDC program provides small business loans up to $150,000 for existing businesses in or relocating to Boston. These loans can be used when buying a new business property, purchasing equipment and machinery, constructing an addition to an existing plant, or for leasehold improvements. Funds can also be used for working capital to support the needs of a growing small business; such as increasing inventory, hiring new employees, or supporting a higher level of accounts receivable.

About Boston Connects, Inc.

Boston Connects, Inc. is the non-profit organization that administers Boston’s Empowerment Zone. BCI connects residents and businesses within the Zone to economic development opportunities. Tax credits are available to businesses located in the Zone that employ EZ residents. Additionally, BCI has partnered with the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development to offer the EZ Microloan program. The program offers a loan pool of $350,000 that is designed to support entrepreneurs and existing small business in Boston’s Empowerment Zone. For more information, please visit Boston's EZ.

Press Contact: Jessica Shumaker, BRA, 617.918.4446.

Release Date: March 31, 2009