Charlestown Business Association - the business place to be in Charlestown, Massachusetts

P.O. Box 290303 Charlestown MA 02129 Hotline: 978-376-7878 Email: info@charlestownbusiness.com

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP TO THE CHARLESTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (CBA)

Why Join the Charlestown Business Association?

The Business Association's Mission is to better the community through commerce. Focusing on this Mission, the Association offers benefits directly to its own members and to the community.

What is the Charlestown Business Association?
"Bettering the community through commerce"

The Charlestown Business Association is the premier local business network. The organization gives a strong voice to business within the community and the city. It is an effective support for member businesses and their products and services and offers many opportunities for business networking. Founded in 1986, the Association has grown from a small core of businesses to approximately 200 members today. This growth mirrors the economic vitality of Charlestown.

If you are doing business in Charlestown, the Charlestown Business Association is the most direct way to network with other businesses, find out about community affairs and about your fellow businesses, and take part in "bettering the community through commerce".

Membership Benefits

New Member Package - our new member package includes a directory, organizational information, business member sticker and welcome letter (starting May 2007).
Charlestown Business Association Membership Directory Listing. The Directory contains both a list of members and a guide to goods and services in Charlestown. It provides an up-to-date and easy-to-use resource for CBA members, their customers, and Charlestown residents.
Website Directory Listing. The Association's Web site is a powerful tool for expanding members' business. It gives ready access to names of member businesses and acts as a buyer's guide for their goods and services. It tells about upcoming events, activities, and trends that affect businesses in Charlestown. It also walks potential members through the steps of joining the Association and being listed on the Web Site.
Access to Small Business and Self-Employed Health Insurance
NASE: National Association for the Self-Employed
Michael Fashjian, Field Service Representative
487 Grafton St.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Email: fashjianm@aol.com
Phone: 781-799-0418
Advertising Opportunities. Only CBA Members can purchase advertising on our CBA website, and our CBA directory. Please contact the CBA if you would like to promote your business in this manner. The CBA Website is "the place to be Website of Charlestown".
CBA E-Newsletter Subscription. Our E-Newsletter is our monthly source of information about events, past events, business promotion and business news.
E-Newsletter and Website Promotion. The CBA will promote your business in our monthly e-newsletter. If your business has any news, new employees, events etc. simply send us an email and we will promote your information in the newsletter and on our Website.
Invitation to informative monthly meetings. Our meetings focus on an exciting array of educational, community, and social events. The meetings run on a 10-month calendar, from September through June. Meetings are typically held at lunch time or in the evening at any one of Charlestown's numerous well-established restaurants, non-profit organizations or business offices. Some of our meetings have a fee, but many of our meetings are free of charge and sponsored by local businesses. Some of these include the Fall Networking event sponsored by Sorelles, the Holiday Party in December sponsored by the CBA; General Membership and Membership Social sponsored by local businesses. The CBA also hosts paid events such as the June Cookout at Tavern on the Water, and other speaker events and seminars that take place at other locations around Charlestown.
Participation in the Warren Prescott Holiday Sale. CBA Members are invited to buy at table and sell their goods and services in November at the Warren Prescott School. All proceeds go to the school, and the event draws more than 500 anxious holiday shoppers.
CBA Member Discounts. Your CBA Membership entitles you to various Discounts from other CBA Members. A list of the discounts and offers is posted on our Website.
CBA Member Blog. Our members can ask questions, make suggested and stay updated about many issues in town by reading and posting to our CBA Member Web Blog located on the CBA Website.

Other Activities
Contributing to the CBA Community
Over the past several years, the Association has worked to increase the organization's visibility within the Charlestown community and beyond. The organization sponsors holiday decorating with greens and ribbons along the town's commercial streets, sidewalk sweeping campaigns to keep the commercial districts of the community clean, participates in coordinating events with local non-profit organizations such as the "Warren Prescott Holiday Sale", and addresses local issues such as crime with many local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, CSAC (Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition), and MissionSafe.

Working to Better the Business Community
Charlestown Business Climate Committee
The Charlestown Business Climate Committee was started in the spring of 2006. Members include representatives from the CBA, the Charlestown Mothers Association, developers, and from other interested individuals. The Committee now has the support of Mayor Tom Menino and the Department of Neighborhood Development, City Councilor Sal LaMattina, State Senator Jarrett Barrios, and State Rep Gene O'Flaherty.

The committee is working to find ways to bring new businesses into Charlestown, improve the business district that is in existence, and enhance the business climate in the town overall through the use of various city funded programs and Committee-initiated projects. Charlestown Neighborhood Council The Charlestown Business Association was re-elected to hold one of the seven non-profit seats on the CNC (Charlestown Neighborhood Council). The CNC makes decisions on funds that are mitigated in Charlestown and has a say in many zoned business issues.

Committees and Board of Directors
The Association's activities are in the hands of an involved, volunteer Board of Directors and committees they head. Committees are a key way to increase networking and to make a difference in the Business Association. Join one and become active in the Association. To reach one of the committees, call the Hotline number 978-376-7878 and leave a message for a committee chair.

Program/Promotions/Advertising/Website Committee -Lysa Miller info@charlestownbusiness.com
Finance Committee - Tom Coots tcoots@thecooperativebank.com
Charlestown Business Climate Committee - Lynne Levesque l_levesque@comcast.net
Charlestown Neighborhood Council - Diane Grant dianegrant@comcast.net

Copyright 2007 Charlestown Business Association

"Bettering the community through commerce"

The Charlestown Business Association is the premier local business network. The organization gives a strong voice to business within the community and the city. It is an effective support for member businesses and their products and services and offers many opportunities for business networking. Founded in 1986, the Association has grown from a small core of businesses to approximately 200 members today. This growth mirrors the economic vitality of Charlestown.

If you are doing business in Charlestown, the Charlestown Business Association is the most direct way to network with other businesses, find out about community affairs and about your fellow businesses, and take part in "bettering the community through commerce".

To find out more about joining the Charlestown Business Association, contact the Hotline number 978-376-7878 and request an application form by leaving your name, company name, and telephone number or fill out the CBA application form.