Small Business Loans

The Southeastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation has closed on five small business loans in the Cape and Islands totaling $750,000. The loans enabled the business to expand and create new jobs. Twin Oaks Inn received a loan of $75,000 under SEED’s Revolving Loan Fund for working capital for their bed and breakfast business in Vineyard Haven. Alison Shaw Photography received a loan of $50,000 under the same fund for working capital to prepare her fine art gallery in Oak Bluffs for the upcoming tourist season.

Area Code T-Shirts

The Paper Store in Edgartown has joined Island Outfitters in Oak Bluffs in carrying vintage styled T-shirts, hats and tote bags imprinted on the front with an area code (say, 508) and on the back, the name of a place. The products come from TophDaddy Designs, based in Sudbury.

It requires a little extra faith to open a new business on the Vineyard. There’s the feast-and-famine seasonality of its economy, the often ingrained shopping habits of its residents, the tendency to look to the mainland for choices and prices that the Island cannot match.

Tony’s Market, a grocery store in business at the same location in Oak Bluffs since 1877, has promoted store manager Kelly Hill to vice president, chief of operations. She also was elected a director of the company. Mrs. Hill has worked continuously at Tony’s since April, 1995 and has been its store manager since September, 2001. Previously the store has been managed only by its owners, the members of various families during its 133-year history.

Kelly lives in Oak Bluffs with her husband, David Hill, and two children.

Adult and Community Education of Martha’s Vineyard (ACE MV) and FLY Yoga each received a $2,500 grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network, supported by a matching grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, to help develop their Vineyard businesses.

Lynn Ditchfield, director of ACE MV, and Sherry Sidoti, owner of FLY, were among 19 grant applicants.

Learn Business Basics

To help potential and existing entrepreneurs on the Vineyard, the South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation and Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank will hold two free, basic business workshops at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown on Wednesday, April 14.

Learn the Fundamentals in Planning and Financing Your Business will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge to attendees.