Franklin County CDC

10/14/2026

Congratulations to our friends at Lombrico Farm! https://www.lombricofarm.com/

Faster harvests mean more greens for Lombrico Farm, a 2026 Local Farmer Award winner. Their new walk-behind greens harvester cut spinach harvest time in half, helping them boost production of select greens by 25%, all without adding to their crew. And they’re just getting started. 🥬

Here’s to farms finding smarter ways to grow. 💚

10/13/2026

The PVGrows event at Mycoterra Farm is this week! Don't forget to register and join us on Thursday for:

Farm tours - learn how gourmet mushrooms are cultivated!
Delicious snacks - featuring local veggies and vegan treats from Nourish Cafe!
PVGrows inspiration - learn how it's helped farms and food businesses across MA and how YOU can be a part of it!

We're launching Put your MONEY where your FORK is — the 2026-2027 PVGrows Investor Drive — and we hope you'll be a part of it!

Visit pvgrows.net/events to register.

10/09/2026

Local entrepreneurs took the stage last night at Hawks and Reed in Greenfield, MA. Many thanks to Archetype Hair, Ames Electrical Consulting, Hotfire Bar & Grill, Golden Vale Aerial, Northfield Tech Solutions, and our Pitch Contest winner, Common Ground Fitness Center! Thank you to the sponsors and everyone involved for creating a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Franklin County.

10/09/2026

What a great night for entrepreneurship in Franklin County, Living Local was there talking with PVGrow Investment Fund Manager, Hannah Sobel and Racial Justice Community Engagement Director Traci Talbert. Listen to what they had to say and more: https://www.livinglocal413.org/bizbuzz/?fbclid=IwY2xjawU10SlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMXlrVlNFSm9GRGNleEU1dHpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeltLwscAwFWWSWf0Nyd4_HMU-oj7X5oBZ821bymNU8rUqpt9wWEh7TQ3ycSY_aem_W6tfa22ESPc_Y0f0ODoc8A

Tonight at The 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight in partnership with Common Capital we caught up with:

- Hannah Sobel, Program Manager at Franklin County CDC
- Jonah Keane, Owner of Wilden Salter Consulting and Coaching (ManagerJumpstart.com)
-- Special shout-out in this interview >>> Applied Mortgage, Lindsay Barron LaBonte, & Chikmedia
- Traci Talbert, Racial Justice Community Engagement Director at Franklin County CDC (https://fccdc.org/food_process_center/racial-justice)

Check out the THREE LIVE BIZ BUZZ 413 INTERVIEWS now at https://www.livinglocal413.org/bizbuzz.

Thank you to these partners…
- Platinum Year-Long Program Sponsor: BeaconBank
- Gold Pitch Contest Sponsor: The Arbors & The Ivy Assisted Living Residential Communities
- Pitch Contest Partner: Innovate413
- October Event Partners: Franklin Country CDC & Greenfield Business Association
- Event Location: Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center
- Host: Jill Monson, owner of POPmore

Bill Cole

10/06/2026

This Thursday at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center 5-7:30. Come hear directly from three Franklin County entrepreneurs about their journeys, challenges, and experiences building their businesses:

Stephanie Kauffman — Archetype Hair
Randy Ames — Ames Electrical Consulting
Chad Flasinski — Hotfire Bar and Grill

🚨 Franklin County — Don’t Miss the October 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight! 🚨

Registration is open, and we’re bringing the 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight to Greenfield on October 8th!

Come hear directly from three Franklin County entrepreneurs about their journeys, challenges, and experiences building their businesses:

💇 Stephanie Kauffman — Archetype Hair
⚡ Randy Ames — Ames Electrical Consulting
🔥 Chad Flasinski — Hotfire Bar & Grill

🏆 PLUS — 413 Pitch & Prosper!
Watch local entrepreneurs take the stage and pitch their businesses for a chance to win a $1,000 prize! 💰

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
⏰ 5:00–7:30 PM
📍 Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center
289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA

🤝 Moderated by Franklin County CDC & Greenfield Business Association

After 11 consecutive sold-out events, we’re taking the Spotlight to Franklin County. Don’t wait until this one sell out!

👉 Register today and join us for an evening of entrepreneurship, connection, and community. https://community.livinglocal413.org/event/413-entrepreneur-spotlight-october-2026/

Brought to you by Common Capital & Living Local 413

Sponsored by Beacon Bank

10/06/2026

Do you work in food service? Is it time to renew your Food Protection Manager certificate? Our regional health department offers twice-yearly ServSafe, Choke Saver, and food service first aid training and there are still seats in the October session. This won’t be offered again until late spring. Register here:

https://frcog.org/event/food-safety-certification-class/

10/05/2026

For 11 years, PVGrows has formed the invisible but critical infrastructure upon which our local farm and food system depends: flexible financing that banks often can’t provide.

It’s time to be more visible – MA farms are relying on it.

Today we're announcing our next chapter: growing the PVGrows Investment Fund to $5 million in invested capital.

Where you invest matters. When you invest in PVGrows, your dollars go to work in the fields, kitchens, and farm stands you pass every day.

Investments start at just $500. Link in bio to learn more.

09/30/2026

Support these local Franklin County entrepreneurs, Oct. 8th.

🎉 The 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight is heading to Franklin County! 🎉

Join us for our October 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight, featuring a special Franklin County edition moderated jointly by Franklin County CDC and the Greenfield Business Association.

Meet three local entrepreneurs and hear their stories, challenges, and experiences building businesses in Franklin County:
💇‍♀️ Stephanie Kauffman — Archetype Hair
⚡ Randy Ames — Ames Electrical Consulting
🔥 Chad Flasinski — Hotfire Bar & Grill

🏆 413 Pitch & Prosper Competition
Selected entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses live for a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize! 💰

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center
289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA

✨ Brought to you by Common Capital and Living Local 413

🤝 Sponsored by Beacon Bank

After 11 consecutive sold-out events, we're bringing the Spotlight to Franklin County!

👉 Seats are limited — register today and join us for an evening celebrating Franklin County entrepreneurs! https://community.livinglocal413.org/event/413-entrepreneur-spotlight-october-2026/

09/30/2026

Congratulations to The 2026 Rural Champions, including FCCDC Executive Director John Waite who was honored with the Rural Legend award.

09/28/2026

Join us on October 8th!

🎉 The 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight is heading to Franklin County! 🎉

Join us for our October 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight, featuring a special Franklin County edition moderated jointly by Franklin County CDC and the Greenfield Business Association.

This is your opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs, small business owners, community partners, and the organizations helping businesses start, grow, and thrive throughout Franklin County.

🏆 NEW: 413 Pitch & Prosper Competition
Selected entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses live for a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize! 💰

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center
289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA

✨ Brought to you by Common Capital and Living Local 413

🤝 Sponsored by Beacon Bank

After 11 consecutive sold-out events, we're bringing the Spotlight to Franklin County — and seats are expected to go quickly!

👉 Register today and be part of the Franklin County entrepreneurial community! https://community.livinglocal413.org/event/413-entrepreneur-spotlight-october-2026/